Was Chimpy's presence at CSK's memorial intended to CENSOR??

[Sparkly]

The King legacy is about PEACE -- but don't mention peace when Chimpy's there, because it points out his war.

The King legacy is about TRUTH -- but don't mention the most disastrous lie of our time about WMDs when Chimpy's there, because it points out the lies that created his war.

The King legacy is about civil RIGHTS -- but don't breathe a word about the wiretapping they endured in the past when Chimpy's there, because it points to his current warrentless domestic spying.

The King legacy is about JUSTICE -- but don't say anything about justice when Chimpy's there, because it points to the injustices that got him into the White House in the first place.

The King legacy is about POVERTY -- but don't say anything about poverty when Chimpy's there, because it reminds people of his callousness during and after Hurricane Katrina, and his greedy, fatcat-fattening economic policies.

No matter what people wanted to say about the King legacy, with Chimpy on the stage, it was "Bad Taste" and "Abuse" -- because the Chimp himself personifies the very antithesis of that legacy.

[pdxmom]

1. I had that thought, too. No way that people wouldn't mention

some of those things at this funeral...it was what the Kings were about and is their legacy.

I think Rove figured that if they put Bush on the stage, no one would have the guts to say anything that would be considered "political". That's why there was a last minute decision to go.

Too bad this administration doesn't understand standing up for one's convictions.

[radfringe]

14. bush*'s appearance was about politics

there was no mention of him attending until AFTER it was reported that Poppy, Clinton and Carter would be there -- then suddenly bush* canceled some other speech appearance in order to attend

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Short, Sweet and Right to the Point!

Thank you Sparkly!

K and R :)

[Inland]

3. His imperial presence is a no-speech zone, a cone of silence.

My guess is that if Bush ever took two seconds to speak to someone not already a bootlicker, nobody would insist on using a funeral to get a word in.

[cleveramerican]

4. simple respect for each other is also his(her) legacy.

the criticism is well founded, but not to worry I'm sure they can take the heat. It appears to be political opportunism of the worst kind, in politics appearances become larger than they otherwise would.

[Spazito]

6. "The criticism is well founded" Which criticism? The criticism in the

OP, in that case I totally agree or the criticism of the right wing media and the repubs which, in that case, I vehemently disagree.

I am unclear as to which criticism you see as "well founded".

[cleveramerican]

13. the criticism of the crass....

use of a solemn event to make some political hay, no matter how salient the points. Its just not the high road. Dems get accused of being too self-absorbed, too bogged down in minutia to have some class and stick your opinions elsewhere for a moment, and scenes like that make that charge stick. That fact that I think the speakers made some very legitimate points doesn't outweigh the tastelessness of using a funeral eulogy to scold the president, instead of focusing on the true meaning of the moment.

[Sparkly]

9. Huh?

Do you mean the criticism of BushCo is well-founded, and the Democrats can take the heat? And that the RNC spin on the matter is "political opportunism of the worst kind?"

If so, I agree.

[cleveramerican]

16. no I don't

I mean the very legitimate revulsion many ordinary Americans felt when they saw the speakers using a solemn event to make political hay. If you think this unease is an RNC plot you are truly paranoid and your distrust of your fellow Americans has colored your judgment beyond belief.

[Carni]

5. Yeah I think that is what bush had up his sleeve

I think the fool is so arrogant that he figured if he sat there and held court behind the speakers that no one would dare say anything about his so called policies and that if they did...then his media hacks could start in with this "tasteless" BS.

I think however that both plans backfired on him because this politicized RW talking point doesn't seem to be having too much of an impact on anyone.

I think the majority of people just think it's wonderful that he had to sit captive while he was forced to hear the truth from a non-handpicked audience.

[oasis]

15. Rove's plan backfired. Bigtime. (eom)

[ginnyinWI]

7. Well, he couldn't NOT go, could he?

With his ratings in the toilet, he couldn't afford any more negative press, which would have come if he had been too busy to attend this funeral. No political capital. None.

[mwdem]

8. I saw a clip of him this morning, when Poppy made a wise crack

about losing part of his speech, and Chimpy was laughing like and idiot. Did he think it was a roast?

[SeattleGirl]

10. You're exactly right, Sparkly

I think they were hoping to shut people up by having Bush there, but since people DIDN'T shut up, then of course they have to attack, attack, attack. All the usual crap spewed out by all the usual suspects.

[blogslut]

11. Can anybody give me some links?

I could be imagining things but I seem to recall that Dubya wasn't going to attend until they changed the venue from Ebenezer Baptist to New Birth Missionary Baptist Church?

[Sparkly]

12. I can't find the article now, but

I'm sure I read that the initial inclination was to NOT have Chimpy appear, and then they decided he should go. I'm not sure how the timing correlated with the decision on the location.