Let the Hope and Change begin! Party like it's 1933!

AP: Obama hosting pricey party in a dicey economy "Unemployment is up. The stock market is down. Let's party."

"The price tag for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration gala is expected to break records, with some estimates reaching as high as $150 million. Despite the bleak economy, however, Democrats who called on President George W. Bush to be frugal four years ago are issuing no such demands now that an inaugural weekend of rock concerts and star-studded parties has begun."

Where are all the tsk-tskers now? Michelle Malkin writes about "The Left's protests in late 2004 before the Bush inaugural. He was bashed for continuing the American tradition in a time of war and for holding parties so soon after the southeast Asian tsunami disaster."

Remember?

"Critics are calling on U.S. President George W Bush to scale back the glittering multimillion dollar parties planned this week in honor of his second-term inauguration, saying lavish festivities are unseemly at a time of war. Bush is to be sworn in Thursday and feted with four days of pomp and party-going at a price tag of about $40 million. But critics insist that with U.S. troops dying daily in Iraq, the tone surrounding this year’s inaugural celebration should be more modest."

But that was the goose. This is The Gander.

Michelle Malkin: "The Obamafest on Jan. 20 will be the most expensive inauguration in American history. President Barack Obama’s inauguration next week is set to be the most expensive ever, predicted to reach over $150m (£102m). This dwarfs the $42.3m spent on George Bush’s inauguration in 2005 and the $33m spent on Bill Clinton’s in 1993."

"Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the joint congressional committee on inaugural ceremonies, told the New York Daily News, which estimated the cost at $160m: “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.“

Awww. Of course. Now I get it. Despite economic collapse, rampant unemployment, failure of world trade, countries and states going bankrupt, bailouts, and bank runs, Obama's Inaugural should be WAY more magnitudinous than the previous 44. He's The [only] One that counts!