Pomp And Circumstance

Lots of good stuff over at Carnival Of The Capitalists and I will problem further link/comment later, but this note caught my eye:

I have this plea: Mr. President, cancel your inauguration parties. In the best of times, it is a waste of taxpayer money to throw parties for a returning president. But now, the inauguration fanfair makes even less sense in light of the needs in Asia, for the war, and to reduce our deficit. I think the American People would prefer the money be better spent or saved!

That's a nice sentiment, but the truth is that inaugurations are largely funded via private donations rather than financed at taxpayer expense. Besides, what kind of superpower are we going to look like if we can't throw a proper wing-ding?