posted January 17, 2005 09:39 PM            

These BBBs made the argument that in a time of war, with our soldiers dying in Iraq, enormous and growing human casualties from Iraq to South Asia, it would be an expression of respect to cool off the often-garish festivities and use the $40 million or more to help those in need.

There was actually some support in the White House for this view, but "the Texans prevailed," said a participant. However, one Texan who dissented from Dallas way was Mark Cuban, owner of the Mavericks and a strong Bush voter. He thought the Tsunami catastrophe should warrant such a sobering decision.

Some of Bush's defenders on Talk Radio called to say that since the millions of dollars are coming from private sources, what's the big deal? First, it is costing almost that much again in federal and District of Columbia police, helicopters, surveillance staff and other requirements of the Inaugural security state. Second, and more consequential, this private or corporate money is a very costly deal for regular Americans who don't get their calls returned.

It is not that these Americans are asked to contribute. Not while the corporate fat cats are falling all over themselves writing out $100,000 to $250,000 checks to the Bush bash. In return these companies get favors, privileges, tax breaks, subsidies, lax law enforcement for which the people pay dearly in health, safety and economic burdens. But then with Bush it has always been about Big Business.

An example is the atomic power industry that wants Bush to give them huge taxpayer dollars to create the next generation of nuclear plants and freeze out the public even more from challenging their location and emergency standards. So John E. Kane, the industry lobbyist, says that its $100,000 donation is a way of supporting the President.

The Washington Post summarized this cash register politics: "Wall Street investment firms seeking to profit from private Social Security accounts; oil, gas and mining companies pushing the White House to revive a stalled energy-subsidy bill; and hotels and casinos seeking an influx of immigrant labor are among the 44 interests that have each given $250,000 and the 66 that have donated $100,000 to $225,000. And the money keeps pouring in."

Corporations are free to give as much as they want to the Inaugural, unlike elections where they are prohibited from direct contributions (there are many indirect ways, of course). The Bush people placed a top limit of $250,000 to restrain those straining to add more for this lavish potlatch.

No industry has benefited more monetarily from George W. Bush than the drug companies. So they are reciprocating for all those massive taxpayer subsidies, government research, and weaker regulations for which they are so indebted.

Ameriquest, a mortgage company working the high interest fields of minority neighborhoods, got around the $250,000 limit by adding another $500,000 from its two subsidiaries. This company wants weaker federal pre-emption of tougher laws that states have been passing against predatory lending.

There is another contract that is unsavory in this modern version of Marie Antoinette's "let them eat cake" posture. In the next few days, there will be reports leaking about the forthcoming Bush Budget. They will describe how those most in need and all Americans who require good public services and safety will see such programs further reduced. These will include environmental, transportation, health, poverty, housing and other essential services.

Already Bush intends to end a rural housing program and other anti-poverty efforts, while giving more money to the staggeringly wasteful and often misdirected Defense and Homeland Security Budgets.

For all the excess, one might think that regular Americans at least would be able to sit in the bleachers. Sure, just fork over $100 to $150 dollars and prove you're a Bush partisan and you'll be there.

The merchants naturally are taking full advantage of this invasion by the grasping affluent. Hotels are marking up room prices. The good ones go for $2000 a night. For those willing to pay more, the Ritz-Carlton offers a four day $150,000 package starting with private jet transportation from wherever for the couple, caviar and Dom Perignon 24 hours a day and endless other perks.

Want to rent a fur coat? That'll be $15,000 down for a deposit (presumably to be returned) plus the rental. "No problem," said one visitor who did not what his own fur coat to go through the hassle at the airport, reports public radio.

When will the organized people be heard from?

For more information, visit www.citizenworks.org

posted January 19, 2005 06:48 AM              

But karmically speaking, we all know what happened to the "Let them eat cake," girl, Marie Antionette!!!

They say history repeats itself...

Let's just bide our time.....

posted January 19, 2005 06:51 AM              

But karmically speaking, we all know what happened to the "Let them eat cake," girl, Marie Antionette!!!

They say history repeats itself...

Let's just bide our time.....

posted January 20, 2005 11:16 AM              

NERO

posted January 21, 2005 01:04 PM            

I hope you have a great weekend too.

---------------
Published on Thursday, January 20, 2005 by the Capital Times / Madison, Wisconsin
Buying a Piece of George Bush
Editorial

AT&T, Bank of America Corp., Boeing, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Corp., ChevronTexaco and Exxon Mobil Corp. and FedEx Corp.

Ford Motor Co., Home Depot, Lockheed-Martin Corp., Marriott International, Marriott Vacation Club International, Microsoft and Northrup Grumman.

Occidental Petroleum Co., Oracle, Pfizer Inc., Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., Time Warner, United Parcel Service, United Technologies and Wachovia Corp.

What do all these major corporations have in common?

Two things:

First, they are some of the firms that are chipping in "contributions" of $100,000 to $250,000 to cover the cost of President Bush's second inaugural party.

Second, they are firms that have a special interest in being on the good side of the Bush administration.

Many are the largest players in heavily regulated industries that are defined by government decisions and, in the case of pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb, have benefited tremendously from the laxness of the Bush administration's approach. Others, such as defense contractors Boeing and Lockheed-Martin, would be shadows of themselves without lucrative government contracts. Still others, such as energy firms ChevronTexaco, Exxon Mobil and Occidental Petroleum, are aching to get a piece of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

And they may get it.

After all, with their hefty checks, they have bought a piece of Bush.

While these corporations are prevented under campaign finance laws from contributing to candidates during the election campaign, they are not prevented from giving huge amounts to pay for the inaugural festivities.

Mercer Reynolds, the Bush campaign fund raiser who has been hustling bucks to cover the cost of today's party, says collecting cash for the inaugural is "a separate kind of sale."

Perhaps that is true. But the same product is still for sale: the policies, programs and federal contracts that the Bush administration so obviously peddles in return for campaign and inaugural party bribes, er, contributions.

posted January 21, 2005 03:11 PM            

Maybe you could research how much is spent on the inaugural balls over the past 40 years, along with the amount provided from various corporations and foreign entities and then we can come to a conclusion about who the fat cats really are.

posted January 22, 2005 12:50 AM            

My weight challenged cat, Phoebe, tells me that it offends her..LOL..to be compared to rich people in Washington. She can't help that she is fat..and she says..that she is just big boned...

LOL...Fat felines of America are rebelling..they want the rich political peeps of this country to be called the "fat dogs" LMAO..