CLINTON DISAPPOINTMENT: LEFT OFF FUNERAL SPEAKERS LIST (Updated)

Drudge Report | 6/8/04

[lainie]

Controversy develops over Reagan funeral speakers...

'President Clinton really held out all hope the funeral would be a nonpartisan event, like Nixon's was,' a top Clinton source said on Tuesday morning. 'He's angry and disappointed neither he nor President Carter have been asked to speak, as of yet'...

---

UPDATED:

---

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX TUE JUNE 08, 2004 11:02:52 ET XXXXX

CLINTON DISAPPOINTMENT: LEFT OFF FUNERAL SPEAKERS LIST

Former President Bill Clinton has privately expressed anger he has apparently been left off the speakers list of Friday's Reagan State Funeral, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

"President Clinton really held out all hope the funeral would be a nonpartisan event, like Nixon's was," a top Clinton source said on Tuesday morning. "He's angry and disappointed neither he nor President Carter have been asked to speak, as of yet."

The top source says Clinton has been critical that both Bush presidents will address the crowd gathered at National Cathedral.

Nixon's vice president Gerald Ford did not speak at Nixon's funeral.

Clinton's inner circle is convinced Nancy Reagan has personally shut out Clinton from any high-profile participation.

"It is a state funeral, using tax dollars," the top Clinton insider explained.

Former President George H.W. Bush, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney will join President Bush in eulogizing Ronald Reagan, Reagan's office announced. Presiding over the service will be former Sen. John Danforth of Missouri, who is an ordained Episcopal priest. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and the Rabbi Harold Kusher will give readings, while Irish tenor Ronan Tynan will sing.

The eulogy is being prepared by President Bush's chief speechwriter, Michael Gerson, who also wrote the president's moving speech for a memorial service in the same cathedral after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Developing...

[mewzilla]

Per FNC: The hypocritical line-jumper (my editorial comment there) is due to gate crash at approx. 2:15 local time.

[RightWingMama]

I've missed your wonderful posts. Welcome back.

[Constantine XIII]

Ol Bubba must be too self absorbed to realize that the reason Ford, GHWB, and GWB were invited to speak is because they knew and liked President Reagan while he was alive instead of waiting for a politically opportune moment to praise him.

[GoLightly]

During a state funeral, the textbook of etiquette gets pulled out & used.

[doug from upland]

L.D. Brown at the March for Justice ---

I gaze now on the White House and think of Vince walking its halls. And that leads me to a memory from the days when Bill was governor. Hillary and Chelsea and my wife and I were up in Washington together and driving in a cab past the White House. Little Chelsea, upon seeing this big white house, began begging her mother and nanny - my wife - to take her on a tour. The supposedly sweet, motherly Hillary launched into her usual sharp scolding of her daughter. Chelsea was quiet and Hillary looked out the window at the White House, then home to President Ronald and Nancy Reagan and told her child "Chelsea, I'll take you on a White House tour when someone decent lives there!"

(by decent, I wonder if she means someone who stains the Great Seal with semen while he is on duty in the Oval Office)

[NavySEAL F-16]

Supposed to be at 2:15 local time, PDT. 5:15 EDT.

[Bahbah]

LOL.

[uncitizen]

Clinton spoke on Sunday on one of the cable channels (MSNBC i think). And he, of course, made the whole thing about himself. He made it about politics (loosely disguised i might add) and he lied too, naturally. He said that he really loved Ronald Reagans movies, and, as a matter of fact, was just watching one about a month ago. And at the time he was in the process of writing his book. And the movie was so good that he just had to stop writing and watch the movie. He talked about himself so much youda thought he was the one who died.

[taildragger]

Hey Bill, (yes the one from Chapiqua)

I know the Gipper would never say this, being a positive uplifting American that he was, but from me and many other freepers that have worked in some rough arena's who may not be so magnanimous and haven't read our Dale Carnegie in a while:

%#&* !*+ and the horse you rode in on...

And if you don't like that:

"Win one for the Gipper and stick it to the wife of the "Zipper".

[GretchenM]

Clinton's inner circle is convinced Nancy Reagan has personally shut out Clinton from any high-profile participation.

If Drudge's report is accurate: A statesman does not criticize a widow in the first hours of her grief.

What a piece of work he is. Funerals are not equal opportunity speaking events.

He's probably adding a codicil to his will to exclude all Reagan heirs from speaking at his funeral!

[HungarianGypsy]

As far as I know FedEx is going to be open on Friday.

[RandallFlagg]

So, that's in one hour and 45 minutes?

Here's to hoping they rail him and shout, "BACK OF THE LINE! YOU WAIT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!"

[cold_dead_fingers]

I know that we will not do that. But I know that there are some here that would turn this into a political rally, if they were in charge. I have every confidence that Nancy and the planners of the state funeral will keep it a dignified event worthy of this great man. I am not concerned that this will be some sick political rally. That is why I said we are not cut out of the same cloth.

I do want to reiterate that there are those who would, in a heartbeat, turn this into a political event. I think you know that is the case. Many of them post on this board. I don't think it would be their intention, but it would be the result. I am not even sure that Wellstone's family was attempting to make a mockery of their dad's/husband's funeral. The result was all that mattered, though. I am not one to look at someone's intentions, since I believe in personal responsibility. The road to hell is paved...etc. The Wellstone memorial was an embarrassment to the nation, IMO. To boo someone at a funeral for political purposes shows the complete lack of couth and respect of the average democrat.

[GoLightly]

Whereas, I think every one of us little people should issue orders for him to be sent an invite to come to our funerals. If he doesn't show, the media should be notified. It's time to end the BS about him "caring" for little people, once & for all.

[mewzilla]

All Toon will compliment the former president on is his movies? Figures.

[mystery-ak]

Just when you thought the Clintons couldn't surprise you with anything else....BAM!....what a POS....I hope Nancy holds firm and is not talked into this.

[Inspectorette]

Are we gonna have a "Lurch Alert" live thread?

[PhiKapMom]

Would bet that the Reagans will be just as happy not to attend Bubba's funeral. In fact, I would guarantee that Michael Reagan would not want to attend!

[lainie]

I agree. And I'll add that Clinton's probably dreamed this whole thing up in his spiteful little mind, anyway. He's not naturally going to be Nancy's first choice, you know what I mean? And there are a LOT of others who were friends of President Reagan's who will be honored. So that's all there is to it.

[HenryLeeII]

Did Clinton ever once say a kind or respectful word about the man while he was alive? No! All we heard was the "worst economy since the Depression" and all the rest of the clap-trap. Mrs. Reagan is being more gracious than my wife would ever be just by letting the traitorous garbage attend...