1.20.2005
What tsunami? Oh. And screw you, D.C.
Check out the full list of inauguration *cough* coronation *cough* overspending here, but this is a taste of the financial breakdown that the the Center for American Progress put together:
$40 million: Cost of Bush inaugural ball festivities, not counting security costs.
$2,000: Amount FDR spent on the inaugural in 1945 -- about $20,000 in today's dollars.
400: Pounds of lobster provided for "inaugural feeding frenzy" at the exclusive Mandarin Oriental hotel.
3,000: Number of "Laura Bush Cowboy cookies" provided for "inaugural feeding frenzy" at the Mandarin hotel.
$15,000: The down payment to rent a fur coat paid by one gala attendee who didn't want the hassle of schlepping her own through the airport.
$1: Amount per guest President Carter spent on snacks for guests at his inaugural parties. To stick to a tight budget, he served pretzels, peanuts, crackers and cheese and had cash bars.
200: Number of Humvees outfitted with top-of-the-line armor for troops in Iraq that could have been purchased with the amount of money blown on the inauguration.
22 million: Number of children in regions devastated by the tsunami who could have received vaccinations and preventive health care with the amount of money spent on the inauguration.
1,160,000: Number of girls who could be sent to school for a year in Afghanistan with the amount of money lavished on the inauguration.
26,000: Number of Kevlar vests for U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan that could be purchased for $40 million.
66: Percentage of Americans who think this over-the-top inauguration should have been scaled back.
Worst part of all, though? That the administration is forcing broke-as-a-joke District of Columbia to foot the bill for security. To be precise, that total is $17 mil.
Payback perhaps? Seeing as how only 9% of D.C. voters cast their ballots for Bush in 2004. I doubt it. I couldn't imagine this administration being that petty....
Labels: Politics
Anonymous at 2:22 PM
