Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Yesterday, in a Washington's National Cathedral, Americans bid farewell to Gerald Ford, 38th President of the United States. While Republicans generally do a good job of keeping funeral services squarely on the virtues of the deceased without seeking to make cheap political points, the Pendragon sometimes wishes they would take a page from the Democrats' leaflet. The closest we got yesterday was President Bush praising Ford's "ethically right" decision to pardon Richard Nixon, and noting that it may have cost him the election. I don't know if Carter got that jab exactly, not being the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, so let me explain it to him: You didn't beat Ford; his choice to pardon Nixon, while undeniably right, did. Most people have known that for years, but Democrats have a way of fooling themselves into thinking they have something great to offer the world.
The Pendragon is not of the Ford "moderate" camp but I do honor the man. Let's face it: the legacy of the 60s and 70s was a disgraced, discouraged people and if Ford did not accomplish much in office other than to restore a modicum of dignity to the presidency, maybe in the late 70s that was all we needed. Eisenhower did the same in the 1950s and Grant in the 1860s and 70s. Like Ford, they are largely unappreciated but we should not discount the good effect of simply having a man of the times in office. While the presidency would suffer nearly irreversible damage under Carter and Clinton (who cried conveniently when the cameras hit them as usual), Ford gave a breath of fresh air being a middle ground between secretive, scandal-ridden Nixon and grossly incompetent Carter. He was a good man, and he deserves a better memory than what he is traditionally given. And so, in honor of President Ford's memory:
The Pendragon is not of the Ford "moderate" camp but I do honor the man. Let's face it: the legacy of the 60s and 70s was a disgraced, discouraged people and if Ford did not accomplish much in office other than to restore a modicum of dignity to the presidency, maybe in the late 70s that was all we needed. Eisenhower did the same in the 1950s and Grant in the 1860s and 70s. Like Ford, they are largely unappreciated but we should not discount the good effect of simply having a man of the times in office. While the presidency would suffer nearly irreversible damage under Carter and Clinton (who cried conveniently when the cameras hit them as usual), Ford gave a breath of fresh air being a middle ground between secretive, scandal-ridden Nixon and grossly incompetent Carter. He was a good man, and he deserves a better memory than what he is traditionally given. And so, in honor of President Ford's memory:
A warrior's down, but it's not in vain
'Cause this old world's loss is Heaven's gain.
We salute his memory until we meet again:
"Good-bye soldier, see ya later, friend!"
Warrior down--Lord, he was brave.
He fought the good fight; he kept the faith;
He served with honor and he'll be missed.
Warrior's down, but his spirit lives.
// posted by The Pendragon @ 8:09 PM 
