Just handful of officials show up at state funeral (Ford)

Washington Post via Houston Chronicle ^ | 12/30/06 | DANA MILBANK

[trumandogz]

WASHINGTON

[dforest]

Do you mean for his funeral, or that he should have had better timing when he died? I know the timing is bad, but you would still think some respect could be shown. A person has to give respect if they wish to be respected too.

[Finalapproach29er]

His true friends were there; that's what's most important.

[Mo1]

Milbank is a bitter POS with no class

[BlessedBeGod]

Pelosi should be ashamed of herself for not attending the service.

So should President Bush. There's no excuse for him not attending.

[tgslTakoma]

Dana Milbank is a nasty, no-class, POS. Couldn't the Washington Post do any better than this article?

[PghBaldy]

I think there is more to the story- such as the fact this is not the final event in a series of ceremonies. That said, while the former President lies in the Capitol, there should have been more from Congress. It is more than a sign of agreement with policies or personalities, it is a gesture of respect for the Office of the Presidency. The one out I give is to President Bush, who I'm sure if he was asked to go, would have gone. He is a gentleman.

[Mo1]

Pelosi is attending to her parties
and the Clintons are on vacation
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1760419/posts?page=1102#1102


The fact that the Congressional Leaders of the Democrat Party could not show up for a former President just shows what classless trash they really are

[Morgan in Denver]

WpPo can't resist taking a shot. FOX News said President Bush was detained because of weather. Either FNC lied or the Washington Post made a false claim.

[sgtbono2002]

Bubba and Hillary will show up for the Funeral, is might be their last chance to sleep with each other until Jimmah Carter kicks off.

[knarf]

Nothing is as it once was.
and to add to the pun,

A Ford that was not a Lincoln and this just ain't our father's Buick, anymore.

[Maria S]

As usual, The Washington Post never misses a chance to put a negative spin on Bush et al.

This was NOT a state funeral; that will be on Tuesday, and President Bush will be speaking. More than likely, the Clintons, Pelosi, etc., will also be there. Saturday night was set aside as a time for a few of President Ford's friends and former associates to eulogize him. In case no one noticed, the place was packed...

[Sidebar Moderator]

Washington Post material must be excerpted, regardless of source. For a list of other publications that must be excerpted, click here.

[Aussie Dasher]

Who says BJ and Hitlery WANT a chance to sleep with each other?

[lonestar]

That wasn't a funeral IMO. If it was a funeral, why is Tuesday a holiday?

I watched the Iowa-TX ballgame and don't feel guilty.

[TennesseeProfessor]

I think the biggest factor is timing. Who in their right mind designates New Years Eve/Day as days of mouning?

[Coldwater Creek]

Well, the Ford family had no control as to when the former president died, but if I had been them, I would have waited until after the holiday to hold any form of services.

In my opinion, it is unreasonable to expect people to just drop whatever their plans are, when on Tuesday everyone would have been back in Washington.

Not a matter of disrespect on outsider's part at all.

[Mo1]

The President doesn't attend the Capital Rotunda Services
It's a service for members of Congress
The President attends the National Services, which will be held on Tuesday

[Kaslin]

All you have to read who the author of the articlee to feel like barfing, and Milbank always does that to me

[piasa]

There's plenty of reasons not to attend "right now" - for some it's not as simple as hopping in the family SUV and going down to the funeral parlor. When a president suddenly has to change plans hundreds of other people have to adjust their personal plans as well as adjust for the change to the schedule. He has to be considerate to more people than just the Ford family, particularly in the holiday season when staffers- many who never knew Ford, finally have some time off to spend with their families. These people may have to be called back to service if the Prez has to return to Washington on short notice, taking them away fromt heir obligations. There are seucrity considerations when a President moves around, etc. There is going to be ample time for visitors such as the President to pay their respects since the man's going to be laying in state for a while. There is no need for people who didn't know the man personally to attend at this particular time and clutter things up for those who did know the family.

Bush set January 2 to be the national day of mourning for Ford; people would exercise better judgement if they refrain from criticizing the Prez and Pelosi, etc, in how they pay their respects until after that date or until after all relevent services and ceremonies are concluded. Complaining now is a bit premature.

[Kaslin]

The President doesn't attend the Capital Rotunda Services It's a service for members of Congress The President attends the National Services, which will be held on Tuesday

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That shows you how much some here that criticize President Bush know