[tomder55]

4 years ago the NY Slimes panned the Bush administration for holding lavish Inauguration events during troubling times asking the cliché "What kind of message does it send ? ".

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/16/po...-top.html?_r=1

The cost of President Bush's bash was reported in the $40 million to $50 million range... almost all raised through private donations.

Typically this is a do what I say and not what I do deal.

Barack Obama's inauguration set to be the most expensive in US history | World news | guardian.co.uk

Obama's inauguration is expected to cost over $150 Million with the Federal Government picking up much of the tab.(2 million in Federal Funds because a state of emergency was declared to assist the city of DC on top of the already $49 Million budgetted for the event )

Flush with private donations the Obots have spared no expense to give themselves one hell of a party... and I do not begrudge it at all .

But... as they talk about the hardest times since the Great Depresssion yada yada ; the question begs to be asked... "What kind of message does it send "? :D:D:D:D

Happy Days are Here again.................................

[George_1950]

"For a man who talks about times being tough, he sure knows how to spare no expense..."
Recession, what recession? Obama's Inauguration To Be Most Expensive in History… Bush Declares State of Emergency in DC…

[speechlesstx]

Of course that was then and this is now. Then, a plumber owing a thousand bucks in taxes he didn't know about was front-page news. Now, Treasury secretary nominee Geithner hiring an illegal nanny and making $42,000 worth of tax errors is “an honest mistake.”

"I think this is an honest mistake," said Massachusetts Democratic senator John Kerry.

Mr. Geithner's "service should not be tarnished by honest mistakes” said Obama. He added "Look is this an embarrassment for him? Yes. He said so himself. But it was an innocent mistake.”

"It's an honest mistake," said Sen. Max Baucus, the Montana Democrat who chairs the committee, adding that Geithner's confirmation was "a given."

[tomder55]

Good job Steve ! I completely forgot the fuss over plumber Joe's finances

Now the guy tabbed to head up the Dept that the IRS is under is excused for making an honest mistake in not filing his taxes .

[speechlesstx]

With him, Barney Frank as House Financial Services Committee Chairman and Rangel helping write tax code we can't miss, right?

[twinkiedooter]

With him, Barney Frank as House Financial Services Committee Chairman and Rangel helping write tax code we can't miss, right?

Everyone seems to forget it all started with Mr. O who flatly refuses to give up his original birth certificate and any and all college information and any information regarding his real citizenship. I guess that's not any of the public's business to know anything about the man. We don't have any "right to know" a thing about this empty suit. He's a teriffic role model if you ask me and he's going to continue to surround himself with those of his ilk. He has unfailingly picked real "winners" for just about every possible appointed office so far, so why should he start appointing anyone who has any morals or ethics? Ain't going to happen in this lifetime, sorry. And why should a mere $200 million dollar inauguration (or self crowning a la Napoleon Bonapart) stand in the way of good taste? He's too much of a self centered egomaniac to settle for anything less.

Am I wrong about FDR and his last swearing in ceremony being not such a fancy schmancy affair as it was war time and times were tough? He did the right thing back then, why can't Mr. O do something along these lines? Nooooooo, that would be unthinkable in HIS mind to do anything less than the lavish hoopdedoo he's planned for hisself.

I wish it was the coldest swearing in ceremony weather wise Washington DC ever will hold. But unfortunately that's not going to be the case as we are getting all the subzero arctic air this week.

[speechlesstx]

Still lowering expectations for the Messiah...

“We will kill Bin Laden, we will crush al-Qaeda.” -Obama in October debate, that was then.

Now?

COURIC: "How important do you think it is, Mr. President-elect, to apprehend Osama bin Laden?"

OBAMA: "I think that we have to so weaken his infrastructure that, whether he is technically alive or not, he is so pinned down that he cannot function. My preference obviously would be to capture or kill him. But if we have so tightened the noose that he's in a cave somewhere and can't even communicate with his operatives then we will meet our goal of protecting America." -Obama in interview to be aired Jan 20.

[TexasParent]

Still lowering expectations for the Messiah...

“We will kill Bin Laden, we will crush al-Qaeda.” -Obama in October debate, that was then.

Now?

Yeah I'm a bit disappointed in this, I suppose it's managing expectations and he will look like a hero if we capture or kill Bin laden, but he will also look like a hero if we never hear from Bin Laden again. Which to me sounds suspicious; could there be a pay not to play offered to Bin Laden, like a complete pull out from the middle east?

A minor point to be sure and I haven't given up on him yet, much like the rest of you have before he even becomes President. But is concerns me that he is sounding more like a politician every day; can't say I'm surprised, but I am disappointed.

[TexasParent]

"For a man who talks about times being tough, he sure knows how to spare no expense..."
Recession, what recession? Obama’s Inauguration To Be Most Expensive in History… Bush Declares State of Emergency in DC…

Think of all the jobs he's saving... ;)

[George_1950]

Think of all the jobs he's saving...;)

Uh, 'spreading it around'... ; but that's really not the point. We shouldn't spare a cent in protecting Mr. Obama and keeping the crowds under control, but I expect there's lots of pork in all those millions; yet, will the MSM whisper any criticism at all?

[TexasParent]

uh, 'spreading it around'...; but that's really not the point. We shouldn't spare a cent in protecting Mr. Obama and keeping the crowds under control, but I expect there's lots of pork in all those millions; yet, will the MSM whisper any criticism at all?

You know when the media first started covering the war in Iraq there were studies done that showed incredible bias for the war based on the number of pro-war stories versus anti-war stories and there were cries that there was no balance in reporting or opinion.

In fact the mood in country was down right scary if you said anything against the war, it was considered unpatriotic and the media stayed clear of any controversy. Individuals were raked over the coals in the media for speaking out against the war.

Yes, this was the same liberal media you speak about today supporting the President-Elect.

They aren't liberal, they are whores feeding the American people what they want to watch, see, read about for ratings. When the mood of the country started to sour on the war and they couldn't sell pro-war anymore, they switched gears.

So I don't know what all the complaining is about with regard to the media, it's free market capitalism and freedom of expression at it's slimy worst.

[George_1950]

So I don't know what all the complaining is about with regard to the media, it's free market capitalism and freedom of expression at it's slimy worst.

We will have to agree to disagree on these points.

[twinkiedooter]

I hate to disillusion you guys but Bin Laden has been dead for some time. Where have you been?

[excon]

The cost of President Bush's bash was reported in the $40 million to $50 million range ...almost all raised through private donations. Barack Obama's inauguration set to be the most expensive in US history [and is] expected to cost over $150 Million with the Federal Government picking up much of the tab

Hello tom:

It just shows how much we're willing to spend when we really LIKE somebody. Nobody ever liked the dufus... They just disliked the Kerry dufus more.

excon

[speechlesstx]

Hello tom:

It just shows how much we're willing to spend when we really LIKE somebody. Nobody ever liked the dufus... They just disliked the Kerry dufus more.

Excon

Sorry, it shows extreme hypocrisy - especially in the media. Four years ago the AP reported this way:

President Bush's second inauguration will cost tens of millions of dollars — $40 million alone in private donations for the balls, parade and other invitation-only parties. With that kind of money, what could you buy?


■ 200 armored Humvees with the best armor for troops in Iraq.

■ Vaccinations and preventive health care for 22 million children in regions devastated by the tsunami.

■ A down payment on the nation's deficit, which hit a record-breaking $412 billion last year...

The questions have come from Bush supporters and opponents: Do we need to spend this money on what seems so extravagant?

New York Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat, suggested inaugural parties should be scaled back, citing as a precedent Roosevelt's inauguration during World War II.

"President Roosevelt held his 1945 inaugural at the White House, making a short speech and serving guests cold chicken salad and plain pound cake," according to a letter from Weiner and Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash. "During World War I, President Wilson did not have any parties at his 1917 inaugural, saying that such festivities would be undignified."...

Billionaire Mark Cuban, owner of the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks, voted for Bush -- twice. Cuban knows a thing or two about big spending, once starring in ABC's reality TV show, "The Benefactor," in which 16 contenders tried to pass his test for success and win $1 million.

"As a country, we face huge deficits. We face a declining economy. We have service people dying. We face responsibilities to help those suffering from the...devastation of the tsunamis," he wrote on his blog, a Web journal.

Cuban challenged Bush to set an example: "Start by canceling your inauguration parties and festivities."

This year they report it this way:

So you're attending an inaugural ball saluting the historic election of Barack Obama in the worst economic climate in three generations. Can you get away with glitzing it up and still be appropriate, not to mention comfortable and financially viable?

To quote the man of the hour: Yes, you can. Veteran ballgoers say you should. And fashionistas insist that you must.

"This is a time to celebrate. This is a great moment. Do not dress down. Do not wear the Washington uniform," said Tim Gunn, a native Washingtonian and Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc.

"Just because the economy is in a downturn, it doesn't mean that style is going to be in a downturn," agreed Ken Downing, fashion director for Neiman Marcus.

And if anyone does raise an eyebrow at those sequins, remind them that optimism is good for times like these. "Just say you're doing it to help the economy," chuckled good manners guru Letitia Baldridge.

$40 million for Bush is an outrage, 3 times that for Obama - much of it coming from people who are indeed buying access to the new president - is a "must." The hypocrisy is astounding... and I think you know I'm right

[speechlesstx]

D.C. Rounding Up The Homeless For Inauguration

From the steam grates of Pennsylvania Avenue to the porticoes of the city's grand buildings, homeless Washingtonians who live inside the nation's tightest security zone are being encouraged to decamp during the inauguration for shelters in the city's outer neighborhoods.

The security sweeps will probably begin Monday. Buses will make one-way trips to two of the District's largest shelters, which will remain open round-the-clock, said D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6).

"Everyone has to be out of the perimeter by then," Wells said.

Although everyone is required to be out, homeless people, like all residents, could line up to watch the festivities on the Mall or the parade route. They must, however, follow the bans on large duffel bags and suitcases.

The issue is how to avoid making people feel like they are being "carted off," Wells said.

Love how the writer states they're only being "encouraged to decamp" before telling us they're "required to be out." I wonder how many homeless could be fed and seltered with all that inauguration money?