Posted on 06/09/2004 8:29:29 AM PDT by kattracks
Perhaps too busy still mourning the loss of his business partner Saddam Hussein, chief French quisling Jacques Chirac is not only refusing to attend former President Ronald Reagan's funeral on Friday, his government doesn't even list a representative who will attend.Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder are the only G-8 leaders who have confirmed plans to attend. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected as well, along with former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Prince Charles.
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin says he will not attend and is sending Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson. Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is expected.
Others on the list for the ceremony include former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, Irish President Mary McAleese, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Romanian President Ion Iliescu, Acting Lithuanian President Arturas Paulauskas, former Polish President Lech Walesa, former Finnish President Mauno Koivisto, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Australian Governor General Maj. Gen. Michael Jeffrey, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, Slovakian President Rudolf Schuster, Grenadan Governor General Sir Daniel Williams, former Danish Prime Minister Poul Schlueter, Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Lars Engqvist and Indian External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh.
I meant the Government of France...and you knew it.
"My first reaction is to launch insults his way but this is a very good thing: he simply isn't welcome in the USA."
I agree. It is a no-class move, but would we want Castro, Kim, Qadaffy or any of the other loser leaders there? Chirac belongs in their company, not Reagan's.
lad to see Lech Walensa can make it.
I've heard she recorded this tape some years ago .. before she was told by her doctors that she could no longer continue to do public speaking.
It is a precedent, but only because of the physical limitations of her circumstances. And .. even though she is not really in good health, she will be attending the funeral, unlike Chirac (who has no excuse for his rudeness).
I believe that she recorded her eulogy in advance, due to advice from her doctors. IIRC, Lady Thatcher had a number of strokes over the years.
BTW, I'm really PO'd about this... IIRC, wasn't Chirac the mayor of Paris when President Reagan visited, and the two seemed friendly at the time. If he doesn't show (or send someone), it will prove that he's a total scumbag!
Mark
President George W. Bush will be one of the major speakers. And .. quite frankly, ALL DEMOCRATS will be only a minor blip on the screen.
Thanks for the correction. I confess that I do not watch Canadian politics closely. Chretien is still "mud" in my book. I'm glad the Canadians have the good grace to send the appropiate representative.
Holy cow, Ivan. You're only 31? You're pretty damn wise for your age.
Here's hoping you stick around this time.
The story is that the Reagans requested her to speak, and because of her failing health she tape recorded the message a few years ago.
What the dems don't know is that she will probably say that it was only because of Reagan's policies that the Soviet Union was destroyed. She was firmly convinced Reagan was the key; even while the dems were saying the Soviets were falling apart anyway so Reagan was just lucky.
When you're the leader of a country - you don't need to ask permission to attend. I'm confident Schroeder made the decision himself.
I think they're pouting because the UN didn't agree to their idea of Iraq being able to control the actions of OUR MILITARY.
Dan, she's had several heart attacks. I understand she recorded this tribute a couple of years ago before she became so ill. She loves RR and wanted to be at her best for the tribute.
Maybe we could find some Nazis that still want to invade Chirac's country--only this time we could all go bowling.
Something must have been lost in translation.
Three times, if you count Viet Nam. Of course, they'll bring up our Revolutionary War, to which I reply, "And what side were you on during the French & Indian War?" "What have you done for me lately?!?!?!"
Mark
Welcome back, Ivan! Good to see you again!!! I've always enjoyed your remarks.
So who in the h&%l wants him anyway?
Lady Thatcher will be speaking by videotape..
&&
I read in the paper that she will be attending.
Next stop: Gaulistan.
**
LOL! But, sadly, not that far off reality. :O
So glad to see you back, friend.
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