Ever been to a Catholic wake? Granted, many of the guests probably won't remember the drunken selfies the next day, but it's strongly therapeutic.

Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling....

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

This!

Maybe more a celebration of life than mourning of death (of an old communist), but this "selfie" crap is getting old.....

What selfie crap do you speak of?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

not the ones where Obama and Bush took candid photos with other heads of state or persons of importance or friends at this solemn event, I think we are discussing the ones Obama specifically took in front of a bathroom mirror while wearing pink sweat pants that said "juicy" on the back and posing.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Where did you see that?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It flashed before my eyes as I switched between Tea Party news outlets. I KNOW Im SURE I saw it for real and it wasn't a hallucination. I will now spend my time acting on the fact that I know that picture exists, but I can't find it anymore because the MSM has surpressed it.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

It is, after all, ALL ABOUT ME!!! and if I want to flirt with the blond, I will do so and you will say nothing about it.

Has a US president ever attended the funeral of a dialectical materialist before?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Despite the fact the US was pouring money into Egypt and they were considered a US friend in the region Reagan sidestepped this question by sending Nixon, Ford and Carter to Sadat's funeral in 1981.

The issue here is politics. Obama is never running for anything again, so reelection is not something he needs to think about. Reagan was in his first term, so reelection was something he had to think about.

The larger question is does the US want to retain friendly relations with a country? Is it in our national interest? If so then a President has to do what they have to do, but they don't have to give their political opponents a gift while doing so. Reagan knew this and his hands were tied. Obama knows this and his hands are untied.

Why anyone would waste their energy in pointing out flaws in Obama is beyond my thinking. He has escaped the reach of politics, and while Republicans may scream Impeachment the only reason they would have for doing so is to raise funds from those who cannot see beyond the horizon.

On the Castro handshake.

I spoke to a political consultant about this and asked what Obama had to gain. He pointed out that the handshake was not for the consumption of the American people but for the consumption of the Cuban people. And while Obama had nothing to gain from this handshake he also has nothing to lose. His critics are still going to be critical and if not of this then something else.

If anyone in Cuba has ever wondered if the US would like better relations with their country then this handshake is a message to them that the answer is yes. Raul Castro is not going to be swayed by this gesture, and it would be interesting to hear his comments on this act. After all, he has said a great many negative things about all US Presidents, so how can he explain to other Cubans what he was doing being all buddy-buddy with one?

But the Cuban people will at least know that the US President feels no hate towards them, and when your goal is to end a Dictatorship you have to start with changing the perceptions of the people.

Seems like a valid conclusion.

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

At my dad's funeral I was honored to be asked by my 7 siblings to speak. I started by saying that Dad told me when he was delivering death benefit checks to folks he could tell if they were Christian the moment he was inside the house. Non Christians were in deep anguish, Christians less so.

Then I mentioned that in the family Dad was known to be an excellent and prolific story teller. Then I told five or six tales from Dad's life about things he did that were funny (gleaned from very enjoyable discussions with my family...many of us had different details about the same story) and we all laughed and cried together.

The saddest thing I have expereinced is when children die....the parents are beyond comforting in every experience of mine.

Old folks who have had a good life and are suffering is part of how life is supposed to go at least. Tell your favorite stories to each other and enjoy recounting the life of the guest of honor.

I read that Africans treat funerals as a joyous rememberence of a life well lived.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Saddest things ever.