If Bush goes to the Pope's funeral, are they going to shut down Rome?

[GCP]

That'll go down well with the Italians - the day when they bury the Pope, there'll be more security guards than mourners.

[globalvillage]

1. But I thought the Italians love Bush

I have posted these before, but...here goes again. From my 2003 trip to Rome.

[Goldeneye]

2. He should probably just stay home.

After the attack on that journalist, I don't think the Italians are too keen on monkeyboy.

[Kolesar]

3. 1,000,000 Romans protested the conquest of Iraq two years ago

It is going to be difficult and expensive for bush* to plan a visit to Rome on such short notice. The only good I can hope for is Italians hating Berlusconi even more.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

21. Expensive for the American taxpayer.

Why don't they just keep him in a padded room and save the country a 100 million (wild guess, anybody have a better number?) a year to protect his worthless ass.

[jamesinca]

4. This will be interesting

Will Bush go out in public? Does he feel safe at the Popes funeral? What I mean by that, will he feel that people will not try anything there and take the attention off of the passing of the Pope. Will he demand a private viewing. Will he be so arrogant as to make demands that go against the customs and traditions of a Popes burial ritual? Will Bush be thinking that his god is better than the Popes and this serves the Pope right for disagreeing publicly on the Iraq war? That last one was meant in jest, but the more I think about it the more I can imagine it happening. We have all seen the pic of him at Clinton's library trying to push through the door before President Clinton. Will he have those same manners and try to "push through doors" at the Popes funeral.

[patricia92243]

5. I have not seen the pictures of him at Clinton library. Is there a link?

Thanks in advance.

[jamesinca]

6. It was posted here on DU

Somebody had the pics at the Clinton Library opening with speeches and all. I am sure there is a link, the pics were great. I do know they are in the archives if you seach them. I am not a donor yet this year so I can not look back, sorry.

[soup]

8. link to pic

If the pic doesn't come through, it can be found here:
http://arachnae.blogspot.com/2004_11_01_arachnae_archive.html

[patricia92243]

11. Thanks loads. Bush looks really determined to be ill-mannered!!

[Catchawave]

7. What a selfish little man....

...it just sounds like he wants to appease his Catholic base and get himself some of the "Popementum" to get his approval ratings up!

It's really stupid considering millions of pilgrims will be coming to Rome this week, and many will be denied access because we'll have to have road checkpoints and shut down airports....arrgghhh...how arrogant will this country look!

Why can't I have a President I can trust, dammit. Nothing this man does is with compassion or empathy.

:rant:

[radfringe]

9. heard blurb on tube

that he's sending Cheney

If true - then the question is -- will there be more EMT's and medical personell on standby than mourners....

[truth2power]

10. And will cheney disrespect the Pope

by wearing that old dunsel cap and parka???

He has no "couth"!

[AntiCoup2K4]

15. You think it will be cold enough in Rome for Dick's "Kenny" coat?

[Vickers]

17. 'He has no "couth"!'

:spank:

[foreigncorrespondent]

19. ROFLMAO (n/t)

[Catchawave]

12. Article from the Hindustan Times...

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1305201,00050001.htm

<snip to the last paragraph>

Both Pope John Paul II and Bush shared the same ideal of spreading democracy and freedom in the dark corners of the world where they don't exist now though the US still finds it impossible to avoid painful compromises while fighting the war on terrorism and for maintaining regional balance of power in key areas.

[Contrary1]

13. Maybe he can borrow the popemobile.

Monkeymobile has a nice ring to it. The bubblehead will feel right at home.

[kentuck]

14. Good question...

He defintiely will not go unless his ass is covered.

[quaoar]

16. This is a funeral the president should attend

The vice president goes to a lot of funerals, but there are some world leaders who were important enough to deserve the presence of the president. The pope is such a leader.

I would be surprised if there were not numerous heads of state at this funeral. To send Cheney would be a sign of disrespect.

Bush needs to go and they need to ratchet down the security. It is not necessary to empty a city of all residents to protect the president.

[karynnj]

18. Could Bush sit without squirming - it's a long service, probably in Latin

At the debates, he seemed unable to just stand (or sit on the stool) when it was Kerry's turn to speak. I watched the CSPAN coverage of the Jackie Robinson ceremony - and he just seemed unable to sit calmly, like a grown up. Kerry and Edwards seemed to have no difficulty looking like respectful gentlemen - I still can't believe so many people voted for Bush.

[soup]

20. Do U.S. Presidents traditionally attend funerals for Popes?

Did President Roosevelt attend Pius XI's in 1939?
Did President Eisenhower attend Pius XII's in 1958?
Did President Kennedy attend Pope John XXIII's in 1963?
Did President Carter attend Pope Paul VI's or John Paul I's in 1978?

Can't find anything. Maybe I'm using the wrong search criteria? :shrug:

[Contrary1]

22. Here's an article from Daily Kos that says Shrub is the 1st to do so:

Holy Roman Photo-op: Bush to Attend Pope's Funeral

"Better start the counter-spin: CNN just reported that our Imperial President is making plans for a triumphal entry into Rome to attend the Pope's funeral-- the first president to ever do so. Think he will bring the elephants? Or maybe the Schindlers, riding the elephants.
Is there no limit to the hubris of the Chimperor? Of course there isn't. Bush will make the funeral about HIM. In Bushworld, the passing of John Paul II is just the mother of all opportunities to gain "traction" with Catholics, Hispanics, and Randall Terrorists in this country.

We know how our sycophantic media will cover his trip: "President Bush, the Man of Faith, honors the Pope with First Presidential Attendance at Papal Funeral." Bush will be quoted as commending the Pope for his "commitment to Life and Freedom, just like me!"

What will the Italians and the world press say? More importantly, will we hear it? When Bush had his papal audience in June, we heard almost nothing about the Pope's public chastisement of Bush for the war in Iraq and his reported private excoriation and dismay over Abu Graib..."

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/4/2/111157/3882

[soup]

24. Thank you, Contrary1.

I had tab after tab open trying to find something/anything. Guess it wasn't there because there was nothing to find, even with so many internets to choose from.

Since President Clinton and Poppy are going, too, maybe (just maybe) there's a slim (to none) chance he won't do something to totally embarass our country again in the eyes of the world.

On second thought - 'Honor and dignity' are just words someone wrote on a piece of paper for him to try to say, so all I can do is cringe and send my apologies to the world, as usual.

Thanks again for the info.

[bush_is_wacko]

23. The Catholic church has one of the most powerful, up to date and deadly

para-military "guardians" in the world. Chimpy will be perfectly safe among their throngs and he knows it. At first I figured he would just stay away out of fear without having that knowledge, but it became clear to me today after hearing all these reports that being at that funeral was as safe, if not safer, than sitting in the oval office of the White House. Believe me every leader in the world could attend this event without a worry in the world!

I don't expect the Catholic church will spare any expense or inconvenience with regards to this event and security is a specialty of theirs. You'd never know it to stand outside the Vatican but that place is a fortress regardless of whether or not you can actually see it's protectors!

[Dinger]

25. Whoa, I Hope The Chimp Stays Away, If He Treis To

politicize this, he's history, Rove or not.