Comments on: Reid to Miss Ford Funeral for Andean Junket

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:11:02 +0000

Ugh:

Presidents are, in addition to their primary role as head of government, the defacto head of state. As such, their funerals are symbolic occasions for the nation, not just the morning of a former politician.

As such, I get the argument Ed and others make about why it's important for Reid and others to go. I just think, under these circumstances, it's reasonable enough to prioritize a foreign policy trip.

By: Ugh

Ugh — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:50:46 +0000

I find these state funerals for Presidents odd and too closely resembling royalty, for my taste.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:19:16 +0000

Make that 'Islamic faith'. Tells you how much I talk about the subject at TFM. I prefer giving out Knucklehead awards.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:17:05 +0000

James,

I agree with you on Reid, but the reaction from much of the blogosphere is predictable. Take a favorite conservative punching bag( Cynthia McKinney, Jimmy Carter, Ward Churchill, Just about anyone of the Muslim faith etc etc)sprinkle in even the slightest of disagreements or out of step action and all of sudden half the bloggers on the right are piling on to the person. Think of it, how many times have we seen this happen?

Bill

By: Conservative Outpost

Conservative Outpost — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 16:52:20 +0000

Daily Summary...

NEWS: - Bush, National Security Advisers Work on New Iraq Policy - Populist Edwards Announces Presidential Bid in New Orleans - SC County Approves Illegal Immigration Measure - Mass. court will not force gay marriage vote - Ford's state funeral......

By: Don Surber

Don Surber — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 16:24:38 +0000

Why I call him Tara...

James Joyner at Outside the Beltway called it what it is an Andean junket....

By: Triumph

Triumph — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:52:23 +0000

I’m not sure how tightly scheduled the presidents of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru are.

Yes, I am sure that these leaders of large, complex executive bureaucracies do nothing but sit around sipping rum waiting on foreign dignitaries to visit.

They are just stupid third world countries, after all.

By: PoliBlog ™: A Rough Draft of my Thoughts » Outrage, Reid and the Ford Funeral

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:03:22 +0000

[...] This has caused some consternation in some quarters of the Blogosphere. James Joyner note: Several in the blogosphere are incensed by this. Hugh Hewitt demands that they “Turn. The. Plane. Around.” Ed Morrissey calls it a “classless act” and says the Senators “should be ashamed of themselves.” Kim Priestap thinks it “disrespectful, not to mention classless.” Some of their commenters are less kind. [...]

By: DailyWrit

DailyWrit — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

make and sign treaties and appoint ambassadors to the President. Congress, on the other hand, is given the power to ratify or reject the President’s treaties, confirm Ambassadors, and, of course, provide funding for nearly everything. Normally these silly little Congressional junkets give Congressmen a chance to stay in swanky international hotels and meet with quasi-important bureaucrat from exotic nations on the taxpayers dime. Fine. The President (usually) has no qualms with Congressmen traveling the world and singing the

By: Redstate | Conservative News and Community

Redstate | Conservative News and Community — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

the three nations are in need of improvement. Apparently, Reid has a deadline for improved relations that requires him to accomplish it on the day of Gerald Ford's funeral. More reaction from Hugh Hewitt, who's equally ticked, and James Joyner over at OTB, who isn't. Put me down as being 'unsurprised'. Which reminds me: Senators Judd Gregg, Bob Bennett? Kamere. Closer. Closer... (WHAPP!) (WHAPP!) Bad Senators! BAD! There's a former President lying in state at Capitol! You don't go to South

By: http://www.elephantsordonkeys.com

http://www.elephantsordonkeys.com — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

nations are in need of improvement. Apparently, Reid has a deadline for improved relations that requires him to accomplish it on the day of Gerald Ford’s funeral. More reaction from Hugh Hewitt, who’s equally ticked, and James Joyner over at OTB, who isn’t. Put me down as being ‘unsurprised’. Which reminds me: Senators Judd Gregg, Bob Bennett? Kamere. Closer. Closer… (WHAPP!) (WHAPP!) Bad Senators! BAD! There’s a former President lying in state at Capitol! You don