Do we know if he has had a private conversation with the family? Im sure he has, perhaps he paid his respects to the family then, and made his public respects today, and is leaving the funeral for the family.

 

Lots we dont know to be bashing him for it.

 

Also think about this, public funeral, Pres and VP are not going to be in the same location for obvious reasons.

Why should that matter? Does a justice lose esteem if retired?

 

Lose esteem, no.

 

There is a difference when an active SC Justice dies while on the bench, IMHO.

 

Lots we dont know to be bashing him for it.

 

Also think about this, public funeral, Pres and VP are not going to be in the same location for obvious reasons.

 

Many other non family members are going to be there tomorrow so it's not a closed family service. VP and POTUS attend a lot of things together, I think the only thing they are kept separate on is they can't fly together.

 

I'm not outraged he's not going I'm not even shocked honestly.

The President and First Lady were to pay their respects today to Justice Scalia and his family, along with many other political leaders today. However the President is not attending the Funeral on Saturday of Justice Scalia. According to the White House he will be spending most of the weekend reviewing the files of possible replacements for Scalia.

 

Should the President make time to attend the funeral or is it, cool that he's not.

 

For the record I think it was stated that as far as they can determine, no President has failed to attend the funeral service of a sitting Justice that passed away.

 

If he attended you people would criticize him; if he didn't attend you'd criticize. Like a Geico commercial says, it's what you do.

How about a little historical perspective? Nah. It's more fun to assume that the President will be practicing his putting on Saturday and then read from the Koran. How many threads have we had over the years on funerals the president did NOT attend? Been a few. This one even has a poll!

 

Here's a copy-and-paste:

 

Presidents don’t always attend a Supreme Court Justice’s funeral. According to NBC News, only three out of the past seven Supreme Court justice funerals were attended by the President. When Bill Clinton was President, he attended two Supreme Court Justice funerals, but did not attend three others. He was present at former Chief Justice Warren E. Burger’s and Justice William Brennan’s funerals. He did not attend Justices Harry Blackmun or Lewis F. Powell Jr.’s funerals, or Justice Thurgood Marshall’s. Former Vice President Al Gore did attend Marshall’s funeral. Former President George W. Bush did not attend Justice Byron White’s funeral.

 

**********

 

So there we have it. GWB didn't have time for Whizzer White. I'm outraged.

 

I like your style . You tell it like it is.

If he attended you people would criticize him; if he didn't attend you'd criticize. Like a Geico commercial says, it's what you do.

 

Why in the world would anyone criticism him for going? I know in your mind he can never do wrong.

I noticed in the poll you voted No, that he should not go to the funeral. Care to tell us why, according to your vote, he should not attend the funeral of a sitting Supreme Court Justice as every President for over the past 60+ years as. This is the same President that went to Walter Cronkite's funeral by the way.

I like your style . You tell it like it is.

 

Of course you like it, it is intellectually inaccurate comparison for the purpose of this discussion.

How many of those were sitting Justices? I think most of the ones you named that were not attend were many years retired and not sitting Justices. That IMO does make a difference.

 

A difference, but not significant. Not enough of a difference that it would cause me to be disgusted if the President doesn't attend a sitting Justice funeral and not care if he doesn't attend a retired Justice's funeral.

Obama paid his respects today. Biden's a better fit at the service on Saturday.

How the hell do you make that connection? He's a better fit? For what?

How the hell do you make that connection? He's a better fit? For what?

Biden is an old Roman Catholic boy. He knows when to stand and when to sit. Obama's probably a Muslim (sarcasm). Who do you think Father Scalia prefers to sit in pew #1? Remember, this is going to be a full-blown religious service, not one of those non-denominational deals. Going to be more old cardinals in attendance today than opening day in St. Louis.

Edited February 20, 201610 yr by Twotoplace

Of course you like it, it is intellectually inaccurate comparison for the purpose of this discussion.

You're the one that is being intellectually dishonest. For starters, why don't you name all the Supreme Court justices and chief justices who have died in office over the past 60 years. Since you're basing your argument on historical precedent, let's first look at some numbers.

You're the one that is being intellectually dishonest. For starters, why don't you name all the Supreme Court justices and chief justices who have died in office over the past 60 years. Since you're basing your argument on historical precedent, let's first look at some numbers.

 

One has died in office over the last 60 years. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died in 2005. Bush did attend the funeral and even eulogized the Chief Justice.

One has died in office over the last 60 years. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died in 2005. Bush did attend the funeral and even eulogized the Chief Justice.

 

He should have. Rehnquist helped him steal the presidency. Ole W should be there today since Scalia also had a hand in the 2000 election.

 

For the record if I were Obama I be there, but I'm not hugely outraged.

How the hell do you make that connection? He's a better fit? For what?

 

For making an argument apologizing for Obama missing the target. Again.

One has died in office over the last 60 years. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died in 2005. Bush did attend the funeral and even eulogized the Chief Justice.

The last justice -- as opposed to a chief justice -- who died in office was Robert Jackson, 1954, and I have no idea if Eisenhower attended that funeral. So in reality there is no precedent for a president being obligated to attend the funeral of an active justice. I would agree with your side that a president should attend the funeral of a chief justice, whether retired or active.