Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009

I Don’t Care If It’s Bush or Obama… JUST KNOCK IT OFF!

capitalThey Call This Patriotism?

I Call It Shopping At Saks Fifth Avenue on a WalMart Budget!

First off, I apologize in advance for anybody who I happen to offend in this post.  I warn you, in advance, that if you are easily tempered by political posts… read no further.  I’m not here to make enemies.  In fact, I’ve really enjoyed making friends via  my blog.  But, I am a realist.  I believe that real times call for real measures.  And, I thank God that I was born in such a glorious country in which I, as a single woman, can speak freely about my opinions!

It is not my intent to upset Obama supporters nor Republicans for that matter.  I’m just fuming about something and I need to vent!  This post is JUST MY OPINION.  For a very detailed article that accurately describes BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY, click HERE.  This well-researched article explains that both BUSH and OBAMA spent ridiculous amounts of money on INAUGURATIONS.  Shame on you, President Bush.  Shame on you, President Obama.  What a waste of money!  We don’t need to spend HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars on inaugurations!  What do the annual national addresses & press-conferences typically cost?  Can’t we do it for that amount of money?

After the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, I was shopping in a local store and overheard people discussing the costs associated with the event.  According to these folks, the inauguration plus the 10 Balls he were attending incurred costs in excess of $160 Million Dollars.  WHAT?  That could not be right.  I asked around to people who I respect to find out what they had to say.  I got mixed responses.  Today, I spoke with a friend of mine who I respect dearly… she is a NEWS GURU!  She confirmed… over $170M for the inauguration and 10 parties.  She further provided me insight on the following (which I have since verified):

  • Much of the costs associated with the inauguration had to do with the security by opening up such an immense area for citizens to view the event
  • Many campaigners who earned (via their efforts and volunteering) special “purple tickets” to the event… who came from far and near… were unable to get a spot for the event.
  • Obama did not attend the ball that honors the military heros… yet, attended all the others.
  • This inauguration did cost into the hundreds of millions and did exceed previous ones by considerable amounts of money.

Living in California where we are facing tremendous financial issues (like getting I.O.U.’s from the state government)… I am especially pissed off that those monies were spent on parties & security.  Don’t get me wrong!  Obama deserved   to have his inauguration and the standard  pomp and circumstance that surrounds it.  He is a United States President, after all.  He deserves nothing less than what the previous presidents have had.  BUT, he deserves NOTHING MORE!  We are in the toughest financial crisis of our history and the very last thing we need right now is more money spent frivilously on things that taxpayers DO NOT NEED. 

This is what sets me ON FIRE.  If President Obama is really about change… if he is really about helping the people… then why didn’t he start with his inauguration?  I recommend to him:

  • Tell the people how much this costs ahead of time!  Don’t you think they would side with you on the opinion that it is ridiculous to spend this kind of money on parties and security when millions are out of jobs and are faced with losing their homes?
  • Inform the people the money is better off spent on aiding the unemployed, the energy crisis, and the housing crisis.  Urge them to view the inauguration from their television sets… SAVE MONEY, SAVE GAS, SAVE FEDERAL DOLLARS.  Change starts with HIS Presidency.
  • Attend the standard number of balls.  Ensure that they are all covered by sponsorship and NO TAX Dollars.  Let the US Citizens know how you pushed to save their dollars in this area.
  • Honor our military heroes and soldiers at the ball by gracing them with your attendance.  They need you more than Beyonce.

I strongly believe in walking the talk… in other words… don’t just say a bunch of bullcrap of how you are different and what you intend to do.  Do what you say you are going to do!  Lead by example.  The people of this glorious country voted for a man of change… so, CHANGE!  Change starts with you… not by telling others to do so… and, certainly not by spending precious dollars on parties and security.  Obama, I believe you should have told your citizens… “Look, we simply cannot afford this.  Let’s make a real difference and STOP THE BLEEDING!  Despite potential disappointment, let’s band together on this and prove to one another that this will be a New World for us!”

In my opinion, the last thing that our country needs right now are galas and excessive events.  And, this is not all President Obama’s fault.  And, I do believe that everybody deserves a second chance.  As the leader of the free world, President Obama… I know you can do it.  I see you rolling up your sleeves and attempting to face challenges head on and in a different way than it was done in the past by other presidents.  Don’t let our country down… be bold, be brave, and BE SENSIBLE like I know you can be.  Show us that New Day… show us how to change as a people, as a land, as a UNITED country!

And, President Obama… when you’re re-elected… can we try cutting the costs then?  Pretty please! 

OH… UPDATE!  On Tuesday, Margo of Life In The Short Lane has a perfect proposal to cover the costs of the inauguration.  Click Here!  It’s SIMPLY FABULOUS!

UPDATE #2:  RedLady’s Reading Room has made an incredible point!  Obama did inherit this complete disaster of an economy that he had nothing to do with.  He’s got a mess to clean up.  People before him did the same thing… SPEND SPEND SPEND.  I totally and whole-heartedly agree with her.  And… to all of those people:  YOU SUCK!  I will never be so ignorant again!  Stop spending our HARD EARNED DOLLARS!

UPDATE #3:  Not that anybody probably cares…  but, I was raised in a very split family, politically.  1/2 were Republican and 1/2 were Democrat.  I am, currently, the most LIBERAL voting person in my family… I believe.  I am not a converservative, but I am a capitalist when it comes to the ability for anybody to achieve a dream in the USA.  I am not completely right-winged because I believe some social programs require reform for them to work properly.  I am an environmentalist and a feminist.  I vote on both sides of the party lines and am more focused on laws, intiatives, and local/state spending than I usually am on Federal politicians.  I also have NOTHING against Obama and am HOPEFUL that he will be an excellent president.  But, I do believe that he will achieve that in his good works and acts, not out of promises and words.  And, I would say the same thing about ANY OTHER PRESIDENT.   Please do not take my post as an attack on the Democratic Party or President Obama.  The issue I am attacking is spending.

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11 Comments

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11 Responses

  1. Care

    January 28th, 2009 at 3:44 pm

    I don’t know if this will make you feel any better whatsoever, but, maybe… ? Just think about all the earnings that the caterers and guys selling hotdogs on the street, the guys and gals who cleaned up after the balls, the event planners who planned them, the security professionals and their families…
    Then again, I admire your tenacity in exploring this issue. I have NOT so I’ll take your word for any wasted cash…

    Care’s last blog post..The Great Perhaps

  2. Laza

    January 28th, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    I live in DC metro area and I’ve got to tell you, spending or not, this Inauguration was a HUGE deal. Like, the biggest thing to happen in the area in recent memory. My boss has been to every Inauguration since 1975 and big protests like the Million Man March, and he said he’s never seen anything like it–in terms of the number of people attending. THE PEOPLE wanted to attend, so they had to be accommodated–and that means money. He’s not the standard President. And I’m pretty sure (but not completely) that the Inauguration was planned by a congressional committee. I think Feinstein was the chair.

    And despite the money spent there were mistakes made, I’m not sure this is all that unusual. I was stuck on the mall for several hours after the event because of confusion between the National Guard and the police, but I was just so glad to be there it didn’t really matter. Everyone was happy, that’s what matters.

    And, unfortunately, you need money to make money, so that’s where the whole spending thing comes into play.

    That being said, good for you for voicing your opinion! Definitely appreciate that. :)

  3. Menagerie

    January 28th, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    That’s where you and I will have to agree to disagree. He is, at this time… a president without a track record… just another newly elected president. Being a bi-racial man elected into office does not make him more “special” than any other previous president, in my opinion. I truly believe that color or skin, race, origin, or sex should not have anything to do with what kind of person you are or what your are capable of. It’s like saying… if we voted a woman president in office that she would not be a “standard” president. YES, she would! A president’s greatness should be measured on his actions effectiveness during and after his/her term.

    Feinstein and the committee should be ashamed of themselves, as should Obama (and past President Bush). I’m sure that people wanted to be there… I can understand that fully. However, NOBODY gave the US public the information about the costs and urged them to help in aiding theses exorborant costs by watching from home. For example, was landing on the moon any less special because people weren’t there to witness it? NO!

    Also, where was the option to tell people… if you really want to come… unfortunately, there is a price for a ticket to offset the cost of security? Just because people WANTED to go, doesn’t mean that our taxpayers money should be thrown at it. PEOPLE want to keep their homes… PEOPLE want jobs…. PEOPLE want all kinds of things and there are laws passed on these issues before money is thrown at it. What I’m mad about is the costs that Bush and Obama BOTH allowed to be spent without properly educating the citizens on the ramifications of this spending. $200 Million dollars could have saved MANY families’ homes. I’m sorry, there is nothing that anybody can say that will change my opinion on the FRIVILIOUSNESS of this spending at a time when we don’t have it. We’re not that prosperous nation anymore. We don’t have this kind of money to spend.

    For all of those who wanted to see this inauguration as “different” because Obama is bi-racial… I am sorry to express my opinion that race, color or creed does not set somebody apart. It is the man/woman inside that matters. After all… if you melt down you in a pile down to your chemical makeup RIGHT NEXT to my pile of the same… all you see is Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Trace Elements. We are all, God’s children, and the same.

  4. Margo M

    January 28th, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    Sheri, Good for you for posting your opinion. I think we all are just exhausted (and know we may be for a while) from the debacle that is the financial crisis… and you are right that accountability needs to come from the top. And at this point a little would go a long way, don’t you think? Thanks for the shout out too! PS – your and your daughters are gorgeous!

    Margo M’s last blog post..Welcome to the New Era of Responsibility?

  5. Bonnie

    January 28th, 2009 at 5:59 pm

    I think that your political views are pretty clear from this post. I agree that there was excess spent at the inauguration and at many past inaugarations. This is small potatoes compared to the excess that has been spent the past 8 years. Have you checked on the totals spent on the Iraq War? What about what Laura Bush spent on dishes for the White House weeks before the President’s term was over? I haven’t been following your blog very long but was wondering if you have posted similar concerns about President Bush? I think that there is a lot of blame to go around. It’s easy to point the finger at the new guy who is inheriting “the toughest financial crisis of our history “.

  6. Menagerie

    January 28th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    I did not like Bush as a President. I couldn’t wait to get somebody new in there. I had no idea about the dishes that Laura spent money on. The war is a totally different issue in itself. The war is not a party or entertainment in any way shape or form.. and, most certainly not dishes nor drapes. I had my head in the sand when Bush was in office about his spending because, up until the end, our economy was good. Let me tell you, this depression has changed me forever. I will never again keep my head in the sand about politicians and their spending…

    I want to say again… I AM pointing the fingers at both Bush and Obama for their ridiculous spending on the inaugurations. BOTH of them are at fault! What I was saying in my post is that I was expecting more from Obama than to spend this foolishly… he said he was going to enact change. I want to see him change things. I hope he is one of the best presidents we’ve ever had. I haven’t really loved a president since Reagan. I would really like to see Obama be a great president. If that didn’t come across in my post, I certainly will make a bigger point of it in future posts.

    I did not post on Bush because my blog is new and I HATED Bush… every day. It would have been nothing but a BLOG of BUSH HATING.

    I pray that we’ve got the right leader in The White House… and I’m hopeful. But, I have to give him a TISK TISK on this matter. He needs to lead us into a new way of thinking and SPENDING.

    Thanks for making sure that my thoughts are clear on this topic.

    I actually really like your blog. I subscribe to your RSS feed and read all of your articles. I certainly am not out to make an enemy out of you… I like you!

  7. Yasmin

    January 28th, 2009 at 6:16 pm

    Go Bonnie!

    Sheri…I respect your opinion…but the accountant in me says…you’ve got to bring more for me to take a side. Yes, a lot of money was spend…but your post is sort of mis-leading in that if one doesn’t know better they would assume that the entire event was paid by taxpayers…as I mentioned in my comment to you last week…before I’m going to get upset over what was spent…I need to know how much was donated vs. how much was paid by taxpayer’s. The amount paid by taxpayer’s…what percentage was it and how does it compare to previous inaugurations?
    Oh and the balls that everyone keeps mentioning…NONE OF THOSE WERE FREE…WE PAID to attend them…the food was not worth $150 (and that was on the low side because some balls were more) and the bar was not open…it was CASH…so while a lot of money was spent…I think some more homework needs to be done so that I can provide a more objective rather than a subjective viewpoint…because after all unlike Communication…Finance/Accounting tend to be more objective functions and ones that can be quantified rather than just qualified.
    SHOW ME THE BREAKOUT baby. :)

    Still love u…but I need more facts before I go off half-cocked…and I’m sure the information requested about can be googled and found…now some calculations/analysis might be needed after you find it…but at least you will have done your homework and provided a more objective viewpoint…at least for this former CPA. ;)

    Yasmin’s last blog post..A GIRL LIKE ME by Ni-Ni Simone

  8. Menagerie

    January 28th, 2009 at 6:26 pm

    I’m not looking for anybody to take my side. I’m just furious at the dollars spent on this in our current economy. I have read considerable articles about this, however I do not have the ability to find a reconciled breakdown of everything, YET. In both Bushie’s Inauguration and Obama’s…. they each had contributors that offset a portion of the costs. Each of these SPENDING presidents had taken efforts to offset the costs. But, despite the offsets, both of them have been reported to spend non-private money in excess of $100M a piece. That sucks, Yasmin! I’m not saying that Obama, personally, sucks. On the contrary, I hope he does well. I hope that we have an amazing new president. But, I am very disappointed in government spending and I want Obama to be a different kind of leader for us. Eight years of Bush was more than my body can handle. Ick. I’m not ANTI-Obama… I’m ANTI-SPENDING.

  9. Bonnie

    January 28th, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    Sheri, I appreciate your honesty and tenacity! I think that we do need to state our opinions and stand behind them and I respect you for that. I am glad that I didn’t offend you with my post. I absolutely understand your concerns about spending and Obama and any President needs to be conscientious and a good steward of our finances. I do agree with Yasmin about needing the details about where the money came from in breakdowns with donations etc. I had heard that these balls were the most expensive for those attending as she mentioned having to pay high ticket prices and pay for their own drinks. I think it’s easy to put Obama under the microscope as he has inherited this baggage he has to take over from Bush. Government spending is a huge issue overall.

    Bonnie’s last blog post..My New Header Picture: Montmartre in Paris, France

  10. Menagerie

    January 28th, 2009 at 7:09 pm

    Yes.. agreed. That’s why the article that I referenced in my post is such a good reference to my post! You should read it, albeit it is a really long article. I’ve been in contact with Yasmin and the numbers are not yet published on the total costs for Obama and they are still hiding the truth about Bushie’s. So… some of it is speculation. But, where there is smoke, there is fire. SO… my main point remains rigid… I would have hoped that we would have taken greater efforts to minimize the costs affiliated with the security ($115M-taxdollars)… and the non-recovered “ball costs” should have been subsequently re-couped by additional supporter’s contributions. In both Bushie’s and Obama’s balls, like $40M+ in costs were recovered from private monies. I know that there are off-sets. But… my point about the MOON LANDING on TV still stands. I think we could’ve done more. You know, with all of the media attention on this, I bet he does something different next inauguration! I’ve also edited my post due to your comments… you making me look in a mirror GIRL!

    Sher

  11. Amy @ My Friend Amy

    January 28th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

    You know, I am all for government spending as little as possible. I don’t know about this inauguration…sometimes people do need to celebrate. And in our difficult times, it seemed a bright spot. But now it’s back to reality. And yes, President Obama should be held strictly accountable as should congress.

    Amy @ My Friend Amy’s last blog post..Review: The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams