GW inauguration - Thought for the day

[TheArmourer]

I heard that NY spent $17M on security for GW's inauguration.
Surely somebody could have come up with $18M?

[The Armourer]

What do you say to the little girl that I know that asked why it was so expensive and couldnt all that money have been given to the Tsunami victims? I dont think saying well the USA gives a lot of money to help other people anyway really explains it away. Would they have taken a cheque do you think?

[Maeve_Mari]

Originally Posted by TheArmourer

I heard that NY spent $17M on security for GW's inauguration.
Surely somebody could have come up with $18M?

Why do you say NY?
It was the city of Washington, DC that had to spend $17 million on security during the innaguration. The White House spent another $40 million on ball festivities and other details for the innaguation. Many people critisized him for conducting such a lavish innaguration considering we are a nation at war.

Some of the "other" costs listed:

$40 million: Cost of Bush inaugural ball festivities, not counting security costs.

$17 million: Amount of money the White House is forcing the cash-strapped city of Washington, D.C., to pony up for inauguration security.

$20,000: Cost of yellow roses purchased for inaugural festivities by D.C.'s Ritz Carlton.

$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.

$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

$6.3 million: Amount contributed by the finance and investment industry, which works out to be 25 percent of all the money collected.

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.


and this one was funny:
$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.

[L.O.A.S.]

Originally Posted by The Armourer

What do you say to the little girl that I know that asked why it was so expensive and couldnt all that money have been given to the Tsunami victims? I dont think saying well the USA gives a lot of money to help other people anyway really explains it away. Would they have taken a cheque do you think?

It depends if the little girl is liberal or conservative. If she is liberal, you say its because the right wing neocons care nothing for the suffering of the common man, and would rather celebrate their own importance in lavish extravagence (much like the hollywood elite). If she is conservative, tell her that in a free society, people can both mourn and celebrate, and to give generously to whom they please, although most of the complaints is just sour grapes.

[TheArmourer]

Originally Posted by Maeve_Mari

Why do you say NY? It was the city of Washington, DC

Sorry - must have picked that up incorrectly form the UK media.

Originally Posted by Maeve_Mari

... considering we are a nation at war.

Shouldn't that read

Originally Posted by George W. Bush

... considering I declared war under false pretences because I think muslims shouldn't be allowed to have control over their own natural resources (ie oil). Now wathch this drive

Originally Posted by Maeve_Mari

... President Carter ... served pretzels ...

If only GW had served pretzels