ANY Inaugural Ball is obscenely wasteful

[franksumatra]

I didn't like it when Bill Clinton had his huge extravaganza balls either. I see it as a horrific waste of money when there are so many in need right here in America. And presidential libraries too, what a waste of money, when there are so many hungry kids.

But the Bush coronation ball is particularly obscene, with Iraq and the Tsunami Twin disasters. That money that they use for this ridiculous pomp and circumstance could be used to buy armor, or a new leg for a soldier, or help for a family who's lost a father in Iraq. It just ain't right.

[UL_Approved]

1. Just like a Roman celebration,

after the spoils of war are taken...

[franksumatra]

2. $25,000 buys you a front row position for the big parade

for big time bush donors. they have the best viewing spots for when the insane monkey president rolls by. but remember, don't look directly into the beast's eyes.

[sweetheart]

3. oh come on... parties are fun

The coronation with the barbarian hoardes screaming in bloodlust with
the chosen criminals looking on "their half" of america, is hardly
a party.

That said, you're dissing parties! Not political parties, but having
fun, enjoying, celibrating being alive and making a positive future for
ourselves and our children. I hope that all of us have a party that
night and ignore the coronation. Had the votes been counted proper,
surely we would all be in washington having a party, but ours different
in that it would not be exclusive to our own ilk.

The ugly racists and america-haters amongst this republican lot only
celibrate "their" victory, and view liberal america as the enemy.
We, in contrast, view ignorance, disease and poverty as the enemy,
not seeing the divisions the repukes are so fond of.

What is wrong with a party, why can't we dance? You sound like the
worst of the authoritarian left to poo poo all celibration. Surely
the problem on jan 20, is that there is nothing to celibrate as we're
surely looking at 4 more years of tyranny, war and crime.

[franksumatra]

4. 40 million for a one night party?

I've had many a party, some very wild, all for about $50. I think even the president could throw a helluva wing ding for under $50,000, don't you?

[muchacho]

5. good call

I say open bar and dancing to a DJ from 7pm to 2pm. Then go home and save Democracy...

[RC]

6. $50,000 wouldn't even cover the 15% gratuities for all the security

personnel he needs whenever he steps outside.

William Clinton went swimming in the crowds with only a few security around.

The crowd around bu$h are all his security personnel. You'd think he'd feel safer since getting such a huge mandate for his dirty work this past election. Guess not. Maybe there is some reality in his world. At some level he knows he really lost the election big time.

[sweetheart]

8. Ok then, your complaint is about the money, not a party

My inauguration would be a much more fun party, as we'd combine it
with a meal for every person in the USA who wanted to attend, a sorta
nationwide virtual party feeding the homeless, and a dance... and even
a ball for those who wanted to pay the fancy fee to visit the fancy
doo... but were i president, i'd be at the public party with the
homeless celibrating "regular" america.

I bet, at such a party, if it really was for the charity of all, that
we could even get some musicians to play!!! (real ones!) :-)

[franksumatra]

9. I wouldn't deny anyone their right to party

and yes, it's the money i find disgusting. a party that costs 40 million should logically go on for several years.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[AliciaKeyedUp]

11. It's not ONE party

Except of course for the Republican Party.

I have no idea how many of the silly inaugural balls going on around town, but there are a bunch. Then there's a parade, etc.

Let 'em have their party. Who cares?

There are a lot more important things in life than this.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. Tells you something about just how important the important

things are to some of these people....