Two presidents - one focus!

As the world learned about the death of America's 41st president, George H.W. Bush, social media became quite interested in these questions:  Would Donald Trump attend the funeral?  Would he even be allowed to attend?  

On Dec. 4, 2018, FOX News gave us the answers.  Yes, Trump would attend:

"The Bush family has taken great care to assure that services being held to honor the life and legacy of former President George H.W. Bush do not become a political platform for anti-Trump swipes."

Okay ... so Trump would feel safe.  He would not be the focus of the events. He could honor protocol by attending the services for President Bush.

But was he safe?  Well, no, he was not.  And that isn't because any of the speakers at President Bush's services took "swipes" at Trump; they didn't.  It wasn't that he was ignored; he wasn't.

Trump wasn't safe from criticism and judgement because ... he is Trump.  Period.

Trump was not mentioned by any of those speaking.  And yet, he was.

Speakers described George H.W. Bush with a variety of adjectives.  Here are just a few:  honest, honorable, loyal, compassionate, friendly, giving, loving, courageous, patriotic, respectful, decent.  Not one of those adjectives can be used to describe Trump.

Speakers described President Bush's life as one filled with humor, deep faith, public service, and integrity. Trump's life?  Well ... no ... no ... no ... and, no.

There is no way one could avoid comparing #41 to #45.

President Bush respected the institutions of our country while Trump doesn't understand the institutions and is doing his best to tear them down.

Trump may not have been the focus of the services for President Bush, but he was there, front and center.  Not because the Bush Family planned that focus, but simply because Trump is Trump and we, as a nation, have every right to compare these men's presidencies, their presence on the world stage, and their effect on the people of this nation.

I hope Trump learned something from this week of remembering President George H.W. Bush.  I doubt that will happen.  He immediately tweeted his 50% approval rating (a false statement as shown by Gallup poll results).

President Bush, thank you for your service, Sir.  Yours was a life well lived, a life of service to others.