Just watched the Big Dawg at Bentsen's funeral

[CTyankee]

Oh god, I miss him! He gave a wonderful eulogy. It was so enjoyable and such a great remembrance of Bentsen. Bill just laid out the importance of having Bentsen there when he rolled out his controversial economic plan, but also gave an insight into Bentsen's humanity (Bentsen "got up and went to bed" during a Cabinet "bonding" session one evening at Camp David, right after Clinton shared that as a kid he was fat and insecure of himself. Got a great laugh).

One interesting glimpse: at the end of the service the congregation sang the stalwart Protestant anthem "How Great Thou Art" all 4 or 5 stanzas. John Kerry was there, a little lost on singing the words, but Bill was belting out the last stanza from memory. It was a nice moment. Hill looked great too; a little gray at the lower temples but nice.

Now I'm sad because I want my country back.

[bluedeminredstate]

1. I miss him too.

It's like seeing a true statesman and then being reminded so cruelly that he isn't the face of our country any longer. It's a smirking, mugging, goofy chimp that disgraces our nation every time he opens his mouth or shows his simian face.
Thanks for the image, though. Bill knows his church hymns for real. He's not a faux Christian like the current occupant of the WH. He wouldn't even know the verse to "How Great Thou Art."

[lpbk2713]

2. I'm curious

Was Quayle there?

[CTyankee]

4. I wondered the same thing!!! But I didn't see him

That would have been a little much, doncha think?

Bill made a sideways reference to the Quayle bit, saying that Bentsen was the only VP candidate who "went out better than when he went in." It got a nice laugh from the congregation.

Bill also talked about how Bentsen understood that Russia was in a precarious situation during those first few years in the Clinton administration and how he knew that saving Russia was enormously important.

Bill also said that the immigration problem we are experiencing today would be so much worse if we hadn't been "a good neighbor" in his administration. I am not sure what he meant by that, to tell you the truth. Anybody know?

[Momgonepostal]

3. I'll bet he did a fantastic job

His eulogy at the Coretta Scott King funeral was also very moving. He's a gifted communicator. What an honor to have him speak at one's funeral!

How Great Thou Art is one of my favorite hymns. It's in the LDS hymnal and I think I've seen it in a Catholic hymnal, too.

[CTyankee]

5. Oh, I would watch him speak anywhere, anytime

he is that good!

As for the hymn (or really anthem)"How Great Thou Art" being in the Catholic service, is it me or has the RC Church made a big attempt at the Protestant way of involving the congregation in singing over the past 20 years or so? As a WASP who grew up in Texas and going to mainline Protestant churches, the funeral which was at a Presbyterian church in Houston, looked very familiar (I grew up in Dallas). Same starched, clean, orderly service, choir, hymns).

[ecoalex]

6. A high I Q makes for a good speaker Clinton had the higest I Q ever

Dems have the majority in the I Q for presidents, we're just smarter =)

[Momgonepostal]

14. A high IQ certainly helps, but

...it's also no guarantee of public speaking ability. And as much as I like to make fun of Bush for being an idiot, he's probably not nearly as dumb as he sounds. He just has no communication skills whatsoever...as well as being evil incarnate.

[Momgonepostal]

13. I really don't know...

I'm not Catholic, but attended a mass a few years ago and remember seeing "How Great Thou Art" in the hymnal they use. When did Catholic masses stop being in Latin? Maybe more singing is a result of more of the service being in languages the people actually can sing? The old style chants are gorgeous, but most of us couldn't just join right in.

[EST]

7. Yeah...

I am not particularly religious, not generally maudlin, either. I clicked past that last week as it was broadcast the first time, not planning to stay, just before the dawg started waggin' his tongue and was Enthralled! Paralyzed!

Watched it twice more and it absolutely left me breathless...in tears.

Forgive me, but I could not resist attempting to draw parallels, if there were any, to our today-urgent horror show..

That brainless, conscienceless, vile, be-sotted excuse for a human being, idiot, puppet-on-a-pogo-stick. pathetic, cheerleader asshole is such a fake, inauthentic, husk of swampgass fart as to make me violently, physically ill.

I have never before experienced such a massive reaction from a mere mind game and could not anticipate.

What an ignominious end to a once liberal republic, created from the fear, sweat and desperately courageous grit in the face of the same servants of hell as we now face. They won when they were current history; they must depend on us to do no less.

[CTyankee]

10. I know and am speechless in awe

WE HAVE LOST SO MUCH. with the loss of Bill Clinton.

I feel sometimes like I am screeching into the wilderness. Where is everybody? Why aren't they paying attention?

We'll get it back. We have to get it back.

For me, I'll continue to work for Ned Lamont here in CT. It's all I can do at this time.

Here's hoping...

[EST]

12. Whatever you are doing in support of the great enlightening

is exactly what you should be doing--Good on ya'!
It must be working! I am a bit saddened by the fact that they all can't be the winner: we have such a plethora af wonderful candidates for the next presidential slot that I am cheered, as well.

There is a sparkle of light in the desolation, Thanks for your fine work!

[TahitiNut]

8. The man who put the meaning of 'is' in "charisma"

:evilgrin:

[ljm2002]

9. zziinngg...

...love it!

[tenshi816]

11. You so often have a way with words

and you definitely nailed it this time! So absolutely right. :hi:

[WiseButAngrySara]

15. My parents saw the eulogy as well. First Presbyterian Church

in Houston. They were quite moved by it. Kerry is Catholic; not expected to know protestant hymns!

[ladjf]

16. Neither Clinton is going to help you get your country back. Both

are far too preoccupied with their own interests. We need to look elsewhere for leadership.

[Lex]

17. How is Clinton giving a eulogy at Bentsen's funeral being

"preoccupied with his own interests?"

:shrug:

[ladjf]

18. The public's perception of any politician is based upon an

array of activities that the politician has done. Those as subtle and intelligent as Clinton don't show their hand in public, they go about doing those things that give them political capital. The Bentson funeral was a great opportunity for Clinton, a most gifted speaker who had a long relationship with Bentson. No, there was not a single thing about giving the eulogy that directly related to Clinton's underlying political agenda.

We are discussing a man who is one of the most talented politicians in American History and at the same time, perhaps the most selfish. For the fun of a couple of acts of fellatio and some phone sex, the history of the world was inexorably altered. Those acts were the ultimate height of self-interest.
Gore would have been elected, not Bush. None of this terrible stuff would be happening.

Since leaving the White House he has offered no good advice to the Democratic Party or the American people while at the same time becoming very close with Bush's father. His primary goal is to do whatever he can to get his wife elected in 2008. That is not something that is best for the Country, in my opinion. (And opinion is largely what this board is about)

[CTyankee]

19. Ihear ya but I don't completely agree

The fact is that Gore WAS elected in 2000. Bush was appointed by 5 votes.

When I hear dems get all hot under the collar about Clinton's sexual misdeeds, I askthem to stop and take deep breaths and refocus on the REAL enemy. We cannot allow ourselves to lose perspective and diffuse our energy. Doing that just spins our wheels and digs a deeper rut.

Yes Bill and Hillary are ambitious politicians. I am shocked, shocked! Ambitious politicians in Washington??!! Well, now I've heard everything!