presidential inauguration
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runaroundsue
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 Posted: 01/13/05 - 11:39 Post subject: presidential inauguration
Too expensive????
I usually don't listen to his show, but he was on while taking my son to swim practice and I caught a little of Michael Savage. Savage was outraged at the cost that Bush was spending. I guess when he stated that Laura's dress was $10k I thought it was a little over the top, but then he said that one of the twins dress was also $10k!!! I have to admit, it got me going!
I know alot of the costs were in place, before Tsunami relief, the lack of clothing for our injured soldiers was not. However, I can even overlook those facts when some callers did say "we can have and expensive inauguration and provide $$ to other causes"
But, the way I look at it is like this......it IS his second oath......did it/should have been such a big deal?? Reminds me too much of the FDR dynasty. I do think that the entire event should have had a "toned" down effect. I actually can't believe that daddy Bush would not have advised it.
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 11:45 Post subject:
Is Bush spending public money, or personal?
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 12:29 Post subject:
| Pug wrote: | | Is Bush spending public money, or personal? |
I believe that it from "sponsors", I'm not sure. I believe that was another arguement that a caller had "it's his money, he can do what he wants"
this seemed to make Savage more angry. Does it matter? Even "if" it came right out of GWB's pocket. Does it make a difference? I suspect even the dress thing, de la Renta probably donated the $10k dress.
I don't know. A part of me would have had more respect if GWB made a decision to make a big public display of the oath and pretty much said "back to work" instead of a big lavish shindig--even if it meant sort of like slighting the uppercrust.
Most of me agreed with Michael Savage's message and I'm sure Savage doesn't go out of his way to lash out at Bush. But his message about our soldiers in hospital beds in blue nightgowns not having clothes to be released unless that pay for them, hit me right in the heart. I'm sure that is what he meant to do, but the message was strong and it went against Savage's "normal" leanings.
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sonnylax
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 12:31 Post subject:
Most of the money is coming from private donations. (A key fact often omitted from reports in the news.)
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 12:35 Post subject:
| sonnylax wrote: | | Most of the money is coming from private donations. (A key fact often omitted from reports in the news.) |
But wouldn't you rather those private donations go somewhere more meaningful than Laura and Jenna's wardrobe? I would, but I guess the great thing about your own private money is you can do whatever you want with it, even if it does seem frivolous. 
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 12:38 Post subject:
On the contrary, Sonny. It's pretty well-known that it's private donations that put this shindig on, and guarantee decent access to Pennsylvania Ave. during the parade. Even that bastion of leftism, NPR, reports it as such.
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 13:02 Post subject:
| sonnylax wrote: | | Most of the money is coming from private donations. (A key fact often omitted from reports in the news.) |
I don't think it's been omitted, and Clinton's party was pretty close in price, with inflation, maybe the same---but it was a new President, new party and I can let it go a bit. Private donations or not, like I said, let them donate for a big street party.....whatever......not the private shindig (but of course, that's what the contributors want in return right?)
I bought a inauguration tshirt....not sure if I'll wear it. I do feel hurt that George hasn't said or committed to something less grand, or even a postponement of the grand theme. I guess I expected something grand "no special party until our soldiers come home". I know, I expect too much....I just can't get the image of the fallen soldier that Savage put in my head. Life goes on.
this article does list some actual taxpayers costs. i guess anyone that has put on a 5k race can relate to some of the costs.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- It will take President Bush less than a minute to take the oath of office next Thursday, but before the inaugural events are over some $40 million may be spent on parades, parties and pyrotechnics.
And that doesn't include the costs of the most intense security operation in inaugural history.
The amount spent on this year's festivities will rival the $40 million raised to celebrate Bush's first inauguration in 2001, and will exceed the $33 million spent by President Clinton in 1993 when Democrats returned to the White House for the first time in 12 years.
While the partying is being paid for privately, there have been some mutterings about the scale of the celebrations at a time of war and natural disaster.
Money for the celebratory activities is being raised by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, which as of the end of last week had received $18 million, much in six-figure donations from wealthy supporters and corporate sponsors.
Among the dozens of $250,000 donors are Home Depot, Bank of America Corp., Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ford Motor Co. Kevin Sheridan, a spokesman for the committee, said the fund-raisers were confident they would reach their goals. Sales of inaugural memorabilia, another source of revenue, have been even better than in 2001, he said.
The big donors are rewarded with a variety of inaugural packages, including meetings with political VIPs, tickets to the swearing-in ceremony and parade, and hard-to-get entry into the official inaugural balls and dinners.
The events begin Tuesday with a salute to the troops and a youth concert. On Wednesday there will be a celebration on the Ellipse, including a fireworks show, and three candlelight dinners.
On Thursday afternoon, after Bush takes the oath of office at the Capitol, some 11,000 people will take part in a parade from the Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue, to the White House. That night there will be nine official balls.
Bleacher seats for the parade cost $15, $60 and $125 apiece, while a ticket to a ball -- with the exception of one ball for military personnel, which is free -- runs $150.
The office of the first lady said Laura Bush will personally pay for her outfits to inaugural events, which include gowns designed by Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera and Peggy Jennings.
"Precedent suggests that inaugural festivities should be muted -- if not canceled -- in wartime," Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y. wrote Bush on Tuesday.
Eight congressional Democrats from the Washington area on Wednesday wrote another letter to the president complaining of what they said was the unfair financial burden being imposed on the District of Columbia.
D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams has estimated it will cost the district $17.3 million to help pay for security at the first post-Sept. 11 inauguration, which includes 6,000 law officers and 2,500 military personnel to guard the 250,000 people at the swearing-in and the half-million expected to line the parade route.
Williams, in a letter last month to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, said he can use $5.4 million from a fund for special events in the capital, but the other $11.9 million will have to come from the city's federal homeland security budget.
The expenses, Williams said, include $5.3 million in overtime costs for police officers and $2.9 million to cover logistics costs, such as transportation, lodging, box lunches, water and granola bars.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, which is responsible for the swearing-in ceremony, has $1.25 million to handle various production costs, such as staffing and printing, as well as catering and flowers for the luncheon in the Capitol following the oath of office.
The Architect of the Capitol also has a budget of $2.8 million as part of a construction project to spruce up the West Front of the Capitol, where the ceremonies will take place.
Inauguration day, with its street closings and heightened security, will also be a holiday for federal workers in the Washington area. That, according to the Office of Personnel Management, costs taxpayers an estimated $66 million.
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genie
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 13:03 Post subject:
| runaroundsue wrote: |
I suspect even the dress thing, de la Renta probably donated the $10k dress.
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This is the kind of stuff that I wonder if is reported accurately. That's like saying "runaroundsue wore a $10K dress to X function", omitting the part that it was borrowed from Gogirl and didn't actually cost anything out of the event budget, although the retail price of the dress was in fact $10K. I hate this nonsense.
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sonnylax
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 13:29 Post subject:
| cherylpf wrote: |
But wouldn't you rather those private donations go somewhere more meaningful than Laura and Jenna's wardrobe? I would, but I guess the great thing about your own private money is you can do whatever you want with it, even if it does seem frivolous. |
Yep, you got it. If everyone in this country stopped worrying about other people's money, we would all be better off in the long run. My 
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sonnylax
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 13:32 Post subject:
| Gogirlgo wrote: | | On the contrary, Sonny. It's pretty well-known that it's private donations that put this shindig on, and guarantee decent access to Pennsylvania Ave. during the parade. Even that bastion of leftism, NPR, reports it as such. |
A few days ago I heard one quick report on local TV that mentioned the high cost of the inauguration & all the expensive parties. It didn't bring up the fact that private donations were funding a vast majority of the events, etc.
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 13:41 Post subject:
| sonnylax wrote: | | Most of the money is coming from private donations. (A key fact often omitted from reports in the news.) |
| sonnylax wrote: | | I heard one quick report on local TV that...didn't bring up the fact that private donations were funding a vast majority of the events, etc. |
I think it's a mistake to surmise information on all news outlets from one report.
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camelia bedelia
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 14:35 Post subject:
I think it is insane. And YES I would still think that if it was Kerry’s inauguration. People are starving here in our very own country and millions upon millions are being spent for a party. I find it all disgusting.
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phillycat
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 14:41 Post subject:
| camelia bedelia wrote: | | I think it is insane. And YES I would still think that if it was Kerry’s inauguration. People are starving here in our very own country and millions upon millions are being spent for a party. I find it all disgusting. |
I completely agree.
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 14:48 Post subject:
| camelia bedelia wrote: | | I think it is insane. And YES I would still think that if it was Kerry’s inauguration. People are starving here in our very own country and millions upon millions are being spent for a party. I find it all disgusting. |
But, even with Kerry, it would have been a "changing of the guard" and I would want him to keep it low, i would certainly feel that his "party" should feel like a party.
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cherylpf
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Posted: 01/13/05 - 14:53 Post subject:
| runaroundsue wrote: |
But, even with Kerry, it would have been a "changing of the guard" and I would want him to keep it low, i would certainly feel that his "party" should feel like a party. |
Even still though, reading about the WWII "war effort" and the sacrifices that were made country wide in the name of patriotism and support of our troops and the war, it would have been considered ostentatious to have a lavish party and drop $10,000, gift or no, on a party dress while the boys were still overseas fighting. Its a very different war, economy, political environment, etc, that we're in right now, however, I wish more of that mentality were present today, just respect. I'm probably reading too much into it all.
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