Inauguration Gala

[lisadr]

of course we do...and we will continue to as long as people are hell-bent on making our generation pay for the sins of our ancestors. As the liberals keep saying...it's over already. move on.

I am so glad it's over:

http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=racisim+at+Palin+rallie&search_type=

 

[LakeAriel]

How much does a ticker tape parade down Broadway in lower Manhattan cost? (not that there has been one since 2000 )

Grow up people. You ( with the exception of a few) don't care that this money is NOT going to the poor..you are foaming at the mouth that this black, non citizen, friend to terrorists, liberal, socialist, communist, Hitler-like man is about to become Preisdent of the United States!

 

[eliza61]

Obama is an AMERICAN. He isn't BLACK. He isnt WHITE. He is no more special than any other American that has been elected to this office. If you think that this is the first person to be elected that has any african heritage in his bloodlines, you are mistaken. He is the SEVENTH.

Until the people who cry foul at every turn get over themselves and see people as PEOPLE not BLACK people, WHITE people, etc....but just PEOPLE, we'll never get past all this extra garbage. Just because I didn't vote for the man doesn't mean I'm racist. It doesn't mean I hate people of color. It doesn't mean anything other than my right to excercise CHOICE and VOTE was utilized for the person I felt is most competent to guide this country. Seriously...why on earth does everyone feel it necessary to qualify their American citizenship with preface of another nationality? Uhm because we have the right tooIf that were truly how we should classify ourselves, most of us would have to list half a dozen countries and probably a few indian tribes hyphenated before we ever got around to the "American" part. The only people who should be "hyphenating" their status are people who truly are dual citizens.

But back on topic...Again, this is just plain nauseating to see the waste and disregard for the state of our country by spending our tax dollars on such extreme garishness. I won't be watching, my kids won't be watching. It will be business as usual for us that day. I have to work like always.

Bull, the man is black. Deal with it.

but I will agree with you on one point, it is nauseating see tax dollars wasted. I get sick every time I see 10 billion dollars a month wasted on Iraq, I got sick to my stomach watching my money bail out Citicorp (and it case you missed it while you were worrying about the cost of the inuageration, Citicorp is back with its hand out citing it's broke again) .

I will be watching, taping and participating in the once in my life time event.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

You seem to take the position that it is fine to spend $160 million (at least $120 million is taxpayer funded) in the midst of a financial crisis. This cost is four times the amount of the 2005 inauguration for which President Bush was (rightly) villified by the media.

This is irresponsible and arrogant. Mr. Obama could easily reduce the size and scope of this but he chooses not to.

But it's different this time.

 

[lisadr]

How much does a ticker tape parade down Broadway in lower Manhattan cost? (not that there has been one since 2000 )

Grow up people. You ( with the exception of a few) don't care that this money is NOT going to the poor..you are foaming at the mouth that this black, non citizen, friend to terrorists, liberal, socialist, communist, Hitler-like man is about to become Preisdent of the United States!

Aww-I was hoping one of them would say it .

Well at least it's said .

 

[Sanchez]

Should he tell Americans to stay home? What would you have him do to?

You highlighted some portions from the artice I cited. I have added some:

Earlier this year, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland and the Washington transit authority sent a request to federal lawmakers for more than $75 million to cover a variety of inaugural costs ranging from security to transportation.

Linda Douglass, a spokeswoman for the Obama’s inaugural committee, said the committee’s expenses will be greater than previous years because of Obama’s commitment to make the event as open and accessible as possible to the public.

Douglass ticked off a slew of expenses, most notably the decision to open up the entire length of the National Mall and provide video and audio access to the swearing-in ceremony on JumboTrons. The committee is also sponsoring a children’s concert and is allocating $700,000 to the Smithsonian Institution for extended museum hours.

At least 2 million people are expected at the swearing-in and parade next Tuesday. Officials estimate 10,000 charters buses will arrive in Washington with roughly 500,000 riders alone.

Why are they opening the entire length of the National Mall? Why the transportation expense? He could very easily say that due the financial crisis he wishes for this to be a small affair. If there is very little to see people will not come. He has invited the public - as it says in the article, he is committed to making the event as open as possible.

Earlier you stated that 4x the people = 4x the cost. I disagree with your assessment, but assuming it is true it makes sense to limit areas of open access.

In all, I find this massive expense to be wasteful and insulting. I am not an Obama hater, but this lavish affair sure does not sound like change for the better. I was appalled with Bush's $40+ million affair in 2005 and this is four times worse.

 

[bicker]

I think it is hard to believe that someone is not categorically inclined against Obama if that person doesn't have a strong record of having supported him prior to the election. I still haven't seen any reliably even-handed criticisms or reliably even-handed endorsements of the inaugural, yet. Still waiting . . .

 

[lisadr]

You highlighted some portions from the artice I cited. I have added some:



Why are they opening the entire length of the National Mall? Why the transportation expense? He could very easily say that due the financial crisis he wishes for this to be a small affair. If there is very little to see people will not come. He has invited the public - as it says in the article, he is committed to making the event as open as possible.

Earlier you stated that 4x the people = 4x the cost. I disagree with your assessment, but assuming it is true it makes sense to limit areas of open access.

In all, I find this massive expense to be wasteful and insulting. I am not an Obama hater, but this lavish affair sure does not sound like change for the better. I was appalled with Bush's $40+ million affair in 2005 and this is four times worse.

Who do you suggest he tells they can't come. He isn't calling people up saying "Are you coming to my party?". People want to be there. They want to say "I was there.".
He in turn, has to accommodate and keep safe everyone who will be in DC as well as those who live there.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I get sick every time I see 10 billion dollars a month wasted on Iraq.

Just curious, we know the cost of the Inaugartion, how much will we be spending in Iraq on the same day?

 

[Holly]

Obama is an AMERICAN. He isn't BLACK. He isnt WHITE. He is no more special than any other American that has been elected to this office. If you think that this is the first person to be elected that has any african heritage in his bloodlines, you are mistaken. He is the SEVENTH.

Until the people who cry foul at every turn get over themselves and see people as PEOPLE not BLACK people, WHITE people, etc....but just PEOPLE, we'll never get past all this extra garbage. Just because I didn't vote for the man doesn't mean I'm racist. It doesn't mean I hate people of color. It doesn't mean anything other than my right to excercise CHOICE and VOTE was utilized for the person I felt is most competent to guide this country. Seriously...why on earth does everyone feel it necessary to qualify their American citizenship with preface of another nationality? If that were truly how we should classify ourselves, most of us would have to list half a dozen countries and probably a few indian tribes hyphenated before we ever got around to the "American" part. The only people who should be "hyphenating" their status are people who truly are dual citizens.

I'm sure you'd love to have everyone fit into the colorblind Stepford world of your mind's eye, but that place doesn't exist and shouldn't.

Why are you calling for complete assimilation? Shouldn't we recognize our differences and appreciate and embrace them, instead of using them against each other?

We can still have the commonality of being Americans and respect the differences between us. I'm sorry you can't see that.

 

[designermv]

$341.4 million per day.

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home

 

[Sanchez]

Who do you suggest he tells they can't come. He isn't calling people up saying "Are you coming to my party?". People want to be there. They want to say "I was there.".
He in turn, has to accommodate and keep safe everyone who will be in DC as well as those who live there.

Close down the National Mall. Do not provide bus transportion. Make all the events ticketed. Did you miss the part where he wants to make this as open and accessible as possible?

 

[Sanchez]

Close down the National Mall. Do not provide bus transportion. Make all the events ticketed. Did you miss the part where he wants to make this as open and accessible as possible?

People want to be at the Super Bowl but there are only so many tickets. Why can he not make this a ticketed event.

 

[bicker]

The Super Bowl is the production of a private, commercial, for-profit enterprise.

 

[Sanchez]

Just curious, we know the cost of the Inaugartion, how much will we be spending in Iraq on the same day?

This is the same question Bush was asked. Nevertheless, some of us are entirely against the war in Iraq but find $160 million to be over the top for this affair.

 

[Sanchez]

The Super Bowl is the production of a private, commercial, for-profit enterprise.

The point is that they limit the amount of spectators by requiring tickets. Why can they not do the same for the inauguration?

 

[bicker]

A family member recently spent $7000 on a/v equipment. Other family members felt that that was "over the top".

 

[lisadr]

People want to be at the Super Bowl but there are only so many tickets. Why can he not make this a ticketed event.

Uh.. it is. And for the people who are coming without tickets, should an American president tell them that they cannot go where they please?

 

[bicker]

The point is that the Super Bowl is the production of a private, commercial, for-profit enterprise. That constitutes a relevant difference between the two events. Surely some controls are possible, but the extent to which capacity should be limited for the Super Bowl should be dictated by what is most profitable for the for-profit enterprise that is the NFL, as determined by the people running the NFL, and the extent to which capacity should be limited for the inauguration should be dictated either by what is best for the American people, as determined by the people running the country, or by what is best for the administration, as determined by the people running the administration.

 

[singingpixie]

I don't see a lot that can be done to keep down the costs that the taxpayers are paying for this inauguration. The vast majority of that is going toward sanitation, security, etc- things that inevitably cost more in proportion to the size of crowds. I suppose we could tell people to suck it up and not use a rest room for the hours they are there, or not provide adequate security, but heaven forbid something happens; When there are large crowds, you really do need a certain number of people making sure everything happens smoothly and safely.

Like it or not, unprecedented numbers are going into DC for this inauguration. The government can try to discourage people (and living in the area, trust me, they are- I get emails every day saying things like "if you're planning to go into DC on 1/20, be prepared to stand outside in huge crowds and sub-freezing temps...") but people will do what they want. To many people, whether or not you agree, this is a special inauguration, and thus the numbers reflect that. Short of restricting access to a huge open part of the city, we really have to accept the costs of keeping those people safe (and the area sanitary) are necessary.