President Ford RIP

[rory_20_uk]

So, the lesson regarding the pardon: if you are to do something, make sure that it is so immensely large that to even bring it to trial would embarass the country for years into the future...

If a trial would be so hurtful, make it a closed session. All evidence Top Secret. There are ways and means to do so if one wants.

That he chose the easy way out and pardoned Nixon shows a complete lack of conviction, and that he was very much a "fill in" President.

[InsaneApache]

Yeah but he could walk and chew gum at the same time! Now; can you say that about Shrub?

[KukriKhan]

I feel the need to refrain from commenting on Banquo's Ghost's brilliant opening post - until the man is in the ground, or dead 3 days, out of respect for his family.

That said, here's the short version, as a place-holder: good guy, sucked into a whirlwind, made a bad decision, which unexpectedly didn't kill the country, so maybe it was OK in the longer run.

Rest in Peace.

[JimBob]

That he chose the easy way out and pardoned Nixon shows a complete lack of conviction, and that he was very much a "fill in" President.

Why? Nixon was disgraced and out of the Presidency. Rather than have it drawn out in front of the nation Ford made it history and moved the nation forward. If you want to see how an arduous Presidential trial goes look at Clinton's. That did nothing to help the nation.

[Divinus Arma]

I find it ammusing by how little anyone here actually cares about this, but yet how saturated the news media is with this.

Way too much pomp for one man. Very few men deserve such a dog and pony show, and being President alone does not, in my lowly opinion, merit such grandeur.

I would rather see this for each man killed defending his nation. And every crippled troop should be honored similarly.

Crapola 100%.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Way too much pomp for one man. Very few men deserve such a dog and pony show, and being President alone does not, in my lowly opinion, merit such grandeur.

I would rather see this for each man killed defending his nation. And every crippled troop should be honored similarly.

Perhaps it is a bit much, but I fail to see the harm in celebrating the efforts of a decent man -- even as I agree with you that there are many others whose efforts have earned some celebration.

[rory_20_uk]

I find it amusing by how little anyone here actually cares about this, but yet how saturated the news media is with this.

Way too much pomp for one man. Very few men deserve such a dog and pony show, and being President alone does not, in my lowly opinion, merit such grandeur.

I would rather see this for each man killed defending his nation. And every crippled troop should be honoured similarly.

Crapola 100%.

I heartily agree.

[Major Robert Dump]

Ford was okay.

but the fact that Nixon enjoyed full citizneship rights until his death (ie the right to vote) disturbs me. As does the fact that the pardon enabled a naiive dimwit (carter) to be elected, who then pardoned draft dodgers under the same pretense as Fords pardon (to heal the nation).

I'll pay respect to the dead commander n chief, but all this crap about him healing the nation is a load of dog poo. Hindsight is 20/20, and Nixon should have been hung out to dry. Just another politician looking out for another pol as far as i'm concerned.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I find it ammusing by how little anyone here actually cares about this, but yet how saturated the news media is with this.

Way too much pomp for one man. Very few men deserve such a dog and pony show, and being President alone does not, in my lowly opinion, merit such grandeur.

I would rather see this for each man killed defending his nation. And every crippled troop should be honored similarly.

Crapola 100%.

Yes, but it is not just the man you bury, you also bury the president of the United States. The man Gerald Ford farts and craps just like everybody else. The president Gerald Ford does not.

As a president he represents and embodies the state, the democratic will of the people. It is therefore that he should recieve a state funeral, not because his life is in any way more valuable than that of any other citizen.

A state should have rituals, some pomp and grandeur. They serve a purpose. It strengthens the continuity of the state and the unity of the nation. I thought it was all very tastefully done, a sign of a mature democracy, in the sense that America's state rituals are a great blend of respect and anti-authoritarianism. There was a complete absense of any personal worship yet a great respect for the office.

I saw him lie in state at the rotunda on television. A bit militaristic for my liking, but very tastfully done. Very protestant in its restraint. Beautiful.

[Divinus Arma]

Yes, but it is not just the man you bury, you also bury the president of the United States. The man Gerald Ford farts and craps just like everybody else. The president Gerald Ford does not.

As a president he represents and embodies the state, the democratic will of the people. It is therefore that he should recieve a state funeral, not because his life is in any way more valuable than that of any other citizen.

A state should have rituals, some pomp and grandeur. They serve a purpose. It strengthens the continuity of the state and the unity of the nation. I thought it was all very tastefully done, a sign of a mature democracy, in the sense that America's state rituals are a great blend of respect and anti-authoritarianism. There was a complete absense of any personal worship yet a great respect for the office.

I saw him lie in state at the rotunda on television. A bit militaristic for my liking, but very tastfully done. Very protestant in its restraint. Beautiful.

I agree with you only when that President is still in office at the time of his death. The office, as you point out, has been passed on to another. And although the man retains many honors as a product of the former title, the state he represents no longer.