Posted on 01/13/2005 7:20:49 PM PST by alessandrofiaschi
WASHINGTON - President Bush's second inauguration will cost tens of millions of dollars — $40 million alone in private donations for the balls, parade and other invitation-only parties. With that kind of money, what could you buy?
_200 armored Humvees with the best armor for troops in Iraq.
_Vaccinations and preventive health care for 22 million children in regions devastated by the tsunami.
_A down payment on the nation's deficit, which hit a record-breaking $412 billion last year.
_Two years' salary for the Mets' new center fielder Carlos Beltran, or all of pitcher Randy Johnson's contract extension with the New York Yankees.
Weeks ago, the inauguration and its accompanying costs were considered a given, an historic ceremony with all the pomp, pageantry and celebrations that the nation had come to expect every four years.
But a recent confluence of events — the tsunami natural disaster, Bush's warning about Social Security finances and the $5 billion-a-month price tag for the war in Iraq — have many Americans now wondering why spend the money the second time around.
While the Presidential Inaugural Committee hopes to raise $40 million in private donations for the balls, parades and candlelight dinners for high-roller donors, millions of government dollars will be spent on construction of the platform and stands at the Capitol, police overtime, military personnel and the tightest security for the first post-Sept. 11 inaugural.
The questions have come from Bush supporters and opponents: Do we need to spend this money on what seems so extravagant?
New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat, suggested inaugural parties should be scaled back, citing as a precedent Roosevelt's inauguration during World War II.
"President Roosevelt held his 1945 inaugural at the White House, making a short speech and serving guests cold chicken salad and plain pound cake," according to a letter from Weiner and Rep. Jim McDermott, voting record), D-Wash. "During World War I, President Wilson did not have any parties at his 1917 inaugural, saying that such festivities would be undignified."
Lawmakers representing the Washington area have complained to the White House about the District of Columbia not getting enough federal help to cover the estimated $17.3 million security costs of the inaugural.
Organizers of the inaugural defended the celebration.
"The inauguration of a United States president is one of America's greatest traditions, a tradition that transcends partisan politics," said Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Presidential Inaugural Committee. "Our theme is celebrating freedom and honoring service."
She cited the Commander in Chief inaugural ball that offers free tickets to service members back from Afghanistan and Iraq and their family members. That ball is one of nine; the other eight require a ticket.
"Every inaugural there's a really good reason given why you should spend whatever donors are sending in on something else," said Rich Galen, a veteran Republican activist, saying many of the complaints come from the losers of the election.
Billionaire Mark Cuban, owner of the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks, voted for Bush — twice. Cuban knows a thing or two about big spending, once starring in ABC's reality TV show, "The Benefactor," in which 16 contenders tried to pass his test for success and win $1 million.
Cuban questioned spending all that money on the inaugural.
"As a country, we face huge deficits. We face a declining economy. We have service people dying. We face responsibilities to help those suffering from the ... devastation of the tsunamis," he wrote on his blog, a Web journal.
Cuban challenged Bush to set an example: "Start by canceling your inauguration parties and festivities."
___
EDITOR'S NOTE: Will Lester covers polling and politics for The Associated Press.
wellllll....
It looks like you just proved my point! It is an issue that it worthy of DISCUSSION and obviously it is being discussed! If its such a slam dunk decision---then why would we even ask our military.
IP ON AP
Mostly, those on the outside looking in!
Bwahahahaha!
That wouldn't even pay for basic security even for a very subdued event.
Where in the world would you come up with such a silly amount?
They're my tax dollars. I see no reason why they should be spent on an elaborate inauguration. It is not necessary for the operation of the country, thus it should be done as inexpensively as possible.
Presidents are elected to be the CEO of America, any CEO of a corporation who spent even $500,000 of stockholders money to celebrate his new position would be looking for a new job very soon.
Presidents are elected to run the country, not to be head of the Royal Family. It's time they started treating our hard-earned tax dollars with respect instead of a slush fund to be used for elaborate parades.
You continue to *seemingly* not understand this money is from PRIVATE DONATIONS. Each American has the LIBERTY to spend what and where they want. Period.
So...did you vote in our election?
good one!
Jeez Louize! You STILL don't get it! The 40 mil comes from PRIVATE DONATIONS. ***I*** donated, along with millions of others. It is my FREEDOM to do so!
Did you vote in our last election? Yes...I'm asking again.
Why *wouldn't* you want to include our military in this? Did you serve?
Apparently these "some" were OK with clinton's spending.
And they seem to be OK with the feds' $2 trillion of annual non-defense spending.
You didn't read my original posts?
My comment was that it IS a point of "discussion" as to whether going all out on a celebration of the Inaugural is appropriate at a time of war and war casualties. I was saying that it is OK to have a DISCUSSSION about that. I then pointed out that, in fact, family members HAVE asked their loved ones serving in the military now and many have said "Yes, we want a big celebration." Therefore it WAS an issue of discussion; proving my point that to just have a discussion of this issue is entirely appropriate. ( I will rephrase this: "Why would we ask our military their feelings if we didn't think it was an an issue that we would want to know their feelings on it?")
You have misread that I suggested we "shouldn't " ask our military. And whether I served, or not, has nothing to do with my supporting our military, which I most definitely do!
By the way .. I understand the $40 million being spent on the celebration IS ALL FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS.
So .. your precious public funds are safe.
... And have a good day!
Bye.
No dear. I don't think we need to ask the military. I was just relaying what my daughter's boyfriend told me.
It was to make a point that the military doesn't have a problem with it. They will be honored at this event and I think they will see this as a positive thing.
I know I do.
17.5 million that we will have to pay is not very much money in the overall scheme of things.
This is a historic event, whether you want to think so or not.
You are in the minority.
Besides the money the government is only paying for security.
What part of that is so hard for you to understand? The party is paid for by private donations.
I hope President Bush walks out and lights a victory cigar with a $100 dollar bill.
The recovering hippie misunderstood what I was trying to say.
My daughter's boyfriend say President Bush deserves the biggest blow out in history. And he says the rest of his buddies say the same thing.
I wasn't suggesting we poll the military and then decide. I think you probably understood what I meant.
Why is everyone so threatened with a "discussion" of different views? The discussion seemed to bring out some really good reasons why we Should have a big party. If the out come of the discussion is that "yes, its a great idea and here's why", wonderful. Then we get even more positives about why an Inauguration party is meaningful.
No one has yet to address my whole point: A discussion on pros and cons is a good idea and that people can have differing opinions and don't have to get slammed.
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