They need to create elaborate mental jrationalizations for liking a man who did terrible things is all.

That's just appalling.

Lawson said Lay helped untold numbers of people with college tuition, medical expenses and other needs.

With money he stole from other people.

I am just wet with compassion, that poor creature.

Because being tried in a court of law for crimes that ruined the lives of thousands is EXACTLY the same as being dragged behind a truck until dead because of the color of your skin.

Fucking jackass.

Worthless rich Lay-about.

Oops, never speak ill of the dead. Or something like that.

Was he a lawyer too? 'Cuz then you can say anything, dead or no.

I suppose I can start to use the Ken Lay Litmus Test on people to see whether I should continue interacting with them.

What do you think about Ken Lay?
a. A fine God-fearing family man.
b. A filthy crook who profited by stealing millions from millions and then pretending to know nothing about it.

Answer A and I'll slowly turn and walk away shaking my head sadly. Answer B and we can continue to conversate as you've, at least, a mote of ethics and rational thought.

If Lay really believed in God and heaven and hell then he would have led a more moral life. He did not therefore I am calling his "faith" a sham. I'm sick of people being considered "good" because they went to church one day a week and were irrepresible crooks the other six days. Going to church doesn't absolve you of your sins, nor does saying five Hail Mary's.

Well it's a funeral. I would expect stuff like that to be said in front of friends and family.

I think that he and his cohorts figured out a way to beat the system and that they gave scant mind either way, to what happened to the folks at Enron who were lower on the food chain.

He probably tipped his gardeners, household staff and other factotums (factota?) well.

That said, I am sorry that he missed out on all those years in prison.

Asses to asses and douche to douche... Yea, though my driver drives me quickly past the valley of the shaddow of death on my way to catch a private jet to Rio, I will fear no justice.

he was a victim of activist judges. he just wanted to keep America safe

Because being tried in a court of law for crimes that ruined the lives of thousands is EXACTLY the same as being dragged behind a truck until dead because of the color of your skin.

yeah, it's the direct comparison to Byrd's lynching which just blows my mind. I still can't believe that it was said. Sure, talk the guy up - it's his funeral after all. But putting in the stuff about James Byrd? wtf?

The James Byrd reference totally sucks.

But it's also fascinating. Houston's not so far from Jasper. To me, this shows that East Texas is still trying to publicly atone for its racism. If it does it publicly enough, it doesn't have to do it in private.

This article also mentions:

Lawson, who also spoke at Lay’s Colorado memorial service, likened the businessman to President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Jesus — all of whom, the minister said, were wrongly victimized.

I think the poor old fucker has gotten heat stroke or something.

Ooh, you know what's even weirder about the James Byrd reference? The Reverend William Lawson is black.