Obama Inauguration Could Take on Subdued Tone

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: Obama inauguration could take on subdued tone


Inauguration preparations at the Capitol began before the Thanksgiving holiday.

(CNN) -- Millions of people are expected to go to Washington to celebrate Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20, but with a troubled economy and pocketbook issues on the mind, the president-elect must be careful to set the right tone.

President Bush raised a record $42.8 million dollars for his second inauguration, and according to Public Citizen, more than 90 percent of the donations to that ceremony were from executives or corporations.

But this year, some say throwing a multimillion-dollar party would be unseemly in a time when crash, bailout, and foreclosure fill the economic headlines. "A lot of it is about tone and making sure that the celebrations that do take place are not over the top, that they don't appear to be insensitive to the pain people have right now," said Ryan Alexander, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense.

The inaugural committee for Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to make sure the ceremony underscores the incoming administration's "commitment to change business as usual in Washington."

The Presidential Inaugural Committee has limited individual contributions to $50,000. There is no law restricting the size of donations, but in the past, inaugural committees have set contribution limits as high as $250,000. The PIC said it will not take contributions from corporations, political action committees, current federally registered lobbyists, non-U.S. citizens or registered foreign agents....

***

When Franklin D. Roosevelt took office, he also faced a financial crisis. He gave voters a now famous pep talk about the failing economy, then skipped the fancy inaugural balls because they sent the wrong message. But analysts say Obama's not expected to go that far because so many people want to celebrate his historic win....

As inauguration organizers work to keep the tone in check, they are speaking out against those trying to make money by scalping tickets to the event. Tickets for the inauguration are distributed through members of Congress, and just 240,000 seats are available for the actual swearing-in ceremony....

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/26/inauguration/index.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. No. FDR NEVER went to ANY balls. Inaugural, birthday, etc. It had nothing to do with...

austerity. In fact, FDR had more inaugural balls than Hoover had.

[glowing]

2. This may be the one party that most people in America would like to see.

Sometimes its good to celebrate and find some down time to exhale and be hopeful... Unlike Bush, who'd want to celebrate that asshat?

[Captain Hilts]

5. And, as in 1932, it was a boost to the local economy. Tell hotels, restaurants, etc. in DC...

that a muted celebration is a Good Thing.

As in '32, it was seen as a good way of giving a jump start to the local economy.

These idiots don't know what they're talking about vis a vis history or economics.

[pretzel4gore]

3. jesus h kerist...

obama seems to be the only thing the 'pukkes got going for them...kinda like clinton was in '92.

[malaise]

4. Some of my siblings and their families are

going - they just want to be there. I hate winter - I'll watch on TV.

[jaxx]

6. I hope it's the biggest party we've ever seen!

Take that CNN.