DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Inauguration

I was just wondering if anyone else is going? I plan to leave me house at around 4am to catch the bus and train to get to the national mall by 5:30. Anyone else going?

No. Have fun, though.

Nope. I wouldn't go no matter who it was, this isn't really my thing.

Ditto that,...I wouldn't stand in freezing weather to listen to somebody tell me I'm not really freezing.

Gee can't wait, please make sure to post pics from the tailgate.

BaghdadBrownsBacker..I will be watching you and the inauguration from the warmth and comfort of my family room.

There are supposed to be millions of folks there.. thanks but no thanks...

I'll be watching on TV.... thats as close as I wanna get.

I cannot believe there is no media outcry over spending $150 MILLION for an inauguration party while our country is having such difficulties.

The best part? The spinmeisters saying to the effect "We don't think the American people will see this as excessive." Huh? Anyone with a lick of economic common sense will see this as excessive.

If there is one thing politicians learned from Clinton it is this: Tell the masses what they think before they get a chance to consider it and before you get caught with your pants down...that way...they take what you tell them as being the truth and then they believe it.

$150 MILLION...Wow...wonder if they could have cut that by 2/3rds and just got by with $50 MILLION.

My area could really use some of that money to deal with the economic crisis.

Change? Yeah...right.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/01/18/pricetag-inaugural-festivities-reach-m/

What a whiner. It ain't taxpayer money, the money is being spent in America and American workers will benefit. What I can't believe is you're out crying about this.

There was an outcry about Bush's inauguration costing 1/3 of that in 2005.

It doesn't interest me in the least, I won't even be watching on TV.

See...what did I tell you?

You think $150 MILLION is ok to drop on this party.

Really. $150 MILLION! But Obama will scrub every government spending program to cut out the excess...maybe that will start next week?

Yeah...we just HAVE to have Springsteen , U2, and Beyounce as the American workers getting paid.

If $150 MILLION is ok to spend on American workers, then give each state $3 MILLION to hold their own party and "spread the wealth".

By the time security and such was figured in, it was estimated that Bush spent $70 million on his 2nd inaguration.

$40 million or so was raised by private donations.


I believe that Obama has raised a similar $40-45 millon in the form of private donations .. but that certainly leaves a much taxpayer larger bill ..... in much worse economic times.


Of course, $100 million is a mere drop in the bucket compared to the $700 billion that's already been authorized to be spent and/or has already been spent ...... and certainly nothing compared to the trillion dollar (and probably far more) national debt we currently "enjoy".

I was hoping to get there but couldn't swing it so I'll be watching from home.

I wonder if WSU would be complaining if it were for McCain?

I mentioned in the 'Laura Bush buys china' thread that Obama should ask for a less expensive day. It would probably speak volumes and resonate. But, alas, a pipe dream.

Speaking of partisan crap, I am going to have a field day for the next four years listening to people who insisted that Bush wasn't getting a fair shake because of bias knocking Obama for every little thing. I'm going to also enjoy watching the Obama supporters churning out the same excuses as the Bush crowd did (although hopefully not so many...Bush ran out of excuses outisde of simple stupidity a long time ago ).

And around and around it goes.

Elect me,..I'd shut the whole thing down in a day. Then I'd be asassinated tomorrow.
That's what's wrong with the whole thing. Good people are not going to run, and NOTHING is going to change.

There were 20 people on hand when I took my oath. That's how it ought to be.

Willie do you really think if McCain would have won there be one cent less spent?

also, if 2 million people are expected to show up that will cost millions in security no matter how low key you're trying to make it.

inauguration day is a big event, ESPECIALLY this year as it breaks one of the major barriers that has existed in our country.

~Lyuokdea

I'm not trying to make it low key,.. not at all. this is the most historic of events to occur in this country...

tell me, how many people out there,,, either for or against Obama, White or African American... Oriental or Latino, ever, in your wildest dreams (or nightmares if you view it that way) ever thought a black man would be President of the United States.

Honestly, I only gave it a thought once before and that's when I thought that maybe Colin Powell might make a run....If he had,I'm not at all convnced he'd have won, but I thought he had a chance.

So yea, I understand that this may be the MOST significant inauguration of our lives.....

And yes, I understand that millions are expected and yes I understand that it will cost a ton for security...

So pleaes, don't say to me that I'm making it sound low key....

That's a lot of balloons
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Featured Topics: Barack Obama Presidential Transition Play Video AP – Pre-inaugural concert crowd revels in unity
Slideshow: Presidential Inauguration Play Video Video: Obama Addresses Lincoln Memorial Crowd ABC News More from The Yahoo! Newsroom:
Four-day inauguration: Schedule and details Mr. President, it's cold outside Must-See Inauguration TV: Coming to a Screen Near You Famous First Words: The Inaugural Address All Aboard the Obama Express! Inauguration Day: 5 things to watch Practice and pedicabs make perfect Joe the reporter More »

AP – President-elect Barack Obama speaks during 'We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln … As the recession continues to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy and inauguration celebrations ramp up, a lot of people are asking: "How much will this shindig cost?"

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.)

For the first time, President Bush has declared an emergency in Washington, D.C. to supplement the $15 million Congress has already allotted for security measures. It's no surprise that security costs are sky-high — Barack Obama received Secret Service protection very early in his presidential run and record crowds (likely anywhere from 1.5 to 3 million people) are expected for the record number of events. In fact, the Secret Service will be in charge of security not just for inauguration day, but for four days, starting Saturday with Obama's train ride from Philadelphia. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the AP:


"It will be the most security, as far as I'm aware, that any inauguration's had."

Obama's much-discussed (and very cool-looking) custom Cadillac limo certainly couldn't come cheap, though we'll never really know how much it cost. Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell said the car's exact specifications are a big secret, including the safety features and production cost.

But Forbes reports it's not all flak jackets and armored cars:


To manage an event of this scale, the District of Columbia will spend a mammoth $47 million. It is not enough.... Much of the $45 million will go toward creating a dynamic Inauguration experience for the everyday visitor, not just funding exclusive events. "We don't even consider these events to be extravagant," says Linda Douglas, a spokeswoman from the Presidential Inauguration Committee. "With crowds of this size, most of our attention is being devoted to opening up as many events to the public."

The good news for taxpayers: Inaugural celebrations are paid for by the inaugural committee — and Obama has, once again, been a very successful fundraiser — at least $35 million by recent counts. Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, told the New York Daily News:


"We're always very budget conscious. But we're sending a message to the entire world about our peaceful transition of power, and you don't want it to look like a schlock affair. It needs to be appropriate to the magnitude of events that it is."

And if you're eager to whoop it up in the same sassy fashion as our government, Washington hotels have come up with tons of ways for you to spend your money. The Washingtonian has made a list of some of the best ... and worst.


"Most unusual item in a hotel package: Round-trip airfare and hotel for four in St. Petersburg, Russia, part of the Omni Shoreham’s Live Like a President package—the trip is aimed at gaining “foreign-policy experience.” The $440,000 package also includes an in-suite dinner with entertainer Mark Russell.


Most controversial item: A puppy—in honor of Obama’s promise to get his daughters a dog — was originally part of the package deal at the Omni Shoreham but was dropped when the hotel caught heat from animal lovers. Instead, the hotel will make a donation to the Washington Humane Society."

So don't feel bad if you're sitting on the couch watching the historic festivities from home — at least you'll be saving some pennies.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl204


And we are trusting this guy with the economy???? Good grief. That's a lot of money (yours and mine not his) for a party.

A huge amount of that is for security. Not only for the record anticipated crowds, but for the President himself. The first black President of the US. You have any idea how many groups/people would like to be in the history books for his assassination?

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tell me, how many people out there,,, either for or against Obama, White or African American... Oriental or Latino, ever, in your wildest dreams (or nightmares if you view it that way) ever thought a black man would be President of the United States.

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I did.. and I thought it would be relatively soon, I was on record as saying we'd have a black president before we had a woman..... and this was my theory just a few years ago. Where I was wrong was that I thought it would be a republican.

I thought that a good conservative black man could captivate the republican party and move enough moderates and liberals to win. I always thought a black democrat would get too much opposition from the conservative base... but combine Bush's awful approval rating, McCain being less than a big rallying point, Obama's charisma and... well, here we are.

I wish him the best.

Oh but to answer your question about going.. Funny story. When I lived in the DC area, we were doing construction renovation on a DoJ building at 6th and D NW which has 2 straight lines of site to Constitution Avenue, which the motorcade uses to get from the capital to the Whitehouse..... Well, we were working on Clinton's second inauguration day and one of the tasks was to run piping to the new A/C unit on the roof... So, not really thinking about it, I accompanied the HVAC guy to the roof to help him get his stuff set up. So, he is in his dark gray coveralls, and he walks out on the roof with 2 big tool boxes (I was carrying one for him)..... Within 2 minutes, there was a helocopter overhead and secret service coming through the door, guns drawn, onto the roof.. LMAO.. I haven't come that close to soiling myself since I was 2.. It took a couple minutes to go through the tool boxes, search us, etc, show them the plans and the AC unit.... They even made us take the cover off the AC unit to make sure the gun wasn't hidden in there... Then of course they told me that NOBODY was allowed on the roof that day... They were thorough if nothing else. To this day I'm probably still on a watch list somewhere..

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The spin makes me want to vomit.

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- Well just make sure you find a trash can!
As people stated before, Obama is asking for private donations to pay for some of the Inauguration cost. Every Inauguration has had some of the cost covered by donations, the rest was public money. With the amount of people pouring into the city, the amount security is unprecedented. So yes the cost is higher than most but its mostly because of all the security for the city.

The one thing that jumps out to me about spending that much on this........there will be over a million people there to see it. Which tells me it's important enough to do it right. If they spent $150 million and 40,000 showed up, I argue it was too much. If that many people are pouring in to see history, you have to do it right (I'm sure most of that money is security - traffic, crowd control......).

As far as the event, I'll watch the highlights when I get home from work. If its not an NFL game, I'm not sitting in the cold to watch it.

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"...I understand that this may be the MOST significant inauguration of our lives.....

"...tell me, how many people out there,,, either for or against Obama, White or African American... Oriental or Latino, ever, in your wildest dreams (or nightmares if you view it that way) ever thought a black man would be President of the United States.

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Daman: thanks for asking that question openly. As we sit here on the eve of the inauguration, I'm complelled to re-post an offering I made on another message board. It's generally related to my professional field (music), but they have their own version of "Tailgate." It was in this forum that I offered my thoughts- on the day following the election:

_______________________________

This was a moment in my nation's life that I never allowed myself to even dream about.

From the time I was able to comprehend speech, My Mother told me almost every day, "This is the greatest country on Earth. It's one of the few in which anyone- ANYONE- can be the President. Even you, Bobby... if that's what you set your mind to." After decades of bitter disappointment, disillusionment, disaffection and despair, I now see that she was right- as were all the other American mothers and fathers who told their sons and daughters the same thing. November 4, 2008 made them all prophets- whispering into the ears of those who would not- could not believe it could ever be possible.

Barack Obama's ascendancy to the nation's highest office is a testament to My Country's founding principles. He began with less than most, made the most of the opportunities that American citizenship provided, and rose to this place in time on the brightest-lit stage in the Free World. He is, in many different ways, the embodiment of The American Dream.
His ascendancy is made all the more remarkable by the way in which it happened.

He now stands at the center of American (and World) politics because of one overarching reason alone: he was embraced, supported and bolstered by hundreds of thousands of individual Americans who never gave up on the ideals that formed this country. Whites. Blacks. Immigrants. Blue Bloods. Young. Old. These people didn't give a hang about beltway insiders, career Washington politics, or any of the myriad of 'realities' that sought to impede their momentum. They believed in themselves... and they believed that this man could be the one to represent them and their vision about what America could (dare I say, 'should?') be. They were passionate and undeterred... and they made History happen. For all The World to see.

We the People elected this man. Not lobbyists, insiders, ethnic groups or parts of the political machinery that have been snugly nestled in place for decades. The People actually took the power for themselves this time- and made it work. And they did it DESPITE any number of potential deterrents, distractions, and demagoguery that jumped up to block their path. The will of The People was made known.

Obama's is the story of what people can do, if they are truly motivated, deeply devoted, and unwavering in their passion(s). The watch cry of his candidacy was truly all-inclusive and brilliant at the same time... and it came at a time in History when the American public could have simply thrown in the towel, allowed "Political Bidniss As Usual," and settled for the same type of mediocrity that has so long been the order of the day.

In short- they heard: "Yes, We can... " ...and they took it to heart.

Then, they did the almost unimaginable: They rolled up their sleeves, co-operated, collaborated and communicated with each other- and they made it happen for themselves. The rest of the country took that example, and magnified it on their own... to the tune of near-record voter turnout.


The bottom line: Barack Obama is the face of what America can really be, if that is what she chooses. Not because of his eclectic ethnicity, not because of his charisma, vision, or even his oratory skills. He is the face of America, because he is the product of America.


If we can meet on the common battlefield that is American politics and agree to hire this most unlikely of candidates to the highest office of Our Land, we can accomplish anything.



I really miss my Mother and Father today. It would have been very nice to sit quietly and reverently in the corner of the living room, and simply watch them- as they witnessed this turning point in America's Story.

I'll cling to this memory for all my years... so that I may describe it to them in detail when they see their little boy again.


It's the very least I can do. I owe them that much- and so much more.


humbly (and hopefully),
Clemzilla


____________________________

This inauguration should be viewed as a celebration of who we are as Americans: a society of individuals who collectively, and with the power of their convictions, have the strength, freedom and ability to re-invent, renew, and re-write the unfolding story of their nation's life. It's very rare on this planet... and it is worthy of the kind of celebration we are witnessing.

Celebrate this turning point tomorrow... for the hard work begins in earnest on Wedneday.

jmho,
Clemdawg

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This inauguration should be viewed as a celebration of who we are as Americans: a society of individuals who collectively, and with the power of their convictions, have the strength, freedom and ability to re-invent, renew, and re-write the unfolding story of their nation's life. It's very rare on this planet... and it is worthy of the kind of celebration we are witnessing.

Celebrate this turning point tomorrow... for the hard work begins in earnest on Wedneday.

jmho,
Clemdawg

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With all due respect Clem, I will withhold my own historic celebration of this momentous occassion of "who we are as Americans" until a few years from now. If he works to reduce spending, then I will celebrate. If he works to reduce government waste, then I will celebrate. If he works to keep us on the offensive against terrorists, then I will celebrate. If he doesn't sacrifice jobs to the rest of the world over the environment, then I will celebrate. If he leaves the second amendment in tact, then I will celebrate. If he works to change the tone in DC, then I will celebrate. If he doesn't raise my taxes, then I will celebrate.

However, if he works to expand cumbersome government programs, then I will not. If he works to chip away at the second amendment, then I will not. If he is more passive than aggressive when dealing with our enemies, then I will not. If he injects the federal government deeper into controlling healthcare, then I will not.

There are a lot of bad things to change and good things to improve upon and if he achieves some of that, then I will celebrate. He may be the first black President, yea, I get that.... but in the end, he's still the President and as they say, this is a results oriented job. Best of luck Mr. President.

Obama’s track record on fiscal responsibility as president will begin on an appropriate note Tuesday. The 44th presidential Inauguration ceremony will cost at least $50 million and go down as the most expensive Inauguration in history. Perfect. Love it.