Bush declares a 'state of emergency' as cost of Obama's swearing-in ceremony soars to $161 million

dailymail.co.uk ^ | 14th January 2009 | Paul Thompson

[Joiseydude]

Barack Obama's inauguration is set to cost more than $161 million making it the most expensive swearing-in ceremony in US history.

The President-elect will take less than a minute to recite the oath of office in front of an estimated two million people in the US capital next week.

But by the time the final dance has been held at one of the many inaugural balls the costs for the day will be a staggering $161 million.

[Joiseydude]

zer0: everyone will have to sacrific, well, except me of course.

[mikelets456]

I guess we’ll have a “swearing in ceremony” bail out plan as well....

[RobinOfKingston]

Kinda over the top for a constitutional republic in the throws of an economic down-turn. Fifty bucks and ten minutes with a local JP oughta get it done. Take a couple polaroids for posterity.

[silverleaf]

On January 20th some of us will be eating cake- all of us will be paying for it

[gwilhelm56]

Shouldn't that headline read??

Obama turns DC to DISASTER AREA

[WOBBLY BOB]

yeah,but,but,but.. the GOP spent $150k on Palin’s clothes!!!

[reagan_fanatic]

And the democraps bitch when GM corporate execs waste money by flying around in company jets instead of driving cars.

[TommyDale]

Does anyone else find this extremely offensive, with the current state of the economy?

[omega4179]

Soetoro too big to fail.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Damn, good thing a Republican isn’t doing this in our economic crisis

[jersey117]

Absolutely. At least it made the news in the UK.

[AustinBill]

One can only imagine how such a figure would be spun if it were the tab for a McCain ceremony.

[The Sons of Liberty]

This isn't a coronation. A simple ceremony should do for a usurper.

Bush is entirely too "buddy-buddy" with this guy.

[LuxAerterna]

This is absolutely outrageous. The taxpayers shouldn’t be paying $161 million for ANYBODY’S inauguration, Democrat or Republican. If the Obamatards want to through a huge party for their messiah they should pay for it themselves.

[TommyDale]

And between 3 and 4 times the amount spent on GWB’s 2005 inauguration. The Democrats screamed and yelled about that one...

[anonsquared]

I’m sure that Bambi will be getting his good friend Oprah to cover it so as not to burden the middle class taxpayers. /s

[roses of sharon]

After the New York City metropolitan area, the largest cluster of wealth in the U.S. is huddled around Washington, D.C.

[VR-21]

[jersey117]

I heard that he has reserved a private air strip for the hollywood folk and their private jets.

[ZX12R]

Does anyone else find this extremely offensive, with the current state of the economy?

Shirley you jest. Where is there room for common sense in government these days? And you're acting like its your money or something.