Falstaff

Now it hangs in the whitehouse, and I listened to George Bush give a great warm speech about the man he replaced. it was odd to say the least, but Bill actually got Kudos from Pres. Bush and made Bill Clinton blush, although many of us hear and see the dogged determination that the canidates go after each other, it is refreshing to see that politics indeed makes strange bed fellows...I dont personally care for Bill Clinton but it was inspiring to see our president rise above it all and give Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary praise for they are taking their place with other in the long line of public servants and temporary residents of the white house. We americans can be accused of devoting a great deal of time to the cult of personality, but I think the admiration of our former presidents is well deserved, and to see the president that I elected deliver a truly candid and warm delivery of praise for a man that his constituents would rather ignore in the face of the coming elections proves that G. Bush is the best man for the job. I was inspired and feel fortunate to have seen it..

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malkor

I take a MUCH more cynical view of these things. What drivel!

Insincerity is in no way inspiring to me. Taking full advantage of a photo op and talking out of the side of one's mouth is in no way inspiring to me either. Watching these guys pat each other on the back disingenuously gives me a smarmy feeling. I don't buy into this kind of stuff at all.

The effect it had upon you is just the desired effect it was designed for. Makes me feel very uncomfortable to watch and irritated at the attempt at being treated like a fool.

Falstaff

again....politics makes strange bedfellows...and yes...I dont trust either...but Clinton less...lol

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bluelight

If you look upon his act as ..respect for "the job of being president" respect for ...the function of being a democratically elected leader of a nation then i think one can look aside most of the other questions...just for a couple of minutes.

I figure that is what Bush had the good taste to do.Im sure Clinton had done the same..

It is of course a game..a show..and...we tend do need these kind of things.

Personally i accept such a show if its purpose is to manifest respect for democracy.

Bluelight

zerodamage

I think everyone, or most everyone is on a high from Reagan's death last week. While it was sad that he died, most celebrated what he accomplished and I think that put Bush and most others in a good mood which carried over into this week. I saw some of this also and I noticed the stunned looks on Clinton's face.

raid517

I didn't mind Regan too much, like Bush he didn't strike everyone as the sharpest card in the deck - but Regan had something Bush doesn't - which is a genuinely warm and likable quality. He had 'it' - what ever it was. Personality and charm I guess. Of course I disagreed with him fundamentally on almost all of his political views - but he did get things done - and in his own way he helped contribute towards the end of the cold war - without ever needing to fire a single shot. Communism was doomed anyway - as a workable ideal it was simply impractical - but he did much to hasten its end.

Well anyway I was kind of wondering why no one had mentioned Regan this last week.

Is it just me or was his funeral just a bit over the top? It looked more like you were burying a King than a President.

Do you do that for all your Presidents? It seems very... well... decadent really... We don't do that kind of thing for our politicians. We prefer them to shuffle off quietly in smaller much more dignified affairs.

Still each to their own I guess.

GJ

malkor

There actually was a thread , but of course, as usual, it degraded into a bunch of nonsense.