Bush, Clinton Disagree on Pope's Legacy
Apr 8, 11:22 AM (ET)
By TOM RAUM

(AP) Former US President Bill Clinton looks up as President George Bush looks on after the funeral mass...

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) - President Bush on Friday said that attending the funeral of Pope John Paul II was "one of the highlights of my presidency" and made clear that he disagrees with former President Clinton's assessment that the pontiff leaves a mixed legacy.

"I think John Paul II will have a clear legacy of peace, compassion and a strong legacy of setting a clear moral tone," Bush told reporters on Air Force One as he flew from Rome to the United States just hours after the funeral. He said he wanted to amend his remarks to add the word "excellent."

"It was a strong legacy," the president said. "I wanted to make sure there was a proper adjective to the legacy he left behind, not just the word clear."

Bush, the first U.S. president to attend a papal funeral, led a U.S. delegation to the 2 1/2-hour funeral Mass that included his wife, Laura, his father, former President Bush, former President Clinton and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Clinton, on the flight to Rome earlier this week, had said that John Paul "may have had a mixed legacy," but he called him a man with a great feel for human dignity.

(AP) U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush, left, pay their respects to Pope John Paul...

"There will be debates about him. But on balance, he was a man of God, he was a consistent person, he did what he thought was right," Clinton said. "That's about all you can ask of anybody."

Bush spoke with reporters in the conference room of his plane. "I'm really glad I came," he said. "There was never any question I would come."

Bush talked about his time in Rome in extraordinarily personal terms, saying it strengthened his own belief in a "living God."

He remarked on how affected he was by the services, particularly the music and the sight of the plain casket being carried out with the sun pouring down on it. As he viewed the pope's body, Bush said, he felt "very much at peace" and "much more in touch with his spirit."

"I knew the ceremony today would be majestic but I didn't realize how moved I would be by the service itself," the president said. "Today's ceremony, I bet you, was a reaffirmation for millions."

(AP) U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush, left, stand after paying their respects to...

That was true for him, Bush said.

"No doubt in my mind the Lord Christ was sent by the Almighty," Bush said. "No doubt."

Bush said attending the funeral mass reminded him that faith is a long-term process, using a description of religious life common to evangelicals. "Faith - it's a walk, not a moment, not a respite," he said.

Bush was close to the front of the section reserved for world leaders, who were seated in alphabetical order - in French. The United States in French is Etats-Unis. A parallel section seated Catholic leaders. Bush sat on the aisle in the second row, next to his wife. Beside them were French President Jacques Chirac and his wife, Bernadette. The two presidents shook hands.

When Bush's face appeared on giant screen TVs showing the ceremony, many in the crowds outside St. Peter's Square booed and whistled.

Bush rode to Vatican City in a limousine displaying two flags, the customary American flag on the right fender and, as a tribute to the pope, the white and yellow Vatican banner on the left. He left Rome immediately after the service.

The president also was taping his weekly radio address focused on the pope's life and legacy.

Bush was spending the weekend on his ranch in Crawford, Texas. His father accompanied him back aboard Air Force One, but Clinton took a backup Air Force plane back to the states.

On Thursday, Bush - eager to remain out of the limelight and keep the focus on the pope - met privately with Italian leaders and U.S. Catholic leaders in town for the funeral. He arrived in Rome late Wednesday.

I have rarely given Bush credit for anything, but I do think it was good that he attended the funeral, although I question his motive.

When Bush's face appeared on giant screen TVs showing the ceremony, many in the crowds outside St. Peter's Square booed and whistled.

well, least americans arent the only classless society, its a fucking funeral for gods sake, not a political rally

When Bush's face appeared on giant screen TVs showing the ceremony, many in the crowds outside St. Peter's Square booed and whistled.

well, least americans arent the only classless society, its a fucking funeral for gods sake, not a political rally

I'm just suprised that Bush allowed non-supporters into an event that he was attending.

well, least americans arent the only classless society, its a fucking funeral for gods sake, not a political rally

Democrats would like to forget the Paul Wellstone memorial never happened, thank you very much . . .

You comment lost me. Help me out.

They had a memorial for Paul Wellstone when he died in 2002 that turned into a big political anti-Bush/anti-Republican rally. It pissed a lot of people off, including the governor of MN, and eventually had a hand in turning the election for the open Senate seat for Wellstone's Republican challenger.

Here's a link:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3400441.html

apologize for a fuck-up and Americans will forget about it.

What more do you wnat?

They had a memorial for Paul Wellstone when he died in 2002 that turned into a big political anti-Bush/anti-Republican rally. It pissed a lot of people off, including the governor of MN, and eventually had a hand in turning the election for the open Senate seat for Wellstone's Republican challenger.

Here's a link:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/3400441.html

I would boo Bush if he showed up at my mom's funeral.

BOO? I'd kick him so hard in the ass that he'll describe an orbit around the fuckin' planet!!

I remember a funeral for a ETA (terrorist band supposed nationalist in Euskadi, Spain) victim where the political leaders claimed the first row and told the family that in other case they won't show up. The family celebrated the funeral in the strict intimacy...

If you actually listen to the audio of the Wellstone funeral there was no booing. Yes, there were louder cheers when they showed Democrats on the large screens, but there was no booing when Republicans were displayed on the screens. This is again, a LIE by the right to make people think that Dems are eeeeeeevil

Also, it was a funeral not an anti-Bush rally. Senator Wellstone's best friend (someone correct me if I'm wrong in regards to who it was) gave a moving speech that did say things regarding not letting Wellstone's dreams die with him and that all the people at the funeral should rally and keep his dream alive. That is ONE person out of many, many people who stood to say some words about Wellstone. FOX News, Druggie Limbaugh and the like spun this ALSO to make it appear the Dems had no regard for the death of Wellstone and used the moment to have a pro-Dem rally.

As Flava Flav says................DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!!!

Are you insane? The guy's own kid came out and turned it into a rally.