WP: Senators Will Travel to Rome; House Still Unsure (no room at the inns)

Senators Will Travel to Rome; House Still Unsure

By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 5, 2005; Page A17


No member of Congress is on the official invitation list for Pope John Paul II's funeral on Friday, but a delegation of senators will head to Vatican City anyway, joining ordinary pilgrims to pay their respects.

"We're close to having a plane, then we go from there," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), who is leading the delegation.

House leaders are not sure whether they will send a group, although they are under pressure from their 129 Roman Catholic members to do so. "We're waiting for an invitation and are going to follow Vatican protocol," said a senior Republican House aide.

This is about as close as Congress gets to acting on whim. There are no available hotel rooms to be found in Rome. How lawmakers will get around the city is a big question. They are not sure whether they can even get into St. Peter's Basilica for the funeral....

***

Starting as early as last Friday, lawmakers began phoning leadership offices to say they were interested in attending the funeral. One of the first was House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi...."Technically she's the highest-ranking Catholic in Congress," said Jennifer Crider, Pelosi's spokeswoman....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24664-2005Apr4.html

Wouldn't it make more sense for a Catholic to lead the delegation? OMG! These shameless hypocrites are such an embarrassment!:blush:

Peace!

Why don't they stay home and donate the money to SS? Now that would be patriotic...instead of trying to get their face in the news. Bush is only going so he can get another chance to get interviewed and spiel off his propaganda. :puke: I hope he chokes on it. His reasons are pure political...trying to get more Catholics to become Republican and make nice with world leaders. Everything in his body is running on hypocritical energy...even his heart!

If ever God wanted to act, this would be a golden opportunity....

I could pray for that and wouldn't even have to feel guilty about it.

If you were thinking of praying for something else, well, you can always go to confession afterwards. :evilgrin:

but i wouldnt pray for it.... I wanna see some of them go to trail!

nonstop, and since it is going to cost an awful lot of money to get them there and for protection, etc. and since it appears to be a photo op more than any sincere effort, why don't they just hold a memorial in some chamber and they can all get their pictures on the television, and get their humble responses in print and we will all know with certainly how pious they are. Then, having done that, they can get back to running this country or digging it further into the ground, however you are inclinced to view it. I can't imagine their being at this funeral will make anything better anywhere or for anyone, except a free trip to Europe for them.

But, actually, right now with all this morality grappling I can see their point, sort of. But it is all stupid. But I'm feeling depressed today and so tired of the bad news.

Also, do I have to pay for this crap? Can't they send flowers and a card from their own pocket cash?

now ain't that a hell of an ironic thing?

If the American politicians who are going to the Pope's funeral can't get into the basilica, let them stand in the street with the other mourners. If they really want to honor the Pope, they will do this. If they are only going to get their pictures in the paper, they'll insist on getting into the photo op.
Hypocrites all.

and, if they can't find a hotel, I heard on TV that some are camping in the Circus Maximus.

As far as there not being any hotel space available, let them stay at the American embassy or consulate, whatever we have over there, or at the YMCA for that matter.It's not a fucking vacation, you know.

not being able to go to Mrs. Schiavo's funeral.