The Discerning Texan
All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.
-- Edmund Burke
-- Edmund Burke
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
President Gerald R Ford (1913-2006)
When I was a freshman in college, I had the thrill of shaking President Ford's hand while working a summer job in Houston. A lot will be said and written about this man in the coming days, but about the most spot-on obit I have yet seen was penned this morning by A.J. Strata. Mr. President, your contributions have been long underestimated and long downplayed by elite media. If things had worked out differently, and you had been elected instead of Jimmy Carter, the world might have been a much better place. We will never know. But we do know that when the nation needed a non-partisan healer, you were there at the right place and the right time. I, and many others like me, are thankful that you were. Rest in peace:
It is sad to wake up this morning and have the first news be that of the death of a good President. The news stories will say it better than I can, but Gerald Ford was the ultimate example of sacrificing political gain in order to do right by the country. After Bill Clinton held on to power for no useful purpose, and spent 8 years working on a legacy verses what was needed for the country, we can all see the difference “in style”. Political expediency is the norm right now. Staying on the best course, despite the news media’s lame and consistent harping, is becoming a rare trait. The news media will never be able to undo the damage did while this man was President. They scoffed at Gerald Ford from the Ivory Towers of unsustainable arrogance at every opportunity. Just as with the passing of President Reagan, the media wiill choke down their dislike and pretend to redeem themselves as they cover the passing of this good man. Or maybe they won’t. One thing about liberals is their innate ability to be tacky at any cost. But as usual, the media is the sideshow. The main event is this man’s life long dedication and sacrifice to all of us. Thank you Mr. President. God speed.
