[Nettime-bold] US PRESIDENCY UP FOR AUCTION

[Shannon Noble <srnoble@pacbell.net>]

DATELINE LOS ANGELES: This morning, The Roman Forum put the U.S. presidency
up for auction on eBay (http://www.ebay.com) for a minimum bid of $1. No
longer will the presidency be restricted to a small number of wealthy
individuals and their cronies. "The presidency belongs to all of us, so all
of us should have a fair shot at it," said Cicero, a member of The Roman
Forum.  "It is being auctioned off now because its current owner is moving
and an auction is the fairest way to bring it to the attention of the
largest number of possible buyers."
 The presidency is being listed on eBay under the category
"Collectibles: Political (US): Presidency" and it is described as a "unique
object ... 210 years old and in good condition-- a real collector's item".
The auction is slated to last 10 days, and an undisclosed reserve price has
been set on the presidency.
 Another member of The Roman Forum, the famed writer Petronius
Arbiter, pointed out that there are historical precedents for this auction.
"The Roman Empire was auctioned off once or twice by the Praetorian Guard,"
he noted. "Once in 192 A.D., as I recall."
 Roman Forum member Germania added that in his campaign for the U.S.
presidency, George W. Bush has reportedly raised on the order of $95
million from only around 800 individuals out of the entire nation. "If 800
people can own the presidency, why can't one?" she asked.
 The Roman Forum are meeting in Los Angeles during the week of the
Democratic National Convention and can be found at Side Street Live at 425
S. Main St., 2nd floor, downtown Los Angeles. Anyone wishing to attend
their deliberations is invited to Side Street Live on August 11, 14, 15,
16, 18, and 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 ($12 with parking stub) and $8 for
students, and there is attended parking in the building. For reservations,
leave a message at 213-620-8895. For more information, please go to
http://yin.arts.uci.edu/~players/RF .

Craig Arteaga-Johnson
Director of Exhibitions and Programs
Side Street Projects
400 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 620-8895  (213) 620-8896 FAX
sidest@ix.netcom.com
www.sidestreet.org






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