Throughout his entire campaign for presidency, Barack Obama used the word “change” every chance he got. America voted him in based on the fact that he promised to do things differently, to really turn this country around (although after Bush’s two terms, and the thought of another Republican in the Whitehouse, many Americans probably would have voted for Obama if all he promised to “change” was the toilet paper in the oval office bathroom).
So, my question is, why is he allowing this inauguration to carry a price tag of $150 million? I’m sorry, but with the economy in the toilet, unemployment at its highest in years, the stock market a shell of what it once was and no end in sight, there is just no excuse for that kind of spending. It’s a glorified “welcome” party. It doesn’t have to cost a mint. I’m not an Obama basher, but maybe he should have put his money where his mouth is and enacted his “change” by refusing to spend so lavishly and instead putting those millions to work for the good of the tax payers. Your thoughts?
Considering there are about 3 million people there I think the price tag is pretty fair.
Bush's was comparable in price despite my best efforts to prove my gf otherwise...the security alone is prob 40M
This surprises you? I laugh at the people who think Obama is going to bring any kind of change. The country hates the man who brought real change over the past 8 years. We elected a politician and we're going to get a politician for the next 8 years.
You are soooo right. It's all marketing. He was better at marketing himself to the american public than McCain was.
I can see what you're saying sbmerchant. Thing is, I would much rather have a politician in charge of our country (a really good one at that) than the sorry excuse of a president who tried his best to ruin our country for the past 8 years.
if by change you mean a bunch of clinton era appointments to cabinet and a racist bennediction at the innauguration... then yeah.... we got change.
stimulus= fried chicken free for everyone
Free basketballs stimulus program
The media quotes about 1/3 was privately donated. The total is bill is pretty small for government spending and it always costs a few million. Security I am sure is a large portion of the cost. Plus, he wants the illusion to keep going, so of course he wants a big opening event. It doesnt matter anyways, all Obama has to do is hit the "fix economy" button in the oval office and we are fine.
Genius marketing though: Change. This is how a totally inexperienced "community organizer" becomes senator --> president in no time.
oh no you di'int
Well, no one's saying this board isn't full of bigots.
Tear into Obama for his infinite short comings, but being black? Black people can't speak properly, like basketball, and fried chicken?
Kill yourself.
mmm mouth-watering fried chicken...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123240839888695813.html
Let's all "hope" that we can "change" to "become the country our forefathers envisioned" and "fix this thing"--whatever that means. One thing you can definitely say about this guy: he certainly loves himself. 2 books as a junior senator (memoirs no less) = full blown, uninhibited narcissism.
Its one thing to criticize and argue logically but to make numerous racist comments shamelessly on this board shows the shallowness and low calibur of people that access this site.
Fight back with proper spelling. But seriously, let's see just what kind of change we are gonna experience without references to fried chicken and basketball. I like both by the way, as well as the watermelons.
I do apologize, anonymous internet threads are one of the highest form of intelligent, thoughtful discussion forums in modern history. It's all politically correct, formal communication, void of any, if even only slightly, distasteful content.
http://esum.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/serious.jpg
I wanted to get fried chicken for mlk day, but was too drunk on hurricane to get on the bus and go to the restaurant
Well the guy is one hell of a speaker and he knows what the American public wants to hear. The average American doesn't know dick and could be persuaded to believe anything with the right approach.
It also really seems like this has been more about Obama than the United States. All I hear is talk about Obama. I hear nothing about how our country will be a better place to live. I guess I shouldn't expect much more than that though. I've asked countless people who are Obama-crazed if they could tell me the difference between monetary and fiscal policy... no answer, even though they think he has a great plan for the economy.
Hopefully the public insanity will settle down and policy changes will be held to only the minimum amount necessary.
Its stupid if anyone thinks Obama can bring about any real change...he's just going to blame anything that goes wrong for the next 4 years on Bush, and take the credit for everything that goes right. Also, the price tag for his inaguration is over THREE times as much as Bush's last. And the liberals at every magazine were going insanse about the giant $40 mm inaguration during a war (and an economic expansion). Now we have a war (equally expensive thanks to the surge/lowering of violence) as well as the worst recession of modern times. A "change" from tradition would be Obama saying..."Hey America's in a tight spot right now and I think we should just do the swearing in...not the day of lavish parties etc." THat would take a real "merchant of change" instead of this status quo + more bullshit. "Change" is only good in some respects, Obama wants income redistribution to make the less fortunate able to not work and make money...is that fair to those of us who make a real living. He wont "change" the welfare system in a positive way- he just wants to throw more money at it rather than incentivizing working. He won't "change" the racist tendencies in America except by signing every affirmative action an hate crimes law that passes his desk- read some of the hate crimes laws...its ridiculous. He won't "change" Wall street for the better, he will go regulation crazy, destroy profits and send the economy (that is slowly coming out of its heart attack and subsequent coma) into a tailspin. Is Obama the "change" many want...yes....is Obama the "change" we need...I think not
So what do you do? -I work for an investment banking firm. Oh okay; you are like my brother, he works for Edward Jones. -No, a college degree is required in my profession
What, you've never heard of a fiscal stimulus before?
http://thematurationofshane.wordpress.com
It's not like the $150mm just disappears after it's spent...
Lets analyze the people criticizing my very rationale comments. One shot back with how I spell, thats pretty easy. The other basically admitted that this site is a bunch of idiots, its anonymous and nothing means anything so its a free for all say what you want! Say anything on Wallstreetoasis.com just a bunch of stand up bankers. Criticize blacks, jews, its all acceptable because this is the internet!
I am glad your "very rationale" comments make so much sense. However, online message boards exist precisely for people to vent their opinions, be they bigoted or "very rationale." Yes, criticism is acceptable; we indiscriminately bash everyone, including ourselves.
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