Partisan trash. Whatever Bush's faults, a lack of feeling for servicemen and women is not one of them. Anyone who cares to notice this can. Doctorow, indulging himself self-righteously in his own spleen, chooses not too. A very discreditable performance on his part.

And in your own compassionate heart -- and reasonable head -- you take that policy decision as proof of the man's lack of feeling for fallen servicemen?

It seems rather you seize upon a pretext to indulge your prejudices rather than form a considered judgement -- not unlike the writer you cite.

There's nothing wrong with being partisan, Jack. But, to borrow a word from my original post, there's something wrong with trash. I don't blame you for coming to your political preferences honestly. I do find fault when you --and an estimable writer like Doctorow -- descend into the realm of the scurrilous.

As far as being informed, a little research will show you that presidents generally use opportunities other than funerals to pay their respects.