Bush throws a party while soldiers struggle
The United States is at war. Soldiers are struggling to piece together proper armor, and the pricetag for maintaining troops in Iraq escalates at a rate of roughly $5 billion a month.
Let’s forget all those troubles for a moment. Let’s try and forget we have Warren County residents fighting for their lives in Iraq without the best equipment possible. George W. Bush is about to have a presidential inauguration that costs $40 million — an obscene waste of money during a time when the world-wide mood is anything but festive.
Bush’s four-day bash, which began last night and will stretch into Friday morning, comes equipped with all the pomp and pageantry of ice sculptures and champagne fountains. There are nine official balls and a concert where the Bush daughters will serve as hosts.
It should be emphasized that most of this exercise in lavishness is being funded by private donations, mainly from large corporations looking out for their best interests. Scores of energy, defense and pharmaceutical companies have been quick to donate up to $250,000, and we’re confident (wink, wink) they expect nothing in return.
In addition to the $40 million from private donations, an estimated $17.3 million in taxpayer dollars has been earmarked for security. After all, those extravagant balls and black-tie dinners must be heavily guarded.
Republicans may be quick to point to past presidential inaugurations and dismiss attacks on Bush’s $40 million bash as partisan politics, not poor character on the part of the current president.
President Clinton’s second inauguration did cost in the neighborhood of $30 million, and there’s no way to justify such expense. Just as Bush’s $40 million party is inexcusable, so was Clinton’s. And it doesn’t matter that private donations are being used. A waste of money is a waste of money, and this nation has far too many problems for our government to promote such spending.
But Bush’s inauguration expenses can be put under a more powerful microscope than Clinton’s because we are a country at war — a war in which Bush served as the primary cheerleader. He wanted to invade Iraq to rid the world of Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction. In doing so, 1,355 U.S. soldiers have died and another 10,372 have been wounded, some horribly wounded.
War time presidential inaugurations have traditionally been mundane. President Roosevelt’s inauguration in 1945 was held during World War II and his guests were treated to chicken salad, pound cake, and a brief speech.
President Wilson did not have any parties during his 1917 inauguration. It was held during World War I and Wilson said a celebration at such a time would be undignified.
Bush apparently isn’t concerned with his dignity, or the safety of the men and women he sent to Iraq. While they are welding makeshift armor onto the side of their Humvees with the hope it may save their life, the president can sip cocktails and dance the night away. What a way to lead by example.
Having the grandest presidential inauguration in U.S. history is certainly within Bush’s right. The money has been given to him and he is free to do use it as he sees fit.
But it’s a telling sign our president cares more about pretentious parties that inflate his ego than he cares about human life. While thousands of U.S. soldiers are sleeping on sand, fearing for their safety, and praying for better body armor, President Bush can throw one heck of a party.