The Total Deification of a President

[Bluebear]

Not defecation of a President, that would be the current one.

Rather, Gerald Ford. The funeral pageantry STILL is not over! I still don't have mail! And, yeah, I know, "change the channel". To what?? I am truly surprised it's not being shown on QVC. He's being feted at every single place he every lived. Every musical group from every branch of the military is performing a hymn yet again.

I feel the sorriest for Betty. It's hard enough losing a mate when you're 88, let alone being put through ***SIX SOLD DAYS*** of mourning. The camera focusing on your every tear.

No wonder the monkey feels like a god, that's how we treat US Presidents. Rest in Peace already, President Ford.

[Jacobin]

1. Americans, particularly republicans, are royalists at heart

They are insecure and need and want some deified being, be it king, president, or whatever to be their queen bee.

It is frightening, actually

[Reterr]

So true

Its really creepy...
In general this adoring attitude towards elected reps who are there to do the bidding of the public is very creepy.
No wonder a six year old in Texas worships Cheney (if anyone remembers that one):eyes:

Its like celebrity worship, except even more dangeorus.

I would feel the same about the deification of Democrats too btw. All these people are elected officials who are in office to do their job. Thats why we have to hold their feet to the fire and not just "trust them" and hope all gets well with Iraq, the environment and the economy.

[NEOBuckeye]

25. Maybe that's why they despised Carter

He's a farmer and an unpretentious, down-to-earth, average citizen who struggled and tried his best to do what was in the best interest of the people, not so much for big business or the corporate/monied elitists.

Then came Reagan who was totally clueless about government, gave massive pay days to big business and the monied elitists at the expense of the average middle and working class citizen, and they still loved and worshipped him anyhow, as if he were a king.

I guess a lot of people would rather have drama and suffering under a pretentious lord or ruler, than prosperity and peace under the leadership of an individual a little more in touch with the people he is supposed to serve.:shrug:

[treestar]

29. Exactly!

I also hate it when people say someone like Al Gore is "boring." This country positively needs someone boring! We've been at the drama queen thing too long.

It's as if Kennedy started this charisma thing, the assassination deprived us of it, and we keep looking to replace it.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. Is Bush already lapping up the expected forgiveness he'll receive?

[Cobalt-60]

26. I'll spit my last breath at him

This cur will not be forgiven, nor will his tyranny be forgotten

[malaise]

3. Betty wanted this

She was part of the planning.

[Bluebear]

6. She said "be sure the camera is glued to my face"?

I doubt it.

[WI_DEM]

12. she actually scaled back plans

It's less audacious than the Reagan funeral but pretty much on par with any other presidential funeral. Don't worry it will be over after today.

[EFerrari]

19. It's difficult to believe that someone who quietly and humbly made peace

between her higher power and herself was in favor of this orgy of innuendo laden ostentation.

More likely, she went along -- and in her condition -- with WH bullies.

I've thought more than once that she's being victimized twice this week but, that's just my take.

[saigon68]

30. She should go back to drinking Vodka

LOL

Or was it Scotch or gin ?

[Clinton Crusader]

4. It staggers the mind..

that this is a send off for someone never elected, and served only 2 or so years. I certainly hope when it's Big Dawg's turn, it's comparable. Based on terms served, being elected, etc. his should last a solid MONTH and a half. I'd crawl on my knees through broken glass to get to DC.

[Old and In the Way]

11. You will be amazed at how differently the deaths of Carter and Clinton

will be covered and commented on when it is their turn.

[Clinton Crusader]

17. I doubt I'll be amazed, I expect to hear...

every dirty last detail of what's wrong with both of them, what they said and did wrong, why people hate them, how staggered mediaheads are that anyone showed up at all, etc. Damn Liberal Media.
:eyes:

[Old and In the Way]

22. All packaged in about 15 minutes, too.

Because they will be more pressing stories to discuss...like 'why are Democrats so partisan?' or 'where is that missing white girl?'

[Bluerthanblue]

5. a populace desperate for

some kind of positive affirmation of our 'worth'-
That is how i see this. Pres.Ford was a nice enough man- but this is so far over the top it scrapes the ceiling.

Idolatry. plain and not so simple.

[malaise]

8. It's over

PHEW!

[nam78_two]

7. I was thinking about the same thing

It's hard enough losing a mate when you're 88, let alone being put through ***SIX SOLD DAYS*** of mourning. The camera focusing on your every tear.

If you want to talk about bad taste imo it is this sort of pageantry. How can the family even grieve in peace with this parade, given that it would be considered so shocking if they refused to be put through this. And "deification" is just the right word too. I think it is vulgar and in very poor taste (whoever the president in question is).

[n2doc]

9. The Regasm was the worst, though

I was expecting some of the TV heads to start beating themselves with chains and ripping their clothes in agony over that one. I will stick my heard out and predict that if Carter passes away before Junior is driven from office we will not be seeing anything like this "pagent"....

[Reterr]

14. Oh God yes

That was terrible. And I don't care if it is speaking ill of the dead blah blah...that was just disgusting..
Yeah Reagan-what a hero! Go ask the family members of Sandinista supporters who were brutally butchered by The Guardia about what a hero he was :mad:

Its such hypocrisy-anyone-no matter how awful they were- will get this treatment if they were an American president :eyes:

[WI_DEM]

10. do you have cable? because there are tons of channels that are not carrying

the Ford funeral including--TCM, TV LAND, HIstory Ch, A&E, AMC, several sports channels, ect. I don't know why your mail hasn't come yet (because they are delivering today) probably because of the holiday weekend there is alot more mail to deliver it's taking longer.

[monmouth]

16. Factoid re Harry S. Truman: Ole Harry had planned a five-day tribute

to himself, bragged to his friends that close to a week would be spent in celebration of his life. He died. Bess took over. One viewing, buried the next day. Women rule!!

[TahitiNut]

28. It also makes a difference who's in the White House.

When Truman died (1972), Nixon was in the White House preparing for his eventual resignation. It was in December, after the Watergate break-in. Nixon didn't do any arm-twisting to get Harry's body on display in the rotunda. Harry wasn't a Republican.

A state funeral will be held Thursday in nearby Independence, Mr. Truman's hometown, to mark his passing. Much of the ceremony will be subdued and private at the family's request.
State funerals are conducted only for former commanders in chief, although the President can direct that a state funeral be held for an individual. Modifications in state funerals, which usually cover 4 or 5 days with considerable ceremony, are made at the request of the family, as in this case.
President Nixon has declared the day of burial, Thursday, to be a day of national mourning. The American flag is to be flown at half-mast for thirty days.
The former President's body will lie in state at the Truman Library in Independence from 1:35 P. M. tomorrow until 11 A. M. Thursday. Burial will follow on the Library grounds at a spot chosen by Mr. Truman himself.
President Nixon will fly to Kansas City tomorrow afternoon, then go to the library to lie a wreath at the base of Mr. Truman's coffin. Although it was understood that the President's name was included on the official list of persons invited to attend the funeral, it was expected that, in keeping with the subdued and private nature of the ceremony, he would not stay overnight for the funeral service and burial.
Tomorrow morning the coffin will be transported to the Library on a route that will pass the Victorian Truman home on the way from the Carson Funeral Home a few blocks away.
The service, scheduled to begin at 2 P. M. Thursday, will be held in the Library's 250-seat auditorium. Attendance will be by invitation. Burial will follow immediately.
A memorial service for Mr. Truman here will be held at the National Cathedral in Washington for Federal and foreign dignitaries. No date has been set, but the State Department said it would be within two weeks.

http://www.diplom.org/manus/Presidents/hst/hstobit.html

[Bluebear]

32. 'And, yeah, I know, "change the channel"'

From the OP. Thanks though, I should have thought to look to see what A&E had on. :eyes:

The point if you didn't catch it is the triple-funeral-palooza that is approaching embarrassing in its length now. If nothing else, Ford does not strike me at all as the kind of person who would have wanted this.

[MichiganVote]

13. There was mail delivery today.

[Bluebear]

33. Hallelujah.

[EFerrari]

15. It's macabre, already. You're so right. n/t

[karlrschneider]

18. Our mail finally showed up around 4 p.m. Usually by noon, our mailman was't happy.

...

[NEOBuckeye]

20. If you think this is bad, wait until GHWB goes...

You'll think it was a coronation for an emperor.

[Clinton Crusader]

21. Crikey. I didnt even THINK of that one....geez.

:puke:

[Vinca]

23. An hour or so ago I was threatening to head out there and

plant the guy in the ground myself. The man deserved a wonderful send off, but it's starting to seem like a way of life. (Where's today's funeral?) I feel so sorry for his family having to go through this long ordeal.

[leftchick]

24. It really has gotten out of hand

and it is actually embarrasing to see these fucking spectacles. Even the European blue bloods don't have this sort of waste of pagentry.

:puke:

[many a good man]

27. It's all part of the media-driven CULT OF CELEBRITY

What is it good for?

[Geek_Girl]

31. I think all the media coverage is back firring

My Bush loving Mother Law is even sick of it.