Posted on 01/19/2005 12:19:30 PM PST by traumer
With an estimated price tag of $40m, the three-day celebration that is President Bush's second inauguration will be the most expensive ever.
The lavish dinners, parties and fireworks began on Tuesday and will continue through his swearing-in on Thursday, followed by a parade and nine official inaugural balls.
The band Fuel perform at a pre-inauguration concert hosted by the president's daughters Concerts and balls are already underway The cost will be paid by individual and corporate donations, while the city of Washington is being asked to pay for an estimated $17m in security costs.
Some have criticised the expense, questioning the propriety of a flashy celebration as US troops are dying in Iraq and South Asia still recovers from last month's deadly tsunami.
The overt criticism of an inauguration is unusual, but a Washington Post poll found that a majority of Americans would prefer a smaller, more subdued event.
Big money donors
The biggest ticket will be on Wednesday at the Texas State Society's Black Tie & Boots Ball.
Preparations were well under way on Tuesday to prepare 21,000 enchiladas, 20,000 quesadillas, 25,000 pastries, and 3,000 lbs (1,360kg) of beef barbeque.
President Bush appears at the pre-inaugural Saluting Those Who Serve event Bush honoured the military in a pre-inauguration event Festivities have already begun: On Tuesday, Mr Bush paid tribute to the military's men and women with a free concert.
"As we prepare to celebrate our nation's 55th presidential inauguration, I can think of no better way to begin than by giving thanks for our freedom and those who make it possible," President Bush told a crowd of 7,000.
The free event was part of the military focus, but it was also used by inaugural organisers to deflect criticism of the inauguration as overly extravagant.
On Wednesday evening, President Bush will host three candlelight dinners with the individual and corporate donors who helped pay for the festivities.
$250,000 DONORS INCLUDE Energy: ChevronTexaco, Exxon Mobil, Occidental Petroleum, Hunt Consolidated, New Energy Corp Finance: Bank of America, Ameriquest Capital, Sallie Mae, Long Beach Acceptance Corp Pharmeceuticals: Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb Other: AT&T, Time Warner, Ford Motor Company
Inauguration donors The list of donors is full of big-name corporations and top Bush fundraisers - the campaign's "pioneers", who raised $100,000, and the "rangers", who raised $250,000.
Political reform advocates say the corporations stand to benefit from Mr Bush's proposed energy policy, his efforts to reform immigration and proposals to partially convert Social Security, a state pension scheme, into private investment accounts.
Defence giants Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin each gave $100,000 to the inaugural committee, and oil companies ChevronTexaco and Exxon Mobil each gave $250,000.
Both Coca-Cola and its rival Pepsi gave $100,000, and the Marriot and Ritz-Carlton hotel groups each gave $250,000.
Those who contribute $250,000 will receive tickets to a number of events over the celebration, including the swearing-in ceremony, the inaugural parade, and an exclusive luncheon with President Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney.
And they will receive tickets to one of the nine balls marking the inauguration.
While numerous, the number of balls is five shy of the record 14 balls held for Bill Clinton on the night of his second inauguration in 1997.
King for a day
But it's not just the balls and private dinners, for the inaugural attendee with money to burn, Washington hotels are offering pampering packages.
If you want to walk a mile in George Bush's shoes, you can stay at the Fairmont Hotel and buy their "President for 4 Days" package.
For a mere $10,000 (£5,350) a night, you get your own faux Secret Service detail, with two actors pretending to be your presidential body guards.
But if you really want an inaugural to remember, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is offering a four-night package for the princely sum of $200,500 (£107,300).
For that, private jet service will whisk you to Washington where you'll be met by your chauffeur-driven Maybach, super-luxury sedan.
When you're not dancing the night away at the inaugural balls, you can lounge in the 3,500 sq ft presidential suite with champagne and caviar served nightly at dusk.
Inaugural critics
But with the recent tsunami in the Indian Ocean and the ongoing war in Iraq, some think the expensive inaugural is an inappropriate, ostentatious display.
Washington DC police The city of Washington DC has been asked to pay security costs "Precedent suggests that inaugural festivities should be muted - if not cancelled - in wartime," New York Democrat Representative Anthony Weiner said in a letter to President Bush.
He noted the money could be used to buy 690 Humvees and pay for a $290 bonus for each soldier serving in Iraq.
And city officials in Washington are complaining that for the first time the city and not the US government is being asked to foot the bill for the security operations.
Some Republicans say that criticism of the inauguration is mere political partisanship and ask why there was no criticism of the cost of President Clinton's inaugurations.
Bill Clinton's first inauguration cost $30m, which was comparable to the inaugural costs of George HW Bush in 1989. His second inauguration cost $23.6m.
But a Washington Post-ABC News poll found that two-thirds of Americans think inaugural festivities should be scaled back, and that includes half of those who voted for President Bush and 80% of John Kerry's supporters.
President Bush defended the pomp and parties, saying in an interview with US network CBS: "You can be equally concerned about our troops in Iraq and those who suffered in the tsunami while celebrating democracy."
A lot of Americans let the media do their thinking.
Dear Whining LIberals and Limeys (both the same)
When you stop spending money for the Golden Globes, Oscars, for the Queen's ceremonial guard and palace(s) and for her bloody dumb June birthday celebration, we will reduce the grandeur of our ceremony equally. (with thanks to Rush's show today for that comment).
And just how much did the Brits drop for the Queen Mum on her 100th birthday bash, hmmmmm?
I say celebrate the hell out of this! Let the Losercrats piss & moan all they like, it will make the day that much sweeter for us!
Well at least he did not spend the money buying votes from blackmailers
I don't recall the legacy media ever criticizing the spending on Clinton's inaugural bash. The envy and bitterness from the libs in the press is like nothing I've ever seen. They can't stand the fact Bush will be around another four years. Its a fact of life they're simply going to have to get used to.
"Some have criticised the expense, questioning the propriety of a flashy celebration as US troops are dying in Iraq and South Asia still recovers from last month's deadly tsunami."
Ah, the dreaded and ubiquitous "Some".
Every time I see this usage (and it's frequent) I think it should actually read:
"Some (including those of us at this publiction who don't have the b*lls to say it outloud)...."
Oh, and I stand to be corrected but didn't the first Clinton inauguration go for $40 mil and the second about $35 mil?
I did not notice any decrease in the "glamour" at this year's Golden Globe Awards last week-end.
And I just bet that the Academy Awards will be as lavish as ever this year.
Hey, BBC--how much of Britians PUBLIC money is spent on keeping a well heeled, impotent monarchy in place every year? I believe much of President Bush's party is being done with private funding.
Geesh, give us a break. President Bush's first inaugural was not the usual high function, because we only had THREE WEEKS to prepare for it. This time we are well planned and ready to celebrate. Celebrate good times, alright! The dull dims can go sulk somewhere else.
Who paid for dumb Prince Harry's shirt?
I think the former president and his gang ought to pay back taxpayers for his trips to China and Africa with donors. They used 72 million of our money as I understand it. The list of Democrats was very long for China and it numbered about 1200. Africa was cheaper because only 900 Democrats went along. I understand they pulled military aircraft from Korea to carry the elitists baggage. When the media starts complaining and moaning about the party in Washington paid for by citizens, remind them about the Democrats being treated to trips on tax money. I would like the Clinton Democrats to pay that all back.
How is money 'wasted?' How many people in the hotel, service and amenities industries will make a good night's wages and tips because of these 'wastes' of money? Every penny spent on any of it will end up buying someone's services or products and get more economic activity underway. It's not like they're raking this money into a bonfire! To use tsunami survivors as a cover to pour water on a celebration of George Bush being re-elected is utter bilge.
The money is not going to Bush, or even to his benefit. It's being used to entertain the people who are giving the money. It's their money. They can spend it however they want.
I might suggest that for consistency, Hollywood should cancel the various awards ceremonies they sponsor and give the money to the troops. Why should anyone spend money on parties as long as there are American troops in Iraq?
Naff-off you bloody limeys!
Scrape 'em off! They wouldn't be satisfied no matter what Pres. Bush did or didn't do so who cares? They're all a bunch of pissy whiney jerks that don't warrant consideration. Viva La Bush!
Hey BBC, stick to your brown-shirt royalty.
Heard a couple of days ago that this $40 million is from private donations not public monies. Also, clintoon spent $33 million on his inauguration. So what's the big deal?
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