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Video: Inaugural economy a disappointment?

posted at 8:00 am on January 5, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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If so, only because expectations got raised beyond all relation to reality. With the media hyping the inauguration of Barack Obama, estimates of attendance grew larger than most American large cities. With that much tourist traffic, DC denizens thought they could get some cash out of it — but according to CBS, it’s just another economic bubble created by artificial government incentives:

Earlier inaugurations were considered blockbusters if they attracted 400,000 people. Some estimates for Obama’s big day ran to ten times that amount or more. Those kinds of numbers inspired the more mercenary natures of locals uninterested in the festivities but very interested in making some extra income. Instead of a boom, the exercise appears to be a microcosm of the collapse in the housing economy, although thankfully the only investment they’ll lose is the time they spent listing their homes as rental properties.

I’m certain that Obama will significantly outdraw previous inaugurations and set some records for attendance, but apparently he won’t get the equivalent of the entire population of Minnesota.

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It’s A Democrat ~~coronation~~ inaguaration.

I remember a lot of local stories about how poorly the Boston business owners did during the 2004 convention. The dems all went for the freebies.

It was basically a big traffic headache for nothing.

reaganaut on January 5, 2009 at 8:07 AM

So quickly we went from hope and change to disappointment and despair.

faraway on January 5, 2009 at 8:08 AM

I wonder how the election night celebration in Chicago will influence the turnout.

jimboslice on January 5, 2009 at 8:09 AM

The average American just does not have the money to spend on The One’s Ascension to the Throne. If His Majesty was already in power, he would probably give Government Grants to attend the event.

kingsjester on January 5, 2009 at 8:10 AM

I’m so glad I don’t live down there anymore…DC was bad enough to drive around in on any given day, worse when there was some big deal going on.

I can’t even imagine up to 4 million converging on the Capitol.

JetBoy on January 5, 2009 at 8:21 AM

I live a couple of miles from the White House and obviously don’t plan to attend the inauguration, but I never thought about trying to rent our place out.

Because who would rent it? A Democrat.

It would take weeks just to get rid of the stink.

NoDonkey on January 5, 2009 at 8:21 AM

I live in the DC suburbs and I won’t even watch the marxist coronation on a TV, let alone live.

ex-Democrat on January 5, 2009 at 8:22 AM

The average American just does not have the money to spend on The One’s Ascension to the Throne.

The 6-figure, do-nothing gubmint workers will be thrilled to show up and miss another day of “work.”

ex-Democrat on January 5, 2009 at 8:23 AM

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. It will be good for one and all. Still talking about that New Years global warming, aren’t they.

tarpon on January 5, 2009 at 8:25 AM

So quickly we went from hope and change to disappointment and despair.

faraway on January 5, 2009 at 8:08 AM

Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays.

LastRick on January 5, 2009 at 8:26 AM

Those people need a bailout.

ctmom on January 5, 2009 at 8:27 AM

I can’t trust a guy with the last name of “Butters.”

Sorry, but there it is.

Bishop on January 5, 2009 at 8:27 AM

Massive bus ins from Chicago, NYC, Philly, etc…The Oprah glazed media will ensure that this is the most watched event on TV evah! I’m praying for a massive winter storm to descend on D.C. to help set the mood.

Fletch54 on January 5, 2009 at 8:28 AM

The average American just does not have the money to spend on The One’s Ascension to the Throne.

The bad economy that BHO helped create will damper his coronation.

jgapinoy on January 5, 2009 at 8:28 AM

ex-Democrat on January 5, 2009 at 8:23 AM

No kidding. Their office clocks will never be stolen. They watch them all day.

When Barry gets in, this will certainly not improve.

kingsjester on January 5, 2009 at 8:29 AM

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. It will be good for one and all. Still talking about that New Years global warming, aren’t they.

tarpon on January 5, 2009 at 8:25 AM

New Year’s global weather change.

Phoenician on January 5, 2009 at 8:31 AM

We all are still going to get our unicorns and lollipop trees though, right?

rbj on January 5, 2009 at 8:37 AM

The average American just does not have the money to spend on The One’s Ascension to the Throne. If His Majesty was already in power, he would probably give Government Grants to attend the event.

kingsjester on January 5, 2009 at 8:10 AM

Once Obama ascends to the thrown will the definition of Average American change. I no longer consider myself average. I feel I’m above at least 52% of the country.

Tommy_G on January 5, 2009 at 8:41 AM

We all are still going to get our unicorns and lollipop trees though, right?

rbj on January 5, 2009 at 8:37 AM

and the water fountains that give out Hershey’s Milk….?

sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 8:42 AM

Tommy_G on January 5, 2009 at 8:41 AM

Good point. Judging from all the “distractions” popping up, we will probably get to say, “I told you so”. I just hope we have a country left to say it in.

kingsjester on January 5, 2009 at 8:44 AM

Ex-Democrat:

I am one those 6-figure Guvm’t workers who will be a watch stander on inauguration day. I won’t even get the MLK day off let alone the freebie day. I only know one person who is going to go downtown to see the show. Most of us will be happy to take the four day weekend and get out of town and that includes the Democrats.

jerryofva on January 5, 2009 at 8:50 AM

The Washington Post (via Newsbusters) is comparing the Obama’s arrival to Queen Elizebeth’s wedding in 1947.

This coronation is turning into a Shakesperian comedy/tragedy.

Rovin on January 5, 2009 at 8:53 AM

I will teach most of the day and explain to the liberal faculty that the boy will now find out what the word WORK means. Every foul up is his Pay Grade,Truman had it right. Oh, Truman was president in case the younger leftists ask and he did have a party affiliation.
WE as a Nation have survived lots of lousy offic holders and will do so again.

Col.John Wm. Reed on January 5, 2009 at 9:05 AM

and the water fountains that give out Hershey’s Milk….?
sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 8:42 AM

Oh, so DC will become a “Chocolate City at the end of the day?”

Racist pig.

Bishop on January 5, 2009 at 9:07 AM

I woke up feeling sick this morning. All this talk about Obama’s big day is not helping. I will not watch, in fact I might wear a black arm band that day.

Terrye on January 5, 2009 at 9:33 AM

I never did think as many people would show as they are saying.

They WANT that many, but I just don’t think it will happen. I figure more than normal will come, but I think it will have the feel of sort of a letdown. I’m willing to be wrong.

Alana on January 5, 2009 at 9:37 AM

I woke up feeling sick this morning. All this talk about Obama’s big day is not helping. I will not watch, in fact I might wear a black arm band that day.

Don’t…when I was at Cal eons ago I laughed at the poor disappointed babies who wore black armbands to mourn a Republican president. Don’t give ‘em the ammunition to do the same.

I’ve been disappointing the heck out of my many friends/colleagues who expect me to act all depressed and pissed. Won’t give them the satisfaction.

Bob's Kid on January 5, 2009 at 10:23 AM

I never did think as many people would show as they are saying.

They WANT that many, but I just don’t think it will happen.

Alana on January 5, 2009 at 9:37 AM

Kind of like the Million Man March a few years ago. If you believed the event organizers, they exceeded the expected count of 1 million. But people without an agenda who actually counted heads said that the number was closer to about ten thousand.

Are they still doing that MMM, or has that faded into history like Obama’s ~~inauguration~~ coronation surely will?

UltimateBob on January 5, 2009 at 11:01 AM

The only way the attendance will reach in the millions is
if the Minnesota canvassing board does the ‘counting’.

Firmworm on January 5, 2009 at 11:05 AM

Rich urban liberals trying to bilk other rich urban liberals out of thousands $$ for overpriced accomodations. HA!

Wyznowski on January 5, 2009 at 11:07 AM

The media hypes every event, like the Olympics or a Democratic coronation. Then everybody jacks up prices and the public stays home.

Not hopenchangey at all!

PattyJ on January 5, 2009 at 11:24 AM

I was at a function with a DC couple who spent a bit of time touting how they were going to make killing renting out their condo, then they started angling for people to put them up (For free, of course) while the condo was being used.

davod on January 5, 2009 at 11:28 AM

I can’t trust a guy with the last name of “Butters.”

Not even this Butters?

crazy_legs on January 5, 2009 at 11:44 AM

Oh, so DC will become a “Chocolate City at the end of the day?”

Racist pig.

Bishop on January 5, 2009 at 9:07 AM

as a fan of Choco milk I resemble that remark, but sadly cannot claim ownership…

That would be Ray “William Wonka” Nagin esq. thanks.

sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 2:54 PM

I’ve been disappointing the heck out of my many friends/colleagues who expect me to act all depressed and pissed. Won’t give them the satisfaction. Bob’s Kid on January 5, 2009 at 10:23 AM

Tell ‘em to buy popcorn futures. Blago, Burris, Richardson–THAT’s entertainment!