This country could use more Gerald Fords

[tritsofme]

What a wonderful national debate we could engage in if the two camps were socially moderate pro-choice Republicans, and a more progressive Democratic Party.

Yes, he pardoned Nixon, and I like most of the country was very upset with that fact at the time, but overall Gerald Ford was nice man who meant well, and I wish him peace.

[951-Riverside]

1. and Ronald Regan's, Richard Nixon's, Oliver North's & Henry Kissinger's n/t

[NNN0LHI]

2. He was a Republican crook who's job was to pardon other Republican crooks

He was good at what he did.

Christ, I don't know about needing more of them though?

Don

[undeterred]

3. So if Bush said he were in favor of choice tomorrow and

started talking about womens rights you'd forgive all the other shit?

[tritsofme]

4. I don't think Ford's credentials a social moderate were ever in question

He built a record around those positions.

And if Bush did as you suggest tomorrow, I might just forgive him to have the pleasure of watching his approval rating go into the single digits.

[undeterred]

5. I don't need any more Gerald Fords in my country, thanks.

And I don't question his credentials as a social moderate. Its everything else I question.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. He caused the least harm to this nation of any Republican President in my lifetime.

Beyond that, may he rest in peace.

[Skidmore]

13. He did the greatest harm by pardoning Nixon.

That single act has created the perception that the president is above the law and any accountability will be harmful to the nation. They danced close with Clinton but pulled back. Now we have a war criminal in office who will not be impeached and tried because "it will harm the nation."

Now we have a self-installed dictator.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Sorry, I think Nixon, Reagan, Bush I & Bush II were *worse*.

It's sort of like saying he was the most talented midget in the NBA, but Ford was less bad than the rest of them. That's my opinion.

[Spearman87]

15. Come on, perspective. Nixon left office in shame--

Forced to, when Rep lawmakers told him it was over.....he'd be impeached and most likely convicted during the impeachment trial. That alone showed the country that no one is above the law. The power of the office was not reinforced by Watergate, it was FAR diminished as a result of that whole saga.

[TwentyFive]

7. Exactly!! Social Conservatism is true human evil.

All social conservatism is based on extreme religious fundamentalism. It violates human rights, spreads bigotry and fear, and opposes reason. Extreme right wingers Reagan, Bush...and especially BushII...used it to get elected...and then robbed the country blind!

Gerald Ford seems like he was from another era. He was the loyal opposition, but ran a clean campaign against Carter in 1976. Ford and Carter disagreed on politics, and kept the debate on those issues. Good on them. I wish the entire Ford family well, and hope the memory of Jerry Ford becomes a model someday for republicans. (Yet, I don't hold out much hope.)

[leftofthedial]

8. dead repukes

we certainly COULD use more of them

[Reterr]

9. No thanks.eom

[Raine]

10. Moderates...sadly

a dying breed.

[Kiouni]

11. Agreed

even though I don't agree with his pardoning I can understand the decision. American Presidents don't go to jail, period.

[Kingshakabobo]

12. You mean more dead republicans? It might help. nt