President Obama...let the party begin. That'll be $150 million, please.

I thought the Obama Era was supposed to be a CHANGE in our political climate. A new beginning. History in the making. Really?

The Associated Press is reporting that the Obama inauguration gala, all told, cost around $150 million, give or take. $41 million of that was raised by President Obama's inauguration fundraising committee. The other $119 million - I suppose you and I pay, hmm?



Now Obama deserves an inauguration like any other president. And I'm not saying his heart and motives aren't true. But I thought he's UNLIKE any other president we've had? That's what he and his supporters have been touting throughout his presidential bid. His platform was based on "CHANGE".

So wouldn't it have been in line with his platform and his campaign to forgo the multi-million dollar celebration (the most expensive, mind you) and spend the $150 million more wisely? On something that would last more than a few days?

Seems to me that Obama - if he really meant everything he said during his campaign - should have backed up his campaign promises and rhetoric and done what FDR did for his 1945 inauguration - FDR made a short speech and served guests cold chicken salad and plain pound cake. Fine - you can substitute something else for the chicken salad and pound cake. During WWI, President Wilson didn't have any parties at his 1917 inaugural, saying that such festivities would be undignified. The thinking was that, with the nation at war, excessive celebration was inappropriate. Those moves were indicative of how history has viewed both FDR and Wilson.

Obama's inauguration committee says it is mindful of the times and is not worried people will see the four days of festivities as excessive. "That is probably not the way the country is going to be looking at it," said committee spokeswoman Linda Douglass. "It is not a celebration of an election. It is a celebration of our common values."

Well, that's not the way I'm looking at it, Ms. Douglass. People are tightening the belts. People are losing their jobs. During this "time of CHANGE", shouldn't the new administration set an example? After all, we are all "neighbors", right? While in the midst of an economic hardship we haven't seen in decades, the arrogance that is rampant in U.S. politics rears it's ugly head in the form of a little pomp and circumstance - partly at OUR expense.

Not the way I would've expected President Obama to begin his presidential tenure.

Read more!