Punchy

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Four U.S. presidents -- including President George W. Bush -- were among the luminaries at Coretta Scott King's funeral Tuesday. Among some speakers' accolades and tributes to the civil rights icon were criticisms of the current administration's actions -- the war in Iraq and domestic eavesdropping.

CNN senior analyst Jeff Greenfield talked to CNN anchor Miles O'Brien about politics raising its head at the funeral:

I do, however, think that in a more subtle way, this actually rebounds to the credit of President Bush. I mean, he came to the funeral, changed his plans, made a gracious speech. And I think for people who are not politically committed -- I mean, if you don't like George Bush, this was fine. If you like George Bush, this was horrible. I think for a lot of people the idea is, do you really do this at a funeral?

This is ridiculous. Bush's appearance at CSK's funeral was political by definition. If you're gonna get in the ring, you gotta be ready for the other guy to swing. And it's not like this was a funeral for someone with no political significance! How can anyone reasonably argue that someone like Rev. Lowery or President Carter should check the rhetoric just because the Commander in Chief is up there on stage with his stupid smirk? Between this and the Muhammad Ali thing,* Dubya should probably just forget about these kind of events.

* Washington Post, November 10, 2005: Bush, who appeared almost playful, fastened the heavy medal around Muhammad Ali's neck and whispered something in the heavyweight champion's ear. Then, as if to say "bring it on," the president put up his dukes in a mock challenge. Ali, 63, who has Parkinson's disease and moves slowly, looked the president in the eye -- and, finger to head, did the "crazy" twirl for a couple of seconds.