Bullsh*t!
The economy is cartwheeling down range out of control, millions have lost their homes, investments, businesses, and jobs...And this monster government is going to spend hundreds of millions on a GD ceremony?
If this corrupt government had one ounce of responsibility they'd cancel this public parade and inauguration for Obama, due to an economic emergency, and conduct it in a secured environment, indoors, while televising it to the country. Period. No more wasting tax payer money that does not exist in the first place.
This is outrageous. Stop the excuses.
Yeah, great idea. Cancel the public inauguration ceremony for the first time in US history, when the inauguree just happens to be the first non-white President in US history, and millions of Americans are eager to watch the inauguration in person. The bill to deal with the ensuing riots and property damage would make the $160 million look like pocket change. And the long-term bill to deal with the political fallout would make the bill for the riots and property damage look like pocket change.
The reason that the bill is so high is that many more people are reasonably expected to attend than have ever attended any previous inauguration. The people are voting with their feet, and the government is responding accordingly. Have you taken a peek at the federal budget lately? This $160 million is not only just a drop from the obscenely humongous bucket, but is also a lot better spent than many of the much bigger-ticket items. It alarms me how easily so many conservatives allow themselves to be distracted by this sort of thing.