Inauguration Day Carbon Footprint

This sort of thing matters to some people--mostly to the anthropomorphic global warming disciples who do not understand that correlation does not imply causation. Fortunately it doesn't matter to me, but just in case anybody needs ammo when pointing out the hypocrisy among the patricians of our nation, well here ya go:

Carbon Bigfoot: 2009 Inauguration Expected to Generate More Than a Half-Billion Pounds of CO2

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Next week scores of celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sharon Stone, Sting, and Steven Spielberg are all expected to flock to the nation's capitol, many by private jets, to the historic inauguration of Barack Obama. The swearing-in extravaganza will surely be the largest yet and is seeing ballooning costs and a major environmental footprint.
In a report released today, the Institute for Liberty (IFL) utilizes data from federal agencies, environmentalist organizations, and news accounts to extrapolate the estimated environmental impact for the 2009 Inauguration. IFL estimates that, given the millions of people expected to converge on the nation's capital. IFL concludes:

-- The 600 private jets expected to fly visitors to and from the event will
produce 25,320,000 POUNDS of CO2
-- Personal vehicles could account for 262,483,200 POUNDS of CO2
-- In the Inaugural parade, horses alone will produce more than 400 POUNDS of CO2
-- The total carbon footprint for the Inauguration will likely exceed 575
million POUNDS of CO2
-- It would take the average U.S. household 57,598 years to produce a
carbon footprint equal to that of the new president's housewarming
party

The Inauguration of President Obama is truly an historic occasion that should be celebrated," said IFL President Andrew Langer. "However, it would be very hypocritical for the scores of celebrities, VIPs and political elites to lecture on environmental policy to middle America and small businesses that are merely trying to survive in these difficult economic times, and then turn around and contribute to the half-billion pounds of emitted CO2. This is a celebration -- DC's small businesses, and thus DC's working families, are going to greatly benefit from this event. The rest of America should share in that opportunity."

Of course, the star-studded list of carbon offenders will be given a free pass by their would-be censors for at least two reasons. First, this is an historic occasion. Second, they're mostly the same people, so they'd be censoring themselves. They'll also give Obama a free pass on the estimated $146mil price tag for the whole affair; forgetting that just 4 years ago they pilloried Bush for his inauguration excesses which cost us taxpayers a fraction of what the Obama affair will cost.

It seems you just can't put a price tag--carbon or otherwise--on the celebration of tokenism, especially since the Senate voted to ban ticket scalping at the event. And anybody dumb enough to try to scalp a ticket to what is supposed to be a free event ought to be allowed to. Clearly, they have too much money. That's the kind of wealth redistribution I can get on board with.