Muntazer al-Zaidi is planning to seek asylum in the cooler pastures of Switzerland now. Well he can live in peace now and can even manage a better paying job at the UN. Zaidi who? I am very sure you guys have forgotten his name. But hey do you remember a guy who hurled a ’size 10′ shoe at the outgoing American president George W Bush? Now you remembered. “Once settled in Geneva, the bachelor without children could “very well work as a journalist at the United Nations which has its European headquarters here”, said Mauro Poggia this young man’s lawyer.
That’s one story Mr Bush would not like to remember out of many which he did out of intention. The news is that Mr George W Bush is leaving Washington DC and perhaps plans to spend more time in Texas tomorrow onwards. By the time you start reading this piece, another historic kindly read expensive moment would be grabbing world attention on January 20th. Barrack H Obama’s swearing in ceremony will grab eyeballs, TV crew, and many miles of print will be dedicated to this already iconic politician, like never before. R Issac Robert cautiously points,”the sad part is that he is yet to do something. Apart from laudable speeches what has he given till date?” Okay, I should come in those details a little later in this article. Firstly I would like to congratulate America’s first coloured president, for whom expectation of a better future for American becomes a huge promise to be kept.
Mr Obama is perhaps being labeled as a brand. The Obama industry has quite a good number of buyers and it sells well, till now, if I am not wrong. A brand, constituting T-shirt, mugs, commemorative coins to hand towels, and from bobbing-head dolls to glossy books, posters, sticker, railway engines, educational institutions and what’s more streets and cities as well. Yes you read it right, cities and streets, followed by junior schools. Delmar Boulevard criss crosses between the most racially divided pockets of St Louis, Missouri and some elderly men are planning to rename, which will, most probably not succeed. But, a long Island elementary school in Hampstead, NY recently changed its name from Ludlum to Barack Obama after their students raised a campaign, another school in Portland, Oregon is still thinking of doing so. The black Perry County, Alabama, went a step forward by declaring every second Monday of November as Barack Obama Day and a government holiday that day.
Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the USA today which is likely to attract much more than 1.5 million people to Capitol Hill, only after Lyndon Johnson in 1965. Amidst a steep downturn in what can be said ‘The Great Depression of ‘32’ revisited in ‘08, Obama and his team should be spending close to $150 Million in celebrations. Undoubtedly the most costly carnival till date. He has his reasons to celebrate, let me break down his list to make it easy.
Can I assemble them in number? Let me please!
- One ton each of chocolate and cheese.
- One ton each of chocolate and cheese.
- About 1,500 cases of beer.
- Eight hundred pounds (363 kilograms) of bison.
- $40 million an estimated cost of the inaugural parade, balls, opening ceremonies, giant television screens on National Mall and other expenses for the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
- 432, total Presidential Inaugural Committee staff members.
- 240,000 free tickets have been distributed so far for the swearing-in ceremony.
- 58, law-enforcement and other agencies working on security.
- 8,000, District of Columbia police officers on duty
- 1,000, US Park Police officers on duty
- 550, Metro transit police on duty
- 10,000, National Guardsmen
- 20,000, passenger’s expected to take a ride today
- 2 million, inauguration subway maps Metro are already printed
- 10,000, charter buses expected to descend Washington DC
- 600, hotel rooms left in Washington.
- 90,000, unique internet hits that Destination D.C., the city’s tourism bureau, has received on its inauguration Web site.
- 13,000, military and civilian participants in the inaugural parade, including marching bands.
- 112, light bulbs replaced in lampposts on Pennsylvania Avenue parade route.
- 10, large screens broadcasting swearing-in on the National Mall.
- 1,000, vendors so far who have received licensed spots to sell wares around parade route and city streets.
- 15,000 to 18,000, volunteers helping Presidential Inaugural Committee around the city.
- 4,100, minimum number of portable toilets available to the public.
- 10, official inaugural balls.
- 12,000, eggs that chefs at the Willard InterContinental Hotel will use for meals from Jan. 17 through the inauguration.
- 10,000, square footage (930 square meters) of the swearing-in stage.
- 6, number of bicycle rickshaws D.C. Pedicab plans to operate.
- 5000 portable toilets
- What’s more, performers from LA are descending for this gala celebration, to name a few Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Cheryl Crow, Shakira, Stevie Wonder and Renee Fleming.
I would like to end this piece with Mr. George W Bush’s quote
“Most imports are from outside of the country”.
Thank You!
Monday, 19. January 2009
Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Chris Moran
Monday, 19. January 2009
it is a fantastic sattire and mockery done to the so called “presendentship” of the liberalist states….very amusing to read all the pomp and show for such an event which is onla a trail behind of what all “he aspires to do “….a must read….in the end very well compiled and written,cheers.
PAKHI.
Monday, 19. January 2009
Atleast, Mr. Obama is not too worried about the impeding recession.
On a earnest note, he’s earned it, lets take joy in his celebration.
Tuesday, 20. January 2009
If N. Y. City can spend “500 Million Dollars” to REVAMP the New Year’s Party Ball Light. Why can’t a decent US President have a 150 Million dollar candy bar. Besides Mr Obama spent this Special Black Holiday painting a homeless Shelter… The only thing Bush ever painted was his own legacy in illegal International War Crimes, Murders and Tortures… Read the Geneva Convention Rule’s of War and see for yourself.
Tuesday, 20. January 2009
Well lets not jump into conclusions eh!? the man’s just begining his journey dont think he is qualified yet to be called a decent president, not just yet. And as far as Mr. Bush goes, i think history will remember him. And am really sad to say this but for the right reasons.
Its not what he has done that counts but the path he has carved for the world that will change the way people percieve things. We in India have been patient for over 50 years with our foes, the result 26/11 and so many more. He promised to smoke them out of the holes, he did as the writer quoted one of Mr. Bush’s famous quotes i would conclude by doing the same, ‘A president’s job is not to chase popularity, but to do what is right’
Tuesday, 20. January 2009
hey, how can you think that we forget Mr. Zaidi. Although, we are not from Iraq, where he is considered a national hero, but the feelings Mr. Zaidi (gracefully or disgracefully) displayed are shared among us equally. I think he will be known in the world history as “Shoe Man” and in American version as the biggest insult to any US President. May be even bigger than Clinton’s Monica scandal or Nixon’s Watergate scandal.
Thank God to the India TV that has repeated this shoe event so many times that it has been stored in the permanent memory disk of our minds.
Well, on Obama, let the man of the hour enjoy his best time in life. I bow him anyways for commanding such a huge following across the world and also for remaining calm and composed even after knowing that he has entered a lion’s den.
Tuesday, 20. January 2009
I think Obama is a decent man, a great speaker, and it was a breath of fresh air to hear him talk about trying to decrease the dependency on oil, by using more renewable resources, plus improving relations with other nations, helping poorer countries who needed help, and to continue to combat terrorism.
Of course he has a mammoth job to try and achieve this, but I think he is the sort of man who can get the people behind him to help pull the USA out of the rut that Bush has left them in.
I for one am hoping for great things from this new president.
Wednesday, 21. January 2009
Thanking all of you for visiting and ideating. The crowd has swollen far from expectations in the inaugural speech ceremony, more than 2 Million? Going by the word count, George Washington’s inaugural speech which consisted of 135 words and the longest one was delivered by Mr. William Henry Harrison- 8445 words. Mr. Obama chose a middle path, a decent, 2401 words. Considering a frigid temperature, well below minus, the 44th president of USA delivered a warm speech, I second ‘Tony’s’ view, he is a prolific orator. There shouldn’t be less dependencies on oil (it is $33 a barrel, a four year low in India) yes we can. Israel has stopped their killing in the Gaza strip, is there a guarantee of stopping sniper attacks from the Hamas faction or those mad tanks rumbling inside the strip. Can we hope for peace? Yes, we can. In a situation where millions are malnourished, can we save a little from incomes and think of charity? Yes, we can.
Merlyn, correct, a $150 million candy bar, is a little expensive. Thanks Chris and thank you Pakhi.
Tuesday, 15. September 2009
Muntazer al-Zaidi is freed at last!!