35$ Million for Bush Coronation (excluding security) and other interesting facts

[Sprafa]

Planned are nine official balls, a youth concert, a parade, a fireworks display and, of course, Bush's second swearing-in ceremony at noon on Jan. 20. The cost will be between $30 million and $40 million, an amount that does not include expenses for security

hmm...about the same they're sending to Asia right now...as a supposed "initial package" ... :O

Finally, Muslims see Americans as strangely narcissistic -- namely, that the war is all about us. As the Muslims see it, everything about the war is -- for Americans -- really no more than an extension of American domestic politics and its great game. This perception is of course necessarily heightened by election-year atmospherics, but nonetheless sustains their impression that when Americans talk to Muslims they are really just talking to themselves.

no comment

wait, there's more!

The new Intelligence reform bill will create a national ID card by federalizing driver's licenses. The Intel bill also creates a "Civil Liberties Board" charged with investigating whether the new legislation adversely affects civil rights. It has no subpoena power and is subordinate to the NID, the President and the Attorney General.

It extends the powers of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allowing the overturn of the "probable cause" provision of the 4th Amendment in the investigation of terror suspects. Now the law has been expanded to include a "lone wolf" provision; supposedly aimed at an individual terrorist acting without the support of a foreign government. In fact, the purpose of the new provision is to allow unlimited surveillance of any American without the hassle of having to prove even the "remotest" connection to organized terror or a foreign government. It is a "blank check" for law enforcement to eschew all privacy laws without fear of reprimand. It is the end of the 4th amendment.

More importantly, if someone is arrested (as was the case with 1200 Muslims after 9-11) as a terrorist suspect, he can be refused bail and IMPRISONED INDEFINITLY WITHOUT CHARGES. The moniker of "terrorist" trumps the underlying principle of American jurisprudence, that is, the "presumption of innocence" Now, prisoners will have to prove that they aren't guilty; a difficult prospect when there is no process in place to challenge the terms of their detention. Consider the comments of Judge Antonin Scalia in this regard: "The very core of liberty secured by our Anglo-Saxon system of separated powers has been freedom from indefinite imprisonment at the will of the Executive."

Last one is biased (tried to cut it, decided not to half-way), but still gives a few interesting facts

 

[Edcrab]

If you have money, flaunt it, as they say Thinking of interesting stats, the "developed world" spends many billions* on entertainment each year (but note that the figure is an approximation that apparently takes in everything from holidays to cinema tickets. Then again, just look at how much money a lone film can make in profit)... uurgh. Mental note: if I become a billionaire, I'll swirl the cash around a lot and be all smug when charities benefit.

I've always thought that terrorists should be treated harshly- but treating mere suspects like walking rocks is pure madness. The sad part is that so few people oppose such plans because they're Caucasian natives who know they'd never be victims of such laws themselves.

*And yes, that would have been a stat but stupidly I lost it. Damnation.

 

[Eg.]

lol
fafaw

 

[falconwind]

wow, great going balancing that deficit, Bushy...

btw, Eg., i'm always impressed with your masterful insights... i can't believe you have 325 posts worth of mindless excrement to your credit. Keep it up, you'll eventaually bring purpose to your life, i'm sure.

 

[gh0st]

Sprafa, how much do you think the inauguration festivities costed 8 years ago. 41 million dollars. How much of it came from the public and not private doners? 12 million dollars. 34% of it is public money. Lets use the same logic here, shall we?

Oh right. Thats 35 Million dollars of more than ONE BILLION dollars were sending in aid (not even COUNTING the massive private donations). Thats only a 10th of the total foreign aid we give out per year (which is relatively small, I'll grant you that, but significant nonetheless.) The US and Japan are part of a few countries that donate the "girth" of internationl aid. I wonder how much Portugal gave? Edit: Portugal gives an annual foreign aid of 320 million dollars. Good job guys!

btw, Eg., i'm always impressed with your masterful insights... i can't believe you have 325 posts worth of mindless excrement to your credit. Keep it up, you'll eventaually bring purpose to your life, i'm sure.

Hahahah.

 

[Sprafa]

Portugal sucks. There's no doubt about that.


That's without security costs, dear. I'm sure he'll manage to make it up to 50$ Million before you can say "terrorist!".

 

[X|Rolando]

Portugal isnt exactly thriving right now (unless Im mistaken of course ) so I guess that would... "explain" their behaviour...

BTW, Isnt the postcount random?

 

[Sprafa]

Portugal isnt exactly thriving right now (unless Im mistaken of course ) so I guess that would... "explain" their behaviour...[7quote]



Actually this morning we gave 8 million euros. Isn't that nice?

BTW, Isnt the postcount random?

The postcount? random?

The post count is how many posts you have. it's a counter. it's by no means random.

 

[Maxi]

Coronation? he's a king?

 

[Sprafa]

For 35$~50$ million he better be one

 

[Eg.]

the amount of money bsh is sending to asia just got bumped up to 100 million, not counting the military food drops, supplies and other things that arent money, whereas the french sent only 100k so far

damn americans

 

[Javert]

Coronation? he's a king?

Long Live King George!

*dodges knives*
^_^

 

[Tr0n]

Long Live King George!

*dodges knives*
^_^

I love that movie.

 

[CptStern]

the amount of money bsh is sending to asia just got bumped up to 100 million, not counting the military food drops, supplies and other things that arent money, whereas the french sent only 100k so far

damn americans

:upstare: french-bashing? how gauche

check your sources, france has given over $60 million

 

[seinfeldrules]

Damn so they sent an initial amount too? I thought only Americans used this 'initial' word. Shucks, the world must be catching on.

PS. I thought it was 2004 again looking at my post count :rolling: