Fatherland security

If there is a redneck left out there who doesn't realize that he or she is getting shafted up the wazoo by the pretender to the throne - that the whole scary Homeland Security deal is a farce created to keep them on their knees to the emperor's every whim, then send that person this link:

D.C. officials said yesterday that the Bush administration is refusing to reimburse the District for most of the costs associated with next week's inauguration, breaking with precedent and forcing the city to divert $11.9 million from homeland security projects.

Federal officials have told the District that it should cover the expenses by using some of the $240 million in federal homeland security grants it has received in the past three years -- money awarded to the city because it is among the places at highest risk of a terrorist attack.

[...]

The $17.3 million the city expects to spend on this inauguration marks a sharp increase from the $8 million it incurred for Bush's first.

[...]

"We want to make this the best possible event, but not at the expense of D.C. taxpayers and other homeland security priorities," said Gregory M. McCarthy, the mayor's deputy chief of staff. "This is the first time there hasn't been a direct appropriation for the inauguration."

A spokesman for Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, which oversees the District, agreed with the mayor's stance. He called the Bush administration's position "simply not acceptable."

"It's an unfunded mandate of the most odious kind. How can the District be asked to take funds from important homeland security projects to pay for this instead?" said Davis spokesman David Marin.

[...]

Inauguration officials said they plan to spend $40 million on the four-day celebration, which will include fireworks, the swearing-in, a parade and nine balls. Those expenses -- which do not include security and other public services -- are being funded by private donors.

OMB and DHS spokesmen said they could not provide an estimate of what the inauguration will cost the federal government.

WaPo article

The federal government - that would be your tax money.

Perhaps those private donors could cough up the $11.9 million for security. They're so keen on throwing the most expensive inaugural ever. And let's not forget to add in the $66 million to the "federal government" for giving all federal employees in D.C. the day off. (Some Demwit is asking for them to be given an extra half day on January 19.)

And ask that redneck friend of yours to give you another reason for taking money away from D.C.'s Homeland Security funds to provide for the coronation other than one of the two following:

a) the emperor doesn't give a good goddamn about the subjects' security - it comes a poor second to his ego;

b) the emperor (and/or the emperor's ministers) has any terrorists who could actually threaten the security of America on his payroll and knows when and where they will strike - indeed, directs it.