Village Voice: Capital Preps For Coronation

[babylonsister]

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In a few days, the unhappy news from South Asia will be forgotten as George W. Bush opens the inaugural festivities in what amounts to a Republican silver jubilee here. It's been 25 years since Ronald Reagan stormed into Washington at the head of the New Right conservative movement, which in succeeding years laid the foundation for Bush Junior's rule.
Meanwhile the tsunami catastrophe already is being muted by Indonesia's announcement that its economy won't be badly affected, and reports that tourists are returning to South Asian beaches. Doctors Without Borders is saying it does not need more money for its tsunami relief efforts—a sign that Americans are not stingy and that we don't have to give anymore.

Washington is well prepared to meet tens of thousands of well-heeled Red Staters in an atmosphere that resembles a West Point ball. The nation is at war, and it makes for a fine theme. Revelers will be protected by thousands of police officers, undercover and uniformed federal and local cops overseen by the Secret Service. In past years the marching bands and units from the military academies were the highlight of the inaugural procession. This year, the military splendor is to be enhanced by a special ball designated to celebrate America's fighting men and women. more

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