Bush's second inauguration will be the most expensive in history

[underpants]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1404822,00.html

The week of celebrations will cost over £20 million but Mr Bush does not want to forget US troops


PRESIDENT Bush will hold the most lavish and expensive inauguration celebration in American history when he is sworn in for his second term next month. But he hopes to temper the four-day extravaganza by holding special events to honour US troops in Iraq.


Mr Bush’s inaugural committee is hoping to raise more than $40 million (£20 million) for the event, a record. It announced yesterday that the theme for inauguration week, Washington’s equivalent of the Oscars, will be “celebrating freedom, honouring service”.


At $250,000, the “underwriter” package being offered by the committee, will get the donor four seats to Mr Bush’s swearing-in ceremony; ten VIP seats at the inaugural parade; two tickets to an “exclusive” underwriters’ lunch featuring Mr Bush and Vice-President Cheney; and twenty seats at candlelit dinners that will take place simultaneously at three locations in Washington, with special appearances by the President, the First Lady, and Mr Cheney and his wife, Lynne.

Those who donate $100,000 will be feted at a sponsors’ reception featuring the President and Vice-President, with two tickets to the President’s swearing-in, along with tickets to the candlelit dinners, youth concert, salute to soldiers, balls and other events.

[liberal N proud]

1. More expensive than the first?

The world will surely foreclose.

[SKKY]

2. I wonder if his vehicle will be armored...n/t

[complain jane]

4. He should have to ride in the shitboxes he's provided our military with.

[AndyTiedye]

42. No Eggs Will Be Allowed Within the District During that Month

Maybe everyone will bring bananas. Seems appropriate.

[zulchzulu]

59. Yep...either bananas or chicken bones

Those that are close enough need to squirt stuff that looks like blood on the entourage....hmmmm...maybe ketchup.

[MADem]

56. It is a VERY hard car

The specs are classified. I've ridden in some pretty snazzy hard cars in my day, and his put them to shame, so they say. The brakes probably last only a week or two with all that armor they cart around. The training that one has to go just to drive them without killing someone is fairly extensive. When you get to the point where you are actually doing escape and evasion techniques, you qualify for the NASCAR curcuit...!

[Burma Jones]

3. And then, Mel Gibson and (m)Ann Coulter will produce the re-make

of "Triumph of the Will"

[wicket]

6. LOL!!!!

[Supersedeas]

13. Marching in locked goose step

[complain jane]

5. Invest in the egg industry NOW

[catmandu57]

7. What do you expect from a dictator

after all it's just your money. It'd be awesome to see him go up in flames when he lays a claw on the bible.

[bleedingheart]

8. "Let them eat cake"..said Marie...then she dressed up for the ball

[elehhhhna]

15. Marie was falsely blamed for her husbands failings. Leave her alone!

She never said "Let 'em eat cake". Truly a tragic figure...

[zann725]

43. While we shouldn't misquote her, she DOES have the power to...

effect Ahhnold's policies, and I see NO evidence of that (re: Ahhnold's statement yesterday re: "mandatory" health insurance.)

[AndyTiedye]

45. Thought She Was Talking About Marie Antoinette

[AndyTiedye]

44. I Could See Laura or Barbara Saying Something Like That

come to think of it, they've said a lot worse.

[flordehinojos]

9. this is no regular presidential inauguration.

this is a coronation of and for the bush family evil empire, their takeover of the world and the evilness they represent. goodness comes clothed in humility,it touches the soup kitches and walks the streets. evil is armored, as is self proclamation, it comes clothed in great fanfare and paramilitary strength, it parades the streets clothed in jackboots...it lacks humility...it attempts to compensate for the real deep hardly ever looked at knowledge but still there that 'i don't deserve any of this, i didn't earn it,' by disguising it in the greatest look at me and my power COLORFUL fanfare ever. Interesting that I think COLORFUL was Laura Bush's choice of word to describe the Christmas atmosphere at the white house this year.

[Contrary1]

10. I wish that just once

the election produced a president with the integrity
and common sense to say "No" to this. Ask for funds
to be raised to help the poor in this country, rather
than a throwing a lavish party to congratulate themselves.

$40,000,000.00...just think what that would buy, even in
Shrub's screwed up economy. Who knows? Maybe even some
left over to buy a piece or two of armor.

[Theres-a]

11. ?

let me get this straight,there's no money for social programs for vets,but they plan on throwing a bash?can they do that?do all those expensive ticket profits go into some kind of special piggybank that can't get mixed up with the country's budget?i smell a rat.

[underpants]

14. Well they are painting it as being privately funded....

but there is going to be considerable PUBLIC expense at all of these events especially any one that W or Dick shows up at (there has to be for security reasons).

Welcome to DU :hi:

[Theres-a]

16. hi

i've been a visitor for about a month,many times i've wanted to throw in my two cents.i love you people,i fit right in.i feel like an alien at work,and with alot of other folks.my friends are probably going to get me a tinfoil hat for christmas.

[HeeBGBz]

21. Welcome! I can relate

Tinfoil is In this year

[Theres-a]

22. nice.

[tk2kewl]

26. Welcome!

:toast:

[fortyfeetunder]

30. Welcome...tinfoil hats in the DU Lounge

I'm in same predicament. I work with Pugs (my abbreviation for Republicans) too.

DC has no $$$ to fund an inauguration, as it is, its infrastructure is rotting from within.

[LynnTheDem]

12. Imagine Clinton holding a RECORD expensive inauguration

Imagine Clinton having the US military pander to him at inauguration.

Imagine Clinton in the Oval Office joking about looking for the "WMD", the lie that Clinton used to send this nation to war with 1300+ dead US men, women & teens.

Imagine Clinton in office when the 911 attacks happened the month following Clinton's vacation, the longest in US presidential history, after that August 6 PDB warning Clinton that al Qaeda planned attacks on NY and other prominent buildings through hijacking airplanes.

Imagine ANY Democrat doing just about ANYTHING bush has done in the past 4 years...and NOT ending up in jail for life.

[Sara Beverley]

17. Repubs can raise 40 million for inauguration but DC can't get any money

from private funds for baseball? And everyone wants to criticize Linda Kropp for trying to ensure that the citizens of DC don't get stuck with funding a boondoggle for the wealthy folks in VA, and MD. Most poor kids in DC will not even be able to attend the baseball games because the price of the tickets will be unaffordable.

[tk2kewl]

27. Excellent point!

[TexasLady]

18. oh wow

a reeal conservative party for the conservative party. :puke::puke::puke:

[Deja Q]

19. What a filthy fucking PIG. Oink oink oink. Only somebody with huge

emotional problems would dare, given our current economy and state of his own citizens, would pamper and peacock himself in such a pompous and grandiose fashion.

It's no wonder the civilized world hates the US.

Maybe * knows it's the end and is hamming it up for all its worth?

[HeeBGBz]

20. I am appalled

I hope everyone else is too.

Whatever happened to the Humble Christian? Those who give to others? Bush is the antithesis of everything fundies claim him to be. Show me one Christian act this bloat has done.

Hey let's give up the party and give someone needy health care for Christmas? What a concept. Build armor for humvees in the shape of a cake like they did in Animal House.

Oh, what was I? Thinking?

[Catchawave]

23. He can better "honor the troops"....

...holding a simple ceremony and sending the money to better arm and protect them. The fat cat donors to this superfluous "event" should reward their employees with health care and a livable wage!

[Contrary1]

25. Yeah, but that

wouldn't buy them any favors from this administration.

[KurtNYC]

24. If you factor in what he will do in the next 4yrs - $Trillions!

[emad]

28. See also: Why the big spending will have to stop after lavish

inauguration party:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x92235

[Child_Of_Isis]

29. 40 million for what?

Where will that money go? Who gets it?

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

58. it's expensive to feed the homeless/ oops /I mean the Palace-less

We have to make sure that Billionaires feel comfortable.
40 million?
Why what the hell, let's just spend 40 Billion and give away free million dollar gifts at the Balls of the C'mander in Cheeef.

C'mander in Chimp
How did such a rich kld, fuck-up, drugee, alchoholic, dunce, awol sob
get there?
We know they fixed the election and we're just kicking back and letting a MORAN be our military dictator?
Are we more stupid than him?
That's hard to believe.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

31. Glad to see a "nation at war" making sacrifices

it does warm my heart so.

[leftofthedial]

32. his first one cost us trillions

I half expect the asshole to start building a great pyramid for his own tomb

[psychopomp]

33. It is a coronation

ALL HAIL!

[Nashyra]

34. This calls for a conderted effort

of letters to the editor of all our newspapers about how that money can be beter used. Private or not, we should advocate that the money they would donate could go to charitable causes or better yet VETERANS causes that have been short changed because of budget cuts. That sounds like a President who has compassion, discreet and low key inauguration in HONOR of our fallen soldiers, that this * sent into harms way in the first place.

[underpants]

35. How about 266 Armored Humvees?

Add that into letters. I have no idea about this source I just googled "Cosst of armored humvee kit" this apparently is for a whole humvee

In addition, the Army would also have to go to Congress for additional funding if Armor Holdings sought more money, officials said. The cost of armored Humvees is about $150,000 each.

http://pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1102760433180370.xml

[wildflower]

36. As the poor get poorer. I worry this polarization is a recipe for...

an increase in crime. Not to mention all the other problems.

[Norquist Nemesis]

37. Remember Bush's campaign warning?

Hold on to your wallet!

[WritersBlock]

38. Did it mention his purple robe and jewels anywhere? n/t

[MADem]

39. I'm praying for weather at least as lousy as the last time

When I saw that stupid tent roof fill with water and spill down the back of big Dick's overcoat, it made me smile. All the portable heaters and plastic tenting in the world couldn't make that reviewing stand comfortable, and that, as Martha would say, was a GOOD THING.

Mother Earth was pissed that first time, let's hope she's totally bullshit this next time. A nice blizzard, that starts after the reporters and photographers get some great coverage of the protesters, will be just ducky.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

[underpants]

46. I remember a story about lesser donators slogging through the mud

I am pretty sure that was the first inauguration. Those who didn't quite give enough were eating in tents and there was no flooring put down-many gowns were surely ruined. There actually were some people allowed inside the hosts' house while others (still big givers) literally sat outside in the mud. Neither W nor Dick showed up I think Jim Baker did.

They still don't realize their place I guess.

[MADem]

51. I had several acquaintances who attended a couple of the "balls"

They were SO excited...fussing over clothing, a rent-a-limo, feeling like Kings and Queens. They got to their venues, the lines to get in were interminable, it was cold, the women were half nekkid and freezing, there were NO CHAIRS--none, not one, insufficient restrooms, and not enough bar stations (drinks were extra, and expensive). They spent a fortune to do the equivalent of standing in a warehouse with a bunch of fellow suckers to watch weewee and his wife say "thanks y'all" and spend thirty seconds pretending to dance with his old lady.

You'd think they'd learn that they'd been ripped off!

[Bouncy Ball]

50. I keep imagining

lightening striking the stand where he takes the oath right at the momemt he presses his greasy little pig foot on the Bible.

[MADem]

55. Funny, I had a dream

...that weecowboy did a Castro-style trip and fall on his way to the podium, got picked up and dusted off, and right as the Chief Supreme was ready to lay the oath on him, he had a 'clutch the pearls' moment....it was like a Three Stooges film. Then I woke up and realized we were all living in a Three Stooges film, except there are more than three stooges running our lives...

[QC]

40. Sounds like a spectacle fit for an emperor. Or a chimperor. n/t

[zann725]

41. Our tax dollars at work! Or the WORKING CLASS tax dollars at work!

Or...Social Security Trust Fund dollars at work!(those Elderly and Disabled don't need it anyway, do they!?#@):crazy:

[nolabels]

48. The bush conservative government at work?

It's going to get better me thinks :crazy:

You know at some point in time we ALL are going to totally reject any and everything about this whole fiasco they call the US Federal Government is or was. That time is coming closer rather than farther.

Can you really ask yourself about trusting anything they put out with out having to double and triple check to see if it is valid or is only some more trivial B.S., mis-leaders or just plain lies. Why bother even noticing what they do? It's only evil or corrupt and they are not never going to be able to change their stripes. Why acquiesce, why have anything to do with them :shrug:

Ah! you say they will put you in prison, confinement or other, well are you sure you are not already?

http://www.prisonplanet.com/

[Megahurtz]

47. just throw it in our faces, King Shit

:mad: I'm sure that all the poor going cold and hungry, middleclass losing jobs, elderly with no healthcare, and corporations stealing and steamrolling all over people (and even different creative variations of the above and MORE)
will bow down on inaugeration day and just kiss your ass.......

I'd like to kiss his ass goodbye.

The problem with this guy is that he seriously believes that he will be "taken up into the clouds" (born againers belief) before Armegeddon hits. He really belives he's some kind of prophet for the end times. So what does he care what havoc he wreaks now? He's "forgiven" or, even worse yet, he thinks he does no wrong!

How dare he flaunt his ill gotten gain in our faces!!! He doesn't need any fucking lavish ceremony. Didn't he ever learn anywhere that you just don't do these things?

I almost feel like he's purposely taunting us.

[Bouncy Ball]

49. This is DISGUSTING

and just for the record, I would be as appalled if a Democratic president did this, too.

No, probably MORE so, since I don't expect this kind of vulgar display from a Dem. I know there would still be loads of festitivies, etc, but I would expect a Dem to tone it down in light of the fact that we have US servicemembers being killed and maimed overseas every day.

He has no shame, none. But we knew that.

[yellowdogintexas]

54. I am with you there. I have never thought that a re inaugurual

merits the same type of festivity that an initial inaugural does, even when it is my guy that is being inaugurated. It is just wretched excess, in my opinion.

Those fat cats who are donating the $40 mil should be mortally ashamed of themselves..we know they are the ones foreclosing on homes, outsourcing jobs to India, Enron types, etc.

I expect I will be at work that day, training for my new job that it took me 6 months to find, ignoring everything that I can .
oh yeah, wear black that day too. Must not forget that!

[grumpy old fart]

52. All Hail Augustus Ceasar...

The committee’s chairman, Jeanne Johnson Phillips, said: “Werecognizee this time that we are a nation at war.”

More like "We REVEL in the fact that we started this war".....

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

57. Augustus?no it's Quixote- Chimpy Quixote and his sidekick Dick C Chicken

Hail Quixote- the greatest FOOL this country has ever known.

I'm sure he will be the master of his own undoing -- there's no way he's getting away with anything--I feel confident in that--

but it may not be pretty and only after our country is further looted and other countries have at least been Niuked a couple of times for kicks.
:puke: :nuke:

[BonjourUSA]

53. Of course ! A Imperator coronation is always more expensive !

[Bethany Rockafella]

60. I am sending CSPAN producers a note.

To tell them that this should be topic of discussion on their morning show. The question should be: Do you think Bush/Cheney's inaugural ball with a price tag of $40 million is too excessive?

[Tight_rope]

61. Great idea....it's so ridiculous to spend that kind of money on a party!

[Massachusetts]

62. Insiders In Washington and US

Where do we begin? We have so much work to do to get OUR country back.

Do we really understand how far away from REPRESENTING the American people these politicians are?

This arrogant display of royal tribute will have all the pomp and grandeur of a Cecil B. DeMille production. I'm sure it will trump anything that Uncle Ronnie or Tricky Dick have produced.

I raise my fist in anger for the disenfranchised Americans who give a damn.........YOU and I.:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[daleo]

63. Next step will be gladiators and chariot races

Maybe an artificial lake on the Potomac so that fleets can fight it out for the Emperor's pleasure, like Caligula. It is a strange brew of decadent Roman and puritan Christian influences at work in this administration.

[arikara]

64. Bread and circuses

A phrase used by a Roman writer to deplore the declining heroism of Romans after the Roman Republic ceased to exist and the Roman Empire began: “Two things only the people anxiously desire—bread and circuses.” The government kept the Roman populace happy by distributing free food and staging huge spectacles. “Bread and circuses” has become a convenient general term for government policies that seek short-term solutions to public unrest.

[Massachusetts]

66. Hail Ceaser!

:thumbsup:

[Cocoa]

65. he has a mandate for this

his overwhelming victory entitles him to this kickass party.