Old colleagues, today's leaders and ordinary Americans remembered him as a man called to heal the country from the wounds of Watergate, the scandal that shattered Richard Nixon's presidency in 1974 and brought the even-keeled Ford to the Oval Office.
Ford's decision to pardon Nixon, so divisive at the time that it probably cost him the 1976 election, was dealt with squarely in his funeral services by his old chief of staff, Vice President Dick Cheney.
"It was this man, Gerald R. Ford, who led our republic safely though a crisis that could have turned to catastrophe," said Cheney, speaking in the Capitol Rotunda where Ford's body rested in a flag-draped casket. "Gerald Ford was almost alone in understanding that there can be no healing without pardon."
Moron #1: Gee, ya think he’s trying to soften up the country to the idea of a presidential pardon?
Moron #2: Duh, I dunno, that thar statement’s pretty cryptic.
Ok, so I know a moron would never use the word “cryptic”.
And just out of curiosity, exactly what “catastrophe” was this country headed for had there not been a pardon? If by country, Mr. P-Pants means the Republican Party, well then ok. A presidential trial certainly would have been a total bummer...for them. But I think the rest of us who were not directly involved in felonious burglary really wanted justice to be served.
The simple fact that Ford couldn’t get elected DOG CATCHER after the pardon pretty much supports this opinion.
Trust me, this will not be the last time we hear the gooey phrase “There can be no healing without pardon”. It would bode well for the next president to keep Ford’s short-lived political career in mind...
PS. Bush didn't attend. Still
Read on here and here
21 comments:
Well, you know I'm a Texas gal. I bleed burnt orange. (Let's not discuss this year's season). So, you also know that one of our big rivals is in your home state, OU. For Christmas, I gave the son a book on the history of 'Horns football. In one section of the book, players and coaches are relating what the rivalry means, what the Texas - OU game is like (mainly an excuse to get drunk as Cooter Brown in downtown Big D). One of the most memorable things for most is coming down that long tunnel out into the Cotton Bowl - and all the verbal abuse teams take on that run, from fans of both sides.
One year, then-President Ford was the guest of honor at the game, and was to do the ceremonial coin toss mid-field. He and Coach Barry Switzer, and the LEGENDARY Darrell Royal were coming down the tunnel when some diehard Sooner jumped up and yelled over the din "Who are those two assholes with Switzer?" Switzer said he wished a hole would open up in the turf. But, the thing is, I know there was some Longhorn who immediately thought to himself, "Shit, I wish I'd said that first."
OMG what a great story! Yep, I know all about the rivalry, the daughter graduated from OU this past spring. She always goes to Dallas for the big game.
I’m sure I don’t even want to know all the gory details!
Oh, I'm sure she just goes shopping and visits the sick in hospitals.
Oh yes, and don’t forget visiting orphans, she loves to visit the orphans!
And I'm sure she goes to one or two museums.
And then she has to make time to give blood at the Red Cross. You know, I'm feeling a lot better about her trips to Dallas.
Now that I think about it, I bet she did a lot of these same things last night while all of her loser friends were just out drinking and partying!
And then she came home, flicked on the T.V, kicked back and enjoyed O.U. stomp all over those little pip-squeaks from Boise State.....................oops
Oh yeah, the chief says thanks, but next time he'd like the smooch in person
Ok, as much as I rail against football, I have to admit, the last 20 minutes of that OU game was pretty darned exciting! I told Clint that if every game was like that, I might not hate it so much. And that last play by I-be-da-ho was such a gutsy call (I had it explained to me). They gambled and won and they deserved it.
What struck me the most was how, in the last 20 minutes of the game, when things were really getting exciting, the stupid, stupid, moronic (I hate them) sportscasters ONLY TALKED ABOUT THE GAME!
See, it’s all the endless, inane BLATHERING that makes me want to drive a shish-ka-bob skewer through my temple…or Clint’s temple. I don’t CARE what the halfback got for Christmas when he was 12. I don’t CARE that the linebacker’s dad walked with a limp. I don’t CARE that the coach’s childhood dog had one eye and a harelip (hairlip?) so that when it made a noise it sounded like “mark, mark!” STFU and talk about the game! Or just STFU!
But it still wasn’t worth the 10 hours (yes 10) of banality I was subjected to beforehand. And I understand there are several more Bowl games this week. I asked Clint what day the Toilet Bowl was going to be played, which was followed by the Dog Bowl, the Fish Bowl, the Cereal Bowl, and the Salad Bowl (I actually thought there could be a Salad Bowl). For some reason, he didn’t find this nearly as amusing as I did.
If you want me, I’ll be in the kitchen, sharpening the skewers...
And I suppose you think the audience members who pass out from nervous anxiety watching two grandmasters playing a chess match are stoooopid also. I mean, what the hell is that all about?....two guys turning into fossils, staring at a board, motionless for hours on end. And those other dopes....Picasso, I.M.Pei, Mozart......jerks all!
Do i have to direct you to quotes from the bible regarding tolerance and "Leaving unto Caeser that which is Caeser's." Clint is Caeser, so next time a game is on, resheath the skewer in it's scabbard,
look lovingly at Caeser through those gorgeous adoring eyes, and do what God would want you to do......"ready for another beer, sweetheart?"
Don't make me come there...
The Fruit Bowl is on tonight at 7:00pm. I'm going to do something special for you, Shooter, and it doesn't involve bringing you a beer!
It's only Jan.2, remember your vow.....More respect please.....I'm older than you.
MIGUEL, GAS UP THE TWIN ENGINE!! I GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE>>>FAST!!!!!
It's only Jan.2, remember your vow.....More respect please.....I'm older than you.
MIGUEL, GAS UP THE TWIN ENGINE!! I GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE>>>FAST!!!!!
I didn't do that twice.....It was God, Watch out girl, you're playing with fire. I didn't write The Book, he did.
Aw shit.....I'm meat
Miguel can run fast enough...
...and neither can you. Remember, you're older than I am!
CAN'T run fast enough...Miguel CAN'T run fast enough.
It really loses some of the scary when you misspell it.
Actually, you may not be in as big a trouble as I had in mind. I was going to post a running tab of all the blathering inanities of the sportscaster, updating the post as I went along. Only trouble is, I keep unconsciously blocking the game out. By the time I realize I’m doing it, 10 minutes have past and I’ve missed what I’m sure are many gems. I can’t seem to force myself to pay attention just to make a point.
Plus, these announcers don’t seem to be as big a butcher of the English language as the regular bozos are, even if they did use the phrase “shock and awe” within the first 5 minutes of the game.
But seeing as how Clint just drew the breath to ask me “Where’s my beer, wench”, you must be punished in some dastardly fashion. When you least expect it...
O.K now we're getting somewhere. You see, you did your comment twice too. I'm tellin you, girl, God is watching this thread (kinda like the chess tournament.) Go ahead, make fun of HIM. Go on..C'mon MooChichie, Chickie, Chickie. Whatsa matter Chickie, Coach got your tongue? O.K. Let me talk to HIM. YOU be quiet. Listen God......uh, I mean, may I have a word with you?..........Sir?.......Please? I know I'M a Bad Boy, but MooBabe only TRIES to be bad. It's kinda funny really, you know God? I mean, even when someone cuts her off on the highway and she gets really pis.....pretty mad (whew!) and flips the bird, she yells out "F'nick you BUdgy, and Up mine too, You Moroon!" You see what I mean, Lord. She's really just a little pus....pretty nice girl( aw man, I think I'm finished) You know Lord? Lord?....(pssst, Moo, I think I saw a little smile. I believe he lipped..."two moroons, duh") O.K. don't say a word, Moo, I'm gonna finish this up now. Lord? Lord? Where the He....heck did he go? Listen Moo.....you hear that? He's laughin his A....robes off. O.K I gotcha outta that one, Moo. Now skip along and get Clint his beer, and I think a nice big dagwood sandwich would be nice too.
And if you got a problem with that, don't come after me, go after HIM.
I am SOOOO not standing next to you! You OR Clint. A pox on the lot of you!
And as far as God is concerned, I’m pretty sure He now refers to us as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dummer.
Guess which one you are!
Turn the sound to mute on football games. You don't need announcers to tell you what just happened. It's quite apparent.
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