2009 Presidential inauguration price tag.....

WARNING: This post may contain strong language, nudity, or spoilers, and may be unsuitable for certain readers. Readers’ discretion advised. Readers who are easily offended should not read this post. Readers who are naïve, live under a rock, or are too liberal or too conservative should not read this post, as they are probably easily offended. It is ok to disagree with the opinion of this post, and you understand you may voice your disagreement in the comments section (anonymously if you’d like); however please exercise rationale, thought, and use good English grammar when posting. No whining allowed. Your mama likes to poke fun and things, and means no personal harm. This blog IS called “got anything else to say,”—just keep that in mind. Continuing on to the body of this post means that you are in agreement that you have read and understand this warning, and you still WANT to continue on at your own will.

$150 Million!!!!!!

According to an article from yahoo news. The Presidential Inaugurational "party" will cost $150 Million....while Bush's party in 2005 costed $42.3 Million, and just 12-years before that, Clinton's costed $33 Million.

So in just 4 years, we're spending over 3 times the amount on the Presidential Inauguration....please tell me it's because our dollar is worth nothing therefore it takes more dollars to pay for the same thing....and not that we REALLY are spending that insane amount of money on some dumb party that normal people can't go to unless you're invited or bought a ticket......
But if the where does the inaugural committee get its money from? Fundraising....but does the inaugural committee happen to have $150 million on hand? According to the article the committee has at least $35 million....but what about the other $115 Million....plus the extra Secret Service protection...?
A little help someone.....?

You know what this reminds me of....celebrity birthday parties. You know what I'm talking about? When celebrities will spend like $30 million on their 30th birthday bash or something like that. This is what it reminds me of. Well I guess our country doesn't have a monarch or royalty...this is the closest thing....with the celebrities coming in a second.

Here's the article from: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl204

That's a lot of balloons
Sat Jan 17, 9:18 pm ET
As the recession continues to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy and inauguration celebrations ramp up, a lot of people are asking: "How much will this shindig cost?"
The short answer? More than $150 million — and yep, that's the most expensive ever. (By comparison, George W. Bush's 2005 inauguration cost $42.3 million. Bill Clinton managed with $33 million in 1993.)
For the first time, President Bush has declared an emergency in Washington, D.C. to supplement the $15 million Congress has already allotted for security measures. It's no surprise that security costs are sky-high — Barack Obama received Secret Service protection very early in his presidential run and record crowds (likely anywhere from 1.5 to 3 million people) are expected for the record number of events. In fact, the Secret Service will be in charge of security not just for inauguration day, but for four days, starting Saturday with Obama's train ride from Philadelphia. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the AP:
"It will be the most security, as far as I'm aware, that any inauguration's had."
Obama's much-discussed (and very cool-looking) custom Cadillac limo certainly couldn't come cheap, though we'll never really know how much it cost. Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell said the car's exact specifications are a big secret, including the safety features and production cost.
But Forbes reports it's not all flak jackets and armored cars:
To manage an event of this scale, the District of Columbia will spend a mammoth $47 million. It is not enough.... Much of the $45 million will go toward creating a dynamic Inauguration experience for the everyday visitor, not just funding exclusive events. "We don't even consider these events to be extravagant," says Linda Douglas, a spokeswoman from the Presidential Inauguration Committee. "With crowds of this size, most of our attention is being devoted to opening up as many events to the public."
The good news for taxpayers: Inaugural celebrations are paid for by the inaugural committee — and Obama has, once again, been a very successful fundraiser — at least $35 million by recent counts. Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, told the New York Daily News:
"We're always very budget conscious. But we're sending a message to the entire world about our peaceful transition of power, and you don't want it to look like a schlock affair. It needs to be appropriate to the magnitude of events that it is."
And if you're eager to whoop it up in the same sassy fashion as our government, Washington hotels have come up with tons of ways for you to spend your money. The Washingtonian has made a list of some of the best ... and worst.
"Most unusual item in a hotel package: Round-trip airfare and hotel for four in St. Petersburg, Russia, part of the Omni Shoreham’s Live Like a President package—the trip is aimed at gaining “foreign-policy experience.” The $440,000 package also includes an in-suite dinner with entertainer Mark Russell.
Most controversial item: A puppy—in honor of Obama’s promise to get his daughters a dog — was originally part of the package deal at the Omni Shoreham but was dropped when the hotel caught heat from animal lovers. Instead, the hotel will make a donation to the Washington Humane Society."
So don't feel bad if you're sitting on the couch watching the historic festivities from home — at least you'll be saving some pennies.