Barack Obama inauguration thread

[Mr.Coffee]

I checked out some of the inauguration highlights and it seemed a bit much. I know he's the first black president and yay they aren't a bunch of racists anymore (apparently) but this puppy supposedly cost something like $150MM??????

$150MM on an inauguration ceremony when the economy is crumbling. Probably could have toned it down a notch and donated a few million to something more useful like schools, hospitals, their existing war situation or their insane debtload?

edit: also Beyonce being brought to tears on abcnews because she was so "inspired" and "proud" was hilarious to me.

[BuzzardsWife]

I did love Michelles dress.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by BuzzardsWife

I did love Michelles dress.

She has looked fabulous all day.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

For me, I was introduced to him back in 2004 when he gave his speech at the DNC. Sure has been interesting to watch him from that point until today.

X2, for all intents and purposes that speech in 04 won him this election,

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I checked out some of the inauguration highlights and it seemed a bit much. I know he's the first black president and yay they aren't a bunch of racists anymore (apparently) but this puppy supposedly cost something like $150MM??????

Yeah, it was a little much. I don't think it was much more elaborate than the recent inaugurations but (apparently) security was more expensive due to the huge turnout and maybe the heightened threat of lunatics.

I heard this morning that celebrities and assorted bigshots were dishing out 50 grand a pop for decent seats. Hopefully a few hundred of them got soaked for that amount and the money goes toward paying for a fraction of this thing (which is, come to think of it, doubtful).

I'd think most of the money went to the regular people like cops (of all labels), limo drivers, laborers, fence-renters, waiters, port-a-potty personnel, and that's alright. Usually when the government blows a big wad of cash on something frivolous it ends up in the pockets of bureaucrats and cronies. The bureaucrats and cronies were begging to be at this thing and none of them got paid to show up.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I watched a bit of it, too much pomp and ceremony for me, anyways I like Obama but this was too much like a Roman Emperor taking office.

Been to Washington? It's pretty clear 'Roman Empire' is what they're going for there. The buildings, design of most monuments and the scale of everything is trying very hard to be nouveau Roman empire.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Been to Washington? It's pretty clear 'Roman Empire' is what they're going for there. The buildings, design of most monuments and the scale of everything is trying very hard to be nouveau Roman empire.

Yes, it is called the Federal style of architecture and is closely linked with the Enlightenment/Revolutionary-period classical ideals of democracy and republicanism which was the foundation of the nascent USA. Planners and architects like Pierre L'Enfant and Charles Bulfinch purposely rejected the Gothic design that had prevailed in Western Europe and symbolised monarchy (although, somewhat ironically, classicism also flourished at this time in Georgian England under the likes of Nash and Soane).

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I checked out some of the inauguration highlights and it seemed a bit much. I know he's the first black president and yay they aren't a bunch of racists anymore (apparently) but this puppy supposedly cost something like $150MM??????

$150MM on an inauguration ceremony when the economy is crumbling. Probably could have toned it down a notch and donated a few million to something more useful like schools, hospitals, their existing war situation or their insane debtload?

You realize that for the American govt 150M is like a fart in a windstorm right?

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I checked out some of the inauguration highlights and it seemed a bit much. I know he's the first black president and yay they aren't a bunch of racists anymore (apparently) but this puppy supposedly cost something like $150MM??????

$150MM on an inauguration ceremony when the economy is crumbling. Probably could have toned it down a notch and donated a few million to something more useful like schools, hospitals, their existing war situation or their insane debtload?

edit: also Beyonce being brought to tears on abcnews because she was so "inspired" and "proud" was hilarious to me.

The main reason the costs were so high was because of security, not because of any pomp or pagentry.

You get 2 million people coming together to share and event security is going to be high and tight. Security for those people, and security for the politicians.

There was at least one terrorist threat against the inauguration, so, it was necessary.

There was no way to not spend that money, unless you told people they couldn't show up. It wasn't a matter of showing off or not having priorities straight.

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I checked out some of the inauguration highlights and it seemed a bit much. I know he's the first black president and yay they aren't a bunch of racists anymore (apparently) but this puppy supposedly cost something like $150MM??????

$150MM on an inauguration ceremony when the economy is crumbling. Probably could have toned it down a notch and donated a few million to something more useful like schools, hospitals, their existing war situation or their insane debtload?

edit: also Beyonce being brought to tears on abcnews because she was so "inspired" and "proud" was hilarious to me.

I made the same comment earlier in the day and i got told i was wrong about the 150 mil.... Beyonce made me laugh as well, who cares what she thinks anyway? she was supposed to be the court jester, there for our entertainment , we dont hear how it made her feel........ at least i dont , she needed to just do her job and sing and then shut up

[North East Goon]

Granted I was a little pickled last night, but did anyone else catch the story on ABC tracing McCain's family back to slavery ownership? Bit of a cheap shot to a guy that has been gracious in defeat.

[CaptainCrunch]

I was talking to a friend last night.

We were thinking if the situation reverses and the next presidents white, and they go to the white community and they're celebrating change based on the color of his skin like the African American community is doing right now. It would appear to be awfully regressive.

[Daradon]

RE NEG: ^^^ I didn't see that, and so I don't understand the context it was presented, but if it was just simply bringing it up or not putting it in some sort of context, then yeah, that seems a little silly.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

Granted I was a little pickled last night, but did anyone else catch the story on ABC tracing McCain's family back to slavery ownership? Bit of a cheap shot to a guy that has been gracious in defeat.

Yeah, I didn't see the point of the story, I'm sure you can trace the ancestary of any white American family and find a slavery story.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Dan02

X2, for all intents and purposes that speech in 04 won him this election,

I wouldnt go that far. It definately enspired the lefts base enough to get him enough momentum to take on the Clinton machine.

He won because on the surface he seems like a genuinely good person and unlike other members of this party - there is currently no reason to dislike him. I wont talk politics because its over and he as won, and hopefully as someone who is more interested in American Foreign Policy than local government in Calgary/Alberta/Canada that he is a good steward of that policy.

Because he is the President of the United States now I will give him the proper honeymoon period he deserves.

Also, it was the right thing to do to make that day the spectacle that it was. Because of timing, race, mood, environment. 150 mil is nothing, and to say they should have dumbed it down, I just dont agree. If anything it should have been more fluff and flair IMO

[fatso]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I was talking to a friend last night.

We were thinking if the situation reverses and the next presidents white, and they go to the white community and they're celebrating change based on the color of his skin like the African American community is doing right now. It would appear to be awfully regressive.

It would appear regressive because it would be regressive.

I didn't see the McCain story on ABC news last night so I probably shouldn't comment. But if I understand their gist - an emphasis on the slaveholding history - I agree that's pretty poor form. Not really much to do with anything about McCain the person and a pretty nasty way to kick someone when they're down.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I was talking to a friend last night.

We were thinking if the situation reverses and the next presidents white, and they go to the white community and they're celebrating change based on the color of his skin like the African American community is doing right now. It would appear to be awfully regressive.

In 8 years, the next President will be a woman (Hilary C.), so we will see this all over again. The first woman president!

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by troutman

In 8 years, the next President will be a woman (Hilary C.), so we will see this all over again. The first woman president!

I'm betting 4

All hail president Condi

Now get me a taco . . . taco's rule.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Awesome! I liked him early on as well. Never really took a liking to any of the other democratic nominees.

For me, I was introduced to him back in 2004 when he gave his speech at the DNC. Sure has been interesting to watch him from that point until today.

Glad to know others such as yourself are fans of the new President.

Honestly, I have a very hard time believing this. Very hard time. And your fellow "Obama 04'ers". A Calgarian hockey fan that joins CP hockey group in 2007 is up to speed on Obama in 2004. Things that make you go hmmmmm?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Honestly, I have a very hard time believing this. Very hard time. And your fellow "Obama 04'ers". A Calgarian hockey fan that joins CP hockey group in 2007 is up to speed on Obama in 2004. Things that make you go hmmmmm?

If you want to search the 2004 thread, myself and others predicted Obama would be President.