Posted on 06/08/2004 8:54:12 AM PDT by lainie
Edited on 06/08/2004 11:18:28 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
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'...
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...
Just who you want speaking at your funeral...an impeached president who should have been in jail instead of pardoning other crooks.
I don't think that one of the greatest presidents needs to be eulogized by the impeached president.
This is exactly the reason Clinton was not invited to speak. Clinton knows it, but has no shame.(when has he ever)
When Reagan took office, Mariam Edeleman and Hillary Clinton were running the Children's Defense Fund. They were using government funds appropriated for "the children" for political donations. Reagan caught on and put and end to it. They had a heck of a battle over this, it is documented in James Stewart's "Blood Sport"
Amen!
Two or more popped up this very day to trash Bob J and diotima.
Why, you ask?
Because at their own personal expense, they had the NERVE to rent an RV and drive to the parking lot where the good folks of this country were lining up to board the buses to go pay their respects to Ronald Reagan! They were accused of turning it into a FREEP, for gawds sake, because they actually put a Free Republic sign on the outside so that OUR PEOPLE, Freepers, could find them and use the RV as a rest area while they waited!
Shocking, huh?
There are some really mean people on this site who see evil everywhere. Disgusting.
Kept reading "speak" and thinking "attend", for some reason.
Of course, all living ex-Presidents are invited--duh!--but not all can or do speak (as was pointed out about Nixon's funeral).
In other words, as the kids say these days, "my bad".
I couldn't have said it better. Nicely put!
I forgot to finish my reply to you. I like to think maybe, RR does know about the outpouring of love for him.
Did you read the other article on Drudge (from a New York paper) that tells of him opening his eyes after 5 days, looking at Nancy before his last breath and she and his kids said he looked at her with clear eyes as if he recognized her? He was about to "go home". Seems likely to me.
You really don't get it -- this is Nancy's call -- Clinton is an ex-President not the President.
When Ford wasn't asked to speak at Nixon's funeral, it was obvious that this was not a normal event with the way Ford became President.
President Bush #41 was Pres Reagain's VP for EIGHT years -- huge difference.
Surprised she is inviting the scum along with Carter who never had a good thing to say about President Reagan when he was alive. She has the class to invite them and the class to make sure they don't speak. You sure have a short memory because Clinton would take over the service and go on forever.
At the OKC Bombing Memorial dedication, Clinton was asked by Gov Keating not to make it a photo op -- he is not on the grounds five minutes and turns it into a photo-op. Clinton deserves nothing IMO and less if possible.
To make an issue of this as political when the Country and Mrs. Reagan is in mourning is just another example of the lowlife and why he shouldn't be allowed to speak.
Where were you when the DemocRATs wouldn't allow VP Cheney to attend the Wellstone funeral -- repeat attend not speak but attend? Now that was political.
This is the wishes of Mrs. Reagan and as a grateful nation we should honor her wishes and not say she should have Clinton speak when it is obvious that her and a host of Americans do not think it is fitting for an impeached President to speak at President's Reagan's funeral on Friday! Clinton disgraced the Office of the Presidency and President Reagan respected the Office of the Presidency so much he refused to even take off his jacket.
Clinton made his own problems so now he can stuff it and out of respect for Mrs. Reagan, Clinton and his staff should shut-up!
I agree. I would not ever do anything that would damage the memory of President Reagan. He brought this country back to greatness. I am eternally grateful.
. . .yes, non-partisan; like the Dems have ever exercised such control over themselves; and of course, Clinton cannot avoid stepping into 'the partisan' by his being compelled to remind us 'it is tax dollars and a state event
. Oh yes, Clinton just cannot help but be his partisan, classless little self and with a wife, no better.Will we be subjected to Hillary's 'eyes rolling; mouth tightening and grimmacing' scenes at Reagan's funeral?
Hopefully a camera will not come close to either Clinton and the Carter's as well. Or. . .Ted Kennedy; Tommy Daschle and Liberal ilk, ad nauseum.
Thanks for your comments! That's how it struck me as well!
Hillary may have him stuffed and put on display at his liebrary.
ROTFL! And I thought it was just me who felt this way, LOL.
I think maybe we all need a three-martini lunch right about now.
And if I manage to down three martinis, I'll have to vote absentee because the hangover will last until Christmas.
Thanks for the background on that. Another reason to admire the Yankee Clipper.
As will the 'Toon's funeral will be a state funeral, using tax dollars. His won't be soon enough though.
I hope Slick is so mad that he won't show up for the funeral.
I turned Hannity on to see who the guests will be. Peggy Noonan will be one, in case anyone else is interested. I like hearing from her.
C'mon LincolnLover, do you think for a second that the majority of Reagan voters and admirers who ignored CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC etc. will give a rats ass about how the mediots and the clintons will spin this? They love Reagan more than they do the midget media and the clintons.
LOL!
LOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.