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...
LOL!
I thought you were going to D.C.!
No matter what happens, look for the LA Slimes to put a positive spin on it, I will be reading it, not!!
Sorta off topic....Hannity just said that Kerry has pulled up to the memorial in Simi Valley.
Hannity just said that Kerry's motorcade just pulled up to the library.
Our family is also very grateful. My MBA (UCLA) is signed by Ronald Reagan and my son is so very proud of that. In 1980 my wife carried our son into the voting booth -- his first presidential election and he loves telling that story about the first president he ever voted for at 14 months! That sheepskin is something that I will be very proud to hand down to him.
I agree with you 100%!
Clinton wants to hog the spotlight! He did that at the OKC Bombing Memorial when asked not to do so. He hasn't changed and I can imagine his speech is just what you said -- compliment Pres Reagan and backslap Pres Bush.
Have seen Freepers doing it on here not to mention the media and RATs. Makes me want to scream!
I get in to DC at 1030 am tomorrow (Wed), and I guess I'll get right in line, I've only got 20 hours till I fly back home.
MSNBC said Kerry is suppose to be there at 2:15 PDT.
Agree. He wants to make the comparison in his ability to give a speech and have it compared to President Bush. BillyJeff only cares about himself. Does he know what the word gracious means?
None of the news nets have Jean on yet. Wonder if CNN and MSNBC are holding back in case he gets booed and/or heckled.
Oh good! Thank you for that info. The PBS footage concentrated on Patti and Ron Reagan and Mrs. Reagan, not even mentioning Mike, and when they were inside for the short service, I didn't catch where he was. I am so glad he and his family were there.
The question is will Kerry stop the flow of visitors and will he grandstand for the cameras. I vote yes on those two, and do not think the people in line will boo him unless, as you say, he tries to turn it into a campaign event.
It appears that there is only one person and his supporters making this time for dignity and appropriateness a "crass, opportunistic political rally" - and it's not the Reagan family. It's not even the Bush family. It's not even the Government.
Who does that leave?
Pretty obvious.
My mom always believed and preached that old truth that "if you can't say something nice about someone, it's best to be quiet." Sometimes this bunch - our immediate former President and his crowd - make that a very, very hard thing to do.
Because he knows his friends in the media will dwell on his speech and talk about the good old days. He is shameless.
If you go back to the pictures, there's one of he and his wife standing at the foot of the casket, after most everyone has left.
Jean's gonna be at the DC memorials, isn't he? Why does he need to butt in here? Past folks who've been waiting in line for HOURS.
Pre election mental health. Heck, I'm still in need of post election mental health support from last campaign!!!
Limbaugh (today) to Kerry: Don't go! People there already know 1.) you didn't like Reagan, 2.) you're only doing it for
the photo op, and 3.) people standing in line for 10 hours aren't going to be too happy with you zipping by them in your motorcade...
A bit earlier, Rush read some piece about Kerry and funeral that sounded like a press release from Alexandra Kerry's
PR office about her Vietnam story, (BTW, her father served in Vietnam).
Plugging your film during a funeral? Class acts, those Kerrys.
Cuz he's not campaigning this week! Duh! /sarcasm
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