What Can 40 Million Buy?

I don't often find myself wanting to quote referee-baiting Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, but he had a nice thought with regard to the ridiculous expenditures that will be made on inauguration galas, money that might be put to better use, in his blog:

Its up to President Bush to set an example.

How about it Mr. President. Can you take the first step ? I can help you figure out where to start.

Start by cancelling your inauguration parties and festivities.

Could there be anything more confusing and shocking than to read that our country was offering $35mm in aid to the areas affected by the Tsunamis, but that the cost of inauguration parties would be about $40mm ?

Does anyone else think that this is wrong ?

I realize that the cost for the inauguration is being picked up by corporate sponsors and people purchasing outrageously priced tickets. The question is why.

Why are all these corporations and people spending all that money ? Hey I love a good party, but there aint no party like a $10,000 per ticket  party. Its a 10k dollar ass kissing. As an accountant, fund raiser when asked about the high prices to attend the Inaugural events told the NY Times, “its the cost of playing the game”.

Mr President, its time to change the game.

In your re-election campaign, you talked a lot about leadership.  Your  ability to lead in times like these. Your  ability to set an example. Mr President, its time to show that leadership.  Its time to set an example.

True, the administration has seen the light and increased the US pledge to tsunami relief tenfold, and corporations have been very generous as well . . . but a bunch of expensive parties in honor of the president doesn't seem to send the right message. Better to follow the example of the towns in Italy that canceled their New Year's Eve fireworks and gave the money to tsunami relief.

And the copyeditor in me hopes that maybe someone could spare a few bucks, too, to teach Mr. Cuban about punctuation.