This is an inauguration...not a superbowl.

[Jeronus]

In Africa, they are still partying. Just try to get them to shut up about Obama!

 

[Sejs Cube]

Tch, I mean -god- it's only a event of momentous historical significance for the USA. It's not like it's a football championship that happens every single year or anything. What's the big deal?

 

[mshcherbatskaya]

They did pay for the big flashy party out of their own pockets.

That's nice to hear . . . sort of. Got a source for that?

ABC News. See my above post [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.84624?page=3#1213001] with the quote and the link.

Does anyone else find it ironic that a large chunk of that money came from executives that were recipients of bailout funds?

It *is* your tax dollars at work--after they've been laundered by the gov't giving them away. Nice.

They paid for it out of their personal fortunes, not out of the bailout money, personal fortunes made BEFORE the bailout, for the most part. Now, am I outraged that they are allowed to keep their personal fortunes after running the banking system into the ground? Do I think these executives screwed the American public out of an insane amount of money? Yes. But to jump from the inauguration to their personal wealth to the bailout to your tax dollars simply doesn't work. Does it bug me that they can use their personal fortunes to buy access to the highest levels of power and thus influence policy by informal banquet lobbying? Yes. But it's still their personal money, not yours, that is paying for the party. And they aren't paying for the entire party either. You are talking about a handful of stockbrokers and bank executives. It's not like there wasn't anyone else tossing money into the pot.

You are acting like the Wall Street Bailout Boys we sponsoring the entire thing with actual bailout money, and it's demonstrably not true. If you have any questions, you can go online and find out who paid how much. If you are determined to be outraged at your tax dollars being spent in stupid ways, you can and should find more worthwhile targets. These are not the droids you are looking for. Move along.

 

[shadowdark]

I found it funny when he forgot what he was supposed to say and had to start over

Same here. I laughed. And then I felt embarrassed that he would botch something like that.

 

[Klagermeister]

i liked it becuase i didn't have to algebra work that day

DUDE! ME TOO!

 

[mosinmatt]

How does everyone here in the U.S. of A. feel about the inauguration festivities going on for the whole day? I don't recall any other president's inauguration going on for this long. Isn't it a bit ridiculous or am I just being a stick in the mud? I'm talking about the fanfare as well.

I pose this question to people living in the US, because I'm unsure of the coverage elsewhere in the world. It is still going on and it seems to be continuing well into the night.

Sheeple love them some Obama Jesus.
They also think they wont have to pay their house payments or rent anymore. Dont underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

160 million dollars...as opposed to Bush's 24million and Clinton's 33 million dollars. Oh well, no skin off our backs right? -_-

My brother looked at how much money was being wasted and had to ask: What the hell are they using all that money for. I had to make the suggestion that maybe they rebuilt the plaza in California as the weather wasn't suitable enough in D.C.

Still wondering how you blow that much money just getting a guy to say a oath.

 

[Sketchy]

I watched some of it at 4 a.m (I was at a friends house and it was on in the same room as our computers were), and I saw Aretha Franklin on it. It was at that point that I decided:
1. What is going on?
2. She kinda looks like a hamburger.