D_Raay
01-10-2005, 01:28 PM
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1386231,00.html
Bush 'the king' blows $50m on coronation
President's lavish inauguration is 'obscene' when US troops are dying in Iraq war, say critics.
It will be one of the biggest parties in American history, but half of the country will be left out. With a price tag of up to $50 million, President George W Bush's inauguration in 11 days' time will be an unashamed celebration of Red America's victory over Blue America in last November's election.
It is going to be the most expensive, most security-obsessed event in the history of Washington DC. An army of 10,000 police, secret service officers and FBI agents will patrol the capital for four days of massive celebrations that some critics have derided as reminiscent of the lavish shindigs thrown by Louis XIV, France's extravagant Sun King.
The fighting in Iraq has provoked calls for the celebrations to be toned down, as they were during the two world wars when some were even cancelled. Bush's second inauguration will be the first in wartime since President Richard Nixon took office in 1969 during the Vietnam conflict.
Yet the partying is being intensified. The Commander-in-Chief's Ball is being hailed by organisers as a fitting tribute to American soldiers on active service. More than 2,000 troops and their partners, selected by the Pentagon, will take part. Most have served in Iraq or Afghanistan or are about to go there. The parades will have a stronger than normal military theme.
The $50m bill is mostly being paid by private donations from people and firms currying political favour. With a strict ban on large single donations to active political campaigns, the inauguration offers a rare chance for companies and individuals to lavish large sums of money on the President and his party simultaneously.
The big donors are split into 'underwriters', who stumped up $250,000 each, and 'sponsors', who merely shelled out $100,000. Both gain access to a variety of events that will be attended by Bush. The donors are a familiar roster of Republican supporters and big business. They include firms in the President's former business, oil, such as Exxon Mobil and ChevronTexaco, former Enron president Richard Kinder and Texas oil baron Boone Pickens, who also gave $500,000 to the anti-John Kerry campaign of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
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I wonder what our soldiers would think if they knew of this? They don't have proper equipment to fight "the King's" bloody war with, but 50 million can be raised for a week of partying.
What will be the final straw for this administration? I'm certainly there, what will it take for everyone else?
Anyone aware of the "doomsday" bill that was just passed that effectively puts the powers of Congress into a select few's hands in the event of an emergency situation?
Anyone aware that Bush recently said that he would not listen or hear any news from Iraq that was "bad news"?
Bush 'the king' blows $50m on coronation
President's lavish inauguration is 'obscene' when US troops are dying in Iraq war, say critics.
It will be one of the biggest parties in American history, but half of the country will be left out. With a price tag of up to $50 million, President George W Bush's inauguration in 11 days' time will be an unashamed celebration of Red America's victory over Blue America in last November's election.
It is going to be the most expensive, most security-obsessed event in the history of Washington DC. An army of 10,000 police, secret service officers and FBI agents will patrol the capital for four days of massive celebrations that some critics have derided as reminiscent of the lavish shindigs thrown by Louis XIV, France's extravagant Sun King.
The fighting in Iraq has provoked calls for the celebrations to be toned down, as they were during the two world wars when some were even cancelled. Bush's second inauguration will be the first in wartime since President Richard Nixon took office in 1969 during the Vietnam conflict.
Yet the partying is being intensified. The Commander-in-Chief's Ball is being hailed by organisers as a fitting tribute to American soldiers on active service. More than 2,000 troops and their partners, selected by the Pentagon, will take part. Most have served in Iraq or Afghanistan or are about to go there. The parades will have a stronger than normal military theme.
The $50m bill is mostly being paid by private donations from people and firms currying political favour. With a strict ban on large single donations to active political campaigns, the inauguration offers a rare chance for companies and individuals to lavish large sums of money on the President and his party simultaneously.
The big donors are split into 'underwriters', who stumped up $250,000 each, and 'sponsors', who merely shelled out $100,000. Both gain access to a variety of events that will be attended by Bush. The donors are a familiar roster of Republican supporters and big business. They include firms in the President's former business, oil, such as Exxon Mobil and ChevronTexaco, former Enron president Richard Kinder and Texas oil baron Boone Pickens, who also gave $500,000 to the anti-John Kerry campaign of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
---
I wonder what our soldiers would think if they knew of this? They don't have proper equipment to fight "the King's" bloody war with, but 50 million can be raised for a week of partying.
What will be the final straw for this administration? I'm certainly there, what will it take for everyone else?
Anyone aware of the "doomsday" bill that was just passed that effectively puts the powers of Congress into a select few's hands in the event of an emergency situation?
Anyone aware that Bush recently said that he would not listen or hear any news from Iraq that was "bad news"?