RR Funeral: Democrats Not Wanted
 

CLINTON DISAPPOINTMENT: LEFT OFF FUNERAL SPEAKERS LIST

Apparently Carter's also cut out.

Kind of disgusting that they'd try and turn a state funeral into a Republican campaign event.

Yeah, I know Reagan was a Republican -- but he was also a President, and as such represented something bigger than his own ideological and political viewpoint.

Maybe if Clinton had been going on about his plans for spitting on the corpse, I'd understand, but considering his statement thus far on Reagan...

...really, this is some petty, petty shit.

NOTE: It is of course the Drudge report, so, well, there you go. If I come across a more reputable source for this, I'll put that up. If Friday comes and we all see Clinton's and/or Carter's long and moving oratory on behalf of his fellow president and ideological opposition, consider the preceding wholly retracted.

Repubs have tried to turn Reagan into some kind of partisan demigod. Reagan hasn't been able to protest as his mind has been more or less gone the last decade. This doesn't fit the image of the man who had close personal friends who were Democrats, who said that FDR was a great president, who managed to get legislation he wanted passed through a majority Democratic Congress.

Politics has gotten a lot more hateful since his time. BTW, I think Reagan was a horrible president, but I can respect him on a personal level.

Considering that the Republicans aren't even going to be on the Illinois ballot, barring litigation, then, yeah, I could understan them being bitter about it.

Who the non sequitor what now?

I suppose I could explain, eloquently and at length, how wrong you are to think that the Republicans actually have some cause for complaint in Illinois...

Except, well, the whole matter has nothing to do with anything mentioned here in any way whatsoever. So I think I'll save my energy for any kind of actual response to the actual subject at hand.

[QUOTE=fifthfiend]
I suppose I could explain, eloquently and at length, how wrong you are to think that the Republicans actually have some cause for complaint in Illinois...
QUOTE]

Personally, I'd like to know what the hell ya'll are talking about regarding the Illinois ballot.


But as for the Reagan service: Its a bit understandable that Carter wouldn't be asked, since they were direct political rivals, and much nastiness was perpetuated between them around the 1980 election. Clinton, though... as much as I dislike Clinton, I wouldn't bar him from saying a few things about Reagan.

While I'm not surprised that there aren't an equal number of dems as republicans speaking, I am surprised that no democrats at ALL would be allowed/asked to speak at Reagan's funeral service. It seems excessively heavy handed, even for the GOP.

Well, what the hell...

For the edification of fellow forumites, I offer the following brief summary of the matter. I have kept it entirely nonpartisan, as I have no burning desire to get into this particular argument:

The GOP scheduled its national convention for August 30 through September 2. This is uncharacteristically late for a national convention, they generally go in mid-summer (for example, the Democratic convention starts July 26).

The problem is that Illinois electoral law requires candidates to be certified before August 30, while President Bush will not receive the nomination until Sept. 2.

Thus far the Democratic Party dominated Illinois Legislature has not changed its election laws to permit registration at a later date. Two bills have been put before the legislature thus far, but both have been defeated by Illinois Republicans who objected to various other provisions of the legislation.

There is current talk of filing in federal court for an injunction to make the state of Illinois put Bush on the ballot.

Then again, you have to consider this:

After being shot, Regean was taken to the nearest hospital. The first thing -first thing- that he says to the team of doctors before they start: "Please tell me you're Republicans."

But really, this doesn't seem petty to me. Your best friend just died. Would you let someone neither you nor he likes speak at his funeral?

So the guy has a sense of humor.

Err... what makes you think they don't like them? I don't see any reason. Just because you're versing each other on the ballot doesn't mean you hate each other. I mean, Clinton didn't even verse him on the ballot. What makes you say they hate one another?

i was unaware the GOP was in charge of reagans funeral. Funny, I thought that usually the family arranges the funeral.

Reagans' speakers are all limited to people who dealth with him - his vice president, his fellow leader from England, etc. Even his appointment to the Supreme Court is doing a reading. It isn't about Republicans and Democrats. Clinton had no interaction of any meaning with Reagan. If a Dem has to be included, and one doesn't, it should be one he went to mat with, like Carter or Mondale.

Now, we all might remember that Minnesota funeral of a few years ago that turned into a political rally. Let's hope Reagans' does not mirror that. But there is nothing low class with not asking Clinton to speak about someone he didn't really know.

I think it already has turned into a political rally..