What does everybody think?

OhDear · 12-28-2006, 09:16 AM

Ford had problems with Bush Iraq policy ...

OD

Jefferson · 12-28-2006, 11:05 AM

I think you're a GIRL.

Jefferson · 12-28-2006, 11:06 AM

Okay, seriously...

I have no problem whatever with the fact that Ford had "problems" with Bush's Iraq policy. And there's nothing wrong with him speaking of it, and voicing legitimate concerns.

But you know what? Unlike Jimmy Carter, Ford was far classier. He didn't want attention and a public ruckus about it.

I have great respect and admiration for former President Ford.

OhDear · 12-28-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

I think you're a GIRL.

surmises Jefferson.
Thanks that's the nicest thing anyone said to me all day.

(clears throat to introduce seriousness now...)

As to President Ford disclosing his disagreement with President Bush about the war, but not allowing it to be so til after his death...I am unclear about that.

I think President Ford was a man of self-sacrifice during his time in office.

But I am not sure why he would have consented to have his views shared after his death. I mean, since he did not know when he might actually die, how would waiting necessarily prove expedient to the country?

But I say that, though it causes me to have this question with the thought that he was a fine man of high caliber principles.

OD

Peggy_Sue · 12-28-2006, 12:11 PM

I think Ford asked for the comments to be kept until after he passed on because it is not good Presidential etiquette to criticize a sitting president. President Ford was a man of honor, and I agree that he gave heavy personal sacrifices in the name of honor; keeping his comments private while he was alive is one more example of his honor.

RidinHighSpeeds · 12-28-2006, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peggy_Sue

I think Ford asked for the comments to be kept until after he passed on because it is not good Presidential etiquette to criticize a sitting president. President Ford was a man of honor, and I agree that he gave heavy personal sacrifices in the name of honor; keeping his comments private while he was alive is one more example of his honor.

Very well put Peggy!

alias · 12-28-2006, 12:29 PM

I watched a lot of the news pundits last night talking about President Ford. My respect for him has elevated. I was among those who voted for Carter just for one reason and that was because Ford pardoned Nixon. I was too young and dumb to see the reason for it as I do now. It was to heal the nation. I lived through watergate and followed it every day during the investigation and hearings. Our nation was really in a crisis and divided. He was a good man period. Self sacrificing and not self promoting in any way. He was a statesman and a patriot for sure.

OhDear · 12-28-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peggy_Sue

I think Ford asked for the comments to be kept until after he passed on because it is not good Presidential etiquette to criticize a sitting president. President Ford was a man of honor, and I agree that he gave heavy personal sacrifices in the name of honor; keeping his comments private while he was alive is one more example of his honor.

I like that, Peggy Sue, please know that. And I do totally respect President Ford. But again, I do not understand his deal about waiting til he died, since it is "not good Presidential etiquette to criticize a sitting President" and President Bush is still the sitting president, even though President Ford has gone to heaven now.

Maybe I do not need to understand though. It's not as if I am gonna be the President anytime soon. But if I were, I would want to know the protocol and reasoning behind waiting til he died rather than the stipulation be waiting til Pres. Bush was out of office.

OD

Jefferson · 12-28-2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhDear

surmises Jefferson.
Thanks that's the nicest thing anyone said to me all day.

(clears throat to introduce seriousness now...)

As to President Ford disclosing his disagreement with President Bush about the war, but not allowing it to be so til after his death...I am unclear about that.

I think President Ford was a man of self-sacrifice during his time in office.

But I am not sure why he would have consented to have his views shared after his death. I mean, since he did not know when he might actually die, how would waiting necessarily prove expedient to the country?

But I say that, though it causes me to have this question with the thought that he was a fine man of high caliber principles.

OD

Unlike Jimmy Carter, President Ford had that little thing called CLASS. Of course, President Ford was not an attention whore either. He was more than happy to slide quietly into private life.

I think the bottom line is that, though Ford had his opinions on the Iraq War, he did not want his opinions to have any effect on the War effort. He was willing to accept the fact that nobody asked him.

Jefferson · 12-28-2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alias

I watched a lot of the news pundits last night talking about President Ford. My respect for him has elevated.

So has mine!

When you begin to understand the personal and national gravity of the Nixon pardon, you can't help but respect Ford. It cost him any hope for re-election, but it was the RIGHT thing to do for the nation.

He was a great man!