There is nothing like blowing $150M on a gayla. That is OK, everyone here has deep pockets, don’t they? This is the sensible spending we were looking for.
Are the taxpayers paying for it?
“Add to that the massive costs of security and transportation — costs absorbed by U.S. taxpayers — and the historic inauguration will produce an equally historic bill.”
We are just paying to make sure they all get there safely, and stay safe.
We should feel proud and happy to pay to safegaurd Miley Cyrus, Bono and all the other rock stars ,so they too can get their love fest on.
It really is a small price to pay considering he is going to change the world.
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True, I can already feel the change, the sunshines seems a little brighter and warmer, the breeze is a little more gentle, and the small animals no longer fear my dog.
It is nice to know that after tomorrow, all the worlds troubles will be gone.
good article.
There is nothing like blowing $150M on a gayla. That is OK, everyone here has deep pockets, don’t they? This is the sensible spending we were looking for.
That’s a good point. It’s funny that how on just about every other front it’s about restraint, being conservative, watching costs, but for things like this, it’s always been essentially spare no expense. What sort of mixed message does that send out?
i read somewhere that the actual security costs only come out to about $14 mil
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I liked the 6 SUV motorcade that took his kids to school the other day. Nothing like a Yeti sized carbon footprint while he puts the Big 3 out of business.
It is insane and disturbing. This inauguration will cost nearly four times more than the next most expensive inauguration ever.
Pres. Bush declared a state of emergency for D.C. to grant additional funding (that would be taxpayer money) for the soaring costs associated with the inauguration.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...AR2009011301583.html
It is absolute irresponsibility in its purest form. It cracks me up that these assholes (referring to politicians in general) are the same ass-hats who berrated the auto industry CEOs for flying to D.C. by private plane to ask for bailout money. Seriously??? What a joke.
Maybe $14 million a day extra, do you realize that there are more law enforcement/security people involved in the gayla than we have fighting in Afghanistan.
My question is why is this Inauguration so different than the others?
I am all for celebrating the peaceful passing of power, it is a tribute to our government, but when they spend money on such over the top, lavish things, it does not make me feel they are a good stewards of the taxpayers money.
It is absolute irresponsibility in its purest form. It cracks me up that these assholes (referring to politicians in general) are the same ass-hats who berrated the auto industry CEOs for flying to D.C. by private plane to ask for bailout money. Seriously??? What a joke.
x2.
I liked the 6 SUV motorcade that took his kids to school the other day. Nothing like a Yeti sized carbon footprint while he puts the Big 3 out of business.
While he puts the big three out of business? Are you kidding? How is he putting them out of business?
It is absolute irresponsibility in its purest form. It cracks me up that these assholes (referring to politicians in general) are the same ass-hats who berrated the auto industry CEOs for flying to D.C. by private plane to ask for bailout money. Seriously??? What a joke.
x3 (and not just for this inauguration). I’m not saying there shouldn’t be a big party but $150 million? Even if a lot of it was privately raised what other good could have been done with it (and what a great gesture that would be)? Given the state of the economy it seems irresponsible.
The rest of the world is retrenching from excess and conspicuous consumption, while this mega-party is embracing exactly the opposite.
But hey, Obama’s patriotic supporters deserves something special.
Why are Canadians always telling us how to run our country?
The majority of the costs are for security. And security cost have increased a hundred times because unlike the last one, no one wanted to go to that one but millions of people are going to this one.
This is a historical event and many people are showing up to watch it. This is something that this country has done for over two hundred years, the orderly transition from one president to the next.
Sheriff deputies and police officers from all over the country have been sent to DC to help with security. All the concerts are paid for by using private funds. The actual inaguration events are no different from past events, its the security costs that have increased.
Maybe they’ll sell enough of those flags to recoup the $150 mil.
This is a historic day and should be celebrated but it should be toned down. I realize the world can’t grind to a halt but if I was the president I would have a hard time whooping it up knowing that soldiers are dying in other countries and people are losing their jobs and I have a certain amount of responsibility for those issues. I’m not soley referring to Obama, GW was guilty of this too as well as many others. I found it particularly distasteful when Bush was joking about not finding WMDs in Iraq. When that was your selling point for a war that has cost 4000 American lives and countless others from other countries it’s not funny.
I understand the shock at the cost, but it actualy isn’t that much more than was previously spent. The number being thrown around for Pres Bush’s inauguration don’t include security costs, and the ones for this year’s ceremony DO include that cost. As a result, the $40 something million number for Pres Bush and the $150 million number for Pres-elect Obama are not comparable. The best guess I’ve seen for how much Pres Bush’s last inauguration cost WITH security costs came out to $115 million. So, yes, this one is costing more, but not the 4 or 5 times as much as some of the “news” agencies have been reporting.
x3 (and not just for this inauguration). I’m not saying there shouldn’t be a big party but $150 million?
X4 and why does there need to be a “Party”. I don’t care how much it costs it SHOULD be as simple as calling a judge and swearing the person in. We’ve elected a public freakin’ servant, not a rock start or superhero. Politicians are PUBLIC SERVANTS whether they are serving on the school board or POTUS. Until we start treating them like public servants they aren’t going to act like them.
~Matt
Why are Canadians always telling us how to run our country?
The majority of the costs are for security. And security cost have increased a hundred times because unlike the last one, no one wanted to go to that one but millions of people are going to this one.
This is a historical event and many people are showing up to watch it. This is something that this country has done for over two hundred years, the orderly transition from one president to the next.
Sheriff deputies and police officers from all over the country have been sent to DC to help with security. All the concerts are paid for by using private funds. The actual inaguration events are no different from past events, its the security costs that have increased.
I’d like to see the crowd. Already at 2 million and may grow by 1 million.
How much does fighting in Iraq for 1 week cost?
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