The media has, once again, set up 2 different standards for Republicans and Democrats, this time regarding the spending on inaugurations.<\/p>\n
\nFour years ago, the Associated Press and others in the press suggested it was in poor taste for Republicans to spend $40 million on President Bush\u2019s inauguration. AP writer Will Lester calculated the impact that kind of money would have on armoring Humvees in Iraq, helping victims of the tsunami, or paying down the deficit. Lester thought the party should be cancelled: \u201cThe questions have come from Bush supporters and opponents: Do we need to spend this money on what seems so extravagant?\u201d<\/p>\n
Fast forward to 2009. The nation is still at war (two wars, in fact), and now also faces the prospect of a severe recession and federal budget deficits topping $1 trillion as far as the eye can see. With Barack Obama\u2019s inauguration estimated to cost $45 million (not counting the millions more that government will have to pay for security), is the Associated Press once again tsk-tsking the high dollar cost?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n