Discussing the "financial crisis" over $500 bottles of wine

[yeahYeah]

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - World leaders dine in style as they discuss financial crisis « - Blogs from CNN.com

(CNN) – The global economy may be undergoing a significant downturn, but the White House's dinner budget still appears flush with cash.

After all, world leaders who are in town to discuss the economic crisis are set to dine in style Friday night while sipping wine listed at nearly $500 a bottle.
According to the White House, tonight's dinner to kick off the G-20 summit includes such dishes as "Fruitwood-smoked Quail," "Thyme-roasted Rack of Lamb," and "Tomato, Fennel and Eggplant Fondue Chanterelle Jus."
To wash it all down, world leaders will be served Shafer Cabernet “Hillside Select” 2003, a wine that sells at $499 on Wine.com.
The exceedingly pricey wine may seem a bit peculiar given leaders are in Washington to discuss a possible world financial meltdown, but Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for Laura Bush, said it "was the most appropriate wine that we had in the White House wine cellar for such a gathering.
McDonough also said the White House purchased the wine at a "significantly lower price" than what it is listed at.
"Of course the White House gets its wine at wholesale prices," she said. "Given the intimate size of the group, it was an appropriate time for The White House to use this stock."
The leaders of the U.K., France, Russia, China, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and 11 developing economies have all come to Washington at the behest of President Bush in an effort to express confidence in the fundamental underpinnings of the world's economy.

what message is this sending?

[Brently]

At least someone is spending money! haha

[LUVMYSIGP225]

They should hire me to do it. I have been discussing the economy quite a bit lately, over draft beer.

[ScottyT]

Send the Secret Service to McDonalds and just get 10 of everything off the dollar menu.

Add a couple cases of a local brew and you are good to go.


...Maybe the domino's guy will deliver to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave?

[nickb]

Originally Posted by yeahYeah

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - World leaders dine in style as they discuss financial crisis « - Blogs from CNN.com



what message is this sending?

2 messages.

To the visiting leaders, the USA is flush and all is well.

To the tax payers, you be fooked for good.

[DMWyatt]

Originally Posted by nickb

2 messages.

To the visiting leaders, the USA is flush and all is well.

To the tax payers, you be fooked for good.

...And by the way, the U.S. government has optioned the entire supply of Astroglyde and Vaseline for weapons development so you're on your own now. Have a nice day and God bless America.

[nickb]

Originally Posted by DMWyatt

...And by the way, the U.S. government has optioned the entire supply of Astroglyde and Vaseline for weapons development so you're on your own now. Have a nice day and God bless America.

Well, they have to find some way to raise the money for the new national service force or whatever the heck they are calling it.

[KEVWYO]

Discussions would probably go better if they all partook of 500 $1 bottles of Bud Light instead.

[DMWyatt]

Originally Posted by KEVWYO

Discussions would probably go better if they all partook of 500 $1 bottles of Bud Light instead.

Nah discussions like this would go better for the U.S. if we quit having them. We invited a host of nations that are looking on and expecting us to fail to dine with our president and blow a bunch of meaningless smoke in the air. We need to cut back on our international involvement in symbolic organizations and get back to the business we should have been in all along: looking out for #1. I'm not about to say we need to isolate or protect, but a willingness to display words and actions conducive to maintaining our own sovereignty would be nice one in a while.