I’m not the brightest bulb in the tree, so please guys help me with this.....

[busterbrown]

With all thats going on. Why does Obama even have to hold another extravagant
Inauguration? I realize a lot of the money its raised privately(How Much?), however
doesn’t it seem a little tasteless for our party to throw a extravaganza such as this at
a time like this, especially since its the second time around?

[underpants]

1. Because we cherish and celebrate our democratic process

[Posteritatis]

42. Sometimes it really is just that simple. (nt)

[madokie]

57. Yes, right now under the circumstances our country needs this

[Motown_Johnny]

2. Why is the second one less important than the first?

It can easily be argued that this vindicates his approach to governing and is therefore more important than the first.


Besides, think of all the money being pumped into the local economy.

[warrior1]

3. I'm looking forward to celebrate Obama's win.

He deserves this.

[patrice]

4. I think maybe at least 50% of the reason is the people who worked their butts off

in the campaign, many of whom may have been not involved in '08, and the friends and families of all of those who want to go.

This is just offered as explanation.

I don't know about extravagance.

[randome]

10. An 'after' party. Yeah.

The ones who were on the front lines deserve it.

[patrice]

13. It's a good thing too. Helps people become persons to one another, not just functionaries. nt

[alittlelark]

44. +1000 The party is for the volunteers.

[patrice]

49. AND it's good for them to party in recognition of the work that they did.

[Agnosticsherbet]

5. NO, it isn't tasteless, it is tradition.

Inauguration Day is an important day in the Republic as it commemorates the first day of a new term.

The Inauguration Ceremony is handled by Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, so you can actually blame excesses on Congress.

It is a celebration of our system.

[upaloopa]

6. No we won and we deserve our party

Most of it is corporate sponsored

[oldhippydude]

8. anything that pisses off Republicans cant be all bad...n/t

[Squinch]

7. Because when we get to say "Ha Ha" on this scale, we want to do it in an elegant way.

[MineralMan]

9. He deserves to celebrate, and I'll be celebrating with him.

I'll be here in Minnesota, though. I can't afford a trip to DC. If I could, I'd be there. Why does it matter?

In any case, the Inauguration festivities are privately funded, so I can't see how it's an issue.

[Walk away]

11. You didn't bring up the extravagant trips and wardrobe that his wife and....

children enjoy! Or the fact that they are celebrating Christmas.
He's the President of the United States for Christ's sake!

[busterbrown]

12. Oh, you’re a sharp one aren’t you? n/t

[Raine]

14. WHY shouldn't Obama have a second one? Every other president has, is he less deserving? IMO this

election is even more satisfying than the first one. Fuck that shit that he shouldn't have an inaugural, not having one would be in bad taste!

[randome]

15. It was a valid point, at any rate.

I just think most of us disagree with it.

[busterbrown]

18. I’m surprised! Most see it that way.

I hate the scum bags on the right!
But the point for me is. How cool would it have been if Obama
came out with a statement proclaiming a drawdown in size of his second
inauguration, because when so many are hurting it just doesn’t seem to play
big. Play, but not play big! That’s rubbing their faces in it to me!

[busterbrown]

17. No one stated he shouldn’t have one!

[madamesilverspurs]

16. Tasteless extravaganza?

Hardly! For this inauguration, especially, it's also very necessary. Considering the deliberate four-years-long effort to obstruct Obama's every effort, the nasty and vituperative invective that has been hurled about him and toward him, not to mention the blatant and unrelenting racism that has fueled and invigorated those words and those actions -- considering all of that, we damned well deserve that moment in which to stand proudly before the whole damned world as we celebrate being better than all that nastiness. The celebration of Barack Obama's second inaugural is OUR moment. WE won. And WE deserve the celebration because those of us who worked so long and hard to make it happen, we do know and appreciate "all that's going on." This "second time around" puts the lie to the ignorance and fear that misinformed the intent, expressed by Mitch McConnell on the occasion of the first inauguration, to hold this particular president to only one term. In the face of historically unprecedented disrespect and abject hatred directed toward a sitting president, WE won. And we're damned well going to party.


-

[CaliforniaPeggy]

39. VERY well said, my dear madaesilverspurs!

[Honeycombe8]

19. I see what you mean. But it is an historic election. Even in bad times, celebrations are good.

They're good for morale.

The second election can be considered as historic as the first one. You could say the first one was a fluke. It just happened. People got carried away. But the second one? That was no fluke. He won by a landslide. Millions ran to the polls and stood in line for hours to vote him in AGAIN. All kinds of voters....white, black, hispanic, women, men, gays. It was an historic election. It is only right that there's a celebration.

It also would go to help businesses in the area....catering, balloon distributors, businesses that provide chairs and rent buildings, decorations, alchohol. Better being spent than invested.

I wouldn't like it to be over the top, though. I'd have to see it to know if it's too much.

He and his staff worked very hard to win the election. They and we deserve something of a celebration. It was a long slug of a campaign. Time to rejoice. We won!

[treestar]

26. True it's a form of government spending

Cutting back on it would be austerity.

[Honeycombe8]

55. It's privately funded by wealthy. Not by govt. So it's directing wealthy funds to being spent. nt

[treestar]

61. that's stimulating too though

Better than stashing it in the Caymans or buying more warheads. The locals in DC probably get a boost.

Anything that draws a lot of out of towers will be good for local businesses.

[Honeycombe8]

62. Yes, I think so too. nt

[BiminiTwisted]

20. Maybe Roberts won't muff it this time

[Tennessee Gal]

21. Trash me now if you wish, but I would like to see Obama set a precedent of not spending

mega bucks on a second term celebration. It would serve as a symbolic statement of understanding the financial hardships faced by many, many Americans. Monies spent on such a celebration are either coming from tax dollars or private donations. If from tax dollars, that money could certainly go to more pressing expenses of the government such as the national debt or reducing deficit spending. If from private donations, those donors might be encouraged to donate to worthy charitable organizations or reducing the national debt.

These are just thoughts that have occurred to me every time a President is elected to a second term. There might be a very logical reason why these ideas are not practical.

[busterbrown]

24. Wouldn’t be surprised if they made a downsizing announcement.

Also I was certainly not trying to minimize Obama’s victory. Only trying to pour salt on republican
wounds!

[Tennessee Gal]

31. I did not think you were trying to minimize the Obama victory. Perhaps the best

way to pour salt in Republican wounds would be for Obama to set a precedent of scaling back the celebration while recognizing the financial hardships this nation is facing. He would be praised for doing so and Republicans would be hard pressed to find a way to criticize such a thoughtful action.

[busterbrown]

45. Exactly...I’m surprised that my original post received so many negatives.....

I’m just trying to think preemptively. I want to see these guys suffer for what they did to
our President. Stay one step ahead of them at all times. It’s working....

[JoePhilly]

22. Did Bush scale it back during 2 wars???

Maybe Obama should fly coach too.

[Tennessee Gal]

23. Obama should scale back simply because he is a better man than W. nt

[busterbrown]

27. Making a comparison between the two is ridiculous! One is an asshole the other is a compassionate

human being!

[treestar]

25. Because it is a new election

Just because the same person was elected does not make it not so.

[Care Acutely]

28. Oh do tell us what else is too nice for the likes of him.

Those black SUV's look pretty expensive. He should look for a used station wagon and tool around in that. And he should feed the girls ramen noodles and powdered mac n cheese. That'd save money. Too much money is wasted on state dinners and special events too. How about paper plates and some KFC? For desert they could serve some of those "pies" you see at gas stations.

Very frugal at "a time like this."

[busterbrown]

33. thats helpful. Take the discussion to dumb extremes.

I hear a lot of sarcasm and vengeance in most replies.
You all sound like a lot of repuke bloggers!

[Ikonoklast]

50. Do tell.

How is that, praytell?

The Republicans are the ones complaining already about the money being spent on the inaugaration.

The memo must have gone out.

I ain't buyin' what you're peddlin'.

[DevonRex]

52. Uh, no. Your OP did, buster. Tasteless??

Right out of Fox News's playbook. That's code and we know what it means when they say it.

[discopants]

29. Why? To Give Fox News something to bitch about.

Really, because Obama deserves the respect of the nation to celebrate his inauguration.

[busterbrown]

37. Thats exactly what Fox News is going to Bitch about.”Uncaring Obama Parties the night away”!

I say take a pre-emptive strike on these shits!

Don’t be surprised if they make some sort of down sizing statement!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

48. And if Obama downsized they'd sneer at him for that.

Disrespecting the presidency or trying to be PC or some damn thing. No matter what he does it will be wrong, as far as they're concerned. What those assholes might think should be the very last thing to influence anything the prez ever does.

[Historic NY]

30. The Inauguration sets the tone for what the administration

wishes to achieve in the coming 4 yrs. It sends a message to the citizens and to the world.

[spanone]

32. when is there a time when there is not 'with all that's going on'

?

[Curmudgeoness]

34. It kinda turns my stomach too.

I wish that we would stop acting like we have a coronation.....even if it is "tradition". Traditions can change.

On the other hand, all the spending does put money into the economy.

[Mothdust]

35. have a great big sloppy party

And rub their noses in it. Yeah!!!

[Mothdust]

36. republican noses

That is : )

[busterbrown]

38. Not doing this kind of stuff is exactly what makes Obama so much better than them!

[Mothdust]

54. you're right, of course

But Republicans have rained on enough of our parades. Why should we conceal our genuine joy in victory just to appease the likes of them? We deserve to feel good and celebrate. They certainly don't give a Damn what we think of them. I am so happy after 8 miserable years under Bush, and we are still suffering because of them. So I have to say "let the good times roll" while they last . Make the most of it!

[geckosfeet]

40. Hopefuly the justices will practice their lines before hand this time.

moran.

[busterbrown]

41. I hope Alito, Scalia and Thomas stay away. They’ll stink up the podium!

[geckosfeet]

43. Well Roberts fucked up his line during the swearing in.

Obama Sworn in Again After Error in the Oath at Inauguration

What a barrel of pig droppings that one is...

[busterbrown]

46. Right! But he essentially gave us Obamacare and took a crock of shit for it from the right.

That was great to watch. In fact it was beautiful!

[geckosfeet]

58. Good point. But he didn't give anything away. He was constrained by a literal

reading of tax law.

A majority of the Court, including Chief Justice Roberts joined by Justices Breyer, Kagan, Ginsburg and
Sotomayor, held that the individual mandate is a constitutional exercise of Congress’ power to levy
taxes.
13
Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution in pertinent part provides that “Congress shall have
Power. . . to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the
common Defense and general Welfare of the United States.” The Court’s decision on this point was
somewhat unexpected, as none of the lower federal courts that considered the question had found that
the individual mandate was constitutional under Congress’ taxing power, although the federal
government did assert this argument.

The majority on the taxing power issue observed that the shared responsibility payment that is triggered
by the failure to comply with the individual mandate “looks like a tax” even though Congress did not
label it as such: its collection is administered by the IRS, it is reported on and paid when filing federal tax
returns, it does not apply to people who are not required to file tax returns because their income is too
low, and it is calculated based on factors such as the amount of taxable income, number of dependents,
and tax filing status. In addition, the shared responsibility payment “produces at least some revenue for
the Government” (the Court noted that the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the shared
responsibility payment will raise $4 billion per year by 2017), which the Court observed is the “essential
feature of any tax.”
14

A Guide to the Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act Decision

[FarCenter]

47. There is nothing in the oath of office that limits it to 4 years

So doing it again seems unnecessary. Besides, he's done it twice already (or maybe 1.9 times?).

[doc03]

51. Take the money and use it to help take back the

house in 2014.

[Canuckistanian]

53. They should at least do something symbolic

Like dedicating all funds donated to the inauguration to charity.

And then serving a kickass pot luck dinner.

[lunatica]

56. The inauguration is because WE, THE PEOPLE want it

President Obama can draw a crowd like no other person in this country. The photo below is a satellite photo of his first inauguration. There will probably be twice that many in his 2nd Inauguration. It's what the people want. We The People get to participate in our Democracy which means we get to celebrate in it too.

[narnian60]

60. The first one was so wonderfully done and fun to watch.

Hard to believe the second one can equal it. We'll see!

[Hotler]

59. It is tasteless. n/t

[Romulox]

63. Agreed. nt