What Recession? The $170 Million Inauguration

[Stephen Eisel]

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Inaugura ... 946&page=1

The country is in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, which isn't stopping rich donors and the government from spending $170 million, or more, on the inauguration of Barack Obama .

The actual swearing-in ceremony will cost $1.24 million, according to Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

It's the security, parties and countless Porta-a-Potty rentals that really run up the bill.

The federal government estimates that it will spend roughly $49 million on the inaugural weekend. Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland have requested another $75 million from the federal government to help pay for their share of police, fire and medical services.

And then there is the party bill.

"We have a budget of roughly $45 million, maybe a little bit more," said Linda Douglass, spokeswoman for the inaugural committee.

That's more than the $42.3 million in private funds spent by President Bush's committee in 2005 or the $33 million spent for Bill Clinton's first inaugural in 1993.

I think that ABC needs to lighten up a bit.. In the grand scheme of things, $170 million is not that much money. (seriously)

[ryan costa]

the party paid for in private funds is only about 3 million more than Bush's inaugural party. that may be less than inflation.

[Stephen Eisel]

the party paid for in private funds is only about 3 million more than Bush's inaugural party. that may be less than inflation.

Bush is gone.. get over it dude

[ryan costa]

Bush is gone.. get over it dude

That was just interesting trivia.

I suspect John MellenCamp may have worked for less than his usual rate also.

[Stephen Eisel]

Bush is gone.. get over it dude

That was just interesting trivia.

I suspect John MellenCamp may have worked for less than his usual rate also.

agreed

[Jerry Ritcey]

In this case, it was the cost of the Obama and Bush inaugurations. The connection was unfair because the Obama figure of $160 million that got repeated in the press included security costs associated with the massive event. But the Bush tab of $42 million left out those enormous costs. Talk about stacking the deck.

Source

[Stephen Eisel]

source

Obama's Inauguration Cost Set to Pass $150 Million, Becoming Most Expensive Inauguration Ever

The last inauguration, which took place in 2005 for President George W. Bush cost only $42.3 million, whereas the 1993 inauguration for President Bill Clinton totaled $33 million.

[Stephen Eisel]

It is actually a phony claim

[Jim O'Bryan]

The last inauguration, which took place in 2005 for President George W. Bush cost only $42.3 million, whereas the 1993 inauguration for President Bill Clinton totaled $33 million.

[/quote]

I know this will sound one sided, but the photo of the mall, filled with Americans, was nearly worth it. But so much more could have been done with the money in a country that is desperately broke.

I understand the "celebration" of being America, but when did it really start get crazy?

Stephen

On a side note, Bush's inauguration cost a couple trillion and many, many, many lives. It just took time for the bar bill to come in.


.

[ryan costa]

whenever i turned on the tv to check out the parade or motorcade, not much was happening. the cameras focused on the car carrying Obama, then the car carrying Biden. sometimes they got out to walk and wave to the spectators. Secret Service Agents or some people walked beside the cars.

It was not a very good parade. I did not see any marching bands, any circus dogs, any floats, any Irish people dressed up as Irish people. No Majorettes twirling batons.

It was just the motorcade everytime I turned on the tv. It got me thinking of the theme song from CHiPs. I was stuck with the theme music from the show CHiPs running through my mind for the rest of the day.

[Greg Morley]

http://mediamatters.org/columns/200901170003?f=h_top

[Stephen Eisel]

The last inauguration, which took place in 2005 for President George W. Bush cost only $42.3 million, whereas the 1993 inauguration for President Bill Clinton totaled $33 million.

I know this will sound one sided, but the photo of the mall, filled with Americans, was nearly worth it. But so much more could have been done with the money in a country that is desperately broke.

I understand the "celebration" of being America, but when did it really start get crazy?

Stephen

On a side note, Bush's inauguration cost a couple trillion and many, many, many lives. It just took time for the bar bill to come in.


.[/quote] Funny, did you read my original post? Do you realize that while Bush was President that the US had both a Congress and a Senate?

[Stephen Eisel]

bring back the eidt button!

[Charlie Page]

If only the recession were a made up fairy tale from the gossip press. Now that's a story worth reporting (and reading)!

Does anyone do any hard core journalism any more? You know, verification of numbers, sources, facts, circumstances, objective reporting, etc. (rhetorical question)

Maybe some of these ‘private donors’ can help reduce the National Debt? 10.7 trillion and climbing each day. If they have money to burn on partying, they should have money to go for a worthwhile cause.

A bit of perspective on the National Debt. The population of the USA is roughly 300 million people. 10.7 trillion dollars divided by 300 million people equals $35,667 per man, woman and child. Lakewood’s population is around 54,000. If my math is correct, Lakewood’s ‘share’ of the National debt is about 1.9 billion. At this amount, the City could be run for the next 15 or so years without taxes, fees, etc.

[Heather Ramsey]

It was not a very good parade. I did not see any marching bands, any circus dogs, any floats, any Irish people dressed up as Irish people. No Majorettes twirling batons.

You just didn't wait long enough. It got started an hour+ behind schedule because of Kennedy's collapse and such and then the motorcade goes first, then gets settled to watch the rest of the parade, where there were like 90 different groups performing...