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President Bush Ditching Ford's State Funeral

ca.news.yahoo.com — The president will not attend Ford's state funeral in the Rotunda on Saturday night, but will return to Washington from his Texas ranch on Monday. Ford had created a posthumous buzz with the release of interviews critical of Bush that he gave to two newspapers. Is Bush sore about this and taking it out on the recently deceased?

Who dugg this? Made popular Dec 29, 2006

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  • gronne, on 10/12/2007, -29/+151Incredibly selfish and arrogant. It really is a new low for a President.
  • knickerbocker, on 10/12/2007, -28/+72There's a man's man for ya! Leader? I think not somehow.
  • orientis, on 10/12/2007, -16/+44Ford gave the current run of neocons their first government jobs. They knew each other, oh yeah.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -6/+32Is he going to James Brown's funeral? That's what really matters right now.
  • ericdano, on 10/12/2007, -2/+27Guys, you are insane.
    From CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/28/ford.obit/index.html
    "A state funeral will take place Saturday evening in the Capitol Rotunda, with subsequent services Tuesday at the National Cathedral in Washington and Wednesday in Grand Rapids, Michigan."

    There are 3 different service. I'm sure the President didn't attend all the ones for Reagan as well.....
  • MarkCiccone, on 10/12/2007, -3/+27@orientis

    From wikipedia:

    Ford's transition chairman and first Chief of Staff was former congressman and ambassador Donald Rumsfeld. In 1975, Rumsfeld was named by Ford as the youngest-ever Secretary of Defense. Ford chose a young Wyoming politician, Richard Cheney, to replace Rumsfeld as his new Chief of Staff and later campaign manager for Ford's 1976 presidential campaign.
  • orientis, on 10/12/2007, -4/+26Perhaps I should clarify. Ford gave Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld their first big-time government jobs. So yes, Bush and Ford knew each other, intimately.

    Edit: Thanks Mark, for doing the basic research.
    musicmantrs When I use the word neocon I am referring mainly to adherents of the Project for a New American Century and people of that ilk.
  • Jaymoon, on 10/12/2007, -6/+27To save everyone the time of reading through 50 "Bush sucks. he is a _____" comments...

    I'd like to direct you to chisryn64's comment that is below...

    "Are you guys morons? Or do you just see the word Bush and start foaming at the mouth. He's coming back to attend the actual service.

    "he president will not attend Ford's state funeral in the Rotunda on Saturday night, but will return to Washington from his Texas ranch on Monday, pay respects to Ford while his remains lie in state at the Capitol, and speak Tuesday at services for Ford at the National Cathedral"

    I'm pretty sure no one read the article"
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18RTFA

    "The president will not attend Ford's state funeral in the Rotunda on Saturday night, but will return to Washington from his Texas ranch on Monday, pay respects to Ford while his remains lie in state at the Capitol, and speak Tuesday at services for Ford at the National Cathedral"
  • cheez, on 10/12/2007, -13/+28leostewart-
    I've been watching cnn all day and they have been showing footage of them together on many different occasions. Also, it's not like they are both bankers from New York. There were only (I think) five living presidents.
  • punchingjudy, on 10/12/2007, -14/+28Wow, how terribly disrespectful, not only to Ford but also to the Office of the President.
  • Demagogue, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14Don't dig him down for reporting facts.....
  • chrisryn64, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15Are you guys morons? Or do you just see the word Bush and start foaming at the mouth. He's coming back to attend the actual service.

    "he president will not attend Ford's state funeral in the Rotunda on Saturday night, but will return to Washington from his Texas ranch on Monday, pay respects to Ford while his remains lie in state at the Capitol, and speak Tuesday at services for Ford at the National Cathedral"

    I'm pretty sure no one read the article
  • Pottersquash, on 10/12/2007, -10/+23Wow, this really hurts all the Repubs who were making a big deal about Reid and co missing to go on a pre-planned trip to go to South America. Bush is in America and won't be going.

    Truly, I am not shocked by this, Bush did not show up to Rosa Park's funeral, even though he would have been vilified he should have shown up to pay respects to an American Heroes funeral, just like he should show up for this one.

    is Laura going atleast?
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -13/+26http://www.ktvn.com/dyn_fullnews.asp?area=fullTopStory&storyid=8514

    Harry Reid along with a few other people aren't attending as well. Just saying.
  • orientis, on 10/12/2007, -18/+28Why don't you tell me what I think it means, then tell me why I'm wrong. I don't know why people are digging me down. Look up Ford's history, you'll see what I'm talking about.

    Hell, I'm not even American and I seem to know more about it than the string of retards digging me down. *shrug* Believe what you wanna.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14Personally, I hope Bush never dies. I want him to work for the next thousand years to pay off a fraction of the debt he caused America.
  • bloqmon, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13@mikefritz: more important? yes there are, but thats why Bush is on vacation right now, right? to fix those more important things? any other president would attend just as a sign of respect, personally im surprised Bush isnt using this as some PR move to boost his approval rating. So yes mike, there are more important things going on in this country, but Bush doesnt seem to give a ***** about them either (as usual). It seems if it wont make him and his buddies money, its not worth doing.
  • wonderboy, on 10/12/2007, -14/+22"The president will not attend Ford's state funeral in the Rotunda on Saturday night, but will return to Washington from his Texas ranch on Monday, pay respects to Ford while his remains lie in state at the Capitol, and speak Tuesday at services for Ford at the National Cathedral."

    There's a million other things to criticize him for, but I don't think this is one of them. Go ahead and digg me down if you will, but try and think rationally for just a second before you do.
  • musicmantrs, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12@orientis
    George H.W. Bush != (thats not equal) George W. Bush (current President); Ford gave chances to our current President's father as a liason to China in 1974.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford#Administration_and_Cabinet
  • Vinthian, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14I think it's the president's obligation, and tradition, to attend an ex-president's funeral. But then again, Bush can't complain when no one attends his funeral :).
  • spunkz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8You are correct. President Bush attended only the Rotunda and National Cathedral services for Reagan. I'm sure he'll attend at least one of the three for President Ford.

    It's a shame people have to bring politics during these days of mourning of a President.
  • qurk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7The word neoconservative is often misunderstood by Republicans. I've heard right-wing media talking heads start talking about neo-liberals just to make fun of the word neoconservative. Heres an idea: the radio talk show hosts stop pronouncing the word "liberal" like a racist epithat, and people will consider stopping the use of "neocon" or at least make it clear what they are talking about. I may be off base, but I consider "neoconservative" to mean a strain of the Republican party that has ceased to care about the well-being of the nation, but rather in gaining and keeping power. I would consider Bush's supposed quote about the constitution, "It's only a peice of paper" to pretty much define what I think of as a neocon. Stuff like making sure America uses it's military might to ensure large companies's profits, etc. I can see how a Republican who actually loves our country (the vast majority) would be angry to have someone imply that all Republicans are in fact, neoconservatives.
  • Jaymoon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Read.... the.... article?

    Sorry, digg users can't comprehend those words used together in the same sentence... Especially when it's much easier to just call Bush a name, and digg up similar replys.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Actually, Bush is attending TWO services for President Ford, and will be offering his condolances and respects to the family of Mr. Ford personally. This is one of the best Diggs I've ever seen at proving the notion that Digg is unbelievably biased and that Diggas just plain don't read the article or care for facts.

  • airborne99, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Who said he was invited?
  • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4It is more of a tribute to the man, if a blood-thirsty criminal like bush doesn't attend!
  • totorototoro, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Nothing surprises me about that guy anymore.
  • spunkz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4s0lace, read that article header. He gave the Eulogy at the National Cathedral service - Samething is going to happen for President Ford.

    The original article:

    "Part of it will be missing President George W. Bush, too. The president will not attend Ford's state funeral in the Rotunda on Saturday night, but will return to Washington from his Texas ranch on Monday, pay respects to Ford while his remains lie in state at the Capitol, and speak Tuesday at services for Ford at the National Cathedral."
  • orangekid13, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7cheap lazy bastard
  • Demagogue, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Yet again, reporting facts. No reason in the world to dig down.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7"Incredibly selfish and arrogant. It really is a new low for a President."

    Wow he missed out on one of the three services and its "a new low". Have you lead a sheltered life or something knicker? There are much worse things than a president not attending one funeral service out of three. He's not going to miss paying respect to Ford.

    And what's worse is that knee-jerk comment is sitting at 50+ diggs right now.
  • ardenr, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8Just when did Bush begin to respect the presidency? He doesn't give a ***** about his own, why would anyone be surprised about this?

    Ah, I forgot, the only important thing about respecting the presidency is that you must never have fun in the Oral Orifice ... /sarcasm

    Besides, he's sooo busy thinking of a new Iraq strategy.. "It's hard"
  • deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -9/+12I plan to piss on Bush's grave. I am 100% serious.
  • brianbennett, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It says Bush isn't attending the capital service. Isn't there going to be another one before he is laid to rest?
  • Schmecky, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Yeah, he's got so much to do on his ranch.

    And he'll still have a lot of cocaine left...
  • virtualball, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Yeah because the article says he will be at his ranch right before the funeral....

    Jesus, it's in the description!
  • alextripp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"The president will not attend Ford's state funeral in the Rotunda on Saturday night, but will return to Washington from his Texas ranch on Monday, pay respects to Ford while his remains lie in state at the Capitol, and speak Tuesday at services for Ford at the National Cathedral."

    This is from the article posted, you left out the part that says he would be coming back and hitting up the other 2 services for him.
  • sunimoto, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Here some of what pissed Bush & Co. so much:
    "Rumsfeld and Cheney and the president made a big mistake in justifying going into the war in Iraq. They put the emphasis on weapons of mass destruction," "And now, I've never publicly said I thought they made a mistake, but I felt very strongly it was an error in how they should justify what they were going to do."
    and my favorite:
    "I just don't think we should go hellfire damnation around the globe freeing people unless it is directly related to our own national security."

    Respek to G.Ford for this.
    I wonder what Fox News is saying about this, they couldn't stop drooling over republican president yesterday, and now this...Gotta go watch the Fair and Balanced now...
  • koenkai, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@musicmantrs:

    Evidently, Rumsfeld and Cheney are neocons--or at least are supports of that ideology, according to the same Wikipedia article you sited:

    "As of 2006, the most prominent supporters of the neoconservative stance inside the Administration are Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld."

    Definitions change. But if you cite an article to support your comments, you should read the whole article, lest it be pointed out that had you read the the article in its entirety you would have seen evidence contrary to your main point.

    With that said, the term (as MiddleGirth points out) is largely meaningless with regards to its original definition.
  • Thumper13, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Wow, it really is amazing to see how many of you can't read a few paragraphs.
    This is a big non-story.
  • central183, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5I keep hearing this word "neocon" I had to look it up at Wikipedia and Urban Dic. It's a way overused word that has become very gray in meaning. Most of the time Diggers use it they are lashing out at the war in Iraq. Neocons support the aggressive spread of democracy. They take on an approach of, "We're better than you and we'll help you see that." Neocon can be derogatory term for "Jewish", "Crusading Republican" or "A white guy with a collection of guns, bibles, and Budweiser- all used at the same time."

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=NeoCon&page=1
  • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3 "Ford's family was to have a private prayer service at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church on Friday before the start of a public viewing expected to draw thousands of people to the desert resort town 110 miles east of Los Angeles."
    " Mrs. Ford will then accompany her husband's body across the nation for a series of ceremonies that includes two funeral services in Washington, D.C., and another in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he will be entombed Wednesday."

    http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=80&sid=674225

    So even though the article is correct it is deliberately misleading as to the why.. :/
  • Modulo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2lndmn01 - wow, dude, yeah you totally got us man, we totally are hypocrites for acting that way in the hypothetical strawman alternate universe that only exists in your fevered imagination. our bad.
  • MercuryOne, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Ditching? Really? Can we try and show a *trace* of impartiality?
  • martalli, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I had thought that few people would attend Bish's funeral many years from now, but then I remembered - even Clinton came to Nixon's funeral in 1994.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/stories/nixobit.htm
  • sonmiles, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@leostewart

    "I don't like Bush, but I don't think this is news. It's likely he never met the man - they might only share a title in common. The only reason he'd be expected to attend the funeral is because of tradition, which is often just a crock of *****."

    WTF? Do the soldiers who perform the 21 gun salute at a military funeral know every deceased soldier? It's called RESPECT. You don't have to know the person. Ford was the leader of the USA at one time. Now Bush is...unfortunately. It is his DUTY to attend the funeral and pay RESPECT to a man who held office before GWB. Get a frickin' clue man....
  • templeofboom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Of course he's not going to attend, he needs a few days for his speech writers to come up with something to combat Ford's (true) observations of his administration. While Ford wasn't exactly the best thing since sliced bread, when compared to Bush he appears to be walking on water.
  • jackminardi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Oh, wow

    I really hate* to say this, but if someone emerged from a cave after 50 years in it and read each comment out of context, he would say that every "BUSH IS SUCH A FAG" article was written by a 13 year old fat kid.

    *I hate it because it will get me dugg down.
    actually i dont really care
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4He is attending the exact same services that he attended for Reagan's death. On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader Ried is not attending any of the services at all. Talk about a typical Digg-fest. Read the article guys, please.
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