ABC News: What Recession? The $170 Million Inauguration »
Posted By pc25 10 months, 1 week ago in News
Obama's Inauguration Has Been Financed Partially by Bailed-Out Wall Street ExecutivesThe finance sector is well represented, despite its recent troubles," Ritsch said. "Those who worked in finance still managed to pull together nearly $7 million for the inauguration."
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pc2510 months, 1 week ago
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FTA
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The finance sector is well represented, despite its recent troubles," Ritsch said. "Those who worked in finance still managed to pull together nearly $7 million for the inauguration." The donors will get some of the best seats in the house for the inauguration, as well as admittance to some of the best balls and other events. "I don't think that they're going to get a whole lot of face time with the new president himself," Ritsch said, "but they are certainly establishing themselves from day one as his biggest financial supporters. And if there's SOMETHBG THEY NEED OR TO TELL HIM DOWN the road, they will have an easier time doing that than everyone else."
a little pay for play Obama style..........change you sure can believe in.........-
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CactusAnnie10 months, 1 week ago
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Now this part might be change:
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..."Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer and his wife, Connie, each gave $50,000. So did Microsoft chairman and co-founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda. ..."
Looks like they learned their lesson from back in the 90s when they didn't give, and Janet Reno unleashed hell's fury on them... -
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Dionys10 months, 1 week ago
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How many hundreds of millions, if not billions do you think KBR/Haliburton overcharged the US? Why aren't you upset at war profiteering?
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They know of at least a few hundred million in overcharging, so there's likely a lot more. I wonder why you're not upset about that. -
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UnusualSuspect10 months, 1 week ago
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A lot more than I'd like to see spent on the occasion, considering the economy and the TWO wars Bush got us into (when we could have had only one...well, thank God he's GONE!), but it is rightly pointed out that Bush spent almost as much in 2005...
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"...Here's why using the $160 million number and comparing it with Bush's 2005 costs represented a classic apples-and-oranges assessment: For years, the press routinely referred to the cost of presidential inaugurations by calculating how much money was spent on the swearing-in and the social activities surrounding that. The cost of the inauguration's security was virtually never factored into the final tab, as reported by the press
The $40 million (Bush inauguration cost) does not include the cost of a web of security, including everything from 7,000 troops to volunteer police officers from far away, to some of the most sophisticated detection and protection equipment.
The question for the press then becomes: How much did the government spend on security for Bush's 2005 inauguration?
...buried in a recent New York Times article published one week before the controversy erupted over the cost of Obama's inauguration, the newspaper reported that in 2005, "the federal government and the District of Columbia spent a combined $115.5 million, most of it for security, the swearing-in ceremony, cleanup and for a holiday for federal workers"
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." —Eric Boehlert
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Klarissa10 months, 1 week ago
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I think that this comment on the article says it all:
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"With 2 wars ongoing (yes people, we are still at war in both Iraq and Afghanistan) and in the middle of the largest economic crisis since the Great Depression, we are holding a huge party.
It was wrong when Bush did it back in 2005 and it's wrong this time too.
When FDR was reelected during WW2, his inauguration cosisted of a swearing in ceremony in the White House and the serving of chicken saldad sandwiches and pound cake to about 50 people.
So, while people die for your freedoms, we are observing an orgy of excess. Can s "Fall of Rome" be far behind?"-
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UnusualSuspect10 months, 1 week ago
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I couldn't find any figures we taxpayers paid for Bush's 2005 inauguration...any idea what those are, libby?
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Add those to the 2005 Bush cost cited above ($157 mil) and I'm sure it would again come close to Obama's...
Both outlandish, both way overly done...except for the security measures... -
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mesodude10 months, 1 week ago
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The War in Iraq Costs:
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$4,681 per household.
$1,721 per person.
$341.4 million per day.
Thanks, cons. You broke it and you bought it.
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home -
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UnusualSuspect10 months, 1 week ago
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Actually, libby, after re-reading the article, I get the impression that the total was to about $170 million after all, including what we as taxpayers have to pay...
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Swearing-in ceremony...$1.24 million
Federal government...$49 million (what we as US citizens pay thru taxes)
Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia costs for police, etc...$75 million
Private donations (contributions from celebrities, etc)...$45 million (not an expense per se, but money considered spent for the occasion)
Total....$170.24 million
Taking into account inflation and the fact that security cost almost twice as much for Obama as it did for Bush, it's easy to see why it cost so much this year.
Again, I'm not happy with the expenses, but it appears security is where the majority of the money went... -
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Dionys10 months, 1 week ago
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How many hundreds of millions, if not billions do you think KBR/Haliburton overcharged the US? Why aren't you upset at war profiteering?
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They know of at least a few hundred million in overcharging, so there's likely a lot more. I wonder why you're not upset about that. -
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mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned
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libsRfunnyComment removed: Hard Banned7 Replies
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pc2510 months, 1 week ago
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Bush's in 2006 was a little over the top and this is WAY OVER THE TOP, and if there is another camparison to Lincoln!!!!! totally absurd
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http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/01/lets-be-...
Let's Be Real... Obama Is No Lincoln He's Just a Typical Copperhead-
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mesodude10 months, 1 week ago
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LOL...Your post is easily a lie in every conceivable way, pc. Sorry but we're used to your lies and the ease at which they are debunked. ;-P
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http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200901180004?sh...
Yahoo! News echoes Obama v. Bush Inaugural price-tag bupkis
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buckncindykill10 months, 1 week ago
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I recognize that this is a historical event - but it is the hypocrisy of the media in covering the event. Bush spent $50 million four years ago, now Obama is spending three times that much. Four years ago the media portrayed Bush's spending as a travesty and extravagance during wartime. Now? Silence. Surprised? You shouldn't be.
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4thchance10 months, 1 week ago
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That's a TOTAL Lie and is very easily disproven, so why do you think we would beleive anything that you say from this day forward. You just lost any credibility that you may have had!
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YOU ARE A LIAR. Besides, Obama spent $22 TRILLION on his Inauguration party!
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mesodude10 months, 1 week ago
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As is often the case, you're 100% wrong:
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Sheldon Alberts: Brand Obama, A One Man Boon to the U.S. Economy
"People are spending anywhere between $20 and $300," says Aissatou Sene, manager of Making History, a D.C. memorabilia store. The shop's most popular item? Barack Obama hot sauce.
At Fantom Comics in D.C.'s Union Station, store manager Wil Ortiz is doing brisk trade in a limited edition Barack Obama life story comic book. Its list price is $3.99 but the item was selling for $20 the weekend before inauguration.
"He is a one-man boon to the economy," Ortiz says of Obama. "Gotta love it, gotta love it."
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomme...
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mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned13 Replies
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k9kssr10 months, 1 week ago
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On another thread they are talking what an economic stimulus the inauguration and election of Obama has been. All those rented porta=potties and bobble-head dolls, etc. AND there was a thread the other day about Obama condoms, those will probably be really big sellers at the inauguration.
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Of course, some of the ritzier hotels are selling "packages" for $60,000 or so. 'Course for THAT kind of money, you get all your inauguration events tickets, plus a ball gown and tuxedo, and some fancy jewelry to wear. A real bargain in these hard times. -
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BB6410 months, 1 week ago
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How things have changed. When Bush won we had breakdowns of costs the inauguration would cover. So much Aides drugs to Africa, so many homes for the homeless, so much aid to this or that. But when Barry wins, it simply doesn't matter. Hypocrisy thy name once again is Liberal Democrat.
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Charlson10 months, 1 week ago
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Now how much money is the federal government spending? And how much have you been asked to pay? Whatever the government pays into the inauguaration is for security and logistics and not the parties and other peripheral events paid with private funds.
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libsRfunnyComment removed: Hard Banned2 Replies
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maddawg198010 months, 1 week ago
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Oh wow, here we go AGAIN! The more things CHANGE the more they stay the same. Hello people, those in govt. will always do the same as the ones before, have their cake and eat it to, "let them eat cake" kind of thing. So there you go, everyone that thought you were getting CHANGE, are mistaken.
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As for the economy, it wasnt Bush who caused the downturn, look around the world, its a world wide depression, Japan, Germany, the whole world is in a economic downturn. Anyway, God bless Obama, and God bless America! -
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ludimaes10 months, 1 week ago
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There is no way these things should cost this much. If obama was good he would stand there and say lets take all this money and shelter and feed our poor. Not waste on these balls. Look at what all this money could do if he would open up his eyes and look around.
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mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned1 Reply
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mesodude10 months, 1 week ago
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Obama Economic Bubble: Inauguration Sparks Sales
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"Walking around the nation's capital these past few days, one gets the sense that Barack Obama is single-handedly keeping the economy afloat. He's not President yet, but because so many individuals, businesses, and organizations are attempting to profit off his election."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/19/the-barac...
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djn3nunez310 months, 1 week ago
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Ah the final helping of "Sweet Neo-clown Tears of Despair" at the fact that Barak Obama is now President. But I expect the 29%er out there to remain loyal to the DittoHead delusion that somehow Barack is still an Anti-American, Socialist re-distributor, pal'in around with terrorist kinda guy.
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aceofspades110 months, 1 week ago
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I was wondering what rock or cow pie the slimebag neocons were hiding under - didn't see one on the thread about this glorious truly American day -
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Guess I found their hiding space - this thread, like roaches behind the wallboard- pc25,BB64, Klarissa & all the rest - you've got at least 4 years to wallow in your own filth now. -
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Dave5910 months, 1 week ago
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As I read the posts here I find the extreme right still can't quite grasp the simple fact that the people of this nation are tired of the paranoid rantings of people like Limbaugh and Hannity as well as the rants I can see here. I really feel sorry for individuals like that. They seem to be a pathetic lot.
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As for the cost of this whole event I would have to say that individuals who wished to donate did so. I'm glad that they did and I don't regret one dollar spent on this. You may ask why. The answer is because we have to deal with the world and not just our own little corner of it. Some nations are our friends and some are not.
Barak Obama spoke to those nations who are friends as he spoke to other nations that are not so friendly toward us. President Obama shows us and the world that there is a way to move foreward and not remain rooted in the ignorance of the past. The paltry cost of this event pales in comparison to the cost of the war in Iraq.
To pc25,Klarissa and BB64(Guessing you mean the Wisconsin) I will say you do no service to our country by trying to condemn our new leader. I am truly sorry that you can not embrace this. Ignorance will be the death of some, they will go to the grave with the belief they were right. Your ignorance will lead to the same end. -
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mesodude10 months, 1 week ago
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So let's say we agree he's guilty of this. What does it say about you that you're only p*ssed because a Democrat might be benefitting (when you supported with wild abandon, Republicans who did it)? Any thoughts on why your hypocrisy is acceptable?
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