So, Ford posthumously admits he lied about his support for Iraqi war and why he pardoned Nixon.

[zonkers]

Two crucial moments in American history when he could have spoken the truth and made a big difference. I think this makes him a total piece of shit. And I loved the guy -- partly because I was an impressionable tot when he was President. I feel betrayed.

[twilight_sailing]

1. Don't worry

the American public will never know of these things. And if they don't know, it's just like it never happened.

Jeepers, what a country we live in.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Go Along, Get Along Jerry

I remember a politician using that term to describe him before he became president. He was chosen for the Warren Commission and on many other panels cause he was anything BUT controversial. Nixon, in his cynicism, picked Ford as what he thought would be a life insurance policy for his Presidency as he knew Ford would sail through confirmation (he did) and that his lack of political backbone and ambition wouldn't conflict with Nixon's imperial Presidency.

Ford's pardoning of Nixon angered me no end as I wanted Nixon to face trial for his actions and never bought the bullshit that it would have torn the country further apart. The fix was in...and many of us knew it at the time. Ford got a big free pass from the media at the time but not from the electorate who voted overwhelmingly for Democrats in '74 and it cost Ford the election in '76.

Regarding his keeping silent. I'm not surprised. There were some reports in '04 that Ford wasn't happy with the booosh family and the war, but Ford, just like in the Nixon instance, put party ahead of country and played the go-along, get-along dude. As he said about himself..."I'm a Ford, not a Lincoln".

[WI_DEM]

3. First, perhaps you are right that Ford should have spoken out publicly

but according to Woodward, Ford would have told Bush this had he asked. Second, I never doubted that Nixon and Ford were friends and friendship and sympathy played a part in the pardon. They came to congress in the same year and were friends then--that is clear. I have to admit though that I'm pleased that Ford is kicking Bush, Rummy, and Cheney's teeth in now beyond the grave just before they will be "honoring" him at various funerals.

[shain from kane]

5. Today's biggest news story is that Nixon had a friend.

"...Nixon and Ford were friends..."

[WI_DEM]

8. I know. I couldn't believe that the Today Show made a big deal

that Nixon and Ford were friends. Anybody whose read Nixon biographies or even Woodward's books would realize that.

[Benhurst]

4. Don't bother us with facts, zonkers. We're getting ready for

the big parade and send-off.

With any luck, we'll have a hanging in Baghdad and a series of speeches and parades stateside.

It doesn't get any better than this in The Land of the Free and the Home of the Whopper.

[peacebird]

6. bush/cheney are hoping the hanging of Saddam will run the Ford story off the front pages

:eyes:

[zonkers]

7. It's "weasely" and immoral -- it's what you teach your kids not do.

[European Socialist]

9. Anyone notice that those who came out late against the war in Iraq...

waited to make sure it was a failure before chiming in.

[Marr]

10. Oh yes- and their tepid, after-the-fact criticism is treated like the

wisdom of a prophet or something.

Critics of Bush's invasion were mocked before the war- and continue to be ignored in most major outlets, in fact. But we're all supposed to clap when John Murtha sees the light two years too late, or when Bill Kristol decides to temper his idiot arguments with qualifiers, or when Richard Perle criticizes incompetence in the handling of the occupation. Or when Bush decides to simply acknowledge some troublesome piece of reality.