A Tale of Two Inaugurals

This is so ridiculous and just futher shows the hypocrisy and bias of the media!

From NewsBusters:
AP Slammed Bush’s ‘Extravagant’ Inaugural in ’05, But Now It’s Spend, Baby, Spend

From 2005:

Slate: Giving Bush a pass -- again

The D.C. press corps failed to ask hard questions about the inauguration's huge cost and its unprecedented security.

AP: Some Now Question Cost of Inauguration

President Bush's second inauguration will cost tens of millions of dollars — $40 million alone in private donations for the balls, parade and other invitation-only parties. With that kind of money, what could you buy?

_200 armored Humvees with the best armor for troops in Iraq.

_Vaccinations and preventive health care for 22 million children in regions devastated by the tsunami.

_A down payment on the nation's deficit, which hit a record-breaking $412 billion last year.

_Two years' salary for the Mets' new center fielder Carlos Beltran, or all of pitcher Randy Johnson's contract extension with the New York Yankees.

ABC and AP Focus on Those Upset by Bush's "Lavish" Inauguration (AP Article above)

ABC anchor Terry Moran teased at the top of Sunday's World News Tonight: "In a time of war and natural disaster, is it time for a lavish celebration?"

2009:
Compare all this to today, when we are still in a war and our economy is actually in shambles (as opposed to the dire warnings of recession we heard for 6 years straight from the media that never materialized until now):

For inaugural balls, go for glitz, forget economy

So you're attending an inaugural ball saluting the historic election of Barack Obama in the worst economic climate in three generations. Can you get away with glitzing it up and still be appropriate, not to mention comfortable and financially viable?

To quote the man of the hour: Yes, you can. Veteran ballgoers say you should. And fashionistas insist that you must.

"This is a time to celebrate. This is a great moment. Do not dress down. Do not wear the Washington uniform," said Tim Gunn, a native Washingtonian and Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc.

At least the Brits are noticing the juxtaposition:
Bush declares a 'state of emergency' in Washington as cost of Obama's swearing-in ceremony soars to £110m

I get it, Pres. Bush winning reelection wasn't worth celebrating but Obama is because that's who the media wanted to win.