posted on January 20, 2005 09:29:23 AM new
Reuters news agency this week headlined a story, "Critics Say Bush Inaugural Too Lavish for Wartime," then quoted one "critic," Rep. Anthony Weiner, New York Democrat, who complained that the estimated $40 million for the Bush-Cheney inauguration is extravagant.
The Associated Press moved a story that asked, "With that kind of money, what could you buy?" The answer, the wire service said: "200 armored Humvees ... vaccinations and preventive health care for 22 million children ... and a down payment on the nation's deficit."
But a review of the cost for past inaugurations shows Mr. Bush's will cost less than President Clinton's second inauguration in 1997, which cost about $42 million. When the cost is adjusted for inflation, Mr. Clinton's second-term celebration exceeds Mr. Bush's by about 25 percent.
According to the Consumer Price Index, $42 million in 1997 is the equivalent of $49.5 in 2004.
The significant majority of funding for this year's festivities, including nine officials balls, are from private donations and tickets for events held by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, a similar setup to fund raising Mr. Clinton used to underwrite his inauguration. Mr. Clinton had a record 12 balls in 1997. (No wonder he couldn't keep his pants on.)
A Jan. 20, 1997, story by USA Today estimated about $12.7 million of Mr. Clinton's inauguration was financed by U.S. taxpayers. Initial estimates indicate the District will foot about $17 million in security costs this year.
"Every inaugural, there's a really good reason given why you should spend whatever donors are sending in on something else," Rich Galen, a veteran Republican activist, told the Associated Press, saying many of the complaints come from the losers of the election.
Mr. Weiner and Rep. Jim McDermott, Washington Democrat, in a letter to President Bush said that a celebration during the war on terror is inappropriate and the money could be better spent, saying the funds could be used pay for 690 Humvees and a $290 bonus for each soldier serving in Iraq.
"Precedent suggests that inaugural festivities should be muted — if not canceled — in wartime," said the letter, which cited President Roosevelt's scaled back inauguration in 1945 that had a menu of cold chicken salad and pound cake.
Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, and White House officials say the inauguration is an American tradition that transcends partisan politics and is a symbol to the world.
President Johnson didn't eschew pageantry in 1965, racking up a $1.6 million bill for inaugural festivities despite the Vietnam War, historian Robert Dallek told Reuters.
In 1997, there was grumbling that the inauguration cost too much. But Clinton spokesman Barry Toiv said at the time, "It's really a symbol to the world and has been for over 200 years, and it's worth celebrating."
This year, the inaugural committee has taken a similar tact, dubbing the events "Celebrating Freedom, Honoring Service."
posted on January 20, 2005 11:28:20 AM new
{i}Mr[/i]. Weiner and Rep. Jim McDermott, Washington Democrat, in a letter to President Bush said that a celebration during the war on terror is inappropriate and the money could be better spent, saying the funds could be used pay for 690 Humvees and a $290 bonus for each soldier serving in Iraq
I am amazed when someone tells others how to spend donated money....
It's like me telling Bear, you shouldn't have bought that Lexus, why didn't you buy a Chevy and give the rest to the homeless.
posted on January 20, 2005 12:31:21 PM new"It's like me telling Bear, you shouldn't have bought that Lexus, why didn't you buy a Chevy and give the rest to the homeless."
If Bear was already a decent person, you wouldn't have to say anything as he would've already bought the Chev and given the rest to help others.
posted on January 20, 2005 01:06:14 PM new
Unlike Bush's presidential campaign, the inaugural committee could accept unlimited contributions from any source except foreigners.
What gets me is that Bush has a ball in honor of the troops. I am sure the ones serving in Iraq and Afghanistan would love to be in Washington right now instead of the Middle East. How does this show Bush's support for the troops?? Nothing like throwing a party and the guest of honor can not be there.
I am amazed when someone tells others how to spend donated money....
True, if the money is donated they should have no right to say it what it goes for. However on the other hand, Bush should have stepped up to the plate and said instead of donating money towards a big celebration make a donation to the military family whose sons, daughters, husbands or wives that have died or those that have been seriously injured during the Iraq war.
If Bush want to gain the respect of the American people and unite this country, this could have been one thing he should have done.
How many times do you see people say in lieu of flowers and cards when such and such has past away, please make a donation instead....
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on January 20, 2005 01:17:30 PM newName one of these inaugurations where there was a major war going on at the time.
KD - I posted this in another thread on this same subject....maybe you missed it.
ALL Presidents have enjoyed grand inaugural celebrations EVEN all our war time Presidents. FDR did it on a less 'grand' scale. He was the only one to do so.
-----
The Racine Report
Debatable: Should Bush scale back inauguration?
(at 18:24:44 on 12/16/04 by Dustin - General)
By LIZ SIDOTI
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Throughout U.S. history, grand parties and celebrations have accompanied the inauguration of a president.
This year will be no exception. Events surrounding President Bush's official return to office will be on scale with previous war-time presidents.
The one exception among presidents was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who scaled back his inauguration during the height of World War II. Roosevelt marked the start of his fourth term, with a simple swearing-in ceremony, a brief speech from the South Portico of the White House to a small crowd and a modest luncheon.
Having run as a wartime president, should Bush consider a more modest inauguration?
No other president-elect taking office during wartime — from Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War to Dwight D. Eisenhower during the Korean conflict to Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War — has scaled back his inaugural events as Roosevelt did.
Neither will Bush.
http://www.journaltimes.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=667
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Four More Years....YES!!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Jan 20, 2005 01:21 PM ]
posted on January 20, 2005 01:24:17 PM new
No other president-elect taking office during wartime — from Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War to Dwight D. Eisenhower during the Korean conflict to Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War — has scaled back his inaugural events as Roosevelt did.
FDR was a great president. Just because no other war time president scaled (FDR excluded) does not mean Bush needs to follow. Bush could have broken the "tradition".
Great leaders do not follow others.
This just shows how Bush is dividing this country instead of trying to unite it.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on January 20, 2005 01:31:33 PM new
This President has not been the one to 'divide' this country. It already had occurred during the clinton eight years and just became more pronounced by the liberal dems who aren't interested in dealing in our new post 9-11 reality.
Now we have a strong leader in office....and the champaign corks are popping all over America. This President made clear today in his speech what his intentions have been and what they remain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on January 20, 2005 04:43:14 PM new
Please explain why Bush needed a brand new presidential limo when the troops dont have the proper vehicles to fight the war?
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on January 20, 2005 06:23:16 PM new
Yeah I get a new car every 7 years.
How old was the old presidential limo?
So what if your Humvee has no armor plating, it will still get you past all the insurgents with RPG's.
I am sure the troops would love to have some presidential limos in Iraq.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on January 20, 2005 06:29:10 PM new
Again....a leftie showing his upset that Cadillac doesn't make fighter tanks. LOL
Get real, logansdad....each new President gets a new car.....They've made it to the top job in the Nation...you think the same for all the Hollywood celebs that are driven around in limos? lol how funny...how petty of you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on January 20, 2005 09:03:08 PM new
As the inagural day draws to an close in Washington....we can't go without enjoying Ann Coulter's 'take' on the dems and their criticism about the cost and how it could have better been spent.
Titled: It's My Party and You Can Cry If You Want To....
posted on January 21, 2005 06:43:47 AM newGet real, logansdad....each new President gets a new car.....They've made it to the top job in the Nation...you think the same for all the Hollywood celebs that are driven around in limos? lol how funny...how petty of you.
That's right Linda just laugh off my viewpoint. You just dismiss everything as being petty. The difference between celebrities and Dictator Bush is that the celebrities actually pay for their own cars, while Dictator Bush has his vehicle paid by the taxpayer.
With your philosophy Bush got a limo in 2001. You mean to tell me that limo was heavily damaged from driving around Washington.
Is your son riding around in an armor platted Humvee in Iraq or does he have one of those less protected vehicles?
Bush has shown his entire inauguration had "it's all about me (Bush)" attitude. Bush has got to be the MOST ARROGANT President in American history
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on January 21, 2005 07:21:16 AM new
""This President made clear today in his speech what his intentions have been and what they remain.""
Yup, he did!
Go to war with as many countries as possible. Kill as many people as possible to bring them in line with his idea of "freedom".
Yippee! Four more years of bloodshed , slaughter, torture. No wonder the neonazicons CHAMPAGNE corks are popping....now if they could just learn to spell..................
posted on January 21, 2005 07:43:51 AM new Yeah I get a new car every 7 years. How old was the old presidential limo?
The OLD limo was a 2001, but you forget, the limo actually belongs to the American taxpayer. Pres Bush is only riding in it for the next four years. Not like he will take it with him when he leaves office.
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
posted on January 21, 2005 08:48:07 AM newThe OLD limo was a 2001, but you forget, the limo actually belongs to the American taxpayer.
If that is the case, when do I get to ride in it since my tax dollars went to pay for the new limo. The old limo (2001) was so old. What a rust bucket. It must have been falling apart. It must have gotten hit with eggs one to many times or was Bush tired of banging Laura in the back seat. LOL
The troops must be feeling good. There boss gets a new limo every 3 years while they have to hunt for parts to protect their vehicles, while they are fighting the war on behalf of DICTATOR BUSH.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on January 21, 2005 10:57:44 AM new
Thought a few righties here might also appreciate knowing that the Swift Boat [VN] Vets also held a celebration of their own.
----
Vietnam Veterans Celebrate Kerry's Election Defeat
By Marc Morano
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
January 21, 2005
Washington (CNSNews.com) - Vietnam Veterans who opposed Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry held an "un-augural" reception on Thursday afternoon in Washington to celebrate the fact that Kerry lost the election and to honor the veterans who helped defeat him.
"We are celebrating the fact that John Kerry lost," said Jerome Corsi, co-author of the best-selling book Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry. Corsi wrote the book with former Swift Boat veteran John O'Neill.
"The whole Swift Boat effort was organized, not to re-elect George Bush but to defeat John Kerry, and that was the unifying factor that brought all the Vietnam Veterans together," Corsi told Cybercast News Service at the National Press Club reception. Cybercast News Service was the first news organization to report that Kerry's Swift Boat veterans were organizing to oppose Kerry's candidacy in May 2004.
The moderator of the reception, Lou Priebe, put it bluntly: "We are celebrating the fact that the commander in chief that raised his hand today was not John F. Kerry."
Under a banner that read "Kerry Lied, Good Men Died," the coalition of veterans groups, including Swift Boat veterans, POWs and other military veterans, declared their mission accomplished.
"These men literally changed history, because I believe that without Vietnam Veterans across the country taking a stand for the truth, this election would have gone otherwise, there is no doubt in my mind," said Carlton Sherwood, producer of the documentary "Stolen Honor," which details Kerry's "betrayal" of U.S. servicemen fighting in Vietnam.
http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewCulture.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\200501\CUL20050121a.html
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Four More Years....YES!!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Jan 21, 2005 11:01 AM ]
posted on January 21, 2005 06:48:06 PM new
I would be willing to wager the Secret Service ordered the new limo, since it is a such an improvement over the previous one.
Way to go Swifties...... A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
posted on January 22, 2005 09:10:59 AM new
Yes the new one must have had an anti egg defense system.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on January 22, 2005 09:22:16 AM new
Did anyone else hear the anxiety in the voices of the TV reporters...when.. " a large orange object has been thrown and hit a secret service automobile... " We are trying to get a handle on what the object is.. there was no explosion...it appears that the large orange object was ......fruit..perhaps an orange...
Then another.. there appears to be a great cloud of smoke or what appears to be smoke billowing from the street...our crew is right on it folks...there doesn't seem to be any panic or detours being made.. oh.. okay.. report just in.. nothing to worry about it is just steam from the manhole..
It was more like a high priority guard patrol leading the pres through a war zone.. rather than a celebratory parade..
