AP: Bush’s $42 million was “extravagant” but Obama’s $160 million is “optimism”
By Brian Kirwin | Monday, January 19th, 2009 | Catch-AllDoes the Associated Press care how biased they are? 4 years ago, AP writer Will Lester wrote of Bush’s Inaugural. He included the quote “As a country, we face huge deficits. We face a declining economy. We have service people dying…Start by canceling your inauguration parties and festivities.”
Bush’s Inaugural cost $42 million.
Obama’s estimated costs are upwards of $160 million. Does the AP write any criticisms? Is the economy astonishingly better now?
AP is applauding B-fest. “Optimism is good for times like these. Just say you’re doing it to help the economy,” writes the AP.
“Can you get away with glitzing it up and still be appropriate, not to mention comfortable and financially viable? To quote the man of the hour: Yes, you can.”
Does anyone even care anymore? Has there been a TIME magazine cover without Obama’s picture?
No wonder Democrats aren’t pushing the Fairness Doctrine. The AP would be shut down.
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About the author
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
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7 Responses to "AP: Bush’s $42 million was “extravagant” but Obama’s $160 million is “optimism”"
I almost got caught up in the inaugural mess. I made a delivery just a few miles east of DC in Upper Marlboro, MD Saturday evening. I had to come in on I-66 and around the beltway about mid day. Traffic was already much heavier then usual considering it was during the weekend.
There was no freight available to get me out of there until sometime today (Monday), and I was not going to sit around waiting to participate in the anticipated traffic gridlock. I just decided I would deadhead home. Let some other truck driver be the hero that keeps the freight moving in that mess.
my understanding of those figures is that Bush’s inauguration cost of $42M did not include security costs and the Obama $160M does. if that is factored in I think the totals are pretty close but need to do more research on this one.
on a side note, I did attend and thought it was an amazing event. never have been surrounded by more people in my life. my favorite part was singing along with Mary J Blige during Lean On Me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT9zWdkQsTk
I cut and pasted this from one of the many articles that did the actual math on what Bush’s 2005 inauguration cost. What I haven’t found yet is who payed for Bush’s party, whereas Obama’s people have been very up front with where they’re getting their money.
–The cost of festivities surrounding Barack Obama’s historic inauguration on Tuesday as the 44th president of the United States has been estimated at $40 million dollars, according to The Associated Press.
According to the US Office of Management and the Budget, the federal government has allocated another $49 million for administrative aspects of the inauguration, including $15 million for increased security.
The private 432-member Presidential Inaugural Committee is in charge of raising the funds to cover the cost of the inaugural parade, more than half a dozen balls, the opening ceremonies leading up to the swearing-in and giant TV screens on the National Mall which will be open to the public during an inauguration for the first time.
The committee has put a $50,000 cap on individual donations.
Mr Obama’s inauguration is expected to be the most expensive in US history. In 1993, private Americans spent $33 million on Bill Clinton’s inauguration, and President Bush’s friends raised $42.3 million for his second inauguration in 2005.
The federal government and the District of Columbia spent $115.5 million on administration and security for both events.–
That’s nothing. How about $1 million for buses out of Virginia’s economic contingency fund? A gift from Chairman Kaine to his BFF Barack. http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/TRAF20GAT_20090119-183806/182569/
Does the Associated Press care how biased they are?
I’ll go with no.
Nero fiddled while Rome burned – Let them eat cake . . . party on.
Man this site has really gone downhill. Will all of you please growup and try and do some factchecking and quit regugitaing the latest crap talknig point..
The numbers are different because Bush didn’t include security
Virginia is going to be compensated for the 1 million.
Jeez
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