A lot of columnists and politicians are saying that the President is showing bad tatse by having an opulent inauguration when our troops are dying, pointing to FDR’s more somber and subdued inauguration. Bullhockey, say the critics of the critics–FDR’s ceremony was more somber and subdued becasue he was going to be dead in a couple of weeks. Besides, there’s no indication that other wartime Presidents reigned in the celebrations. Madison started the tradition of having a ball at his first inaguration, and it was such a hit his second one during the War of 1812 was even more extravagant. The counter to that, I suppose, is just because other Presidents have had celebratory inaugurations didn’t make it right. Besides, in some instances, like Lincoln’s second inuaguration, the end of the war in question was in sight and we arguably had something worth celebrating.
Me, I don’t know. However, I suspect that many of the people condemning Bush would be defending Kerry had he won for doing the exact same thing, and many of the people now defending Bush would be lambasting Kerry (nobody here, though. Y’all are all right. ;)). What say ye?
If you’re running a war and a record deficit and are trying to convince the populace that there’s a social security “crisis” that needs to be fixed RIGHT NOW, a big, flashy, expensive inaugural sorta undercuts the message, IMO.
Especially when you’re stiffing the city of DC for the bill…
For what it’s worth, a poll in this CNN story says 54% of those polled said that festivities should be toned down because of the war. The President doesn’t come off as the type of guy who’s easily dissuaded from taking the action he believes to be appropriate, though.
I made a sloppy mistake in thinking that the inaugeral balls and whatnot were frivolous in time of war, in a pit thread on the same subject. I was surprised to learn that it is not a US tradition to tone down the festivities in times of war. Lincoln, for example, held balls during the US Civil War.
Frankly, I don’t know. Never thought much about it, until now. There’s never been a US President inaugerated in my lifetime that made me feel like dancing. Is that the criteria?
Personally, I think the money spent could be better spent on relief for tsunami victims and US troops injured in the ongoing conflict in Iraq.
Just my opinion though, and I have no basis for judging how I might feel should my chosen candidate have been chosen as the next President-elect.