Posted on 01/20/2005 12:30:49 PM PST by WisGod
Due to $17 million worth of inaugural security – paid for by the city of Washington, D.C. – the Progress Report is unable to access its office. Never fear – it takes a lot more than that to keep us down. We put this list together for you ahead of time. Your regularly scheduled Progress Report returns tomorrow.
A look at this week's festivities by the numbers:
$40 million: Cost of Bush inaugural ball festivities, not counting security costs.
$2,000: Amount FDR spent on the inaugural in 1945…about $20,000 in today's dollars.
$20,000: Cost of yellow roses purchased for inaugural festivities by D.C.'s Ritz Carlton.
200: Number of Humvees outfitted with top-of-the-line armor for troops in Iraq that could have been purchased with the amount of money blown on the inauguration.
$10,000: Price of an inaugural package at the Fairmont Hotel, which includes a Beluga caviar and Dom Perignon reception, a chauffeured Rolls Royce and two actors posing as "faux" Secret Service agents, complete with black sunglasses and cufflink walkie-talkies.
400: Pounds of lobster provided for "inaugural feeding frenzy" at the exclusive Mandarin Oriental hotel.
3,000: Number of "Laura Bush Cowboy cookies" provided for "inaugural feeding frenzy" at the Mandarin hotel.
$1: Amount per guest President Carter spent on snacks for guests at his inaugural parties. To stick to a tight budget, he served pretzels, peanuts, crackers and cheese and had cash bars.
22 million: Number of children in regions devastated by the tsunami who could have received vaccinations and preventive health care with the amount of money spent on the inauguration.
1,160,000: Number of girls who could be sent to school for a year in Afghanistan with the amount of money lavished on the inauguration.
$15,000: The down payment to rent a fur coat paid by one gala attendee who didn't want the hassle of schlepping her own through the airport.
$200,500: Price of a room package at D.C.'s Mandarin Oriental, including presidential suite, chauffeured Mercedes limo and outfits from Neiman Marcus.
2,500: Number of U.S. troops used to stand guard as President Bush takes his oath of office
26,000: Number of Kevlar vests for U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan that could be purchased for $40 million.
$290: Bonus that could go to each American solider serving in Iraq, if inauguration funds were used for that purpose.
$6.3 million: Amount contributed by the finance and investment industry, which works out to be 25 percent of all the money collected.
$17 million: Amount of money the White House is forcing the cash-strapped city of Washington, D.C., to pony up for inauguration security.
9: Percentage of D.C. residents who voted for Bush in 2004.
66: Percentage of Americans who think this over-the-top inauguration should have been scaled back.
$2,000 - No wonder Social Security is going bankrupt FDR didn't know how to spend his money right.
$20,000 - Since when does anyone care what a private company does with its money, they could burn $20,000 for all I care. It's not your money it's theirs.
200: Number of journalist military implants whose salaries could pay for that armor too.
$10,000 - again if people want people to dress up like Secret Service and do every one of their wishes so be it.
400 - hmm I would have ordered more lobster.
3,000 - ditto on the cookies
$1 - and all that money Carter saved went a long way towards helping with gas prices and hostage negotiations.
22 million - haven't we given enough, while risking OUR lives in disease ridden war zones?
1,160,000 - And exactly who created an environment where Afghan women CAN go to school?
$15,000 - a lot cheaper than what it would cost to keep the "endangered species" protected.
$200,500 - Again completely inconsequential, if people want to eat money for desert, as long as its theirs they can do it. And I'm sure they worked hard for it, not sitting around living off welfare checks.
2,500 - and I'm sure every one of them was proud to be there to celebrate their brave and corageous leader.
26,000 - how about we just buy some more ammunition to kill the terrorists so we don't need the vests, they'll all be scorpion food soon.
$290 - Wow what a sum, I don't think it equates to the bonus that they get for the feeling of heroism in defending the greatest country in the world.
$6.3 billion - See private money is invested in charitable causes.
$17 million - and how much revenue is being generated in DC by these festivities? That's what I thought.
9 - It's not Bush's fault their stupid, maybe we should just move the White House to Crawford!
66 - And I'm sure the question was worded in an unbiased fashion so as not to confuse people...I'm sure if you ask the average American they're glad to show one of our greatest Presidents his due respect for standing up in the face of enormous adversity and showing the world he's a man, and he will defend our country with his entire being.
While there are some points to be made it is obvious you are a Troll - DU awaits!
His figures are simply false. Made up. Fiction.
I have never even heard of that 66 percent. You would think that if that poll existed that it would be all over the front pages. Perhaps they think that if they walk outside and ask 5 or 6 random people what they think (in DC of course) that would be an accurate sample of the country.
Really...and what would indicate that, which of my points do you disagree with and therefore make me a troll? Maybe the cat's on the lookout for you troll.
"the Progress Report is unable to access its office"
You could have auctioned off seating in your office for the Parade and donated the proceeds to the poor. But my guess is that, like most libs, you only care about the poor as a tool to bash conservatives.
I am sensitive to the "people are dying while we party" line. I justify it with, "so what....people are always going and dying" we cannot do anything about that. With that said, I would not be able to allow this extravagance in my honor. It is a waste, but I am not the judge. It shows the arrogance of our leadership in this country, they may act "down home", but they are as corrupt as any of the snobby rich in the "Great Gatsby. It doesn't matter what the money saved would buy, the money to buy such things will be there tomorrow, but what a waste. This country needs real campaign finance reform, it could start with getting rid of the IRS, and the tax deductions for things such as this.
I must admit it seems like a whole lotta money. I wish just once I could throw a $40 million party. (Of course you'd all be invited)
I don't think its a waste at all. You can't put a price tag on celbrating America...and for all the money the liberal whackos have spent on bashing W he deserves to show them it hasn't effected him a bit and he can still throuh the biggest party this side of the great state of Texas. Hard earned money is always well spent no matter what it's spent on.
SHOW US YOUR REPORT OVER CLINTOONS INAUGURATION AND YOU WILL HAVE SOME CREDIBILITY- UNTIL THEN STFU!!!
I don't think its a waste at all. You can't put a price tag on celebrating America...and for all the money the liberal whackos have spent on bashing W he deserves to show them it hasn't effected him a bit and he can still throw the biggest party this side of the great state of Texas. Hard earned money is always well spent no matter what it's spent on.
Simple, they push polled 3 people, and got two yes answers.
Simple, they push polled 3 people, and got two yes answers.
Oops, the dreaded double post.
I noticed he did not include all the other cost Clinton caused the american taxpayers
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