Proposal to Allow Non-Veteran Presidential Burials at Arlington Draws Pushback

[question everything]

A PROPOSED PENTAGON RULE CHANGE that would allow presidents and vice presidents who haven’t served in the military to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery has drawn blowback from some veterans and Democrats who see it as a bid to allow President Trump to eventually be buried there.

The comment period for the proposed rule change ended on Monday. Among the 1,800 comments are many from veterans saying that they didn’t believe presidents and vice presidents who didn’t serve in the military should be eligible, with many accusing the Pentagon of making the change to benefit Trump. “I strongly feel that interment or inurnment in Arlington National Cemetery should be limited to those who actually served in the military to maintain the respect for their sacrifice,” reads a typical comment.

A Defense Department official involved in the rule-making said the White House had had no involvement in the proposed rule, and said the presidential allowance was part of a monthslong debate that also resulted in the disqualification of reservists who didn’t serve in combat. A senior administration official also denied that the White House had played a role. The rule change came as a result of a land-use review of Arlington, which is rapidly running out of space for burials. Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth has a bill that would prevent non-veteran presidents from being buried at Arlington, but it hasn’t gained any traction in the Senate.

Two presidents are currently buried at Arlington: John F. Kennedy, a decorated World War II combat veteran, and William Howard Taft, who qualified because he served as secretary of war and chief justice of the Supreme Court.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/proposal-to-allow-non-veteran-presidential-burials-at-arlington-draws-pushback-11605868201 (subscription)

[SheltieLover]

1. No!

Cannot bury traitor tRump among heroes!

[Enterstageleft]

2. Not only no, but FUCK NO!!!

[soothsayer]

3. Aww hell no!

[onecaliberal]

4. Absolutely not. No!

[NBachers]

5. The piss level would rise so high, you'd have caskets popping up out of the ground.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

8. I would never piss on Trump's grave.

I hate to stand in long lines.

[Orange Buffoon]

6. This is starting to sound like that TV commercial

with quick cuts of actors like Alicia Silverstone saying "No."

[lpbk2713]

7. I have never referred to Trump as (that title) and never will.

I'd make a special trip to Arlington just to piss on his grave.

[pazzyanne]

11. Same here!

"Not my president"!!!!!

[ailsagirl]

9. Never in a million years!!!!

The very thought is a desecration!!!

[Ananda62]

10. No!

I’m a disabled vet and it would piss me off if nonveterans get to be buried at Arlington Nat’l Cemetery. Why would anyone think that is a good idea?

[pazzyanne]

12. Short answer...

tRump.

[wnylib]

13. Apart from the repulsive idea of

Trump being buried at Arlington, I still don't believe that non veteran presidents should be buried there. The only possible argument for it is that they are Commanders-in-Chief, but that is also an argument against the idea.

The president is CIC precisely because he/she is a civilian. The constitution intentionally gives civilian cpntrol over the military. Even presidents who once setved are civilians when they are in office.

Burying non veteran presidents at Arlington would blur the distinction between the military and the civilian control of it.

Arlington is an honor for those who served. We should not diminish that honor in any way.

(And I don't believe that Trump didn't have at least a behind-the-scenes connection with this proposal.)

[dchill]

14. OK NO.

[keithbvadu2]

15. 'Sacrifice' - Ironic how that word comes up with Trump and Arlington.

The Trumps are not shy about proclaiming how much they have 'sacrificed'.

Visit to Arlington Cemetery reminded Donald Trump Jr. of all his family's 'sacrifices,' he writes

https://www.stripes.com/news/us/visit-to-arlington-cemetery-reminded-donald-trump-jr-of-all-his-family-s-sacrifices-he-writes-1.606501

[cstanleytech]

16. In my opinion it should remain exclusive to military personal along with their spouses.

[Gore1FL]

17. If we can do it next Monday, It's good with me. nt

[EndlessWire]

25. LOL! n/t

[smirkymonkey]

33. Beat me to it!

Except I was going to say “only if we can do it right NOW!”

[RainCaster]

18. DFT belongs in the crematorium next to Four Seasons Total Landscaping

Rudy found where/how he should be buried. There is no way that anyone who didn't serve should be buried at Arlington. Especially Cadet BoneSpurs.

[NCjack]

19. Only for heroic act. Such as, he travels to visit troops in ME.

In a fox hole with wounded soldiers, a hostile tosses a grenade into the fox hole, and Trump fights through the pain of his bone spurs and throws his body over it to save the soldiers. It explodes and kills him.

I would accept that deed as a ticket to Arlington. But, he has less than 2 months to perform the act.

[keithbvadu2]

34. Donald would grab the nearest non-relative sycophant and 'volunteer' him on top of the grenade.

Donald would grab the nearest non-relative sycophant and 'volunteer' him on top of the grenade.

Medal to follow - for Donald.

[Brainfodder]

20. Will they never stop with the gaslighting?

[SoonerPride]

21. Never.

[usajumpedtheshark]

22. only if they build a bathroom directly over trump's burial site

[hlthe2b]

23. Think of the extra military security that would require and how it would turn Arlington into a

permanent battle zone for those offended by Trump's rotting body presence. This is insane.

No. If they didn't serve, they should be buried there.

[Buns_of_Fire]

24. I'd be willing to make an exception for Rump, if he'd be willing to

take advantage of it within the next few days.

Other than that, no.

Besides, I thought he was scheduled to be planted on one of his properties (whichever one hasn't been foreclosed on when Satan calls him home).

[EndlessWire]

26. NO!!

Bone Spurs doesn't get to be buried among Heroes.

[Demsrule86]

27. No Trump. Burial at Arlington . He refused to serve.

[dansolo]

28. Why vice-presidents?

VP is nowhere in the chain of command. It is all bullshit trying to suck up to Trump to bestow another unearned honor upon him by sycophantic cowards.

[JI7]

29. JUST FUCK NO

[dsc]

30. There is an easy way to get Senate support for Duckworth's bill

have Bill Clinton leak that he is considering being buried at Arlington if the rule is changed, I guarantee you that Duckworth's bill banning such a change would pass in a nanosecond.

[Turin_C3PO]

32. Or even better, Obama.

Imagine the conservative freak out.

[Paladin]

31. It would make his grave easier to find, for pissing purposes.

But no, Arlington should be reserved for the military.