[mburbank]

Solomon,( NYT): "Did you or the president ever discuss canceling the nine balls and using the $40 million inaugural budget to purchase better equipment for the troops?"

Phillips (Chairwoman of W's innaugural festivities): "I think we felt like we would have a traditional set of events and we would focus on honoring the people who are serving our country right now-- not just the people in the armed forces, but also the community volunteers, the firemen, the policemen, the teachers, the people who serve at, you know, the--well, it's called the StewPot in Dallas, people who work with the homeless."

Solomon: "How do any of them benefit from the inaugural balls?"

Phillips: "I'm not sure that they do benefit from them."

Solomon: "Then how, exactly, are you honoring them?"

Phillips: "Honoring service is what our theme is about."