Mere hours after revised cost estimates for Donald Trump’s unconscionably expensive military parade were leaked, the Pentagon has announced that the completely unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars has been delayed—until “at least 2019.”
Seriously? 2019? That can’t be right.
Okay, guess it’s true.
The $92 million parade, which was originally budgeted at $12 million, was slated to be held just before Veterans Day, on Saturday, November 10. Trump has been gunning for the massive display of manpower and artillery since he was elected, but got really adamant about things after a visit to France last summer made him jealous of their Bastille Day festivities. The Pentagon officially announced that the pricey and pointless parade was in the planning stages in February, sparking immediate and vocal protests from just about everybody with a brain.
(F)ew lawmakers — if any — said they loved the idea of Mr. Trump’s parade. Some shrugged it off. Others called it undemocratic. Many lamented the use of the military’s time and money.
“He’s the president of the United States,” Senator David Perdue, Republican of Georgia and an ally of Mr. Trump, told reporters at the Capitol. “Personally, I would prefer not to do it. But he’s the president.” [...]
“A military parade like this — one that is unduly focused on a single person — is what authoritarian regimes do, not democracies,” Representative Adam Smith, of Washington state, said in a statement.
Even veterans didn’t want the damn thing, as CNN’s Manu Raju so succinctly shows us with a single quote from the American Legion.
Tonight, veterans everywhere appear to be celebrating NOT getting a parade.
Vote Vets, who endorsed an entirely blue slate this year, has already taken steps to prevent Trump’s inevitable attempt to make Veterans Day 2019 all about him.
Congratulations, America! No parade for you this November!