Obama's inauguration set to be the most expensive in US history

guardian.co.uk ^ | January 14, 2009 | Ewen MacAskill

[Free ThinkerNY]

President Barack Obama's inauguration next week is set to be the most expensive ever, predicted to reach over $150m (£102m). This dwarfs the $42.3m spent on George Bush's inauguration in 2005 and the $33m spent on Bill Clinton's in 1993.

Part of the spending includes emergency funding announced by the White House on Tuesday to help with the soaring costs. Most of this new federal funding will be to deal with the huge influx of people, estimated 1.5 million to 2 million.

A White House statement said that President Bush "declared an emergency exists in the District of Columbia".

If there is snow, the costs will grow higher. The long-term forecast suggests there is a chance of snow on Sunday and again on the day of inauguration, on Tuesday.

Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the joint congressional committee on inaugural ceremonies, told the New York Daily News, which estimated the cost at $160m: "We're always very budget conscious. But we're sending a message to the entire world about our peaceful transition of power, and you don't want it to look like a schlock affair. It needs to be appropriate to the magnitude of events that it is."

[mplsconservative]

Where is our voice of liberal reason? I almost missed your ping to her.

You haven’t posted since you were busting your rear end to get your messiah elected. How’s that man of the people thing going? Partaking of the bread and circuses?

[JavaJumpy]

Please, oh please, tell me this isn’t true.

People are FREEZING - literally FREEZING - during record cold because we can’t afford to properly heat our homes and we’re funding a gala? For a man who talks about entering another Great Depression? For a man who attended the most racist church I have ever been acquainted with and who says in his book that white man’s greed runs a world in need? For a man whose wife says we are sloths and cynics? For a man who claims to care about people hurting, but has no problem taking those hurting people’s funds because those funds are in small increments (no matter that those small increments add up)? For a man who claims people can’t afford basic health care, gasoline, college education, mental health services, groceries, or anything else...we have to pay for this overpriced party? To celebrate what, exactly? How IS Illinois, by the way? Prosperous with plenty of jobs? Probably the one state in all 57 which is thriving, right /s?

I’ve had enough for now. Forget all the pleas for giving this man a chance; the writing is on the wall. Actions speak louder than words.

[Kimmers]

Hosting the homies and wearing all the bling cost a whole lota stackola.....ya know what I'm sayin?

[ExTexasRedhead]

Sleet and hail would be appropriate.

[LiteKeeper]

Zero’s Golden Rule: He who has the gold, rules.

[Doctor Don]

The Osam....bama administration is a bunch of PAGAN HYPOCRITES!!!!!

[meyer]

President Barack Obama's inauguration next week is set to be the most expensive ever, predicted to reach over $150m (£102m).

A fitting end to the roaring aughts...

[JaneNC]

What an example....

[keepitreal]

But don’t you feel all hopey-changey?

[Buddygirl]

Gasp! You mean the Democrats don’t have the money to pay for the shindig??? They are asking US who did not vote for Zero to pay for it?? What nerve!

This is how I am going to help pay for it...I will NOT turn the tv on the whole day to watch it! That way, what I don’t spend for electricity can help pay for Zero’s parade!

[ColdSteelTalon]

Where is the press outrage over this???

[Salvation]

**Obama’s inauguration set to be the most expensive in US history**

It figures.

[Mila]

If necessary, they are probably prepared to move it inside like they did for the second Reagan inauguration.

In a swirling snowstorm, police and security inspect the podium where President Ronald Reagan was supposed to have been sworn into office for a second term, Jan. 20, 1985. On the following day, extremely cold temperatures forced the swearing-in ceremonies to be moved indoors, and the inaugural parade was canceled. Source: "Washington Weather"

"During the early-to-mid 1980s, the East Coast experienced some extraordinary cold waves that were dubbed the Siberian Express or Arctic Express. One of the last of these amazing cold waves occurred on Jan. 21, 1985, during Ronald Reagan's second inauguration. It remains the the coldest inauguration on record. The low temperature on Jan. 21 was -4°F and the temperature at noon was only 7°F. Wind chill temperatures fell to -10° to -20°F. The oath of office was moved inside to the Capitol Rotunda and the parade was canceled.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2009/01/reagans_1985_inauguration_cold.html?wprss=capitalweathergang

[BILL_C]

I hope this country survives.

Survives? Like this country survived the FDR years. A recent paper done by UCLA economists says they were confused WHY the US Depression lasted so long, they couldn't understand it.

Then they looked at FDR's socialism, his insistence on spending to stimulate the economy, which is EXACTLY what we are seeing NOW. Obama getting a blank check from Congress and now we're going to spread the wealth, we're going to nationalize companies, we're headed for European socialism, and the MARXIST SOCIAL WORKER WITH A LAW DEGREE WHO WORSHIPS GLOBAL WARMING IDEOLOGY is going to try to convince us he's the reincarnation of Lincoln.

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/FDR-s-Policies-Prolonged-Depression-5409.aspx

Our only chance is to let our idiotic Congress People and Senators know that we are fed up, and if it continues, they will be unemployed. Right now with the idiots in America electing Demorats, they don't believe a word we say. We need to change their minds in a big way.

[seemoAR]

We all need to hush. After all, HE is the first “Affirmative Action” President. ;0)

[dforest]

Pretty sad really. Dems made certain the economy tanked, destroyed the retirements of people, and then Soetero wallows in ostentatious glory and self gratification.

doesn’t sound much like a messiah to me.

[wndycndy]

The press hasn’t made a peep! Please send this story to 10 friends (or more). People really need to know about this!!!! I can’t wait to see what Michelle wears for this one....gag

[aculeus]

Hee hee.

[lilylangtree]

This needs reposting. More people need to know about this. Notice US mainstream media won’t post this. Citz have to read about this from the foreign press. Sheesh!

[Mojave]

“President Obama is being criticized because his inaugural celebrations are projected to cost the taxpayers over $400 million. When asked about it, Obama explained that Ted Kennedy planned to attend and there was going to be an open bar.”

http://barackobamajokes.googlepages.com/inauguration_jokes