Rick Wilson, WaPo: Trump could've ruined Bush's funeral. Bush didn't let him. [View all]

[Miles Archer]

Trump could’ve ruined Bush’s funeral. Bush didn’t let him.

By including the current president, the late president preempted his successor’s proclivity for draining the dignity out of solemn occasions.

By Rick Wilson

December 6, 2018 at 6:15 AM

https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/outlook/2018/12/06/trump-couldve-ruined-bushs-funeral-bush-didnt-let-him/

Like the semi-mythical Christmas truce between the British and the Germans on the front lines during World War I, Wednesday’s state funeral for former president George H.W. Bush showed two Washingtons and two Republican parties — in one sense, two Americas — taking a momentary step back from the bonfire that is now our national politics. The day, unlike almost anything involving President Trump, was subdued and respectful.

For that, we can thank the late former president Bush, no fan of Trump. By insisting on his predecessor’s inclusion in the proceedings, Bush forced the current White House occupant to briefly abandon his unfrozen cave-man act, denying him the chance to further debase the office of the president by siphoning the dignity out of 41’s final hours in D.C. — something 45 likely would have relished, given the opportunity.

Recall that Trump skipped former first lady Barbara Bush’s funeral earlier this year to “avoid disruptions due to added security” (read: to avoid a scene) and “out of respect” for the Bushes, with first lady Melania Trump attending solo.

A few months later, Trump was relegated to golfing and tweeting, miles away, after being asked to stay away from Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) funeral (read: given the finger), during which Trump was rebuffed by Meghan McCain, who affirmed, “America was always great,” turning the president’s shallow campaign slogan on its head while her father was eulogized by former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.