Should We Pay For The Second Inauguration

[rsmith6621]

Should any President Democrat or Repug recieve a second GALA filled Inaugural Ball as well as a full fare swearing in ceromony on the steps of the US Capitol at the expense of the taxpayers...

[imenja]

1. to be fair

I don't think we are, at least not the bulk of it. Bush's corporate cronies have donated much of the money. Tax payers, of course, pay for Secret Service and likely other aspects of the celebration as well.
Anyway, I voted no. The idea of spending $40 million on something like that when we have unprecedented deficits is thoroughly revolting.

[bipolarity1]

2. It's privately funded.

Homeland security (DC) will pay for security.

[rsmith6621]

3. Homeland Secuity

Recieves their funding VIA the US Taxpayers.......I think if the prez wants a second GALA the whole tab ought to be on him.....from the cost of peanuts to security......This goes for DEM and REP.

[Skittles]

7. BULL

HOMELAND SECURITY IS TAXPAYER MONEY

[Sparkly]

8. "DC Getting Burned for Bush's Party"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2226-2005Jan11.html

D.C. Getting Burned for Bush's Party

By Courtland Milloy
Wednesday, January 12, 2005; Page B01

Let's see if I've got this straight: The Bush White House is planning to hold the most expensive presidential inauguration in U.S. history, in the midst of a war in Iraq and in the aftermath of a disaster that has the world in mourning, and the administration wants the District to help pay for the spectacle -- by diverting federal money from the city's homeland security budget, no less.

Surely, the Bush administration couldn't be that thoughtless. Could it?

"This administration is trying, belatedly, to tighten its financial belt," Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), told me yesterday. "Having spent the country into a dangerous deficit through tax cuts for the wealthy and the invasion of another country, they're trying to pinch pennies wherever they can."

Just four years ago, this same George W. Bush managed to pay for his inauguration without picking the District's pocket, just as every other newly elected president had done for 200 years. Then again, that was before the nation's $2 trillion surplus disappeared.

[orpupilofnature57]

4. "Small potatoes" compared to the cost of shrubs second term.

[Eric J in MN]

5. Either we should pay for it, or there should be no parties.

The current system of coporations paying thousands for parties is corrupting.

[msgadget]

6. It's a tradition so let's just provide security and

get through the day. As long as we aren't paying for the parties it's worth the price of security to keep the Capitol in one piece.

Does anyone remember how pissed the other side was during Clinton's? There was so much noise against him I can't recall anything specific to his inaugurals.