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.

Good point. Anyone know if any of the Bush family will be in attendance today? I don't think W has a lot going on these days.

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.

 

.

:ohbrother:

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.

 

Why does there need to be a precedent?

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.

The fact that you think that this administration put that much thought and effort into this is another laugher.

Why does there need to be a precedent?

I agree. But since JD set up the thread as he did (revisit last paragraph in post #1), I simply challenged the premise. It's based on malarkey. The poll is a bit of an over-reach, too, but the BGP members of the Ripon Society do enjoy casting votes against our Hawaiian president.

Just tuned into the Scalia funeral service on Fox. That's Newt Gingrich's wife in the choir -- the blonde in the back row.

Just tuned into the Scalia funeral service on Fox. That's Newt Gingrich's wife in the choir -- the blonde in the back row.

 

So many possibilities, so little time.

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.

Look them up...you have google

Look them up...you have google

Please set up your threads without resorting to tactics in initial posts such as "For the record I think it was stated ..." Four minutes of googling would have enabled you to state actual facts instead of building your bash on shaky ground.

Please set up your threads without resorting to tactics in initial posts such as "For the record I think it was stated ..." Four minutes of googling would have enabled you to state actual facts instead of building your bash on shaky ground.

I may have overstated the position based on what was said on CNN that morning. It does not change the fact that the President, out of respect for the position, should have attended the funeral.

I may have overstated the position based on what was said on CNN that morning. It does not change the fact that the President, out of respect for the position, should have attended the funeral.

Fine. No problem with the "respect for the position" argument. However ... after watching an hour or so of the mass today, I can see why Obama chose to pay his respects yesterday at the public walk-through. What went on today was strictly a religious service.

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.

 

Yeah, I really wanted the guy that invented the internet to be POTUS too. :jump:

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.

 

You said 60 years. That would be 1956.

 

Math not your strong suit huh?

Fine. No problem with the "respect for the position" argument. However ... after watching an hour or so of the mass today, I can see why Obama chose to pay his respects yesterday at the public walk-through. What went on today was strictly a religious service.

As are most funerals for Christians such as Justice Scalia, did you expect something different?

Fine. No problem with the "respect for the position" argument. However ... after watching an hour or so of the mass today, I can see why Obama chose to pay his respects yesterday at the public walk-through. What went on today was strictly a religious service.

 

Well, Obama claims to be Christian. Shouldn't have bothered him to be at a religious service.