For those who think the Inaugural parade and balls should be held, how about we put

[RB TexLa]

up a running count of how many soldiers are killed or hurt in Iraq and Afghanistan during the festivities you so badly want to have.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

1. How about you give up everything you enjoy in life as well?

And I mean everything, until every last soldier is home. Do you honestly think that will bring one of them home a minute sooner?

[defendandprotect]

5. Yeah ...that would be the comparison ... giving up Royal extravagance ....

or "you give up everything you enjoy in life as well?"

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. What brought this on?

[defendandprotect]

7. Could it be the economy and state of our nation by any chance--!!

[mondo joe]

16. And the parade and balls impact these how?

[defendandprotect]

23. How does thoughtless and excessive spending on a gala effect our nation ...

as we suffer increasing homelessness, poverty, hunger -- loss of jobs

and loss of medical and retirement coverage --?

And the bankrupting of our Treasury --

all while bailing out failed-again system of capitalism/organized crime.

How ...

By saying to the many suffering these losses and pain that the FEW wealthy

among us don't give a FUCK now or ever --

This issue has a spiritual challenge to it some here aren't too eager to "get"...

This is change -- no, it's more BS --

[mondo joe]

24. So you have no way in which the balls have real impact?

Which jobs would be saved by not holding the balls?

Which industry saved?

[defendandprotect]

27. How about donating it to"bail-out" out citizens losing jobs/homes ...???

Again -- it's a trick question for those detached from all spiritual

considerations and reality --

[mondo joe]

28. Who do you think earns the millions of dollars associated with the inaugural?

Do you think the hotel staff, the waitstaff, the caterers, the cab drivers and so on don't need to earn money?

[defendandprotect]

31. Oh, this is the Bush "go buy a toaster argument" ...

In that case, let's have one every day ---

[mondo joe]

33. You're straying from your "point". You claim the $ are better spent on those hit

by the economy. So I'm asking what you have against the cab drivers, maids, waitstaff and others in DC.

What DO you have against them?

[defendandprotect]

39. Yes ... since I want to assist those who HAVE lost their jobs ....

I must hate DC's employed people --

You're on ignore ---

[mondo joe]

40. And those who are hanging on to their jobs? Fuck 'em?

[WolverineDG]

3. Oh, I'm sorry

I didn't realize we weren't allowed to smile, laugh, or celebrate anything.

:eyes:

dg

[defendandprotect]

4. It's disgusting ...

[Buzz Clik]

6. I know! How about the number of car accidents tallied during football games!

Or the number of people afflicted with diarrhea flashed on all the walls of every restaraunt?

No one should ever have a good time EVER!!!

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

8. I disagree with this, but admire your determination to bring this point front and center.

Some celebration must be allowed, this is truly historic. As a Nation, we need this.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

9. Well, I WAS going to...

Walk around town with a cactus on my back on Inaug day, but now, I am thinking of kicking things up a notch and flagellating myself with a razor-tipped flail.

I'll put rocks in my shoes, too.

[Recursion]

10. Yup. You tell the thousands of waiters, caterers, staff, etc. that are depending on these gigs...

...that because you are more pure and holy and feel the world's pain so much, they won't get a paycheck they need.

[Crunchy Frog]

11. I agree with you, the inauguration aught to be funerary.

[stillcool]

12. I'm re-thinking the whole...

inauguration thing. Why should 3-5 million Americans want to celebrate electing Obama? Maybe they should protest instead, I mean..seeing as they're all liberals.

[Paladin]

13. We All Deserve A Celebration After The Last Eight Years (n/t)

[jwirr]

14. Just curious - did FDR cancel any of these things when he was elected? nt

[mondo joe]

15. Instead let's fist-bump each other and say "Y'all".

Okay?

[Lex]

44. LOL. He is in constant need of the Waaahmbulance.

nt

[rucky]

17. ...

[Breeze54]

20. LOL !

:P

[Waiting For Everyman]

18. Lots of people have been this miserable for years, it's only new to the

stock market investor class. So sure, the world has to revolve around them some more.

The balls are private money. Why not protest some spa seminars or private jets or any other icons of wealth these days? Why pick on just one thing, and why now?

[FrenchieCat]

19. Maybe we ought to give up sex until the Soldiers come home.....

I mean, that would show great restraint and sacrifice! :crazy:

[Mari333]

21. I agree. Until the troops are brought home

there is no need to celebrate while those kids are over there.

[mondo joe]

22. Maybe some should give up wasting time on message boards until then too.

[Mari333]

25. yes, i came to this message board in a stretch limo

wearing an Oleg Cassini evening gown. with a 500 dollar bottle of champagne. after I ate truffles and fois gras.
I care about the troops. I dont care about the DC pundits.

[mondo joe]

26. And what impact do you believe the inaugural celebration has on the troops?

Do tell.

[Mari333]

29. I just wish they would invite the military families to any balls they have

front and center. Tone down the wealth, and make it a celebration of real people, not DC insiders.
Jimmy Carter kind of style.

[mondo joe]

30. So when you first claimed to oppose celebration, you were fibbing? You really just

don't want "DC insiders" to celebrate?

And good call - another Jimmy Carter style success is just what we need. :eyes:

[Mari333]

35. I am tired of wealthy lavish political celebrations in DC

One can celebrate without rubbing people's noses in it. There are too many people hurting now, they dont need to see people eating fois gras when they can barely afford to feed their kids.
and the troops seem to have been forgotten. I doubt they will be celebrating much in the foothills of afghanistan.
If they are going to do it, and they probably will, do it with some humble decency.
hugs.

[mondo joe]

37. Well, at least you're closer to being honest now.

Thanks.

[Mari333]

38. Im an idealist, I would rather see the troops come home

before celebrating. I doubt many in DC think that way.
be well.

[mondo joe]

43. That's not idealism.

You're just a person with a chip on your shoulder, who thinks you're an idealist.

[Mari333]

45. I think I have been civil with you.

and I will continue to do so. Ad hominems are kind of mean, I think.
Love you anyway.

[cali]

54. I doubt many in the country feel that way

[cali]

53. lol. I was at Carter's inaugural balls

At least I flitted to three of the six- and sorry they wren't austere or toned down. Lots of flash there.

[defendandprotect]

49. Agree -- humane considerations before lavish displays --

We can certasinly rejoice as a nation without thoughtlessly throwing money away ---

[dysfunctional press]

32. how about putting it next to the tote board of the number of blacks who have died in this country...

due to injustice, intolerance, ignorance, and unabashed racism- along the path through this country's history that brought Obama to the presidency.

he deserves the party, the people who worked tirelessly for him deserve the party, the black population of dc and the nation deserve to party, after 8 years wandering the bush wilderness- the entire country deserves to party.

if you want to sit it out and sulk alone in the dark- that's certainly your prerogative, (and a way for you to do everyone else a big favour, btw).

[mondo joe]

34. Maybe we should just list the Puritans on DU who get diarrhea every time they think somone

somewhere might be having fun.

[salguine]

36. I wouldn't begrudge Obama a parade and an Inaugural Ball, but if he chose

to forgo them, my opinion of him would go up a notch or two. (Before I get jumped on, that shouldn't be interpreted as "my opinion of him at this time is low".)

I also want to point out how funny the phrase "balls should be held" is.

[Mari333]

41. Yes, my opinion of him would also go up a lot if he said

'we have too many people hurting in this country now, our troops are suffering, lets not make this into a big shindig, lets keep it small and respectful '.
hugs

[wildflower]

47. Or just scale it down somewhat

As I mentioned in another thread, I remember how much the excesses of the Bush inaugural bothered a lot of us.

On election night, Obama reportedly nixed a fireworks display planned for his acceptance speech.

As well, I heard many TV/radio personalities refer to how sober he was. I believe they said they had never seen a president-elect so sober upon winning.

So maybe he could do something along those lines.

[Withywindle]

48. It's my belief that big balls should be held every night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YUuyzQDmjY

[4lbs]

42. Inauguration Day will bring in about $100 million in revenue and sales to the DC Metro area.

Yes, let's cancel all the festivities and deny the hard workers and businesses of DC that money. After all, the economy is so good, they can easily make it up with another day that will have millions of people come from other parts of the country to DC.

[defendandprotect]

51. Giving money to corporations isn't going to end the wars nor ...

bring us national health care --

Rather, we should be thinning out the corporate herd and INVESTING

our dollatrs in positive projects -- small. local businesses --

[mondo joe]

56. Local businesses - like hotels, restaurants, cab companies, caterers in DC.

[Lex]

46. How about holding your breath 'til the soldiers come home?

nt

[cali]

50. wow. mega stupid

I hate sanctimonious self-righteous assholes.

[DS1]

52. The Bolen clan way

take giant shits on everything and let someone else sort it out

[Neshanic]

55. As the official "Debbie Downer" of DU, I would not even agree with canning the festivities.

It is an important tradition, and more importantly an extremely powerfull image and cleansing of all that was the past administrations.

To consider changing a thing is complete nonsense.

[cliffordu]

57. Or, you could just perform an autoerotic asphyxiation on the internet.