It's disrespect to President Ford and to his family that * isn't in Washington

[no_hypocrisy]

at the Capitol tonight.

[sam sarrha]

1. he and Condi are "Busy"...

[C_U_L8R]

2. But brushclearin' is hard work ™

pathetic

[JohnnyLib2]

3. First class jerk.

As usual.

[mtnsnake]

4. Hey, it's almost 7 o'clock in Crawford. He's sleeping and unavailable for comment.

[snowbear]

5. Well.....

He was on vacation.. reading "My Pet Goat" when 9/11 happened...


He was eating cake with his low-life little friend while people were DYING in the Superdome..


Guess it's right in line with his normal behavior?

[eleny]

6. After the Ford revelation by Woodward, I figured he'd do something immature

Ever the spoiled brat, conspicuous by his absence this time.

[trayfoot]

13. I totally agree

that this was *'s way of "getting even"! He should have been a statesman and shown up! As I was watching toward the end of the ceremony when Betty Ford was first escorted to the casket by Dick Cheney and her son stepped in........does anyone attach any particular significance to that?

[eleny]

19. sorry for the delayed respose...

someone noted that too, about betty and cheney, and started a thread earlier. i sure hope there's a video clip of it that gets around the web. i missed it. it sounds like her son took over in a way that was dramatic enough for a lot of people around here sit up and take notice.

[AtomicKitten]

7. I agree.

Missing the State Funeral at the Rotunda is disrespectful to Ford and no doubt his response to Ford's commentary on Iraq released by Bob Woodward. Dimson was at the G8 conference and out of the country missing the Reagan State Funeral; that by no means set a precedent for protocol.

[Tess49]

8. I agree. It's a disgrace. n/t

[oldtime dfl_er]

9. I'm hoping it's cuz Bettty told him to stay home

but I'm afraid she has too much class for that. It's bad enough she has to sit next to - and shrink from - Dick.

[CC]

10. Not only is it disrespectful

to Ford and the Ford family, it is disrespectful vets and to this country as a whole. * doesn't has to like him and can have a snit over Ford's remarks but it is * JOB to be there. His not is spitting in the face of everyone.

Throw Rummy in there too. No one could get his snotty ass out of Taos, snow or not?

[Gregory_Wonderwheel]

11. It would be if Ford deserved respect.

Like a broken clock that is correct twice a day in spite of itself, Bush has made a correct statement about the respect that Ford deserves merely from his own broken character.

[dicknbush]

12. Well if Ford were braindead only and intubated then he would get back

That is Fords mistake he should have only been half dean and then Geroge would be much more interested in his well being!

[snowbear]

14. No.. he wouldn't respond then either b'cas there's no election forthcoming...

Sad.. but true. :shrug:

[diane in sf]

15. My theory is that bush

is at home whacking off over a video of Saddam's hanging.

[eleny]

20. oh my god!

that's just the thought i sent to a friend in email this evening. when it comes to w, it makes sense. and a video that's in a continuous loop, too.

[JerseygirlCT]

16. You know what? Though I agree completely

It will be a more meaningful evening without him.

As the President, he absolutely ought to be there, and at the funeral.

But as a person? The Fords don't need him there mucking things up. Bad enough Cheney is there.

[Auntie Bush]

17. Well what do you want?

The man-child is on vacation and he'll come back to DC when he decides it's over! He's busy now chewing the fat with the generals and twisting arms. Nothing can make the decider cut his vacation short until he has decided ... except what to do about Iraq. That's just a comma in his life and it can bloody well wait...so can Ford. Serves what he him right for objecting to the war. He'll show him what he thinks of him!

When bush dies...I hope every last one in the Ford family boycott his funeral...which can't be soon enough for me.

[opihimoimoi]

18. Well Said Auntie...well said....

[Vinca]

21. Dubya is nothing more than a spoiled, little, rich kid.

If he doesn't want to travel to Washington and stay up past his bed time, he doesn't have to. If he wants to play with his soldiers, he can. He's probably going to skip the whole thing and cut brush. Respect means nothing to him.

[TankLV]

22. Yes it is - extremely disrespectful - but what did you expect from this asswipe?

AND unprecedented...

For one of his OWN PARTY, too...

[onenote]

23. neither disrespectful nor unprecedented

In fact, bush didn't attend the Capitol Rotunda ceremony for Reagan. It is not disrespectful for the current president not to attend multiple services. The service at the Capitol was principally for Ford's former colleagues in the Congress (he served both as a member of the house and, as VP, the "President" of the Senate). He's supposed to be attending the principal service at the National Cathedral on Tuesday -- the service deemed so important that the government in DC is officially closed in Ford's memory that day.

Frankly, I've heard it argued that its more disrespectful for Pelosi and Reid to have skipped the service at the Capitol, since that's their home territory so to speak.


I'd give this one a rest.