Inauguration

[Wes Tausend]

...

Hundert and 50 million??

This is how it all starts??

WTF. We are screwed.

Wes


...

[SPF2245]

I love to see people excited about the new president, let's face it...nothing wrong with being excited. My only questions are these:
Where was this excitement the last few elections? Oh, wait...don't want to dive into that too much, might cross some unfriendly lines.
What happens when the change comes, but either the time it takes or the outcome isn't what was expected? Will people hold "O" as accountable? Will people just look the other way? I hope for the future of my children that change will occure (love to see the economy improve, education continue to improve and end of dependance on Arab oil), and that we as a nation are not just cheering to make noise, but to actually make it happen.

[SP01715]

Originally Posted by VRM

This looks to me like the 'ol one standard fr the GOP and another for the DNC.

Steve

You have got to be kidding!!! The Democrats are the ones that get the passes. If you have a D next to your name you can screw up, and the mainstream media will ignore it. If you have an R by your name you better watch everything you do, because if you do something wrong (real or perceived) they will crucify you.

[Buzz]

I hate to let a few non-partisan facts get in the way of a good ol' emotional, political bandwagon, here's some unbiased fodder for thought.

Gee Dubya pulled a crowd of roughly 300,000 well wishers to celebrate his sign up in 2005.

Barack's party is expected to pull a record throng numbering between 2 and 4 million people. That's the largest since LBJ drew 1.2 million in 1965.

The difference in size and resultant logistics is considerable. Think of all the added porta-potties, pooper scoopers, garbage collectors and cops.

On top of the fact that an unprecedented percentage of the total cost will come from private donations and the mathematical reality that Obama is throwing a party (at minimum) almost seven times the size of GW's for only 3.6 times the cost, you will be happy to know now that you are actually getting a real bargain!

So throw away your worries now - for one day anyway - and git ready to paaaaahteee!

[VRM]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Steve,

The short answer? More than $150 million — and yep, that's the most expensive ever. (By comparison, George W. Bush's 2005 inauguration cost $42.3 million. Bill Clinton managed with $33 million in 1993.)

I am not posting this as the absolute truth, but to me there is quite a bit between Obama's Inauguration and Bushs so far as money wasted.Would you complain more if something cost you $150 Million than if it cost $43 million? No argument, I just don't quite understand what you are trying to say.

Ron

Ron,
I agree that there is a lot of money wasted between both inaugurations (and I did complain about the cost of Bushs, and I agree that Obamas is excessive also). However, the comparison is apples and oranges. The 150-160 million figure for Obamas is an estimate and includes the cost of the parties AND security. The $43M of Bush is the figure for just the parties - adding in the cost of the security/cleanup brought the total to about $157M for his 2004 election. If you calculate that from 2004 dollars into 2008 dollars (using a CPI calculator) you get a cost of $176M - so Obamas estimate is cheaper than Bushs second inauguration! Both of them also had about $40M donated by their supporters to pay for the parties.

Steve

[Ron61]

Steve,

No argument about your figures but I don't think taking todays dollar amounts and then comparing what something 8 years ago would cost in today dollars is very compelling. Just as I don't like the so called new records that every movie and sports event sets. It is set by the amount of money they take in, and back when the great classic movies were made the cost was what? maybe a dollar. I think the records should be by number of people, races won, and etc, not by the fact they won more money. And yes, I have *****ed about every inauguration that I can remember. Why can't they just go have the chief justice swear them in and save all the parties so they can show of their $90K dresses. Oh well at least you and I can disagree and not get into a name calling fight. Turd!!!

Ron

[VRM]

Ron,
Doo doo head!
I tend to agree about comparing the 2008 dollars to 2004 dollars, but it does help to keep it in perspective.
It cost $157M for Bushs 2004 inauguration.
The estimate for Obamas is $150-160M (though I think it will be more).

Politicians suck!

[Fred Douglass]

..what if they took the gigga-jillion dollars they're giving to Dee-troit and Wallow Street and divided it amongst each (legal) Amurrican citizen (280+ million?). What would each of us get?

I'm guessing it's enuff to buy new sails for me bote, finish me wee hoos and finish my cobra rebuild!!!!

(Someone) do the math! Ar-oooodle(s)!

Chow-dah!

[wtm442]

They have 40,000 safety people on duty for tomorrow. Gee, for half that money I could protect him from all forms of harm.

Thats probably only 15 million dollars for security. I wonder what the bill will be for shrimp cocktail?

[Ron61]

Warren,

For half of that money I would buy an island and leave him to take care of himself. I agree with Freddie. If the Govt. really wants to help the people than give the money to them and don't let it stop in some CEOs bank account and the rest in the Politicians bank accounts.

Ron

[Bill Bess]

YA! Money to help the "normal little guy"...just getting by, help redo his home loan. Help the small business get enough credit to stay afloat and keep his employees. Provide some insurances that fuel costs will remain low to all, and keep the credit market open will help.
On the other hand, those that max. their credit cards, buy what they can't afford and spend when they should be making their house payments....need to go down.
It's really simple to me, just spend what you can afford to spend. I'm showing my age now, I recall back in the day (1963) I had just enough after pay day to go to Bob's Drive-in and maybe a show, and that was every two weeks. We were happy and were still able to do a lot of stuff and it was fun....and paid for.

I didn't vote for the man, but I hope he and his libs. can get things going in the right direction....and not off the cliff.

Old Bill

[427 S/O]

Quote Bill: On the other hand, those that max. their credit cards, buy what they can't afford and spend when they should be making their house payments....need to go down.

Correcto' Bill.

.............................................

'O'NO! dosen't have a choice, he's gotta' get it right the first time. Remember, he's never managed anything, he will just be the mouth piece for his handlers, THEY will be running the country. Everyone will be watching how they spend or mis-spend the $$$$$$$$$$$$. I really hope it all goes well....I really do.

[4RE KLR]

Change will happen today. Only time will tell if it is good change or otherwise.

None the less History will be made.

[Ron61]

Have you seen the pictures of the mob gathering already in that cold and they are so far away they will need binoculars to even see anybody. I don't even intend to watch it on TV and I sure wouldn't sit out in that cold to see anyone.

Ron

[Fred Douglass]

..(how's THAT for aliteration....or littering......or whatever it's called)?

C'mon Warren, let's have that per capita "bailout" figure. Some wag (temporarily detached from his dawg) said that it could be in the neighborhood of 150-220K. No chit! Could this be true? I was trying to remember the non-criminalien* population of this Grand Old Republic. Wasn't it su'un like 280-290 million? Divided into X trillion? Okay, you take over here Warren....

*Jay Severin's term, I believe

Chow,

[Fred Douglass]

...yestiddy, BEFORE the gathering of the aptly-termed "mob", Fox had a shot of the national capitol in the background and what (with my questionable vision) looked like high-tech hanging gibbets/gallows with Saddam Hussein-type "political pinatas"!!!!! Note: I was referring to the Iraquis' late lamented Hussein......not the (ahem)...."other" one.....

Time to Duck and Cover! Ar-ar-ar-ar!

[427 S/O]

Quote Ron: Have you seen the pictures of the mob gathering already ....

When the day is done, better hope the mob dosen't take it to the streets and make it all for naught???.

[Fred Douglass]

.......is it true or false that Our (New) Savior, BHO, aside from nationalizing most of our private industry, is also (in the name of "full" [or wuzzat "fool"?] employment) going to organize a National Youth Guard or some such? Sorta like Papa Doc Duvalier's "Ton Ton Macout" (Sp?). Or mebbe Mao's nifty youth corps?

Yoiks! One of my friends is pining for the chance to go to Cuba--I told him: "Don't bother----it's coming HERE!"

Ar-ar-ar-ar-oooooooogle!

[VRM]

Originally Posted by Fred Douglass

..(how's THAT for aliteration....or littering......or whatever it's called)?

C'mon Warren, let's have that per capita "bailout" figure. Some wag (temporarily detached from his dawg) said that it could be in the neighborhood of 150-220K. No chit! Could this be true? I was trying to remember the non-criminalien* population of this Grand Old Republic. Wasn't it su'un like 280-290 million? Divided into X trillion? Okay, you take over here Warren....

*Jay Severin's term, I believe

Chow,

Just off the top of my head I think 300M (people) and 750B (dollars) comes out to about $2500 per person (not counting the illegal Americans, of course...).

[Fred Douglass]

..........din't I write TRILLION.....with a "T"?

Carrion,