huskymom
Posted : 1/20/2009 7:01:16 PM
Liesje
Sunshinegirl
One of my best friends hates Obama and has made it very publicly clear on her Facebook page. She is not happy with the amount of $$ spent on this inauguration. I countered that with all the $$ Bush has wasted on this unnecessarily foolish war (not to mention all the lives lost), coupled with the fact that much of the money has been donated AND the fact that he is our first black president ~ I'm okay with it. This is a president who has to come behind and fix everything that Bush broke. Let's give him his glory!! It is a very happy day in our little household!!! :)
What's her problem? You're right, it's paid for via it's own fund with donated money. It's not like taxpayers are footing the bill. Even the balls are paid for by donors, people who want to donate for THAT event or don't donate. I'd bet the only thing America as a collective entity is paying for is the security, but that's because there are millions of people there, not because Pres Obama demanded it.
I just don't get why people are so upset over the magnitude of this event. It's not just about Obama it's about everyone! People drove thousands of miles to stand out there in the cold all day. No one forced them and no one paid them. If there wasn't a U2 tour coming up I would have been there standing on the mall as well. It's about us, not just him.
Heck if
I had the money,
I would have been there. We sat transfixed all morning long at work. My mom, my dad and I. The kids from the HS trickled it and even they were quiet and watched while they were in there. I think they had it playing on the big screens in the auditorium over there.
I loved his speech. It was moving, the words. But more than that, he has something about him. Something that says,"I may not be all powerful, but I'm sure as heck gonna try my damndest to do everything I can for you." Fatherly maybe. I think that's what this world needs.
We heard alot of the specs while watching. On CNN they mentioned that they had estimated 6 people per square meter. That's crazy! You couldn't fall down if you wanted too. We kept giggling about the people cuddled up in the crowd, trying to keep warm. Wondering if they knew each other or if they were just part of the meter. And I wondered out loud at one point how warm it was with 2 million people standing about. It must raise the ambient temps a bit. My dad said they should all time their breathing....All right everyone, Blow! Then quickly rethought it when breathing it was mentioned. They'd create a vaccum. Hehe...it was just idol chit chat while nothing much was going on.
And then when he was walking in the parade with Michelle, did anyone else hold their breath until he got back in his car? They said on TV that he was almost wide open. I mean he was flanked on all sides my guards, but the looks on their faces was enough to put me on the edge of my seat. I suppose it was important for him to do it, but it wasn't required was it? I don't think I could bring myself to do that. Nor be his wife walking along beside him, smiling so happily. Just me.
Oh and I liked that he messed up at the beginning of the oath. I think it was endearing.