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...
"One can only imagine the tasteless spectacle planned by Clinton."
Rush was talking about this today. Seems someone, Boston Globe I think, was complaining about the Reagans making their own plans. He said every President has plans on file except Clinton. He then said how hard can it be to plan a kegger and some babes. Love that Rush.
Clinton was president at the time. Its Protocal. Ford didn't get to speak as I recall. I can just imagine a speech by Clinton:
"You know we're here today out of respect for one of this country's greatest Presidents! But believe it or not, I'm not going to talk about me. I mean even thought the stock market was at all time highs under me, and there were more jobs under my administration, I'm here to talk about Reagan."
The only disagreements I have seen on this forum concerning this event are the ones where some of us, myself included, are appalled at Kerry going to the library for what we consider to be his "Kodak moment" with that casket and Clinton wanting to speak at the funeral.
Suffice it to say we were the minority.....and we got totally trashed by our fellow Freepers telling us basically that if Kerry and Clinton wanted to appear as opportunists and make a fool out of themselves, we don't have to sink to their level.
I've seen nothing except one Freeper after another reminding those of us who have gone off half torqued that WE really ARE different from them.
Thankfully, we're all here together to reel those of us who are wont to hysterics IN! :-)
Disgusting is right. It started out with these turkeys praising Clinton and then Kerry's comments. I stayed away for a couple of days to calm down because I wanted to level them. I am calmed down and still want to level them! :)
DU must not have much going on as they have turned up over here!
I wonder if Slick and Dick Morris still talk. Is that the "top Clinton source?" Or maybe it's someone from the Hillary staff.
Who exactly is we?
This is about the Reagan family wishes, not politics.
You still don't get it.
He wasn't the only one. Clinton tried to get Tiger Woods to appear in Harlem with him and Jesse Jackson, Tiger politely refused, even after an advisor told him, "you just do not turn down the POTUS" He then went on vacation to Mexico.
There is no question blubba is up to something dirty with this whine, if it's accurately presented.
Just what that is, I cannot fathom. He has a twisted, conniving, corrupt mind and I don't.
I wouldn't be surprised if the 'Toon, with his brilliant political acumen, told Lurch it would be a good idea to show up at the Library today.
They will find an issue regardless. When will we ever learn: there is no appeasing the liberal press. Clinton spoke at Nixon's funeral only because he was the sitting president. Neither Clinton or Carter have any historical reason to expect an invitation to speak. Regardless, the media will try to present this as a breach of protocol. If "we" were to give in and say, "Okay, let Carter speak and so don't give the media an issue," it wouldn't make any difference except to alter protocol in a bad way, a protocol that would certainly NOT be reciprocated -- and whose lack of reciprocation would NOT be noted as an "issue" in the press at future funerals of liberal politicians.
The "issue" is bogus -- how can you remove something that is bogus? You can't -- you can only look weak and foolish trying.
About Mike Reagan, I haven't seen him in the tiny bits of news coverage I've seen on TV. Do you know if he was at the family's private funeral service -- the one where Mrs. Reagan laid her cheek against the flag on the casket?
You'e probably correct.. I'd surmise too that the family will not want a state funeral in DC..the comparisons to the Reagan funeral would be inevitable..and the incessant eulogies of Ford as the "man who pardoned Nixon"
I am with you 100%! I just received an email from the AF News Service that F-15's out of Seymour Johnson will be doing the fly-by for the Memorial Service.
Yes I watched the whole thing live. He and his family were right there.
Bump !!
Really. Isn't it disgusting?
He was at the family's private service. He also was on Fox and talked for quite awhile - recalling some fond memories of his dad.
MSBNC is reporting that Kerry IS going to the library today.
As a side note my lovely wife stood on the Yosemite overpass yesterday waving our large American flag as the motorcade went by. She then drove to Moorpark college and paid our respects to the greatest president of our time. And this after working two 13 hour graveyard shifts at Simi hospital Saturday and Sunday night. God I love this woman!
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