Bush to Lead U.S. Delegation to Pope's Funeral

[wicket]

Now it's official :eyes:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1896&ncid=2357&e=9&u=/nm/20050404/us_nm/pope_bush_dc

President Bush will lead the U.S. delegation that will attend the funeral on Friday of Pope John Paul II, the White House said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said first lady Laura Bush would accompany the president and they could leave for Rome as early as Wednesday.

He said other members of the delegation could be announced later on Monday.

Administration officials were scrambling to retool the president's schedule for late this week. Bush was scheduled to be in South Carolina on Thursday and give a speech to U.S. troops at Fort Hood, Texas, on Friday.

[ananda]

1. wooing those Catholic votes, eh.

nt

[alcuno]

17. I'm sure the Italian Catholics will love him. Here he'll be a little man

in a sea of pageantry. This funeral will make Reagan's funeral look like a clambake.

[renaissanceguy]

32. Or rather, influencing the next pope.

Of course we wouldn't want women to become priests, or male priests to have sex, or have our young 'uns using condoms, or have gays be welcomed in the church.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/537124

[Tweed]

46. Bush is running in '08? This is news to me

He's probably going because the Pope is a head of state.

[demnan]

2. Sure of course

he'll milk this for everything he can get. I wouldn't be surprised if Jeb went too.

[soupkitchen]

3. Wants to make sure death penalty advocates are well represented

[realFedUp]

4. Will he look like this?

[thecrow]

5. Of course this means a speech about terra at the Vatican

Maybe they could somehow uninvite him?
What? ...he wasn't invited?
Maybe they could tell him that while the rest of the world
is at the funeral, they want him to be in Crawford Texas guarding the whole world against terra.
That would do it, right?

[Henny Penny]

8. They should....

tell him its too big a risk having him, Blair and Berlosconi under the one roof, what with the terra threat and all... so he should stay at home!

Hey, the three b's Bush, Blair and Berlusconi.... do you think they meant bbb rather than 666 in revelations ?

:evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[Beetwasher]

6. How much of an ASS will Chimpy make of himself at the POPE'S FUNERAL?

Chimpy Will Go An Make Innapropriate Remarks and Fart Noises and give that satan salute that he loves so much. He talk about "pussy" with a Cardinal.

I'll bet he'll demand to be a pallbearer or something and knock down a couple of Bishops while running to squeeze through the door before the casket.

Cheney will come too and dress in jeans and a baseball cap.

The SS will have to put everyone through a metal detector and demand the nuns be frisked and give up their rosaries before entering the building.

Post your own predictions!

[bluedog]

28. he'll have that

stupid smirk on his face...........and act like hes at a movie theatre....he'll run arounf shaking hands and yuking it up and slapping poeple on the back.........watch laura will be dressed terribly......and it wouldn't surprize me if papa and mama bush came with bush........don't worry.....he'll make sure he's noticed


:thumbsdown:

[Lisa]

58. "knock down a couple of Bishops..." (while elbowing to be in camera view)

You know him all too well, Beetwasher!

[HereSince1628]

7. How are they going to clear St.Peter's Square and the streets of Rome

For the Chimperor?

I have to give JPII more respect in death he may accomlish what Americans cannot--Get George appear in a crowd that is other than by his invitation only!

Imagine the realities this will impose... Look for US Delta Force and Special Forces Anti-Terror Sniper Teams amongst the statues of the Saints. While remote controlled Predators cruise the sky.

The irony of it all...the funeral of a man dedicated to peace will take place in an armed encampment.

[saskatoon]

59. I never even thought of the things you brought out

Thanks for expanding my shallow thought re this-loved the "other than by his invitation only"

[Catt03]

63. The chance of a lifetime

The only time in his life that he will be able to go to Europe and not have to sneak in an out.

[rooboy]

9. Wow the last fascist dictator the Italians got their hands on...

was beaten to death and hanged by his heels in Milan. Safe travels, George.

[Jensen]

10. AAAmen!

:headbang:

[NV Whino]

11. The idiocy of this leaves me speechless. n/t

[Coventina]

12. That slimy, pandering, self-righteous, evil little twit....

Chimpy.

If his mere presence doesn't make make St. Peter rise from his grave to curse him I'll be surprised.

:puke:

[MaineDem]

13. I am seriously concerned about the Secret Service and Bush's security

Not in the sense that he may be in danger but that they will disrupt the legitimate mourners with their security efforts.

This Catholic is offended by the pandering of this administration.

[Az_lefty]

25. You have every right to be concerned.

If bush can't attend without disrupting things then he should have enough respect to stay away.

[leftchick]

33. this Catholic is offended as well...

has he ever gone anywhere and not made a scene? It is always about him... :grr:

[Arkansas Granny]

52. Wondered about that myself.

It's not like he's used to the spotlight being on anyone but himself. I do hope he doesn't prove to be an embarrassment. I just cringe at the thought of anyone seeing * and thinking that he represents all Americans.

[MisterP]

56. like they tore up the Buckingham gardens?

maybe the Emperor will use the helicopters and Bob Jones/Liberty University grad Secret Service to make himself Pope too?
BAD Damien! BAD!

[Demeter]

14. Road Trip!

Gotta get out of town until the Exterminator has been removed from the House, and the Watergate's flown under the bridge, and it's all quiet on the western, Eastern and Southern Front.

Murdering metaphors: it's a substitute for the real thing!

[shadowknows69]

15. has shrub even attended one funeral of a US soldier he sent to die?

[LibDemAlways]

23. No, and the reason is simple.

There is no political capital to be gained from sitting with the grieving family of someone you personally sent to a war based on a bunch of lies to die for no reason.

The only reason chimpy will show up in Rome is that he thinks Catholics will suddenly be more responsive to his bogus SS "plan." He's the most cynical, self-serving, pathetic excuse for a human being ever.

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. So is Bush going to force them to surround the Vatican

with anti-aircraft artillery, like they did at the G8 Summit in Italy before 9-11?

[yellowcanine]

18. Does that mean Chaney will be "in charge here at the White House"?

Or will they bring in Al "I'm too stupid to know I'm stupid" Haig for a repeat performance?

[notadmblnd]

21. and war games/terror drills are scheduled for Wednesday too?

It could be one of them hold your breath days.

on edit: my mistake, they're scheduled on a Monday.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

36. Cheney will be "in charge" alright

but not from the White House-- probably from a secure undisclosed location, deep in a mountain near Bluemont, Virginia.

[BrotherBuzz]

19. What does this do to his 60 day 60 town hall meeting schedule?

[alcuno]

20. Relax. I heard that Clinton is going. The Italian people LOVE Clinton.

Besides, Catholic pageantry will outshine all individuals present.

[LibDemAlways]

22. Well the troops in Texas are off the hook.

No having to be props for a phony photo op.

I heard this morning that for the two Papal funerals during the Carter administration, Rosalyn headed up one delegation and Carter's mother headed up the other. And Carter is a genuinely religious man. No grandstanding for him.

I half expect chimpy to ask the Vatican officials, "When do I get to come up and say a few words?"

I hope they sit his ass in the last row behind a pillar.

[SaveAmerica]

27. and give him a pillar to sit on? ; )

and tell him children should be seen but not heard?

[emad]

24. What about Poppy and Babs? Not forgetting Kissinger, Yeltsin

and the Dalai Llama.....

[LibertyLover]

34. Kissinger

I think old Henry's gonna hafta sit this one out - he's recovering from angioplasty.

[emad]

26. Bet he tries to squeeze as much out of this one as Ronnie Raygun's

funeral....

[renaissanceguy]

29. This is *'s chance to claim he's God

come to take over the world, now that the pope is gone.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.16781662

[eowyn_of_rohan]

37. But the Pope said he thought bu$h was the anti-Christ.

I don't think the anti-Christ will be too welcome at the funeral...

[Mari333]

30. Another embarassing moment in History! n/t

[Orsino]

31. "Lead"?

The man couldn't lead an expedition to find his own @$$. He will be baggage.

[peacebird]

35. What sort of "security requirements" is * going to foist on the Vatican?

I keep remembering how much of a cluster F*ck the visit to see the Queen was, right down to massive destruction of the royal gardens and a quickie helo ride to the palace because the streets were too dangerous...

So - how is * going to try to steal center stage here?

[wicket]

38. I'm sure it's going to be insane

It's seriously selfish of Bush to even consider this, it's going to turn it into a mad house.

[Catt03]

64. If all goes as it did for the past European excursions

A few things have to be done quickly


Visitors to Rome will have to clear the streets for the motorcade

Snipers will be on top of St Peters.

Helicopters will have to be able to land in St Peter's Square

All the cardinals will have to be cleared to be in his presence

All Michaelangelo's paintings will have to be draped

And most important.
...serve NO wine at Mass.

[pnorman]

39. Bush to attend Pope's funeral

Bush to attend Pope's funeral

US President George W Bush and First Lady Laura Bush will attend Friday's funeral for Pope John Paul II, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

"The president and Mrs Bush plan to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II," Mr McClellan told reporters.

Asked whether former presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton would be part of the US delegation to the funeral, Mr McClellan said the White House was "still finalising" the list and would say more later in the day.

On Saturday, Mr Bush hailed the Pope as "one of history's great moral leaders" and "a hero for the ages."
>
>
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200504/s1338108.htm

[bertha katzenengel]

40. I kinda wonder how that will go over w/ some U.S. christians.

Some denominations -- Baptists for example (at least the General Assocation of Regular Baptists) -- believe that Catholics are not true christians. "If you are not born again you're not going to heaven."

[piece sine]

55. Catholics got a hold of Jesus first

The Baptists will surely be respectful of their elders. A true Catholic would laugh at being 'born again' because she or he was born and baptized a Catholic...sort of a been there-done that scenario. Besides...the Baptists are incorrect...everyone who is good goes to heaven, be they Buddhist, Moslem Jew or Atheist. Baptists have no say in the matter. If they are good, they get in. Bad? Hellbound.

[illflem]

41. You can support/respect the pope as a man

without supporting the religion he represented.

[AllegroRondo]

42. Technically, he was the leader of a country

and attending the funeral of a head of state is appropriate for the president.

[BRLIB]

45. Wants to get his approval rating to 60% or higher......

Pavlovian association... Bush:Pope Bush:Pope Bush:Pope Bush=Pope!!!

You think maybe FOX, CNN also have subliminal images besides the obvious propaganda?

[Zorra]

43. He better be careful - if an exorcism occurs nearby he may suddenly

melt into a puddle of steaming chicken oil.

[DS1]

44. So, how are they going to filter a million people for those that don't

have liberal bumper stickers?

Bush showing up just made this a goddamn show of force, not a funeral.

[Ramsey]

47. Bush has become the little world traveler now that he is doing it on

our dollar. Wonder if he will disrupt the Vatican as much as he did Queen Elizabeth, helicopters in the beauteous gardens, machine guns on the roof.

[pnorman]

48. Here's what I just posted on my union's listserves:

That'll be interesting. Over a million took to the streets, in protest at Bush's invasion of iraq. And they're stil pretty pissed at the shooting up of that Italian journalist. How many MILLIONS will have to be confined to the Free Speech Stockades? I sure HOPE he doesn't wear that Elite Force Naval Aviator flight suit again. Anyhow, here's what I had posted on the BBS a few days ago, but forgot to post here:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pope condemns war in Iraq
Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II has expressed renewed opposition to the possibility of war in Iraq, saying the use of military force had to be the "very last option".

In a New Year address to Vatican diplomats, the Pope said war was "always a defeat for humanity", and called instead for more diplomacy and dialogue.

War cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option.

The BBC's David Willey in Rome says The Vatican clearly does not consider that America's planned offensive to topple Saddam Hussein meets the conditions of a "just war" laid down by the Roman Catholic Church.

The 82-year-old pontiff appears to be signalling the start of a new diplomatic rift with the US - a repeat of the one which broke out over the Gulf War in 1991, analysts say.

Moral legitimacy

"War cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions," Pope John Paul said.
>
>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2654109.stm

[napi21]

50. I actually wondered how the SS are going to try to handle this?

MOST Italians really detest Shrub, and there are LOTS of them in much more confined areas than here in the US.

[cliss]

53. After posting here for almost 2 years, I'm

going to make my strongest statement yet. The fact that they're even CONTEMPLATING having Bush attend shows how crazy they've become.

Really. On the one hand, you've got the PR people rubbing their hands together thinking "PR Bonanza"!!! What a coup for Bush! to show up at a funeral which 1 1/2 billion people will be watching. They know this is the Publicity Mother Lode. Bush can supposedly redeem himself, after all that he's done to antagonize people.

On the other side of the conference table, you have the Security People. They're shaking their heads. They say, "No, he's not going". "We can't guarantee his security". It will be too many people, too many intangibles, too close to the Middle East.

And consider Bush's standing among the Italians. If possible, he's reviled even more than he was before, after the shooting of Calipari and Sgrena last month.

Just imagine, for a moment, the impossiblity of keeping Bush safe, as he's standing there, at the edge of St. Peter's Square, holding a speech. I for one, cannot imagine it.

Bush is a tapeworm that's lodged itself inside the intestine of its host.

[babylonsister]

49. How do you say boondoogle?

Boondoggle:It can also be used for an unnecessary journey by a government official at public expense.
I heard some members of SCOTUS, like Scalia, may be going also. For what?

[arikara]

51. The ultimate of disrespect

That idiot is going to go and disrupt the entire funeral with his security. And it wasn't as if the pope had any use for the warmongering psychopath.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

54. Anything to push more Jesus on the American public...

:puke:

[Kimber Scott]

57. Much as I dislike Bush, he cannot not go. nt

[Terre]

60. I KNEW he would do this

and I suppose everyone else here, thought that as well. Talk about a kiss-ass. Pisses me off to no end. I'm embarrassed that he is going to "represent" the US. Why, WHY??? He doesn't represent us here at home for pete's sake!

I am SO depressed. An otherwise grand funeral celebration will simply be SPOILED!

*sigh*

[gademocrat7]

61. The Italians despise shrub

I sincerely hope the College of Cardinals tell him not to attend. If he does go, then maybe the Italian reporter who was almost killed in Iraq can interview him. He will not be welcomed in Rome or any other city in Italy.

[Catt03]

62. Told you so

I KNEW he would go....

how could his ego miss this. Afterall he and the pope were on the same page for the "culture of life".