Gerald Ford Postage Stamp

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Gerald R. Ford left his stamp on the nation. Now it can travel on letters worldwide.

Simultaneous day-of-issue ceremonies were held Friday in the city where Ford grew up and near the community he later called home Friday to mark the release of a postage stamp honoring the nation’s 38th president.

The 41-cent first-class stamp features a painting of Ford and memorializes his life of public service. He was 93 when he died Dec. 26 at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

The Postal Service produced 80 million of the stamps, which went on sale Friday. Artist Michael J. Deas of New York City created it under the direction of stamp designer Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Md.

“We just feel like it’s a wonderful stamp,” said son Michael Ford, whose voice frequently cracked with emotion during the ceremony at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids. The late president’s brother, Richard Ford, also was there.

Honoring Diana

Many people remember where they were when they heard the news of Princess Diana’s death ten years ago. Her memory has been kept alive mostly by a scandal and conspiracy obsessed press. Now, the Princess should be allowed to rest in peace. Friday’s memorial service should bring to a close all of the ceremonies marking Diana’s death. Prince Harry said it so well in his brief, but moving speech. 

“To lose a parent so suddenly at such a young age, as others have experienced, is indescribably shocking and sad. It was an event which changed our lives forever, as it must have done for everyone who lost someone that night.

William and I can separate life into two parts. There were those years when we were blessed with the physical presence beside us of both our mother and father. And then there are the 10 years since our mother’s death.

When she was alive we completely took for granted her unrivalled love of life, laughter, fun and folly. She was our guardian, friend and protector.

Tony Snow Leaving the White House

Update: Tony Snow: Dead at age 53

Helen Thomas: Moonbat Extraordinaire

The Great One: Tony Snow

From the time I heard Tony Snow substitute for Rush Limbaugh, I knew he was a remarkable journalist. He has been an excellent White House Press Secretary. President Bush and the nation will miss Tony Snow, but my guess is that the Republican party and conservatives will be hearing and seeing a lot of Snow.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Good afternoon to you.

Tony Snow informed me he’s leaving. And I sadly accept his desire to leave the White House, and he’ll do so on September the 14th. He is — it’s been a joy to watch him spar with you. He’s smart, he’s capable, he’s witty. He’s capable of — he’s able to talk about issues in a way that the American people can understand.

And I don’t know what he’s going to do — I’m not sure he does yet, either. But whatever it is, it’s going to be — two things: One, he’ll battle cancer and win. And secondly, he’ll be a solid contributor to society.

I do want to thank Jill and Kendall, Robbie and Kristi. They have watched a man they love take on a big job, and at the same time, fight disease — with a lot of courage. And so I accept, I love you, and I wish you all the best.

And so I had to make a choice, who to replace Tony, and I’ve chosen Dana Perino. I did so because Dana is a smart, capable person who is able to spell out the issues of the day in a way that people listening on TV can understand. She can handle you all. She’s capable of handling your questions.

Q She has done –

THE PRESIDENT: She has? Good. Okay. I’m glad to get a little — I’m glad to get that choir singing. (Laughter.) So I’m not worried about her standing here at the podium. What I look for in somebody like Dana is somebody who will walk in that Oval Office and give me sound judgment and good advice. And I have found that over the course of the time I’ve known her she’s capable of doing that. And she’s also capable of running the shop that she’ll be in charge of.

Tom Delay Blasts Liberals for Bias

Tom Delay has been everywhere this week blasting the media for their ridiculously slanted coverage of Larry Craig. Delay accuses the media of hammering the republicans while ignoring democrat scandals.

In a heated discussion stemming from the Sen. Larry Craig arrest, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay blasted “Today” show host Matt Lauer for the media’s “amazing” double standard regarding GOP and Democratic scandals.

Lauer prefaced DeLay’s Thursday morning appearance on the NBC program by reciting a litany of recent Republican problems, mentioning Rep. Mark Foley and Jack Abramoff among others.

DeLay responded: “I hate to say this Matt, but you just showed the problem, the double standard, and you just participated in it. You listed a whole lot of scandals that involve the Republicans, but you didn’t mention one Democrat…

“I think in your premise, if you had listed all the Democrats that are having problems right now, it would have been different. You see the Democrats re-elect the people with their problems. Republicans kick them out.”