Posted on 01/14/2017 7:04:39 PM PST by SeekAndFind
As a Briton born after 1953, I have yet to witness a royal coronation at Westminster Abbey. However, every four years our American cousins treat us to a spectacular, regal, and full-blown monarchical affair as the president of the United States takes his inauguration oath. With parades, concerts, and lavish luncheons, the inauguration has become an event fit for a king, not the president of a republic.
But ironically, the celebrity-cum-president Donald Trump is likely to have an inauguration with a very modest celebrity influence. America’s famous names aren’t fans of Trump, with a multitude of reality-TV stars, Hollywood favorites, and Broadway actors expressing their dislike for the president-elect and his administration. Several music artists have rejected offers to perform at the event. In November, a spokesman for Elton John said that he would not perform. The tenor Andrea Bocelli also announced that he would not be involved. Zara Larsson said “I would never do it.” John Legend explained his choice not to perform by arguing that “creative people tend to reject bigotry and hate.”
At the time of writing, the only solo artist confirmed to be performing at the event is 16-year-old “America’s Got Talent” singer Jackie Evancho. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Radio City’s Rockettes are also listed as performing.
Let’s hope it stays that way, because Trump is accidentally doing something conservative. As conservatives, we prefer the executive to govern in a restrained and grounded manner, not rule under the impression of regality. In order to maintain this kind of governance, reducing the grandeur and cost of state events is necessary. Inaugural traditions should remain limited so that we, and the new president, can focus on the crucial value they represent: the smooth continuation of leadership of a republic. Rampant celebration of a new leader threatens to dilute this value and allow new presidents to consider themselves as something more than servants of the people.
Almost all aspects of the Inauguration Day events have undergone a transition over the decades from limited, sensible processes to celebrations of pomp and extravagance. The first inaugural parade to take place in Washington was Thomas Jefferson’s in 1801. Jefferson walked from his boardinghouse to the Capitol, joined by a company of riflemen from Alexandria, Va., and “fellow citizens.” In 1953, the year of Eisenhower’s inauguration, the parade had ballooned to an absurd affair involving 73 bands, 59 floats, elephants, horses, and civilian and military vehicles.
Inauguration Day is far from the only presidential event that has become financially excessive and eulogizing. Trips abroad for the president and those associated with his office are eye-wateringly expensive. Ferried around like a king, George W. Bush during his time as president billed the taxpayer $2 billion for transportation. Michelle Obama’s two-day trip to Ireland in 2013 cost close to $8 million.
Even the State of the Union speech has been transformed into a narcissistic address. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson delivered the State of the Union via a written report, and this remained the standard practice until Woodrow Wilson switched to reading his address in person. Nowadays it resembles a king’s speech, full of standing ovations and relentless clapping. I am unconvinced that Donald Trump will return it to its reserved, Jeffersonian form.
With every inauguration oath that is taken, presidents are treated more like royalty and less like the servants of the people that the founding fathers envisaged. But not all the early patriots agreed on this point. John Adams, America’s first vice president, argued that George Washington should have been given titles like “His High Mightiness” and “His Mighty Benign Highness.” I am immensely grateful to Adams’s unpretentious peers for preventing a scenario where Donald Trump would be known as “His Majesty the President.” Most Americans would rightly be appalled by such a title, yet still they support the celebritization of the presidency.
Celebrities are ephemeral symbols of fame and fortune. The values of the presidency could not be more dissimilar. Let’s hope that Trump’s celebrity-free inauguration is the start of a new, conservative trend for state events.
— Charlie Peters is a writer and student from Surrey, England. He studies philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.
Rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue with a phalanx of armored vehicles and tanks might shut up some snowflakes and puffed up anarchists.
The media freakout to follow might be tough to manage, though, lol.
If you say so. Perhaps I’m too unrefined to appreciate it. I’m just an old alley cat.
He did jump around a bit. But his comment about a royal coronation (the Brits do that sort of thing best), which he missed since the last one happened the same year he was born, and that a supposed republican ritual more than makes up for it, just hit home for me. The President is supposed to act like an employee honored to be elected to serve, not a sovereign. And the State of the Union is supposed to be a report to Congress, not the Queen’s Speech to open Parliament(or a campaign speech for himself and his party). We have put up with a pretend royalty, political and media versions, for far too ****ing long.
Trump tweets “The state of the Union is in a shitty state after 8 years of obama and I still have 60 characters left.”
Short and sweet. And enough characters left to slap around the fake news media.
If Frank, Dino, Sammy, and Joan Rivers were alive, they’d be all too happy to perform at Trump’s inaugural ball.
But Old School entertainment is pretty much dead these days. Today’s A listers would be yesterdays Z listers.
What’s happening with Trump coming in and “high and mighty” actors and political people realizing their not so “important” anymore, reminds me of Baroness Rodmilla and her daughter Marguerite who got stripped of titles and made to be washer women in the movie Ever After (I couldn’t find a video clip):
Rodmilla: [after the laundry supervisor points out their work] Marguerite.
Marguerite: What?
Rodmilla: Well, you heard the woman.
Marguerite: So did you.
Rodmilla: Yes, but I’m management.
Marguerite: Like hell you are! You’re just the same as me, a big NOBODY!
They like to talk the talk..but where were they when Obama was doing his worst over the last 8 years? Why didn't they call out the Republicans?
Only conclusion is cash flow.... They are all terrified Trump is going to stop their cash flow.
As far as the NRO is concerned, they are. The NRO right now is registered as some kind of charity under IRS rules and probably the only way they are staying in business. Trump has mentioned on the campaign trail that he may yank their charity tax exempt status if he were to be elected (which would likely put them out of business). Well January 20 is just 6 days away so I can see the NRO anxiety level reaching atmospheric proportions.
Wouldn't be surprised if the Weekly Standard has the same cozy "charity" arrangement with the IRS so they can stay in business.
Remember the SOB’s who threw Eggs at the Presidential Limo when George Bush was Inaugurated?
Can’t wait to see what these Morons will pull this time.
Dear Hollywood celebrities,
It’s time to wake up now. Get this! The only reason you exist is for my entertainment. Some of you are beautiful. Some of you can deliver a line with such conviction that you bring tears to my eyes. Some of you are so convincing that you scare the crap out of me. And others are so funny you can make me laugh uncontrollably.
But you all have one thing in common. You only exist and have a place in my world to entertain me. That’s it. Nothing else!
You make your living pretending to be someone else. You play dress-up like a 5-year-old. Your world is a make believe world. It is not real. It doesn’t exist. You live for the camera while the rest of us live in the real world. Your entire existence depends on my patronage. I crank/grind the organ, and you dance.
Therefore, I don’t care where you stand on issues. Honestly, your opinion means nothing to me. Just because you had a lead role in a movie about prostitution doesn’t mean you know what it’s like to be a prostitute. Your view matters far less to me than that of a someone living in Timbuktu .
Believe me or not, the hard truth is that you aren’t real. I turn off my TV or shut down my computer, and you cease to exist. Once I am done with you, I go back to the real world until I want you to entertain me again.
I don’t care that you think BP executives deserve the death penalty. I don’t care what you think about the environment. I don’t care if you believe fracking is bad. I don’t care if you call for more gun control. I don’t care if you believe in catastrophic human-induced global warming. And I could care less that you supported Hillary for President. Get back into your bubble. I’ll let you know when I’m in the mood for something pretty or scary or funny.
And one other thing. What was with all this “I’ll leave the country if Donald Trump wins”? Don’t you know how stupid that made you sound? What did you think my reaction was going to be? I better not vote for Trump or we’ll lose Whoopi Goldberg? Al Sharpton? Amy Schumer? Leave. I don’t care! And don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out. Oh by the way, is Clinton returning any of the money you so generously donated to her election?
Make me laugh. Make me cry. Even scare me. But realize this, the only words of yours that matter are scripted — just like your pathetic little lives. I may agree with some of you from time to time, but in the final analysis, it doesn’t matter. In my world, you exist solely for my entertainment. So, shut your pie hole and dance, monkey, DANCE!
Fantastic rant. Lifted my spirits on this dreary, icy day. Thanks!
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