Yes, we can.

[JWBear]

He's still alive? I thought he was dead...

[alphabassettgrrl]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I know, but 87 in January?!?

Absolutely! Where else can I be warm in January? I guess in the Caribbean, and I suppose Brad's pretty comfy in Hawai'i, but somewhere I can afford to live? SoCal.

[Gemini Cricket]

Obama's speech today at the Lincoln Memorial. Short, sweet and powerful.
He's amazing.

[Alex]

The Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl.

Obama really does bring change.

[scaeagles]

Four years ago when the economy was fine, there was expressed disgust at some 40 million being spent on the inauguration activities. This time around, with a horrid economy, why is 100 million considered OK?

[€uroMeinke]

Bread and Circuses - during bad times no one wants to be reminded they're in bad times

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Four years ago when the economy was fine, there was expressed disgust at some 40 million being spent on the inauguration activities. This time around, with a horrid economy, why is 100 million considered OK?

Does not entirely answer your question, but here's a portion of an article. For the record I donated to help fund the party (about a couple of light bulbs worth)

The good news for taxpayers: Inaugural celebrations are paid for by the inaugural committee — and Obama has, once again, been a very successful fundraiser — at least $35 million by recent counts. Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, told the New York Daily News:

"We're always very budget conscious. But we're sending a message to the entire world about our peaceful transition of power, and you don't want it to look like a schlock affair. It needs to be appropriate to the magnitude of events that it is."

full article here

[Alex]

I have no idea, I expressed no disgust last time.

But I suspect it is the same "my **** smells like roses but yours smells like ****" thing that's pretty standard. Were you bothered by the expense last time that it bothers you now or are you just expressing upsettedness on behalf of others?

[scaeagles]

Really, it's more criticism of the media than anything else. It's not anyone here - I don't recall much about it if anything posted here. The NY Times, BBC, and AP all had stories ripping the expense of it in 2004, but I haven't read any distress about this now.

I don't really care - he won, let the party go on for those who want to celebrate.

Edited to add:

To be fair, I did just come across an AP article in which I found something amusing -

In 2005, Reps. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., and Jim McDermott, D-Wash., asked Bush to show a little less pomp and be a little more circumspect at his party.

"President Roosevelt held his 1945 inaugural at the White House, making a short speech and serving guests cold chicken salad and plain pound cake," the two lawmakers wrote in a letter. "During World War I, President Wilson did not have any parties at his 1917 inaugural, saying that such festivities would be undignified."

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

They posted the performers for the Lincoln Memorial event...

Anyone ever heard of this "Garth Brooks" fellow?

Who?