WOW, Rightwingers Sure Do Love Their Pomp and Pageantry, Don't They?

[Crankie Avalon]

Critics Say Bush Inaugural Too Lavish for Wartime

By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) is drawing heat over a $40 million splurge on inaugural balls, concerts and candlelight dinners while the country is in a somber mood because of the Iraq (news - web sites) 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 Dec. 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 (news, bio, voting record) 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 canceled -- 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.

More: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/bush_cost_dc

And some photos of rehearsals and other preparations for the inaugural spectacle:









Hey, wait a minute...



...WHOOPS!!! Wrong rightwing spectacle. I think. Well, it's an easy enough mistake to make--they all look alike, don't they?

[franksumatra]

1. Excellent comparison Crankie Avalon

Keep on Ring a ding dingin'...
.....frank sumatra

[Historic NY]

2. Looks like an attack of the Bushbots..........remember don't .....

look directly at *, your not supposed to.

[txaslftist]

9. You might notice the Emperor has no clothes.

[ixion]

3. Sure, they love it, when it's about them (IOKAYAR)

otherwise it's a shameless waste of taxpayer dollars. :eyes:

[Ganja Ninja]

4. "WHOOPS!!! Wrong rightwing spectacle."

Your not the first person that's made that mistake. It's easy to get confused.

[GCP]

5. I think it's more like a royalty thing - this is his crowning

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://net.bradonforest.wilts.sch.uk/gallery/Queens_Coronation/A5&h=307&w=509&sz=42&tbnid=32pWDngaRdIJ:&tbnh=77&tbnw=127&start=7&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcoronation%2Bof%2Bqueen%2Belizabeth%2BII%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/development/show_image.html%3F70&h=400&w=394&sz=51&tbnid=1IxWhCVo9R8J:&tbnh=119&tbnw=118&start=33&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcoronation%2Bof%2Bqueen%2Belizabeth%2BII%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

[blueknight]

6. they love it

when working people pay for it

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Actually, The Soviet Mayday Comes To Mind, As Well

Lines of troops on the street. Big display of power and pomp. I almost expect to see the missile launcher go by and Kruschev waving his hand.
The Professor

[txaslftist]

8. Kelloggs. The official cereal of the US Presidency.

[bobbobbins]

10. now the people who monitor the internet in my office...

are gonna think im a nazi

[Contrary1]

11. Just what are you trying to say here?

Being close up and personal at the coronation: Priceless. Maybe a few of us can go in together, on one of these. Just let me know, if interested:

"Candlelight dinner," at Union Station, the Washington Hilton, or the National Building Museum: $2,500.

"Underwriter" package: Two tickets for a lunch banquet with the president and vice president, plus 20 tickets to one of the three candlelight dinners: $250,000.

"Sponsor" package: 10 candlelight dinner tickets, for a total of $100,000.

Bleacher seats on Pennsylvania Avenue to watch the parade: $15, $60, or $125 each.

A seat, at the Capitol's East Front, for the swearing-in: $250.

Mementos: "Medallion Collection," $1,190; silver cuff links, $95; crystal ice bucket and flute set, $84.95; crystal paperweight, $42.95; key chain, $7.95; button, $3.

Jefferson Hotel package: For $1 million, guests get 24-hour limousine service, spa treatments, his-and-her gold Presidential Rolex watches, fashions by the couture designer of choice, Tiffany diamonds, and for those interested, a trip to Chicago for a private tour of "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years," a Field Museum exhibit.

Sofitel Lafayette Square package: For $75,000, the "Don't Mess With Texas" package treats guests to a suite filled with yellow roses, and you get sterling silver spurs bearing the inaugural logo.

Black Tie and Boots gala: For as much as $1,455 per ticket, each attendee gets to be photographed on a bull.
(Sorry, sold out.) :cry:

[Crankie Avalon]

12. What am I trying to say? Well, as I wrote in the OP...

...it was an honest mistake about the photos, I assure you. O8)

As for that list of events you got there...it's no wonder the "Black Tie and Boots" gala with distinguished attendees being photographed on a bull is sold out--Now, that's class!