Comments on: Santorum and Kennedy to Attend Pope Funeral

By: Juliette

Juliette — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 01:43:23 +0000

In case you haven't heard already, former President Carter was asked by the White House to go with. Twice. Via his own misuderstanding of the situation, he refused both times.

By: RE Gardner

RE Gardner — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 04:40:49 +0000

For Chris - I know of no US Airbase South of Rome for the Congressmen to stay. There is Aviano AFB, which is near Venice (think DC versus NYC), and the Navy Facilities around Naples (SW - think DC to Philly). The Navy Airbase at Sigonella (Sicily) is way too far to the south. Naples might be an option.

By: kappiy

kappiy — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 03:40:43 +0000

Actually, Carter should be happy. This is probably the worst time to be in Rome--If you think the normal July vacationers that clog the streets making it a two hour queue to check out the Sistine Chapel are bad, 4 million pilgrims is going to make any visit to Italy ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL!

My advice, Jimmy: visit in October--all of the tourists are home by then.

By: baldilocks

baldilocks — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 22:40:25 +0000

Carter and Corzine
Air Force One, which is carrying President Bush, Mrs. Bush, President Clinton, President Bush the elder and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has probably already landed in Rome; its occupants there to attend the Friday funeral of Pope John Paul

By: Juliette

Juliette — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 19:28:27 +0000

One problem, Michael, both the White House and the Carter Center say that the White House *did* invite President Carter, but the latter declined, likely because he couldn't take Mrs. Carter.

What Bush did sounds more childish than presidential.

Is your name really Senator Corzine?

By: Fersboo

Fersboo — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:33:51 +0000

That should be ( R ) not (R).

By: Fersboo

Fersboo — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:32:53 +0000

How about Fersboo's Hypothesis - Every action or lack of action by a politician with a (R) after their name will be ridiculed and be the basis for said politician to be run from office.

By: chris

chris — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:15:28 +0000

My undertsanding is all the congressional attendees are unofficial, and were not invited by the Vatican. The "big 5" are guranteed to get in, the congress-folk not. In fact, they do not have anyplace in Rome to stay, and are staying at a US airbase south of Rome. At least this is what I have heard from Capitol Hill. The congressional delegation was a really hot ticket for some on the Hill.

By: Begalke Blog

Begalke Blog — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 17:57:43 +0000

No offense to Jimmy, but his request is obviously self-serving.

Beyond that, he had the opportunity to attend Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul I's funerals, but snubbed the Catholic Church both times....

In any event, it is sad that much of media's focus is on Jimmy Carter, and not the Pope John Paul II's life and accomplishments.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 17:43:55 +0000

I do love it when others make my point for me. We'll call this one "Fersboo's Law" - it's like Goodwin's Law, except you're called a Radical Leftist instead of a Nazi. Fersboo has obviously never read anything I have written. Not surprisingly, however.

By: Fersboo

Fersboo — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 17:24:43 +0000

Yeah Kevin! Like Michael said, "You can look at the president through your hero glasses if you want." or you can look at him through 'Reality-based' glasses. I understand you can pick those up from various places, such as MoveOn.org and DemocraticUnderground.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 17:15:19 +0000

Kevin: I know you would support just about anything President Bush does, even to the point of trying to make this about previous popes' funerals and the fact that Carter never attended. I know you would decry anyone who disagreed with much of what he does as simply partisan hacks and whiners. That's fine, if you subscribe to a strictly partisan line of doing everything you can to avoid shedding light on the obvious silliness of the president's decision. What this does have to do with, for anyone here who is still open-minded enoiugh to consider that President Bush is a fallible human being, is the fact that he invited all other presidents who were able to travel. Bush didn't invite Carter for one reason and one only - to make a political point - which is childish, and actually quite disgusting considering he is using a great man's funeral to make it. You can look at the president through your hero glasses if you want. It doesn't negate the fact that what he did was wrong. And it doesn't make it right just because Carter didn't attend previous funerals - no matter how much you'd like to spin it that way.

By: Just Me

Just Me — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 16:58:53 +0000

I agree with McGehee.

Carter is just whining. His supporters are whining even more.

I think the US foreign policy would be better off anyway, if he just stuck to building houses.

By: McGehee

McGehee — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 16:56:21 +0000

Michael, previously I downplayed the significance of Carter's not having attended the funerals of Popes Paul VI and John Paul I, but the more of a stink is made about the fact he's not going, I find myself wondering: if it's so all-fired important that he be invited to this one, just why didn't he attend either of those that took place when he was actually President!? The childishness is Carter's, and that of his supporters.

By: Fersboo

Fersboo — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 16:52:41 +0000

Damn that tyrant Bush! I'm voting for Kerry in '08!