Price of Bush Inauguration Party Is Too Rich for Some -NYT

[Rose Siding]

Planners for President Bush's inauguration next month have scheduled a full lineup of exclusive parties and receptions for top Republican fund-raisers. But some of those V.I.P.'s say the perks come with a price tag they cannot afford.

Attending the entire slate of events during the three days of inauguration festivities could easily top $10,000 in tickets and other expenses for a fund-raiser bringing a spouse or guest. Some who helped bankroll the president's campaign, particularly young fund-raisers or those participating for the first time, are looking for ways to economize or are just planning to skip official events entirely.

"I still don't know what to do for the inauguration because of costs," said Bradley D. Wine, a 34-year-old Washington lawyer and first-time fund-raiser who brought in at least $100,000 for the Bush campaign. "I'll either get together with folks who are celebrating independent of the official events or observe from the sidelines."
...
"I worked hard on this and I want to celebrate like everyone else, but at a certain point you have to draw the line," Mr. Wine said. "I don't know that that's where we want to invest our money right now."
...
Slater Bayliss, a 28-year-old Florida lawyer who raised at least $50,000, said he was looking forward to the inauguration, which he called a "once- or twice-in-a-lifetime thing." But he is using a frequent flyer ticket to get to Washington and is likely to forgo the city's finer restaurants, and perhaps some inauguration events as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/31/politics/31money.html?oref=login

[indianablue]

1. I bet Slater Bayliss is spoiled rich kid...

These people make me very very ill

[bpilgrim]

18. "I don't know that that's where we want to invest our money right now."

too late, now we're ALL stuck with the THUGS for 4 more years :argh:

peace

[Liberty Belle]

2. Why don't they skip the ceremony

and donate whatever they COULD afford to spend to help the tsunami victims?

[NYC]

4. Because they are Republicans.

[Mz Pip]

7. Amen to that.

I seriously believe Bush could do wonders for himself in the eyes of the world community if he did just that.

But he won't because he's an arrogant cock sucker.


Mz Pip
:dem:

[Cooley Hurd]

21. We need to SHAME them into scaling back the inaugural!

Make it a simple ceremony on the south lawn of the WH, just like FDR did in 1945 (during WW2). I've heard that the cost of this year's inaugural is exceeding $40 mil! Take that money and help these people!!!:grr:

[noshenanigans]

3. boo frickety hoo

Oooohhh, no! The people that I helped fund with either my newfound/Daddy's wealth are turning their back on me! I never saw this coming! It seems like they only want me for my money!

What a shock.

[NYC]

6. I hope they realize they are only wanted for their money.

[dannynyc]

9. Do you think Rudy's figured out he's been used?

[NYC]

11. Hard to say. How much money does Rudy have now?

Just how badly "used" do you think he is? Mr. Millionaire is doing fine by my standards. He used as well as he got used.

[Raster]

14. Like Theresa Heinz-Kerry said, "they didn't have any problem with

my money when it was republican."

[VegasWolf]

5. ahh, poor baby. I'm crying alligator tears. n/t

[puddycat]

10. LOL I was thinking the same thing. Poooor babies. n/t

[arikara]

8. They wouldn't dream of toning down the farce

and donating 39 million to the tsunami victims, greedy pricks. Ah well, their karma will catch up with them.

[NYC]

12. When?

When will their karma catch up to them? I live for that moment.

[tsuki]

13. Sounds like some who thought they could buy into the

"glitterati" have now been marginalized.

Clampetts should know better than to aspire to be Carringtons. </sarcasm off>

[fshrink]

15. On that day, at that hour, I'll pay

special attention to go take a shit. I find this completely appropriate.

[DBoon]

16. Bradley D. Wine? Slater Bayliss?

What kind of yuppie finishing school do people come from with names like that?

[grace0418]

17. It's a fake presidency anyway

why not just have a fake party and send the money to Asia?

Oh, wait...

That's what people with a shred of decency would do, nevermind.

[zann725]

19. Pay for it with fake money! The U.S. Dollar's devalued almost that much!

Maybe no one would notice?

[Solly Mack]

20. Too poor to play but they aspire...oh, how they aspire

You'd think they'd get a clue. If their efforts had meant anything to their hero they would be welcomed guest.

[bklyncowgirl]

22. Awww, poor babies.

What did these low level wannabes think, that the GOP bigwigs actually wanted to hang out with them?

Given the fact that over 100,000 people just died in Asia and that more are sure to follow maybe just a slightly less expensive, less glittering approach to the coronation--er sorry--inauguration might just be the tasteful thing to do.

A little less "Let them eat cake" perhaps?

[Skittles]

23. they make me sick

nt

[tanyev]

24. Eyes starting to open?

Bradley and Slater, get a clue. If you can't afford these events, they really don't want you there.