(2005-01-13) — Democrats in the Senate promised a filibuster today for a Republican-sponsored measure that would allow construction of a 500-foot-tall pyramid on the National Mall in Washington D.C. to commemorate President George Bush’s second inauguration.
The presidential pyramid groundbreaking ceremony adds another highlight to the $40 million inaugural festivities, decried by Democrats as a waste of money.
Constructed primarily of 4,000-pound stone blocks, the $750 million facility will be funded by private contributions from Bush supporters, many of whom were nearly bankrupted by bankrolling the president’s reelection campaign.
While Senate Republicans hailed the project as “a boon to blue-collar workers in the local construction industry,” Democrats said the $750 million would be better spent on the victims of disaster in South Asia and in the U.S. public school system.
“It’s shameful that Americans are spending money on anything during these terrible times,” said one unnamed Democrat Senator, “but to spend millions to honor a man who has devastated our economy, destroyed our global reputation and made America a curse on the lips of peace-loving Muslims everywhere…this is inconceivable.”
Site plans for the monument include a drawing of a 65-foot tall Sphinx — a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of Karl Rove, the president’s political advisor.
