Obama inauguration costs in line with past

Tue, 01/06/2009 - 4:27pm
By: Letters to the ...

This is in response to a recent letter concerning the cost and impact of the presidential inauguration.

The dissatisfaction with the election results is very transparent with the use of words like “new messiah,” “anointing,” and “he’s too impressed with himself.”

This presidential inauguration, planned by the Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC) as it has during every other inauguration, will be no different than those of the past.

President Bush’s first Inauguration cost $40 million. His second inauguration — when he was already in office — cost another $40 million, and that was before the cost of the added security due to 9/11. It involved nine balls, a youth concert, a parade, fireworks and the official ceremony. (Again, this is when he was re-elected, simply staying in office.)

President Clinton’s first inauguration cost $33 million and his second cost $23 million. George H. Bush’s inauguration cost $30 million.

I’m curious, did you write in with your dissatisfaction of the cost and need for added security when Bush’s two inaugurations cost in excess of $80 million?

Were you worried about terrorist attacks when his re-election was the first inauguration after 9/11? Using your thoughts on this event, wouldn’t it have been advantageous to the country, to the condition of Washington, D.C., and to the security of all our citizens, if Bush simply took office and did away with all the celebrations the second time around?

Would you have these same concerns if McCain won the election? You do realize the inauguration would be holding the same events, regardless of which candidate won.

The President of the United States is the highest position in this country. Why shouldn’t the election of this office be treated with celebrations? This inauguration is said to be costing in the vicinity of $50 million, about the same as Bush’s second inauguration, with the added security costs.

There are many more showing up in Washington for this inauguration because of the hope and excitement that accompanies President-Elect Obama.

As far as the cost is concerned, seems like pocket change when you think we, as taxpaying Americans, are paying $10 billion dollars per month to stay in Iraq.

I personally will be watching every minute of the inauguration, with great enthusiasm, on television that week. I wish I too were fortunate enough to attend in person. Go, Obama!

Debbie Pitts

Peachtree City, Ga.

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Submitted by MYTMITE on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 2:14pm.

Why don't people use spell check or a dictionary if they are not sure of a word? Why not refer to a book on correct word usage or spelling? Makes things so much easier and makes your post seem so much more intelligent when you use the correct word, correct spelling and correct usage. Just wondering.

Submitted by skyspy on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 9:41am.

I received an e-mail that really spells it out.

In the early 90's the IRS confiscated the Mustang Ranch in Nevada for tax fraud. They tried to run it and make a profit. The buisness failed. Our worthless knuckleheads in government couldn't even make money running a whorehouse selling booze!!! How incompetent do you have to be to fail at this???

These are the same brainless idiots we just gave billions of our tax dollars to use to "fix" the economy.

Fred Garvin's picture
Submitted by Fred Garvin on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 8:57am.

The answer certainly doesn't involve government intervention. Government is responsible for the mess we are in now. They have managed to screw up the banking industry, Social Security, Medicare, the job market, etc. etc. etc.

Government can't seem to do anything right, so the answer does not involve giving them more power and money. They will squander it on inefficient programs that penalize the productive in society.


Fred Garvin's picture
Submitted by Fred Garvin on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 11:05am.

Tax problems may plague Obama's treasury pick

I suppose barry's first Supreme Court nominee will be on the FBI's "most wanted" list.

"A Capitol Hill grilling is likely for Timothy Geithner, President-elect Barack Obama's pick to head the Treasury Department, after public revelations he failed to pay $34,000 in taxes several years ago.

Senate Democrats are pressing to schedule a quick confirmation hearing for Geithner on Friday, hoping to tee up swift approval of his nomination on Inauguration Day. But newly released information about the tax goofs by Geithner, regarded as a brilliant financial markets specialist well-positioned to deal with the nation's considerable economic problems, could complicate the process."

Here we have a person who wants to head the IRS, and he failed to pay income taxes.

This is the kind of change we can expect for the next 4 years folks. Gypsies, tramps, and thieves nominated by Barack Obama, who is nothing but an incompetent boob.


Submitted by skyspy on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 9:58am.

If this bozo gets the treasury job maybe we ALL can cheat on our taxes. His nomination should give all of us a free pass to do whatever we want.

JeffC's picture
Submitted by JeffC on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 12:04am.

Of a Bush/Cheney supporter complaining about incompetent boobs!


Submitted by AtHomeGym on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 12:58pm.

You might want to be more careful with your comments or you could find a Secret Service Agent knocking on your door.

Fred Garvin's picture
Submitted by Fred Garvin on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 8:24am.

I should have refered to him as an "incompetent nincompoop". Much better description for ol' barry.


JeffC's picture
Submitted by JeffC on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 11:59pm.

Cheney and his people are not in charge any more.


S. Lindsey's picture
Submitted by S. Lindsey on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 10:12am.

Jeff.. In your world can any Democrat do ANYTHING wrong?


Gene61's picture
Submitted by Gene61 on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 7:08pm.

The Democrats' takeover of the House of Representatives will give the party more power on Capitol Hill than it has enjoyed since 1994, including control of powerful committees, responsibilities for the federal budget and the opportunity to investigate the Bush White House on he leaves office.

That raises the prospect of what conservatives fear will be a "blizzard of subpoenas" being issued.

So let the spending on endless investigations begin! Democrats cant govern, they only are interested in making Buh look bad, if they manage to Obama to go along in the witch, the better off they hope to be.

"As the Lord High Executioner said in The Mikado, 'I have a little list'," John Dingell, the veteran Michigan Democrat, said recently.

Mr Dingell, who was first elected to Congress in 1955, earned a reputation as an aggressive chairman of the Commerce Committee during Ronald Reagans's administration. It is a role he intends to play again. Mr Dingell has announced that he plans investigations into everything from the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina to energy policy by way of environmental policy, the Food and Drug Administration, port security, nuclear waste management and trade policy.

More money wasted in th end on endless investigations. Bush kept us safe, that matters to me most of all.


JeffC's picture
Submitted by JeffC on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 1:41pm.

Harry Reid is virtually worthless as a leader and Pelosi would be about my 400th choice for Speaker. Lots of them, like "Cold Cash" Jefferson should be in jail.

Now that the screw has turned you can look forward to my disparagement of the new people in charge. Give 'em time to get in and do something first.

I promise not to be shy (insert smiley face here).


Submitted by swac on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 9:10pm.

Worthless!!! Compared to what? Frist, Newt, Delay, Cunningham, Abramhoff, Gonzales and Cheney?

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