You say that Bush was there for a photo op but his speech did nothing but praise King. He did not speak of politics at all, and all the left wingers were guilty of exploiting King at her own funeral for their own personal gains. You liberals are the scum of the earth.

Actions speak louder than words, David. What was he supposed to say? "You liberals are the scum of the earth"? Like you, he was probably thinking it. And, in case you haven't noticed, the Gulf Coast is not a priority anymore, along with health care, education...I could go on and on. Read up. Look at his budget proposal. Social programs are scheduled to be gutted. Action speaks louder than words.

Every act is potentially political; attending a funeral, or not tending a funeral, being one example. But the funeral of someone who has lived a political life, like Wellstone, or King, of a right ought to be a political event; it is a continuation of their legacy.

jc

Not only do these hypocritical conservatives want to step in and tell me and my family that I can be kept alive for years against my wishes, a petri dish harboring their precious "culture of life," now they want to control the "message" at my funeral. Well ... I've got news for them. It's time they shut their yaps, this GOP party of control freaks extraordinaire.

Not that I plan on departing anytime soon, but today's hyped-up, hand-wringing caterwauling about the "politicizing" of Coretta Scott King's funeral makes me inclined to officially endorse any political use that can be made of my death. Just to piss them off, you know. (As one is in life, I'm assuming one will be in the hereafter.)

I realize I'll probably only have my four kids, a few grandkids, a couple of spouses (ex and otherwise) and a handful of friends in attendance, but heck, if they want to book Clinton or anyone else with some rhetorical gifts loaded for bear on the causes I love ... well, have at it.

In fact, film it. Put a clip on the internet. Let MoveOn use it. Pass around petitions at the gala affair. Shout out about injustice, discrimination and war. Have really terrific, blasting anti-war songs, the louder the better. Found a PAC. Unfurl a banner that urges impeachment of someone horrible for this country or endorses something progressive. Wear political T-Shirts, by all means. Do some fundraising right then and there for progressive causes. Pass the hat. Or take credit card charges, whatever works. Make it as overt and effective as possible.

What else is a funeral anyway but the marking of the passing of a life? And what else is a life but the passions and causes that fill it? People who make demarcations between politics and personal life have always struck me as odd ducks. How we spend our time, what work we do, what purchases we make, the people we hang out with ... the millions of little decisions we make over a lifetime add up to a political stance, defined or not. The personal and the political are seamlessly one.

Now if I - a mere speck of dust in the political solar system - feel this way, how am I to believe Coretta Scott King felt? Here we have a woman who spent her lifetime speaking out, marching, lending her name to causes and fighting injustice with integrity in every breath she took. Her husband died for speaking out and she continued to do the same. Am I really to assume she would "tut tut" at the heartfelt and sometimes raucous, sometimes tear-inducing funeral we witnessed today? Am I really expected to presume that Michelle Malkin and the other winger crybabies know better than her family what would have pleased her at her last official ceremony?

Please, these people need - and I say this with all the respect it's due - to shut up. Go have a second 10-day proto-patriotic binge about Ronald Reagan. Progressives won't begrudge it, we promise, as long as we're not forced to watch or attend. The music will suck and have a lousy beat, and the speeches will put everyone in a godawful coma, but ... hey, whatever floats your flag-wrapped, compassionate conservative boat.

Just get out of our lives. And our deaths. And our funerals. And the way we honor our heroes, damn it.

Now it's only at public events like these, that either can't be ducked or can only be ducked at one's political peril, that the people get to confront Bush and his minions. Scotty McClelland and the lapdog press are gone and it's just him facing the people, with the cameras rolling.

And every time he's forced to do it he's exposed for clueless let-em-eat-cake charlatan he is.

When he or Cheney venture beyond the gates of their guarded compounds and their scripted crowds we see just how much respect this president commands, and how the much he inspires the American people.

I'm out here in the sticks and I can tell you that good old boys who thought he was the greatest a year or two ago have woken up. It's all over for these people. It's just a matter of time.

Yo! Doug! Glad to hear your voice again! It's true that some events are just too egregious to ignore.

I was so overwhelmed by the Going Home service that I could almost wipe out the memory of the current potus' appearance there. Almost.

Oh please God that we come to our senses as a nation and throw these scoundrels out.

Funerals are for those left behind to help them deal with their losses. The King family could have chosen a "private" service without political types that were not close family friends. But the Kings are a political family and they chose a to have a memorial service that honored their mother's life long commitment to racial justice and peace. I hope the service met their personal and political needs. George Bush did not have to attend and attending did not have to speak.

Great to hear from you Doug! Please reconsider your decision to step away. We need your voice now more than ever.

Mrs. King was a hero for civil rights even in her death. Does anyone who studied her life think she would mind one bit about the political part of her funeral? Her life was political and her death was about her life~ *duh* people.
Bush should have clumsily come up with a reason to pass. He was very out of place. I think the opportunity provided by Mrs. King was certainly appropriate. Fighting in her death for we the people... what is wrong with that? NOTHING is wrong with that. Mr. and Mrs. King are true American heros... even to those who refuse to acknowledge them.

Doug:

I know that todays political climate can be frustrating and make one weary but your strong voice is needed. Take a needed break, don't write a Rant every day...but keep your important voice in the battle. Your ability to tell it like it is and speak truth to power is more important now than at any time in recent history. Sometimes it can feel like we are pissing in the wind but your columns give voice and hope to many who are as frustrated as you. Take care and know that you and your message are greatly appreciated.

Dale Harris

Thanks Doug, another great article, I like you knew how wrong bush and the Iran Contra felon admin he brought along with him were wrong for America, but nonetheless we are paying the price for a gutless press of the mainstream media to confront these Mafia style thugs who have seized control over our treasury and military and are destroying both along with our most important national product,our children.I am not blessed with the gift of gab that you convey so well, keep up the good fight my friend.I am reminded of the Gop mantra of whats the dems plans, and i am no dem i will vote for no incumbent in office now. However a plan I see that would save America would entail having 38 state legislators declaring the CFC, the DOJ, the Supreme Court Justices, all lobbyists, all main stream media talking heads and editors of major mews outlets , all fed reserve board members, the world banking executives from the USA,UN diplomats at the UN,US ambassadors, the congress and senate, and all bush admin officials and aides be declared :"ENEMY COMBATANTS",then use their inhumane laws against them and detain them indefinitely and market them on ppv tv all around the world in a humane ppv torture series as they defined it, also with the sales from selling lottery tickets to win a chance to come and torture them on ppv tv. I could see world peace evolving from this plan as you would have 6 billion people who would want to stay at home and watch.Also can you imagine all the revenue generated from selling 2000 lotteries every day for a chance to wipes the smirks and sneers off the faces of the jerks and queers in wash dc political circles these days. I foresee enough revenue from this that we could rebuild the world the right way, ensuring basic necessities for every one in the world. I know this idea is way out there, but talk about sweet justice.

At funerals such as those of King, Parks, and Wellstone, it is entirely appropriate to include stories of their battles for humanity and to give expressions of hope for the future of those movements. Since these people spent their lives fighting against that which is wrong, it is also appropriate to express outrage at those who have spent their lives working for that which is wrong. David says of Bush(above), "He did not speak of politics at all, and all the left wingers were guilty of exploiting King at her own funeral for their own personal gains." He clearly doesn't understand that this is not about politics. This is a fight for the future of our nation, a fight that the Kings, Parks and Wellstone fought from the first to the last of their days.

Welcome back Doug. We missed you.

What a sigh of relief to see you back Doug. I, for one, can't make it through the day unless I read The Rant. Your posting today is exactly on target. I watched and listened to the service while working and actually enjoyed it immensely. For once, the “shrub” and his “stepford wife” got their just desserts. Speaker after speaker said exactly what the people want and need to hear. That is something this president is not capable of accomplishing. Let's keep it up and if the conservatives don't like it - too bad. Get used to it because the worst is yet to come!

There are more potential NAZIS in this country
than in Germany 1930.
If new "Hitler" will come to power 40% of americans will freely join "SS" troops
and put on brown shirts

There are more potential NAZIS in this country
than in Germany 1930.
If new "Hitler" will come to power 40% of americans will freely join "SS" troops
and put on brown shirts

Doug, your ignorance is in the forefront once again!
Your opening comment is rediculous...? Read it!

"George W. Bush’s pathetic attempt to turn Coretta Scott King’s funeral into a politically-advantageous photo op"???

Our current President did nothing of the kind. Perhaps you should have opened with the truly pathetic attempts by rhyme master Lowery or former President Carter and Clinton's statements. George H.W. Bush also made a comment, jokingly regarding Rev. Lowery's remarks, but all in all the Bush's were the ones who remained dignified and poised as if they were attending a funeral, not a political mud slinging contest. This was a memorial about Mrs. Kind correct? Unfortunately, it was turned into a Democratic slander fest against our current administration. Geez people, when will you wake up and realize the message your sending our youth and world?? If the US can't show unification during a memorial service for one of our nations greatest civil rights advocate, they we truly are ad undignified as the rest of the world thinks!!! I was disgusted at the blatant display of partisan politics... Wrong time and place folks.

Doug... I am so glad that your hiatus was short. Reading your concise summarization of how I feel is affirming. It is so disheartening when I read journalists that simply repeat the lies. We need more journalists like you who comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!

If Liberals are the scum of the earth than what the hell are the conservatives in power, led by probably the most inept president of my lifetime. They speak out of both sides of their collective mouths.This is how i see the message of the conservative elite in power We are prolife but beleive in immoral wars and the death penalty. we believe in education but are cutting back on education. we beleive in helping the ederly but they put in an unintelligible medicare drug plan that fattens the drug companies wallets on the backs of the ederly. We will continue to fund this immoral iraq war and cut back on vital social programs that have been working for years. This president uses 9/11 when he pleases for his oown gain and to justify his flawed prosecution of this immoral war.

If anyone is the scum of the earth it is the hypocritical conservatives who are ruining this country day by day. it seems that he intention of this administration was to rape the American people for their financial betterment. All Americans liberal and conservative should be outraged at the direction the Neo con Bushies have taken this country. This administration's legacy will be failed programs a weaker country and the loss of our countries moral compass. The founding fathers must be rolling in their graves.

JC,
Owing to the life's work of Mrs.King, her funeral was EXACTLY the time and place for our sheltered president to get his comeuppance! I have NO DOUBT that Martin and Coretta were laughing in Heaven !!!

Bless you Mrs. King!!! You spoke from heaven as far as I'm concerned, and the best part was, the press HAD to cover it (Hey, Bush was there!) As a researcher for LibertyNewsTV.com (Please visit our site at www.libertynewstv.com), we covered the March on Washington where thousands of people gathered from all over the world. The next day CNN gave us 8-seconds. I assumed it was because Hurricane Rita was going to take priority. Nope...what followed was a two-and-a-half minute report on a St. Bernard that had swallowed a knife. So, you judmental right-wingers, we'll take whatever opportunity we can get to protest--that is our right--no, that is our obligation.

I sat on a panel with Matt Cooper last October. When I mentioned that 90% of the media in this country is owned by 6 corporations, he poo-pooed it, saying that it didn't affect HIS reporting. Two days later, when I got my TIME Magazine, there was a cozy interview with Lynne Cheney. Heck, Wolf Blitzer practically asks Condi Rice out when he interviews her.

My point? If we can't get coverage for our protests, we'll take it for our funerals. That's what I call dying for your country! Bless you, Mrs. King! And thank you, Doug! You say it like it is (wish our Democratic leaders would too!)

Bush leaves people no choice but to make these sort of statements at funerals. He lives in a bubble. If it takes a funeral to expose him to reality - so be it!

Trident

Doug, delighted you have returned. And I am proud and pleased to be called scum of the earth by neo-fascist wingnuts who support what will go down in history as one of, if not THE, most blatantly dishonest, insidiously corrupt and grossly incompetent administrations in U.S. political history.

Most have already said what needs to be said. One day I heard a black women call in and say"my party(the Democrats) follow Jesus. He taught us to help the needy, not the greedy". I think that quote should be constantly remembered and repeated.

A couple other quotes I like are"God uses the good, the bad use God" and of course"Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels".

So now George Bush is being blamed for spying on Martin Luther King, Jr?

The Kennedy's discovered civil rights when it became politically beneficial for them.

Come on, Doug. You're better than this. I can't believe you gave up a good vacation for this.

Bush would have done better by not showing up at all. He is the complete antithesis of what Dr. and Mrs. King stood for.

It was an insult to Mrs. King's memory to see him there.

MLK 's life was a political one. He was jailed, set upon and hounded by those in power who determined him an enemy of the state (read; status quo). For those who care not for the plight of Black folks in this country, as recently exemplified by Katrina's aftermath, to attempt to rewrite the history of the Civil Rights era is amazing. Every one of those assembled understood the importance of telling it like it was, and is. And those who came and spoke truth were vociferously applauded. Kudos to Bush 41, whether or not I agree with his policies, he really is a polished,classy though misguided human being.

Attention Righties who whine about this funeral being a staged 'political' statement "attacking our administration":

WTF was Reagans Funeral then? a 'political' statement "supporting our administration".

If you tolerated Reagans Red State Final Farewell Tour 04, then wheres the beef?

Hypocrite.

Different points of view are always good on any forum, but in my opinion the comments by BOTH David and JC, essentially nothing more than a parroting of past remarks, beliefs, by someone else once upon a time concerning this administration, show how out of touch with reality they actually are.

Original comments are best.You have the absolute right to support whomever you believe in, but checking facts, actual facts or a rerality check of actual events are always preferable.

When the guest list was actually announced as to WHO would actually be there, George W. Bush had no choice but to attend. IMO the comments made were appropriate, indeed VERY appropriate to be made eulogizing BOTH Coretta and Martin who knew only too well what actually happened to them in their lives that is now happening to all Americans in theirs. Some simply cannot admit it.

Yes, the thugs if allowed to persist will come for these types last...but make NO mistake, they WILL come for even them.

There was NOT one single untruth in ANYTHING, ANYTHING that former President Carter, former President Clinton, or the Reverend Lowery said.

BOTH these "Democratic" Presidents had their failings as president during their terms in office...BOTH of them. That's the truth as well.
It seems that there are still a few Support GWB at all costs supporters who appear to be blinded by the light of the "rapture" and self percieved greatness" heaped on him by paid minions that he has come to believe.

I DO NOT believe that he (GWB) has any direct hand in destroying of the America and what it stands for, himself. He simply says what he is told to say, mouthing the words written for him that he is told are "good", signing what he is told to sign that he is told are "good" or "legal".

However, those who have placed themselves in VERY influential positions from VP Dick Cheney on down IMO that surround him do have a hand in just that. They are trying to rework the American dream to fit their dream of absolute control of all things, foreign and domestic.

THEY KNOW that GWB ONLY cares that he IS President and is basically CLUELESS as to what that really means or should mean other than being #1.

I guess the truth hurts

Thank you, Doug, for the inspiration your column has given me the past couple of years. As an unrepentant Rooseveltian-Truman-Johnsonian liberal, I agree with much of what you have written, most especially in today's column. I can only add how favorably impressed I was by Attallah Shabbazz's eulogy. (I think I misspelled her name.) What an excellent speaker she is! Her father must be so proud of her. I did not know about the close relationship between Mrs. King and Betty Shabbazz. What would we do without our strong women who hold our feet to the fire, and who shame us into doing what we know we ought to do!
Thanks again for your words.

For those who would respond to say it was LBJ's "Great Society" White House, and not the meanie Republicans that spied on MLK... you miss the point, as usual. An unchecked Executive is a danger to all Americans, period. It matters not a whit whose party does it. To all so-called Patriots, how would you like Hillary looking thru your correspondence or medical information? Would you change your view then?

I am so sick of the mindless rantings of you liberals. Carter never met a dicator that he did not love. He was the most incompetent person to ever sit in the Oval Office, and you liberals treat him like he is a king. President Bush has more humanity in a single hair on his head than all of you liberal democrats combined. Maybe take a cue from him that The Clintons were invited and flew to Atlanta in Air Force One. You liberals take all of the wrong things too seriously.
Keep up the good working showing what kind of idiots you are.

I'm glad you are back. Wellstone, Parks, and Kings death remind us that we all need to fight to the very end, even when it seems hopeless. You stand up and tell the brutal truth at a time when reality is being created and some in this country are afraid to hear the truth. We need your strong voice. Truth is the only thing that can save us now. Keep making America hear the real truth.

Not to talk about the trails that Mr. And Mrs. King had to live thru would be a insult to there memory. That includes Civil rights,Cival liberties and yes abuses of power by the government. Just because someone is sitting there doesn't mean you don't talk about it. This was about Coretta Scott King not George Bush. In the 1960 the Civil Rights movement was a Polities movement as well as a Human Rights issue so as I said to not talk about these issues would be a insult. Maybe the Neo-Cons are upset about what was said because they know that they are wrong and are enemies of the Constitution . They say it was the wrong place To bring up Politics well I say that using 9/11 as a way to scoring political points is wrong but they have been doing that for 5 years.

VOICES CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS.

HALLELULJAH..
GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING !
Way to go, Reverend Joe.
Wasn't that a mighty man
Speaking truth to Power
Did you HEAR the truth
Did you FEEL his words
Did you laugh and cry
And sing AMEN.
If only more of our elected "representatives" had his courage, cohones and comic timing. The will to confront this criminal regime seems to reside mainly in the Black Caucus; as representatives of our Brothers and Sisters who have suffered most from the evils of generations of repression and exploitation, it may be they who have the unfortunate experience necessary to fight, survive and ultimately overcome our current adversities. I suggest we pay heed, follow their lead, support them with our dollars and energy. Along with many others I am informing official Democratic Party Organisations that I will no longer donate to any "general" fund but rather will only contribute directly to the campaigns of candidates, no matter where they are running, who have a proven track record of opposing the Corporocracy and truly representing the People.
Just part of my little attempt to take back our
Country and Government.
So many strong, powerful voices were raised yesterday, keeping hope alive, exhilarating and uplifting to our souls, and to Coretta's as she travels on. Bon Voyage Sister Soulmate.
Those of us of a fairer complexion were however well represented. No matter what 'issues' any of us may still have about Bill Clinton, there is no denying he knows how to bring it on. His opening reminder that "there's a women in there" sent shivers through me. The ovation he and Jimmy Carter received must have made lil' smirky georgie squirm, if he's still capable of such reflection, made my heart dance with the possibility of change and promise if we only keep our faith, no matter what form it takes, and stay focused on the prize of Peace, Justice, Freedom and Equality for all Peoples and Creations that call this Planet Home.
Patrick Monk.RN. SF. Ca.

"You liberals are the scum of the earth."

Yes. I know. I can only speak for myself, but I'd rather spend money on programs that feed hungry kids, and people in need. And spend money on education, rather than talking big about education, and then slashing funds for it. And I'd rather change foreign policy to make the country less hated, than engage in illicit wars that make the world compare us to Germany in the late 30s.

You'd rather rip the money out of the hands of the impoverished, and give it to Haliburton, KBR, and the like. Give it to the war machine that has killed tens of thousands in Iraq.

I don't know how I'll sleep tonight, knowing what a "scum" I am.

No, I mean it.

We live in Texas, in the rural part of east Texas. When shrub was elected Gov. he screwed things up so bad that Texas is now ranked at the botttom of the totem pole on most uninsured, most children in poverty, and in education. Gov. Perry has not done much better.
Shrub lied to us and said he'd finish his term as Gov. (by the way that was the first job he ever had). Then he stole the presidency the first time, second time was just pure stupidity on the part of the people. Now that everyone is waking up to the fact that we have a "regime" on our hands, I pray that things will change soon!
Thanks for your voice, Doug. Please stay, we need to hear the truth...which is something our government can't seem to do.

AS I HAVE SAID FOR YEARS NOW "BUSH HAS THE INTEGRITY OF A TAPEWORM, THE BRAINS OF A PISS ANT, AND THE MORALS OF A CRACK WHORE" AND IT SEEMS NOW THAT NOT ONLY IS THE WORLD AGREEING WITH MY STATEMENT...BUSH HIMSELF HAS PROVEN IT.

Robert B.

A "free ride" on Air Force ONE. Currently Bush's really big plane. ...and you don't think that was a weak attempt at still another photo op to show cohesiveness?

Personally I think the Clinton's should have said, Gee thanks, but no thanks. but GHWB might have thought ill if they didn't accept the free ride.

Hillary might have wanted to go because she was taking inventory as to how to redecorate the plane in in 2009...or just by a dreamliner....or maybe an AirBus 380. OK we all have to have a little fun playing with fantasy every once in awhile.

AGAIN in case any one BUSH supporter missed it.

There was absolutely NOTHING, NOTHING said in any of the eulogies yesterday by anyone OTHER THAN the President that was not absolutely, positively TRUE

THE TRUTH HURTS

What an Excellent article! a true Literary Masterpiece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Doug,

Well said. May I add that the message to GWB was "We're not afraid of you anymore."

Were the Democratic Presidents correct for bashing Bush and his administration?
The answer is, "Yes"
What they told were the injustices done to both Rev. King and Mrs. King. They proved what happened to outspoken, in the puplic eye people, can now happen to you and I.
Some here have said, Bush is a compassionate man. How wrong they are. Bush does not know how to be compasionate.
He, who would not allow pictures of the fallen, returning from Iraq. He, who would not attened but a few funerals, of the dead from Iraq.
He attends these funerals only on the basis that he is expected to attend.

Bush was out of place, he knew, we knew it. And I was glad he had to sit there is listen to the speaker completely slam his policies right in front of him. I doubt he is rarely is a position to actually hear what people say about his policies, unless they are fawning and brown nosing him. But I imagine he probably shut it all out as he just couldn't wait for it to end. But I'm glad it went on for six hours. Anyone know if Bush had to sit there for the whole time?

Great to hear from you again.

The world needs you to keep writing, keep speaking truth to power. We need more like you - people who are willing to speak truth to power and cannot be intimidated by the government.

Randell - I think he stayed but he looked as if he wanted a bathroom break. I don't think Condi was nearby so he couldn't ask for permission.

I am so relieved you are back, Doug.

Please keep healthy. We need you.

I can not believe what is going on in this country from A to Z.

Mary Bushnell

Mr. McCoy -- So who are the attendees supposed to be addressing? The family and friends of the deceased or the "fair-and-balanced" crowd? Whose funeral is it anyway? Yours? How hypocritcally PC can you get -- no political speech allowed at funerals anymore. Even if the deceased would have welcomed it, you're a scumbag for doing it.

Mrs. King would have been delighted to hear the truth spoken, she was all about truth, It was the first time in a long while, That this much truth was spoken, and the mainstream press had to cover it!!!...and Mr Bush on the hot seat for once pricless! Thank You Mrs.King, I will never forget you.

Scum of the earth eh? Well better scum of the earth than some mindless cheerleader of some dry drunk madman!

Hey Doug,

Glad to see you back! Don't scare us like that no more!

Take a break and kick back for a while! Go burn a joint, chug a few beers, or swat little white balls around in the pasture. Shine your shoes and shake down a stock trader! Take a little "Doug Time" from time to time! Go do what you like to do and recharge the old batteries, once in a while! Otherwise you get burnt out and do wierd shit, and scare the hell out of everybody!

I did watch Mrs. King's funeral from beginning to end and I thought it befit a woman who'd done so much to fight injustice in her lifetime. When it was over I had two thoughts pop into my head.

#1 - those poor people must have bladders the size of Texas! AND....
#2 - NEVER put the Pres behind a speaker like that. The look of boredom, and anger, is now recorded for all posterity. And that plastic smirk will forever be imprinted on all our memories!

PS - welcome home, Doug!

Do you think GWB even knew who Coretta Scott King was?

(I mean before a week ago.)

Randall, Bush left after the first 3 hours of the program. Condolezza Rice did attend, she was sitting silently in the audience.

I viewed Mrs. King's body yesterday but was turned away from the funeral due to overcrowding so I watched it on TV at home.

I grieve that we are losing our civil rights elders, but gladly accept the torch as a representative of the younger generation. It was not an accident that Mrs. King's death was announced on the same day that Samuel Alito was sworned onto the Supreme Court. A wakeup call for ALL of America.

The political comments were VERY appropriate and EFFECTIVE!!! Joseph Lowery is brilliant! Jimmy Carter was most welcome and on target!

But T.D. Jake$ and Eddie Long make me feel the need to take a shower!

Frankly, the dice was quite loaded against Dubya. He was damned if he attended the funeral and damned if he didn't. He knew he was taking a chance attending but came anyway because he couldn't get out of it and hoped for a good photo opportunity. No doubt, Eddie Long and T.D. Jakes assured him that it would be okay.

But never underestimate the heart of courage, outrage and penchant for truth on behalf of the black masses! We were going to have our say whether Dubya came or not!

May Mrs. King rest in peace! It was a memorial celebration appropriate for the royalty she was and we will miss her dearly.

hena - what a scam - that tirade is lifted off another blog site. Are you that blogger or do you have no words of your own?

Mrs. King was denied the dignity of a funeral celebrating her life and passing. White and black political leaders can’t seem to resist using such an occasion as an opportunity to pontificate on their political agenda. There is a time and place for political discussion and agendas. Mrs. King was a woman who deserved a service of admiration and love. I finally could watch no more of the speeches with the perfunctory mention of Mrs. King as a jump to political posturing. I will remember Mrs. King, a woman among women.

If Martin Luther King had been at that funeral he would have welcomed Bush's attendance as a fellow Christian. The Kings were Christians and it was their faith that led them to their powerful political journey. King would not have bashed anyone present.

Has anyone bothered to check to see if the eulogy comments had been pre-approved by the King family? If they agreed with and approved the comments then it was entirely appropriate.

Hope you can find out Doug!

Was refreshing to see King George in a position where he could not have the secret service remove a speaker that was telling the truth and was what Mrs. King would have like to hear.

You liberals are still missing the point. What does the Iran conflict have to do with the life of King, what does Jimmy Carter's comments about wire tapping have to do with the life of King. As far as this Lowery is considered, he needs to realize that MLK and Coretta Scott King never would have been behind things such as affirmative action. Affirmative action makes it impossible for people to be judged by the content of their character, and only allows judging based on the color of someone's skin. I also love how liberals are for free speech, but only when it is something you libs agree with. That is the biggest hypocrisy of all.

Showing up at an event for a person whose causes he abhors, who wouldn't even show up at NAACP conferences, whose lack of morality in Katrina, social security, medicaid, oil, or just plain truthfulness bespeaks his lack of eligibility to even speak for someone whose values were the direct opposite of his. It was just sickening to even see his twitching, jaw-shifting face in a place of prominence at the funeral.

Hi, Doug, I always enjoy and appreciate your Rants, even when I don't agree, but you're way off the mark on this one. Your views of Bush have apparently blinded you to the reality that the Coretta Scott King funeral backfired not on Bush, but on Jimmy Carter and other Democrats who politicized the event with their highly inappropriate rhetoric. You may have found joy in their skewering of Bush, and that's fine, but funerals and pulpits are no place for that blatant political activity. There was nothing wrong with Bush being at the funeral, regardless of what his motives might have been. The Democrats there obviously learned nothing from the debacle that was Paul Wellstone's funeral (Norm Coleman says thanks, again).

Glad you're back again (and again) at Blue.

It is time to put Dubya out to pasture. He is ruining the country.

I was hoping that W would learn something from loving caring people and what the Kings lived and died for...For President Clinton to get the standing ovations was heartrendering and Rev. Lowrey hit the nail on the head. W was afraid not to come when he found out President Clinton wld be attending. Don't think W even knew what Rev. Lowrey said.. And, dear President Carter kinda rubbed it in just a little to let Bush know how many countries he and Mrs. Carter have been to in order to promote peace. Bush had never even been out of the country before 2000...That point makes him unqualified to be the POTUS. and for Doug: please don't leave us Doug. you have no idea how much you're loved and how much we need your guidance. your e-mail is the very first one I look for on my 'puter...my day would not be the same w/out hearing from you. and I pass it on to many, many folks. thank you for being you. much PEACE in your heart, a Georgia senior dem

Anybody who says pulpits aren't any place for political activity needs to wake up. If you know any thing about the Civil Rights Movement or more specifically, the history of the Movement, knows that the (black) Church was the foundation. Dr. King organized the bus boycott in the Church. The Church, for black people, is all we had. This was the only place that we could safely congregrate to discuss political issues of the time. Since Coretta Scott King is an icon of the Movement, I see nothing wrong with what took place at the funeral.

You have George W. Bush there who doesn't believe in anything that Coretta Scott King or the Movement stood for. Personally, I feel the only reason he decided to attend was to avoid what happened when Rosa Parks passed. Bush is so out of touch with the American people it is a shame.

"...Along with many others I am informing official Democratic Party Organisations that I will no longer donate to any "general" fund but rather will only contribute directly to the campaigns of candidates, no matter where they are running, who have a proven track record of opposing the Corporocracy and truly representing the People."
Patrick Monk, This is a capital idea -- one in the spirit of Coretta King, and one of the single best ideas I have seen in a very long while. I am personally picking it up and running with it. I hope others will too. Thank you for posting it.

You say that Bush was there for a photo op but his speech did nothing but praise King. He did not speak of politics at all, and all the left wingers were guilty of exploiting King at her own funeral for their own personal gains. You liberals are the scum of the earth.

Posted by David McCoy at February 8, 2006 02:15 AM

Only goes to show you, DAVID, that partisanship like yours is for the true scum of the earth types.

What's wrong? Worried that your party will lose in '06? Learn this...most people at this site are non-partisan. Doug is the ultimate patriot, a man who puts principle and truth over belief in some dumb party ideal.

The sooner folks like you realize how your "party" is playing you for the fool, the better.

Good luck when you wake up and the American dream is no longer available to your children, NO MATTER HOW EDUCATED OR HARD THEY WORK.

If the US can't show unification during a memorial service for one of our nations greatest civil rights advocate, they we truly are ad undignified as the rest of the world thinks!!! I was disgusted at the blatant display of partisan politics... Wrong time and place folks.

Posted by JC at February 8, 2006 09:18 AM

If we hadn't invaded Iraq, maybe your point would be correct. Problem is, we AREN'T dignified and Bush is the main reason for that.

BTW, our young people are the ones who will have to fight endless wars and deal with the economic consequences of our actions. Wake up dude. I am no liberal, but I find it funny you think Bush is some kind of hero. He's not.

I am so sick of the mindless rantings of you liberals. Carter never met a dicator that he did not love. He was the most incompetent person to ever sit in the Oval Office, and you liberals treat him like he is a king. President Bush has more humanity in a single hair on his head than all of you liberal democrats combined. Maybe take a cue from him that The Clintons were invited and flew to Atlanta in Air Force One. You liberals take all of the wrong things too seriously.
Keep up the good working showing what kind of idiots you are.

Posted by Robert Bertrand at February 8, 2006 10:59 AM

Only the weak minded would make comments like this. Who said we were all liberal. Calling me a liberal makes you feel better, then I am a liberal.

Better to be called that than somebody who supports folks who care not one bit for average Americans AND who feel above the constitution.

A true patriot cares about the Constitution, so what does that make you?

America is a liberal democracy. It was founded as such, so I take your "insult" as a complement even though I lean to the right.

LOL.

I also love how liberals are for free speech, but only when it is something you libs agree with. That is the biggest hypocrisy of all.

Posted by David at February 8, 2006 03:31 PM

I see...but when O'Reilly or Hannity won't allow dissent of any kind, that is okay too?

Doug, glad to see your wise comments back!

I was depressed knowing we wouldn't have your gutsy responses for the day's events. A true patriot who believes in the right to free expression, your short absence was missed. I understand, however your reluctance and stepping away from the trainwreck our beloved America is becoming day in and day out under the neo-cons.

Your headline was further sinking of the ever shrinking pRESIDENCY of GWB.

THESE DICK HEAD REPUGNUTS WITH ALL THE CREDIT DEBT THINK THEY ARE WEALTHY LIKE C-HAWK WIMPY CHIMP.MOST ARE POOR ASS AND BRAINED WASHED,IF THEY WERE EVER BLESSED WITH ONE...

Bush is a fascist who needs to be denounced at every opportunity. I don't think the speakers at the Coretta Scott King funeral went far enough. This country is in a state of crisis. We MUST impeach the entire Bush administration before our democracy is lost forever.

Doug, you can never quit. I don't care how bad the corruption in Washington gets you can never never never til your dying breath quit. We need to hear someone on our side.

A shown by the actions of their hero-"leaders" like Cheney/Rove/Bush and their OWN postings, most GOP-rightwingers are incurably depraved, constitutionally dishonest connivers, within whom every thought is hateful and deceptive, and every word a blasphemy against American Principles and normal, traditional Judeo-Christian values.

The GOP, and many of their most loyal supporters, are definitely with the terrorists.

They prove it every day.

K Adamson wrote:

"If Martin Luther King had been at that funeral he would have welcomed Bush's attendance as a fellow Christian. The Kings were Christians and it was their faith that led them to their powerful political journey. King would not have bashed anyone present."

The Kings were Christians. Bush is not.

Jesus taught peace, not war. Jesus taught, "Love thy enemy, do good to those that hate you." Jesus let his enemies kill him and never fought back. THAT's what Christianity is all about. Bush & Co don't have a CLUE.

You're right. "King would not have bashed anyone present."

Nor would he have attacked Iraq...or condoned torture...or spied on people...or let Cheney and his Halliburton friends line their pockets with billions of tax dollars. And the list goes on.

Do yourself a favor. Read the New Testament. See if you find even ONE verse where Jesus supports what this administration does.

Welcome back Doug. I love your rant. I think it's really sad that w. went to the funeral. I am so proud of Jimmy Carter. He really did a great job. How w. can continue to pretend that he cares about any one but the 1 % is beyond me. I agree he will be the most hated President ever before this is over. The republicans are getting pretty angry also. If the spying story can be pushed and people start remembering the other crimes he has committed maybe we can have our country back.

I cannot believe I keep seeing the same old stuff from the die hard Republicans. What does it take for you to see the light??? During the State of the Union, The Pres said that independance from oil and energy independance was a priority in this country. We all agree. What happens the next day? 45 people get laid off at the Govt. research and developement dept for independant energy research. Not only laying off employees directly involved in R&D but cutting some $15 mil in funding. Then he talked about education. That is the most important thing if our country it to compete in a Flat World. What happens next? Cut the Pell Grant program which is the program where students borrow monies for college. Anyone of you Republican conservatives see anything wrong with this picture??? Lies thats what! What President Carter and President Clinton had to say were sure important enough for this man to hear. Don't think it should have been done at Corettas Funeral? Why is that? These are the things that she and Martin fought their entire lives for. What could be more approiate? Thank God for Doug and his rants. He makes more sence than any of you conservative (billions in borrowed Debt)make. I am neither a Democrat nor am I a liberal, but a true blue American. I went and risked my life for people to have the right to voice their opinions, but for God's sake at least wake up and do some research of what the heck you are ranting about, not just blaming all things that go wrong on the Democrats. I worked all my life wondering about working until May to pay the interest on the national debt. Then when President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore balanced the budget and got our country in the black, we avoided all of the interest that we were paying. I felt pretty good about that. What has happened in the past 5 years. It has been blown out of the water and we are still talking about cutting taxes. How do you do that and force what is left of the middle class to make up the difference? Because that is surely what is happening in this country. This administration will surely make us a third world country if we continue to let this slide. China, North Korea and Japan owns 60% of our country now. Think about it!!! I plan to vote all of the incumbants out and new blood in. I don't care who it is until they get the idea that we are not going to stand for their crap any more. That's my thinking.

Hey trolls:

Don't presume to tell us how to mourn the death of our heroes.

If Bush was mortified, it's his own damned fault. He can't handle being in a front of an audience that isn't pre-screened. Heck, how fragile is the dude?

He knows, or he should have known, the Kings stood for everything he is against and against everything he stands for. Why'd he even go? For a photo op? I think so.

Why the talk about war, you ask? Simple. Coretta and Martin were profoundly, outspokenly anti-war. Egad, I can't believe you have to ask.

Comment #4: Hooray hena!!! Bring it home Sister!!!

At first, I didn't know if the criticism of Bush at Coretta Scott King's funeral was appropriate, but now I have a sense that it was. President Bush's policies have put so many poor people and especially poor, Black people at risk that it was near impossible for some there to not speak out. Bush is a master at "saying" one lovely politically-correct thing after another, and then promptly "doing" the opposite. It's become his trademark. So, he shouldn't be surprised when Coretta's true mourners call him on it. Hey, Bush has told us he's a big, tough guy protecting us from terrorists, so he should be able to handle some criticism. After all, he can't always hide in his bubble.

Thanks Doug for the superb Rants! You're keepin' us alive.

The real irony rested with the State of the Union address when Bush praised Mrs. King at one point and then some distance removed continued his attack on "activist judges." Bush's comments only can be understood when put in the context of Trent Lott's notorious eulogy for Strom Thurmond. It is perfectly clear that Brown v. Board of Education as well as Roe v. Wade can hardly be safe in the hands of a Scalia-led court. In this context we must remember that in the period between 1790 and 1820 free African-Americans gained a number of key rights in Northern states only to have them taken away during the 1830s. The same retreat can easily happen with Bush's new court. Bush may be politically dead, but evil he has done probably will not come to full flower until about five or ten years later when the relevant cases have made their way to Washington. Mrs. King died at the right time.

I would like to clarify one small fact, George Bush is not a christian,...."He is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth" Psalm 46,9

I listened to all of what you quoted in the article on the FM.

I take a long pause at the passing of the Kings from this world. MLK could have been not just a president, but one of the great presidents. I consider again the circumstances of their deaths, and the deaths of Malcolm, JFK and his brother.

The ramblings of the current president were the non event at an important passing. Why was he even invited?

Doug,

Thank God you decided to come back. I am on the Internet every day, read many different alternate media sites, but I truly like the way you cut to the chase and say what needs to be said in a format that any one can read and understand. Take a day or two off here and there, but please don't quit writing now. I live here in Missouri, and I can tell you for a fact there are people here that STILL believe Bush is a good President(ugh!!)

Bush sucks all the way down the line in my opinion. If he said that the sky was blue, I'd go outside and check for myself. The man is a LIAR, THIEF, CROOK, and frankly, as far as I'm concerned, a maniac that needs to be locked up.

Just for the record, the first JC is not the same as the 2nd JC. Liar, thief, and crook work for me too, all the way down the line. Glad you're back, Doug.

JC

The mourners at Mrs. King's funeral put the chew to Shrubya's butt. I'm so looking forward to the fall, when a newly Democratic-controlled Congress will do the same with a sweet little process called impeachment. (Or the little pisser could just do the right thing and resign.)

In response to the criticism of the remarks made by President Carter and Joseph Lowery at Coretta Scott King’s funeral yesterday – has it occurred to the right-wingers that the Bush’s were not welcome at this event? That their very presence was an offense to the 10,000 other attendants of Mrs. King’s funeral??? I found it disgusting that he would have the audacity to even show his face, much less, sit on the dais, like he cares – and I’m WHITE!!!!

I am very curious, and would like to know specifically, if they were even invited?? Or did they consider this to be yet another of their endless entitlements, complete with a photo opportunity to pander to the African American community??? Considering the statistical fact that Dubya’s approval rating among African Americans is 2%, with a +/- margin of error of 3%, which conceivably puts his approval rating at -1%, Jefferson Davis, George Wallace and David Duke would have been more warmly received. I would bet the rent, they were the ONLY Republicans in the room.

Dr. and Mrs. King were the epitome of the “political couple.” Racial indifference, anti-war and human rights were the core of their fundamental beliefs. And unlike the Bush’s, they paid the ultimate price and made the ultimate sacrifice for their beliefs. It was completely appropriate for political statements to be made. If Dubya’s (and the Republican Party’s) sensitive lil’ole’ feelins’ got hurt, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE STAYED HOME!!!!!!!!!!!

To quote a truly great President that Dubya has the nerve to compare himself to – “If you can’t stand the heat….”

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL VOTE AND WORK HARD TO GET THE TRUTH OUT ABOUT THE MOST HORRIBLE PRESIDENT IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY? WE WERE ONCE A GREAT NATION.

WHEN ARE THE DUPED ANGRY WHITE MEN GOING TO WAKE UP? (I KNOW TOO MANY KOOL-AID DRINKER WHITE MEN)

ALL THAT WAS SAID AT THE FUNERAL WAS WHAT NEEDED TO BE SAID. THE CORPORATE BOARD ROOMS THAT CONTROL THE MAINSTREAM PRESS (5 CORPORATIONS CONTROL ALL THE PRESS), SUPPRESS THE NEWS. THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH THE HYPOCRITICAL REPUBS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SPEAK OUT WHENEVER THEY CAN.

THE KINGS WERE MOST PROUD OF ALL WHO SPOKE OUT.

CATHY FROM A BLUE STATE THAT IS REALLY HURTING
(MICHIGAN)

I am a Canadian and I watched in amazement when Bush got told off good and proper at Mrs King's funeral. All the was left out was a physical slap in the face, which is what he deserved. But the good verbal drubbing he got served its purpose. He looked sick and so he should have. But did it do much good? Aside from an emotional release and a chance to say that someone finally told him the truth, I doubt it accomplished much. Bush could get up, go home, mutter about the blacks being uppitty, and go his merry way. Still, with the whole world watching, I rejoiced that people somewhere, finally, and at long last spoke up.

Now, I have a question. Where was Big Bad Babs Bush, she of the beautiful mind?

Hey David McCoy - "you liberals are the scum of the earth"? Funny. I thought they were Americans with a right to free speech, you fascist prick.

Conservatives by definition oppose positive change and democratic progress, but some are semi-reasonable and do not name call, so must be given love. What it will really take of course is a violent socialist revolution in the US to save the world from the totalitarian take over by the US, their use of force to rob the world is proof of their war crimes, and even the benighted younger generation will change when the need becomes clear.

I'd like to remind David McCoy that MLK and Corretta were both liberals.

The King Family were victims of government intrusion when Democrats were in the White House, it wasn't right then and its' not right now to have the government intrude in our personal lives. President Carter was honest and hit the nail on the head with his speech. Mrs. King's life was spent in the political spot light and what an appropriate way to honor her life by pointing out the pain and suffering the King family endured because of government intrusion. I don't recall conservatives having a problem making a political spectacle of themselves with Teri Shiavo.

Mr. Thompson

As a Canadian I am a bit removed from your political realities; however I too love my Country , and I have to say I admire your courage and willingness to stick your neck out for your Nation. I just discovered your site this evening and I say keep your voice strong sir! Don't ever let them shout ya down!!

yes.this is my site http://newjerseyjournal.com/hgh/information_news_human_growth_hormone.html Thanks.

wtf?