Do we really need second inaugurations?

[ASUG8]

We are talking about the outrageous reported costs of recent inauguration celebrations. Sure, some of the bills are footed by private donations. According to the Annenberg Public Policy Center, the second inauguration of President George W. Bush cost about $157 million -- with some $40 million coming from loyal supporters. But taxpayers were still dunned $115 million or so by local and federal agencies for security, cleanup and other expenses. And Barack Obama's first inauguration cost roughly the same.

Assuming that Obama's second victory lap costs about the same this time around, we are wondering if, in the face of:

The imminent danger of the nation tumbling over the "fiscal cliff," a metaphoric falling-off point formed by a mountain of tax increases and a $600 billion drop-off through federal budget cuts;
A national unemployment rate hanging around the 8 percent mark;
An Eastern Seaboard still wracked by weather events;
National security leadership in meltdown mode because of scandal;
And a trove of other troubles -- including threatened social services and imperiled National Parks -- caused by a dearth of funds;
Do we really need a second inauguration?

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/nov/17/do ... uguration/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Wedgebuster]

No.

[ASUG8]

No.

Agreed. It would certainly set a tone that everyone is serious about frivolous spending.

[89Hen]

No. A 10 minute televised swearing in from the WH is plenty.

[mrklean]

YES WE DO!!!!

[AZGrizFan]

YES WE DO!!!!

[ASUG8]

YES WE DO!!!!

So, regardless of it's a Democrat or Republican, we should shell out $150MM+ of discretionary taxpayer money for a party for Congressmen, lobbyists, high dollar campaign supporters, etc.? Assuming an average middle class household makes around $50K/yr. this "party" would support 3,000 families. Please explain.

[AZGrizFan]

YES WE DO!!!!

So, regardless of it's a Democrat or Republican, we should shell out $150MM+ of discretionary taxpayer money for a party for Congressmen, lobbyists, high dollar campaign supporters, etc.? Assuming an average middle class household makes around $50K/yr. this "party" would support 3,000 families. Please explain.

No, he only feels that way because the presiden't black.

[mrklean]

YES WE DO!!!!

So, regardless of it's a Democrat or Republican, we should shell out $150MM+ of discretionary taxpayer money for a party for Congressmen, lobbyists, high dollar campaign supporters, etc.? Assuming an average middle class household makes around $50K/yr. this "party" would support 3,000 families. Please explain.

Look, I have no problem no having an inauguration, However, I know if Mitt would have won election, no one would be talking about this. FACT!!!!!!

[mrklean]

So, regardless of it's a Democrat or Republican, we should shell out $150MM+ of discretionary taxpayer money for a party for Congressmen, lobbyists, high dollar campaign supporters, etc.? Assuming an average middle class household makes around $50K/yr. this "party" would support 3,000 families. Please explain.

No, he only feels that way because the presiden't black.

WRONG!!!!! my uncle live in DC Stupid SQUID!!!!

[ASUG8]

So, regardless of it's a Democrat or Republican, we should shell out $150MM+ of discretionary taxpayer money for a party for Congressmen, lobbyists, high dollar campaign supporters, etc.? Assuming an average middle class household makes around $50K/yr. this "party" would support 3,000 families. Please explain.

Look, I have no problem no having an inauguration, However, I know if Mitt would have won election, no one would be talking about this. FACT!!!!!!

I'm not making this a partisan issue, and I didn't vote for Romney. Again, if a Republican OR a Democrat wins re-election should we spend this kind of money when a 10 minute formal acceptance of the office will suffice?

[89Hen]

So, regardless of it's a Democrat or Republican, we should shell out $150MM+ of discretionary taxpayer money for a party for Congressmen, lobbyists, high dollar campaign supporters, etc.? Assuming an average middle class household makes around $50K/yr. this "party" would support 3,000 families. Please explain.

Look, I have no problem no having an inauguration, However, I know if Mitt would have won election, no one would be talking about this. FACT!!!!!!

[mrklean]

Look, I have no problem no having an inauguration, However, I know if Mitt would have won election, no one would be talking about this. FACT!!!!!!

I'm not making this a partisan issue, and I didn't vote for Romney. Again, if a Republican OR a Democrat wins re-election should we spend this kind of money when a 10 minute formal acceptance of the office will suffice?

they can take 5k off of my wifes student loans

[ASUG8]

I'm not making this a partisan issue, and I didn't vote for Romney. Again, if a Republican OR a Democrat wins re-election should we spend this kind of money when a 10 minute formal acceptance of the office will suffice?

they can take 5k off of my wifes student loans

You can't double dip, they're probably already subsidized to some extent by the government.

[Ibanez]

So, regardless of it's a Democrat or Republican, we should shell out $150MM+ of discretionary taxpayer money for a party for Congressmen, lobbyists, high dollar campaign supporters, etc.? Assuming an average middle class household makes around $50K/yr. this "party" would support 3,000 families. Please explain.

Look, I have no problem no having an inauguration, However, I know if Mitt would have won election, no one would be talking about this. FACT!!!!!!

There is a difference between a First and Second inauguration. Jeez, you can't be that ignorant.

[Ibanez]

No, he only feels that way because the presiden't black.

WRONG!!!!! my uncle live in DC Stupid SQUID!!!!

What does that have to do with the price of tea in China? My aunt lives in Baltimore, big deal.

[Ibanez]

We are talking about the outrageous reported costs of recent inauguration celebrations. Sure, some of the bills are footed by private donations. According to the Annenberg Public Policy Center, the second inauguration of President George W. Bush cost about $157 million -- with some $40 million coming from loyal supporters. But taxpayers were still dunned $115 million or so by local and federal agencies for security, cleanup and other expenses. And Barack Obama's first inauguration cost roughly the same.

Assuming that Obama's second victory lap costs about the same this time around, we are wondering if, in the face of:

The imminent danger of the nation tumbling over the "fiscal cliff," a metaphoric falling-off point formed by a mountain of tax increases and a $600 billion drop-off through federal budget cuts;
A national unemployment rate hanging around the 8 percent mark;
An Eastern Seaboard still wracked by weather events;
National security leadership in meltdown mode because of scandal;
And a trove of other troubles -- including threatened social services and imperiled National Parks -- caused by a dearth of funds;
Do we really need a second inauguration?

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/nov/17/do ... uguration/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is really just a dog and pony show. I can understand the pomp and circumstance for a First Inauguration but the second should be done in the White House, a brief ceremony to reaffirm the oath of office and let's get back to work.

[ASUG8]

It's very difficult for me to see both sides (remember there is a bi-partisan Inauguration Committee) say they're sharpening their pencils right now to reduce spending and increase revenue when something of this magnitude demonstrates their stewardship with taxpayer's money. There are plenty of other boondoggles that happen daily, but this one is so flagrantly in the public's face that it's ridiculous.

[UNI88]

No.

Agreed. It would certainly set a tone that everyone is serious about frivolous spending.

+1

[Chizzang]

Um...
Nobody in congress actually cares
And certainly not about spending a few hundred million of the tax payers money on a party for themselves
Those who are there got what they wanted - which is "re-elected"
Now it's party time - fuck American tax payers

You don't believe me..?
Watch

[AZGrizFan]

So, regardless of it's a Democrat or Republican, we should shell out $150MM+ of discretionary taxpayer money for a party for Congressmen, lobbyists, high dollar campaign supporters, etc.? Assuming an average middle class household makes around $50K/yr. this "party" would support 3,000 families. Please explain.

Look, I have no problem no having an inauguration, However, I know if Mitt would have won election, no one would be talking about this. FACT!!!!!!

Better to be thought an idiot than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.

If MMitt had won the election, he'd HAVE to have an inauguration, since he's never BEEN inaugurated. See how that works?

Probably not.

[Wedgebuster]

You just have to have inaugurations whenever a Republican is elected as POTUS, just because of the novelty and rarity of it all.

[89Hen]

You just have to have inaugurations whenever a Republican is elected as POTUS, just because of the novelty and rarity of it all.

Obama - D
Obama - D
Bush - R
Bush - R
Clinton - D
Clinton - D
Bush - R
Reagan - R
Reagan - R
Carter - D
Nixon - R
Nixon - R
Johnson - D
Kennedy - D

[AZGrizFan]

You just have to have inaugurations whenever a Republican is elected as POTUS, just because of the novelty and rarity of it all.

Obama - D
Obama - D
Bush - R
Bush - R
Clinton - D
Clinton - D
Bush - R
Reagan - R
Reagan - R
Carter - D
Nixon - R
Nixon - R
Johnson - D
Kennedy - D

The novelty was actually getting a democrat reelected.

[Wedgebuster]

Recent history boys.