Posted on 01/13/2005 7:20:49 PM PST by alessandrofiaschi
DC pays as it should. They received 250 million bucks from HSA for SECURITY If they can't afford it then the DC government needs to be audited post haste.
This cost is borne by voluntary contributions from ciizens, not by taxes.
We are the greatest country on earth and we have to act accordingly.
Mary Lincoln's gown for the 1865 inauguration (held while a war was still going on and Washington DC was in a war zone) cost $2,000 at that time, which would make it, what, a couple million in 2005 dollars. Compared to that, Laura Bush's gown is bargain basement.
Pay attention, I'm not a troll. I'n fact I'm a conservative and a friend of Meek. Sometimes, I wonder why some people are unable to discuss. Please, don't fooling around.
ciizens = citizens
I think it is ridiculous to inaugurate a sitting president. But I don't recall all this kerfluffle when Clintoon had his second.
Perhaps you're not listening/reading. A number of freepers have posted that the $$ is made up of PRIVATE DONATIONS. What do you not understand about that?
"With that kind of money, what could you buy?"
Well, I imagine BJ Klintoon who spent about the same amount while Kosovo was raging, Osama was running around and Mohammed Atta and assorted nasties were having their goat, weak Willie probably spent a lot of his money on lap dances, hiring interns and he DID have a hell of an Inaugural party.
I was answering to Miss Marple, not to anyboby else.
For one thing, all the hoopla isn't really for the President - it's for US - the US in the U.S.
Bush would probably be happy to be home on the ranch clearing brush...
This is a tradition - a celebration of our way of life and our freedom -
The nay sayers are the ones who - like Thoreau would say, would find fault with the morning red - if they ever got up early enough....
You sure you did the math right, hon?
Phew, I feel better now.
This is an open forum. I have the liberty to answer a post w/o your permission. You're quite rude.
An Inauguration is the clearest manifestation of what our government is about ... it is a transition of power ... a transition without bloodshed, by a vote of the people, for 225 years. In this case, the power continues with President Bush. It could have been otherwise (God forbid) but President Bush would have been there, just as his dad stood there while Clinton was sworn in, and as Al Gore stood there when he was sworn in in '01.
So, who is to bitch if people want to celebrate that with $40M of private donations. The security IS a government expense and far beyond anything we've ever known for an Inauguration. Are we to cave into the terrorists and not have a major Inaugural festivity to celebrate our Republic?
It is more important now than ever for us to celebrate this amazing country.
WASHINGTON - President Bush's second inauguration will cost tens of millions of dollars $40 million alone in private donations for the balls, parade and other invitation-only parties. With that kind of money, what could you buy?
Whatever I want to buy, including a forty million dollar inauguration...why is it yours or anyone else's business?
"But there are also $17.3 million security costs of the inaugural. Who pays?"
Elections are pretty expensive too...should we get rid of them as well?
Get a grip, it's a shining example to the world of the orderly transition of power that's at the heart of this nation...celebrate it and quit bitching about it.
Me or Miss Marple who called me a poseur (message n. 38)?
You do have all the liberty you desire!
Ahmmmm...if you want a "private" conversation, you need to click the "private" box - not the public forum box - otherwise, be prepared to get answered by one and all
Boy the libs have become a bunch of whiney old maids.
Keep the sarcasm about the "recovery"..comment. That's really getting old. I am one of many people ( ie, david Horowitz) who had very different ideas before, and now am a conservative politically and economically.
Just cool down.
I perfectly understand the Inauguration is paid for with private funds. I am just as happy as you are to see this Inauguration. It is not the money issue. It is that we are in the midst of a very difficult war, and it is the sentiment that could be seen as ostentatius partying. Those that raise this issue have a right to have the point brought up without impuning their wanting to have Bush honored, the political victory recognized and capitalism allowed to flourish.
I stand by my point, on the issue of our being in wartime ,it is a tough call and I am sure the adminisitration has considered this also.
" And, please! Mark Cuban, who gave a million dollars to some lame reality show, has a lot of room to complain about how money's being spent."
All NBA games should be suspended.
All birthday parties, wedding receptions, movie premieres, gallery openings, Broadway shows , NFL playoffs, college and high school basketball games and any and all forms of American entertainment, should grind to a halt.
Newspapers and magazines should go dormant.
The Oscars should be cancelled, without a doubt.
Ditto the Super Bowl.
Get Leno, Letterman and the Comedy channel off the air.
No attempts at natural or artificial conception.
And above all, no one should dare crack a smile or laugh, until the liberals give the all clear.
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