Recession? What recession? The Bushes Buy Fine China for almost 1/2 a mil.

[I.A.S.K.]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

She was....I didnt know here...but she was pretty....

LOL! sad. poor woman.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by I.A.S.K.

LOL! sad. poor woman.

hey...she was standing there looking lost and stuff...what was I supposed to do?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

He didn't get to use the china.

Was that his point? Cool.

[DaemonSeid]

I was offered paper plates

[TexasWSP]

Originally Posted by I.A.S.K.

The dolt comment was unnecessary. You must be a dolt if you're trying to miss my point. I am talking about my opinion. In my opinion China was not the best purchase.

Clearly you're having a problem with terminology. When I said art what I meant was something along the lines of paintings, drawings, sculptures (and things of this like). Though I am well aware that China is considered by some to be an art form I do not count China as an art form. If you went to school to study art you probably wouldnt use China as a medium. Paints, clay, charcol, and photography, but not China.

Really? Really?? I don't have a problem with terminology at all. I'm not the one claiming that the 11,000 year old practice of taking Chinese CLAY (kaolin) and SCULPTING it into porcelain dishes isn't an art form.

...and for the record, I took three art history courses at Texas and all three spent significant time detailing Chinese art forms, specifically their perfection of plate making, bowls, platters, jugs, etc. etc. etc.

I've explained your first question at least three times. Its not about the actual China (or purchase) it is about the perception of said purchase.

In respect to the underlined sentence I think you might want to talk to your doctor because I think your meds are supposed to do the opposite. Maybe you need a stronger dose.


The bail-out was total crap.

It isn't because someone spent .5mil on CHINA (it applies to the China purchase because as I stated other purchases wouldn't have been a problem). It is because Mrs. Bush spent the money on china that Mr. Bush can seem less credible to some people. These people will most likely be the ones who do not value China as an art form and who consider the purchase money (whether donated or not) wasted in a time where the country is facing economic hardship and cannot afford to waste (that much) money.

Again, please tell me how Bush is "less credible" because private money was spent buying a gift for the White House.

Anyone who thinks that way is a moron. Plain and simple. How was the money "wasted"? It was given for a specific purpose. If they didn't use the private funds to buy china don't you think the money would revert back to the bank accounts of the people/organizations who donated it?

I mean sweet Jesus.......the country can't afford to waste "that much" money? "The country" isn't spending half a million dollars on China. A collection of wealthy individuals and private organizations are.

Isn't Black Jesus' inauguration running upwards of 150 million dollars?......and we're worried about plates? If memory serves me.....I remember there being an uproar when it was announced that W's 04' inauguration tabbed out at 40$ million.

[agzg]

OMG this thread almost made it out!

Damn!

[TexasWSP]

Sorry, I'm just intrigued by the damn China problem.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by TexasWSP

Sorry, I'm just intrigued by the damn China problem.

China doesn't have a problem

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Excerpt:

Among the ongoing political theater in Washington, questions swirled in the nation's capital today when first lady Laura Bush introduced the new Bush china -- with a price tag of more than $550,000 -- less than two weeks before she and President Bush move out.

The first lady was careful not to mention the price tag when she introduced the new presidential plates: one, a table set of formal china in white, green and gold; the other for the residence painted with magnolias in honor of the old trees outside the White House windows.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/s...6593323&page=1

The only good news is ... SUPPOSEDLY it's not being paid by our dollars, but I am sure that money could have gone a long way towards something else...

They can't make presidential styrofoam plates or sumn??????

Obama's inauguration may cost up to $150,000,000 and a $500,000 set of China is a problem? If anything its a very nice gesture by the Bush family.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

Obama's inauguration may cost up to $150,000,000 and a $500,000 set of China is a problem? If anything its a very nice gesture by the Bush family.

I mean we could always go cheap on the security and then, BLAM...some kook on the grassy knoll will give us another holiday.

Besides, with all the people in this area that's been here for the past few days spending their money to be here will somehow balance some of that out...

This isn't just a run of the mill inauguration that we have going on...but of course I won't expect some of you to see it that way.

Originally Posted by alphagamzetagam

OMG this thread almost made it out!

Damn!

It just wont die.


and add this article BTW

The total cost of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States will likely top $150 million by the time the galas and streamers and porta-pots are all cleaned up.

The reason it's hard to know how much this - or any of the other 55 presidential inaugurals - costs is that there's no one entity overseeing all of the related events. The $150 million is an estimate, and it is compiled from other estimates, so the figure is fluid.

But the nation's capital has been preparing for President-elect Barack Obama's arrival and one thing is for sure, the price tag for the celebration is going to be hefty.

The nation's capital is expecting more than 2 million people at the swearing-in ceremony, according to a letter from D.C. area leaders to the federal government. Transportation officials were expecting 10,000 charter buses to enter the District of Columbia, and the district's rail system - the Metro - expects more than 1 million riders.

All the parties: The Presidential Inaugural Committee, which is responsible for the events surrounding the actual ceremony, expects that its budget will run about $45 million, but could edge slightly higher, according to Linda Douglass, spokeswoman for the group.

Among the events sponsored by the committee are Tuesday's inaugural parade and 10 official inaugural balls. It has also paid the Smithsonian Institution $700,000 for its museums to remain open longer and handle the crowds on Inauguration Day.


**You may want to pay attention to this portion right here:

But the $45 million comes completely from private donations, not the government. The organization is not accepting funds from corporations or lobbyists, said Douglass. In addition to private individual donors, who can give a maximum of $50,000, the committee has been raising money by selling merchandise.

"The President-elect made very clear in the campaign and continued to emphasize that he is committed to ending business as usual and breaking the grip of the special interests," said Douglass.

The ceremony: The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has a budget of $1.24 million to pay for the actual swearing-in ceremony, according to spokeswoman Carole Florman.

The ceremony happens directly out in front of the U.S. Capitol. The budget, which is $10,000 less than the budget from the 2005 inauguration, is an appropriation, which means it is federal taxpayer money that has been set aside for the event.

http://biz.yahoo.com/cnnm/090119/011...osts.html?.v=3

I, as a taxpayer, knowing what kinda BS Obama has been thru to get elected would rather pay the money to see that tomorrow goes off without a hitch than not pay and have to pick up a paper Wednesday morning and see that some 'unknown assassin' has killed Obama and DC was on fire due to riots...which in the end will cost taxpayers more money...can you think what damage an extra 2 mil. to 5 mil. people in this area will do if some asshole kills the President tomorrow because security was lax?

[SWTXBelle]

To recap - the china was purchased by private donations, not tax money. The events of the inauguration are being paid for by private donations, not tax money. So - it's all good. Right?

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

To recap - the china was purchased by private donations, not tax money. The events of the inauguration are being paid for by private donations, not tax money. So - it's all good. Right?

Agreed!

And least we forget, every president leaves a set of china....... we knew this was coming so what is the big deal???

The Obamas will leave a set in either 4 or 8 years...

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

To recap - the china was purchased by private donations, not tax money. The events of the inauguration are being paid for by private donations, not tax money. So - it's all good. Right?

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

Agreed!

And least we forget, every president leaves a set of china....... we knew this was coming so what is the big deal???

The Obamas will leave a set in either 4 or 8 years...

Agreed - I have no problem with spending money on either of these things, especially since so much of the money is coming from private donations.

[I.A.S.K.]

Originally Posted by TexasWSP

Again, please tell me how Bush is "less credible" because private money was spent buying a gift for the White House.

Anyone who thinks that way is a moron. Plain and simple. How was the money "wasted"? It was given for a specific purpose. If they didn't use the private funds to buy china don't you think the money would revert back to the bank accounts of the people/organizations who donated it?

I mean sweet Jesus.......the country can't afford to waste "that much" money? "The country" isn't spending half a million dollars on China. A collection of wealthy individuals and private organizations are.

Isn't Black Jesus' inauguration running upwards of 150 million dollars?......and we're worried about plates? If memory serves me.....I remember there being an uproar when it was announced that W's 04' inauguration tabbed out at 40$ million.

Your inner AWP is comming out. You might want to reel that in a bit. Thanks.

ETA: SWTXBelle, Agreed.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by I.A.S.K.

Your inner AWP is comming out. You might want to reel that in a bit. Thanks.

ETA: SWTXBelle, Agreed.

AWP = Angry White Person?