No Shows

Pandering only gets you so far. AP (05.18.07):

"U.S. Sen. John McCain isn't planning to attend the Rev. Jerry Falwell's funeral Tuesday. Rival Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani can't make it, either."

Some GOP Notables to Miss Falwell Rites

"President Bush does not plan to attend, but the White House is sending Tim Goeglein, a mid-level aide." Tim who?

Speaking of pandering, here's Jerry on Rudy last April. Here's Jerry on Rudy two weeks later.

One guy who did go to the service was Newt. He dazzled the crowd with the whining piss-pot pitch. AP (05.19.07):

"Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Liberty University's graduating class Saturday to honor the spirit of school founder Jerry Falwell by confronting 'the growing culture of radical secularism' with Christian ideals.

Gingrich, who is considering a 2008 presidential run, quoted Bible passages to a mournful crowd of about 17,000 packed into the university's football stadium four days after Falwell's death."

Gingrich: Challenge 'Radical Secularism'

"'A growing culture of radical secularism declares that the nation cannot profess the truths on which it was founded,' Gingrich said. 'We are told that our public schools can no longer invoke the creator, nor proclaim the natural law nor profess the God-given quality of human rights."

Would this include "truths" such as the sun revolves around the earth (h/t LGM)?

So where, exactly was Newt going with this? In a nutshell, "'(a)nybody on the left who hopes that when people like Reverend Falwell disappear that the opportunity to convert all of America has gone with them fundamentally misunderstands why institutions like this were created,' Gingrich said."

Meaning the "opportunity" to convert you, my friend.

Resistance is futile; you will be assimilated.