Inaugurate this.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Only an exclusive club of gentlemen can claim to have uttered those words.Barack Obama will join that elite club on 01/20/09.

01/20/09...Special....Very special.That is right in the thick of Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial in DC.It is also the day after Rev Martin Luther King's birthday.Storylines are made of these.Every student of history and politics would kill to be on the steps of the capitol when this particular piece of history is made.

Not so fast.Tickets to the swearing-in ceremony itself are free.However,you can only obtain them from your congressmen and senators.My phone calls to both Dennis Kucinich and Sherrod Brown(Ohio senators) are yet to be returned.New York's charismatic senator,Charles Schumer has introduced a disingenious idea...he plans to hold a special state lottery to allocate his portion of the tickets.

Remember i said the tickets are free.Apparently that has not stopped a deluge of websites from openly offering tickets up for sale.From ebay to craigslist,tickets are offered for up to $25,000 each for this event...and that doesn't even allow you to dine with the president...just to witness him placing his hand on the bible!

A friend of mine in southern California has been pleading for tickets on his Facebook status for weeks.I doubt he'll get any luck there if they are this marketable.

The puzzling economics of this inauguration does not end with exhorbitant ticket prices.I don't envy DC mayor Adrian Fenty.He is bracing for unprecedented turnout of 3-5 million people.God knows how much post inaugural clean-up will cost.Security will be challenging.

The Obama Campaign is still soliciting for donations more than 2 weeks after the election was won and lost.Word is they need the funds for inauguration...so those Hillary Clinton debts will take a while yet to retire.

George Bush's 2nd inauguration holds the record,costing $40million.That was in the thick of the Iraq war.There is no doubt that Barack will not stop breaking records when it comes to his own inauguration cost.The only snag is that the majority of Bush Inauguration donors were big corporations.Barack will be eager to avoid this self-contradictory and antithetical indulgence.

There is also huge money to be made.Those lucky enough to get tickets will most likely spend a large chunk of their money on flights and travel.But they also need somewhere to sleep.Several DC residents are doing brisk business these days...especially if you are a disgruntled republican who wouldn't mind leaving town for the inauguration.

House swaps are the most straight forward.Family from Carlifornia exchanges homes with a republican DC houselhold for the period of the inauguration.DC family grapples with some wild fires as trade-off for the approaching snow storms.

The most farcical anecdote making rounds right now is that of a clown on craigslist offering his couch(!??) for $350/night...no meals,no pillows or blankets,just the couch.He lives in a studio and wants only attractive ladies to bid.Funny thing is several bids have come in,and the price is going up!

If this is any consolation to those of you who almost certainly will not get tickets to the swearing-in,the parade is also free.No lotteries.No tickets required.But given that authorities expect unprecedented turn-out,each person would probably only have enough room to stand on one foot!

Small price to pay.And yes we can.

OMC