WP,pg1: At the Capitol, VIP Roll Call Has Many No-Shows: Washington could have done better by Ford

[DeepModem Mom]

Washington Sketch
At the Capitol, VIP Roll Call Has Many No-Shows
By Dana Milbank
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 31, 2006; Page A01

The military band drilled. Wreaths with white roses hung outside the House and Senate chambers. In the Capitol Rotunda rested the black velvet catafalque that once bore the remains of Abraham Lincoln.

Everything was in place for Gerald R. Ford's state funeral last night -- everything, that is, but the statesmen.

President Bush sent his regrets; he was cutting cedar and riding his bike on his ranch in Texas. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his deputy, Richard Durbin, couldn't make it, either; they were on a trip to visit Incan ruins. Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took a pass, too -- as did nearly 500 of the 535 members of Congress.

A 6-to-3 majority of the Supreme Court, including Ford's appointee, John Paul Stevens, ruled against attending. All the nation's governors were invited; few, if any, came. Apparently only two Cabinet members -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez -- accepted the invite....

***

His family, reflecting his wishes, dispensed with the horse-drawn caisson, the military flyover and the round-the-clock viewing that accompanied Reagan's rites here in 2004. And high officials will have a chance to improve on their performance when a second ceremony is held for Ford on Tuesday at Washington National Cathedral. Certainly, though, official Washington could have done better by Ford last night....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/30/AR2006123001166.html?nav=hcmodule

[Drum]

1. "...Bush sent his regrets; he was cutting cedar and riding his bike..."

Slap!

[tblue]

3. And *'s radio address, supposedly about Ford, was really about himself, the cretin

"He always put the needs of his country before his own, and did what he thought was right, even when those decisions were unpopular. Only years later would Americans come to fully appreciate the foresight and wisdom of this good man." Double slap, and shameless self-promoting.

[HuffleClaw]

15. double meep

wow. that is just shameless.

[tblue]

26. I know. What a creep.

[Tellurian]

18. A Good sign, indeed!

apparently, the release of Woodward's gossiping with Ford, all over mainstream news,
has the Bushes in a bit of a snit... :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Given the time of year, I don't hold it against anyone except Shrubbie.

For a sitting president not to attend the funeral of a former president is UTTERLY inexcusable, and only proves what a classless piece of shit he is.

[psychopomp]

27. I agree, Junior's neglect is appalling

I would like to say that I am shocked, but, regrettably, I have had my expectations of Junior calibrated to the lowest for some time now.

[Greeby]

4. Never mind

Dr Frist got to swing into action one last time before he's carted off to the lab to be dissected by cats :evilgrin:

I especially liked the juxtaposition of Jabba The Hastert speaking, and the TV shot down the hall of the Speaker's Chair. I'm suprised he didn't start blubbing

[librechik]

6. yeah Hastert was good-the chief thief presides over the last Good Republican

these Washington farts are the bomb--or the bum.

What a farce.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. Frist carted off to the lab to be dissected by cats....

My kitty, Lucky, thanks you for that thought! :rofl:

[UrbScotty]

5. That's the problem when a president dies in the middle of the holiday season

Most of these figures were away from Washington for the holidays. If Ford had died a week or two later, more people would have shown up.

[Benhurst]

7. Not to worry -- the Senators and Congressmen can put; stirring

speeches in the Congressional "Record" and everyone will think they attended.

[TankLV]

8. "What's in it for ME?"

Not much based on results.

That is the prime operating principle for the political whores - especially the repuke ones.

I am very surprised that more repukes didn't show up for their orgasm, if not to pay phoney respect to on of their own - this decent man...

I wonder how many repukes will avoid Carter or Clinton?

[saracat]

9. many of the nations governors are being inaugerted this week.

As are the newly elected members of Congress.Nancy Pelosi is celebrating being the first woman Speaker.Some of these events could not be postphoned.I am thinking many will attend the "real funeral " at the Catherdral.Even Bush is going to speak as is Carter and Clinton.

[wakeme2008]

10. Bad PR move for Bush... this is the Asshole that will COMMAND up AF1

at a drop of a hat to go campaign someplace.

[Acadia Blue]

11. Ford chose to speak up about the Iraq war AFTER HIS DEATH so

he put his disgusting corrupt party and Bush over the well being of America. He also pardoned Nixon, thus saying that the American aristocracy is priviledged and does not have to be punished.

He lacked courage. He was moderate but lacked courage to do the right thing.

However, I think that the VIPs should have gone to his funneral because after all he was a president.

[Cass]

12. This is the man who was playing a guitar and eating cake while Americans

drowned in the streets of New Orleans so it doesn't surprise me that cutting cedar and bike riding were more important to him than attending a state funeral. This man has the manners of rutting pig.

[xxqqqzme]

13. watched the replay on cspan

last night. I thought it was a disgrace...like the entire thing was slapped together by someone who doesn't give a shit (protocol guy on holiday break?) especially in light of that week long deification of st. ronnie. hasturd wore his least fitting suit. The jacket buttons were straining to keep it together; frist looked stoned, standing w/ his hand on the velvet rope stanchion w/ a sappy smile frozen on his face; every time darth cheney leaned over to say something to Betty Ford, her son, standing behind her, would put his hand on her shoulder protectively; viagra bobby looked like death warmed over - appears he and lizzie got 2 facial surgeries for the price of one.

Chaotic, sloppy and slap-dash are apt descriptive phrases - over all, disgraceful considering it was an former president.

[IndianaGreen]

16. The National Day of Mourning is Tuesday, January 2

That's when I expect to see all the VIPs at the Washington Cathedral for Ford's official memorial service. Dana Milbank makes much about nothing.

Former Presidents should schedule their deaths around non-holiday weekends.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

17. That's what I thought.

I think only close family is obligated to attend each and every ceremony. However, junior's "eulogy" which was only intended to glorify himself was totally tasteless, but predictable.

[MiniMe]

19. "...Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ..."

They jumped a bit at that, Frist is the Senate Majority Leader until next week. At least they got Pelosi right as incoming House Speaker.

[JerseygirlCT]

20. Wow.

That's really sad. And a far more stinging indictment of those who didn't bother than of the man they ought to have honored.

[ooglymoogly]

21. yawnnnnnnnnn

much ado about a man who set in motion our present very dangerous predicament with all its death and catastrophe and the possible fall of this once great country.

[Nikki Stone1]

22. The Supreme Court VOTED about whether or not to attend?

Is that customary?

[Divernan]

24. They voted with their feet, so to speak, by not showing up.

nt

[w4rma]

23. "… he was cutting cedar and riding his bike …" Dishonorable child. (nt)

[Warren Stupidity]

25. So about Ford's being a great president and all

it would appear that we were spoon fed this nonsense by the compliant media but the elites didn't like good old Gerry much at all. Heck the less they like him the more I do. That pardon was still the wrong thing to do.