Since it requires us to omit discussion of the very serious negative aspects of his record, please explain how your concept of "respect" differs from whitewashing. I don't expect Obama, Clinton or anyone else to be venerated either. You'll find me similarly amongst their critics. And in fact the chorus of adulation only serves to prop up the dangerous narrative that the present POTUS is an aberration from the trend of admirable statesmen, rather than being merely the most obnoxious product and the result of a political system that has descended into plutocracy and criminality, and whose antics have served simply to unmask it. We can see this in the Khashoggi killing. What the Trump administration has done is to continue a longstanding policy of complicity with Saudi barbarism. Bush, Clinton, Obama, whoever - they all would have done the same thing. Trump is receiving criticism because he's far too open in his acceptance of the murder of journalists. Gorge HW Bush would have handled it better - quieter. And thus nobody would have given a fuck. We can also see it with the Central American caravan. The roots of the crisis causing these people to flee go back to Reagan and Bush I's policies in the region - crushing democracy and installing dictatorships, generally wrecking the place and ensuring that it was kept in poverty. But nobody talks about that. They are presented as arising ex nihilo and we are invited to condemn or support the cruel reaction of the present Administration, according to the party lines - before we forget about it again and go back to praising how dignified a statesman the guy who caused the problem was.
Bush Senior's administration was the last time it felt like we had adults in charge in this country. Everything since has been downhill. Oh. The first President I have direct memories of is Lyndon Johnson.
My support dog would lie faithfully by the casket. My support cat would have nipped inside and eaten my face.
good point. I used to think it would great instead of a watch dog to have watch cat to protect my home. Granted a cat with serious killing power like a cougar or a leopard or something along those lines. But then I'm thinking being a cat they are just as likely to quietly observe your house being robbed (or you being murdered) with total indifference from a place of concealment, then take yet another lengthy nap before vomiting on/in your favorite shoes.
Rick is fun at parties! He played my nephew's Bar Mitzvah as HAMASO THE CLOWN and he totally killed! Granted his three hour long lecture on geopolitical instability in 16th Century Turkmenistan seemed a little dry to me, but the kids loved it!
I think the Parkinsons kept him from saying much of anything since around 2012 when he was first diagnosed.
a little off topic but "word round the campfire" is that the post/my company of government contractors might (not official yet) shut down for a day of mourning/respect/etc. over his death. I don't know if this is typical because during my employment as a contractor we never had a former president die. Maybe Forbin can weigh in here since we are in the same general kind of work. I googled it and Reagan died in 2004 which I totally can't remember - I thought it was a few years ago. Regardless I wasn't a contractor yet.
hmmm......presidents I can remember are Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush 1 Clinton (most entertaining) Bush 2 (let's roll/mission accomplished....sort of) Obama and Trump of course who may surpass Clinton as most entertaining. I think Carter will get a big bipartisan, heartfelt send off relatively soon.
Probably because Carter was the last decent human being to hold the office during the 20th century. GHWB (sounds like a date rape drug), while generally a classy guy, was pretty much the epitome of America's developing a hereditary ruling class-which I always thought was one of those things the revolution was supposed to have prevented.
Postal services and other gov’t services limited in honor of HW. Nobody’s that important. Imagine if it were Trump.
Washington is shut down tomorrow. A state funeral is no joke, and makes the city all but impassable. So it's partly to honor Bush 41 and partly a matter of sheer practicality.
If he held the highest level of gov't service then it would indeed make sense for the post office (gov't agency) to show respect. Here at Fort Gordon the soldiers are off tomorrow in his honor. My company of gov't contractors is not, however. We can take off but we eat vacation time to do so. Read my lips! Not.....gonna.....do it!
The worst thing he did as President was nominate Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. The best thing he did was nominate David Souter to the Supreme Court. A true stealth candidate that foiled Republicans for years.
not as well as for Dubya-(kinda Prince Harry there), and I'll get back to you when one of Chelsea's kids is sworn in.
Actually, it worked pretty well for them. The only reason they ever became nationally known was because of their family connections.
I don't know. It would have taken longer, and she might never have been nominated for president, but Hillary Rodham probably could have had an impactful political career without Bill.
