Critics attack "lavish" Bush at time of war

Reuters ^ | Caren Bohan

[pissant]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush is drawing heat over a $40 million (21.5 million pound) splurge on inaugural balls, concerts and candlelight dinners while the country is in a sombre mood because of the Iraq war and Asian tsunami.

As Bush prepares for his second-term inauguration on Thursday, his supporters plan to celebrate with fireworks and three days of parties, including a "Black Tie and Boots" ball and nine other balls.

Critics say the lavish celebrations are unseemly when U.S. troops face daily violence in Iraq and Americans are being urged to donate money to alleviate the suffering in Asia, where the December 26 tsunami killed 163,000 people.

"I just think that the sobriety of the times dictate that we be mindful of the imagery of these things," said Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York. In a letter, Weiner urged Bush to ask donors to redirect their inaugural contributions to equipment for troops in Iraq, some of whom have complained of having to scrounge for scrap metal to protect their vehicles.

"Precedent suggests that inaugural festivities should be muted -- if not cancelled -- in wartime," Weiner wrote to Bush, saying that the money could pay for 690 Humvees and a $290 bonus for each soldier serving in Iraq.

Weiner cited the example of President Franklin Roosevelt, who celebrated his trimmed-down 1945 inaugural with cold chicken salad and pound cake.

Bush said he rejected such criticism. (snip)

Companies and individual donors, not taxpayers, are footing the bill for Bush's festivities.

[pissant]

This is too fun. The commies at Reuters are pathetically grasping at straws.

[mewzilla]

And Clinton had his second inaugural after allowing the terrorists run amok. I didn't hear Rooters complaining then. Oh yeah, we really had something to celebrate.

[KevinDavis]

What next??

[PilloryHillary]

Here's a news flash for Reuters......

[Luke21]

The sore loser commies are braying about this daily. Slick's inaugural was never criticized. Neither will that of the Hildybeast if the worst should happen. These people are hypocrites and frauds.

[Wolverine]

As Drudge said "...one cancelled LIB movie would pay for 3 inaugurals..."

[Tanniker Smith]

In 1940, people were rationing everything at home. No one in 1940 was spending the equivalent of $300 for the equivalent luxury of a frivolous iPod or $600 for the equivalent of a PDA.

The homefront is spending wildy on themselves. If they wish to spend it on a party, so be it. And, correct me if I am wrong (and around here, everyone will), but isn't a lot or even most of that money already spent.

TS

[NonValueAdded]

I wonder what the DC union chaps think about all this flap. After all, won't they be a big beneficiary of all the "investment" (translated from DNC-speak: spending) taking place in the District? Weren't they counting on the income from all the Kerry victory parties? How sad it would be to disappoint them. In fact, we'd probably hear stories about how the common waiter, cabbie, hotel housekeeper, etc., were suffering if the inaugural was toned down or even eliminated. I'm just sorry that GWB didn't stick it to the newsies and hold the festivities in Crawford, Texas!

[Shortwave]

Simple response....

[randita]

A one minute spot during the Super Bowl will probably cost almost as much as the whole Inauguration festivities. On Sunday night, Drudge was comparing the cost of making a movie to the whole Inauguration. Many movies were twice, if not three or four times more expensive to make, even if they were flops.

A toned down Inauguration would cost the city of D.C. tens of millions in lost revenue and taxes which will stem from the increased tourism. Perhaps Anthony Wiener and his ilk would volunteer to cough up their own money to make up the difference of that lost revenue.

These complaints are pathetic.

[Smartaleck]

INDEPTH: US ELECTION 2004
The Democratic National Convention
CBC News Online | Aug. 17, 2004

"The exercise of presenting John Kerry and John Edwards as the Democratic hopefuls cost $150 million, including $50 million for security – a hefty price tag for a convention party officials said would focus on making Kerry better-known and more likable."

Critics from a party that spent $150mil to show Kerry was likable???????????

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/uselection2004/democratic_convention.html

[uncbob]

I predicted this would happen over a month ago

[uncbob]

As Bush prepares for his second-term inauguration on Thursday, his supporters plan to celebrate with fireworks and three days of parties,

And I am sure the troops would like to celebrate the fact KERRYB WASN'T ELECTED

[uncbob]

Critics say the lavish celebrations are unseemly when U.S. troops face daily violence in Iraq and Americans are being urged to donate money to alleviate the suffering in Asia, where the December 26 tsunami killed 163,000 people.

And I am sure the liberals in Hollywood will stop all partying and Kerry will sell one of their houses to aid the victims

[Beckwith]

If President Bush personally found a cure cancer and AIDS, solved the Social Security crisis and encouraged all the nations on the earth to disarm and institute democracy, the critics would still find something to find fault with.

George Bush recieves so much criticism that no one listens to it anymore.

[Nick Danger]

More petty bitterness from losers.

[Tigerjam]

It wasn't too hard to see coming. They would have never batted an eye if Kerry had won. The fact is that the Democratic party is going through a schism. They don't know which group to direct their efforts. The new group called Democrats for life are splitting the party in my opinion and they are focusing their effort on something as petty as the presidents inauguration. If they have a problem with the policies, they should direct their energy at that. However, they are eating each other alive. This should make for a fun four years.

[angkor]

Yet another childish manifestation of Bush hatred.

[steve-b]

In 1940, people were rationing everything at home. No one in 1940 was spending the equivalent of $300 for the equivalent luxury of a frivolous iPod or $600 for the equivalent of a PDA.

Nonsense. A good suit cost the equivalent of $300-$600 then (as I recall, it is a truism that a good suit has cost about an ounce of gold going back to the days when it took the form of a toga), and people on the home front still kept buying and wearing them.

[Soul Seeker]

The critics are furious G.W. was re-elected and despise the fact they must cover a ceremony that throws it back in their face. The more they complain, the more they look like sore losers in American eyes. No one likes someone that cannot handle defeat gracefully.

They care not at all for the troops. They ignore we're in a war until it becomes convenient to use as a talking point. Those same troops voted in higher percentage for the President than the general population. Democrats do not speak for our military.

I'm looking forward to the ceremony and hope to learn all the Dems are in full mourning on the talk shows.