Unbelievable.

Incredibly rude.

Are there THAT many living ex-presidents that their state funerals are such a burden?

I couldn’t believe it when my husband told me President Bush skipped President Ford’s funeral. Come to find out, lots of other officials did, too. (Not the VP. Attending funerals is one of the things the job is best known for, after all.)

I know having a funeral fall during holidays is inconvenient, but with air travel these days – hello, Air Force One? – being unable to tear yourself away for a day is the height of disrespect.

It’s not like Bush was attending some high-level foreign affairs powwow. No, he was on his ranch biking – like he can’t do that in Washington – and cutting cedar. Man, that man likes to cut wood. If he had sawn off one of his OWN limbs, I’d have bought that as an excuse, but a cedar emergency keeping him from paying respects to one of his own party?

I don’t wish Senior any ill will – not that I voted for him, either – but somehow I’m thinking that when his daddy’s state funeral comes, Shrub will be taking notes as to who’s attending, and not buying biking and chopping as more pressing pursuits.

This post originally appeared on ourMidland.com, the online home of the Midland (MI) Daily News. Republished with permission.