The $50? Million Dollar Inaugeration

You read that correctly. The federal government spent $115 million dollars for the 2005 inauguration. Keep in mind, that $115 million price tag was separate from the money Bush backers bundled to put on the inauguration festivities. For that, they raised $42 million. So the bottom line for Bush's 2005 inauguration, including the cost of security? That's right, $157 million.

Foxfyre wrote:

I just wish President-elect Obama had chosen to be a true example of real and rational change instead of another prima dona who seems to think he deserves $150+ million to be spent glorifying him while the little people can 'eat cake'.

Of course, you realize that, if you calculate the cost for Bush's 2005 inauguration the same way the $150+ price tag for Obama's inauguration is calculated (i.e. including cost of inauguration, events and security), you arrive at a cost of roughly $157 million for Bush's 2005 inauguration....

old europe wrote:

Foxfyre wrote:

I just wish President-elect Obama had chosen to be a true example of real and rational change instead of another prima dona who seems to think he deserves $150+ million to be spent glorifying him while the little people can 'eat cake'.

Of course, you realize that, if you calculate the cost for Bush's 2005 inauguration the same way the $150+ price tag for Obama's inauguration is calculated (i.e. including cost of inauguration, events and security), you arrive at a cost of roughly $157 million for Bush's 2005 inauguration....

Foxfyre wrote:

Did you miss the part where I criticized Bush 43, Clinton, Bush 41, Carter, and Reagan for the extravances surrounding their inaugerations? I have not criticized Obama more. Or less.

If you have called Carter, one of the Bushes or Reagan a "prima dona who seems to think he deserves $150+ million to be spent glorifying him while the little people can 'eat cake'", then, yes, I must have missed that part. Sorry if that was the case.

Foxfyre wrote:

Yes there are those frantically trying to rewrite the reported numbers for the 2005 inaugeration to justify this one, but none of that changes the fact that I wanted Obama to be different.

I'm sure that's true. I'm also sure it's true that there are enough people out there who are trying to inflate the numbers for this inauguration or use numbers that are calculated differently for both calculations in order to have yet another reason to whine about all things Obama.

I'm also sure that you wouldn't be intentionally so dishonest to compare entirely different sets of numbers when comparing this inauguration to the previous ones just to make Obama look bad.

Foxfyre wrote:

I wanted him to be the agent of change he promised, to lead by example, and demonstrate that the government can spend our tax dollars responsibly.

Blimey. I thought you wanted him to lose the elections.... Very gracious of you, and very sad if it didn't last until the inauguration.

Foxfyre wrote:

And in the midst of one of the worst recessions we've seen since the Great Depression, he has disappointed me.

I reserve the right to be disappointed.

Duly noted. Also noted that you're disappointed by Obama even though, in your words, "the inaugeral extravaganza is a sort of tradition in this country and Obama isn't doing it any differently than his predecessors have done". That's really the only thing that seems to be a bit odd.

You had a point?

But that does not prevent me from being disappointed that Obama is starting out by appearing to attempt to top every inaugeration that preceded his rather than choosing to lead by an example of fiscal responsibility.

Q. How much do Americans spend on an inauguration?

A. Inaugural balls are funded privately, and spending varies from administration to administration. George W. Bush’s 2005 celebration included nine inaugural balls and was the most expensive in history at over $42 million. Bill Clinton's first inauguration cost about $30 million, which was comparable to the inaugural costs of George H.W. Bush in 1989.

The mayor of Washington, D.C., has predicted that security and services for the 2009 inauguration will cost the city some $50 million, the same amount Congress provided to both Denver, Colorado, and St. Paul, Minnesota, to host the Republican and Democratic conventions earlier this year.