At Local Inaugural Ball, Clevelanders Bid Goodbye to Bush, Welcome Obama

By Leader Staff. Published on 01/21/2009 - 7:18pm

Cleveland appears to have gone through “the Change” just fine, according to Sherri Foxman. About 250 party guests packed Sammy’s at Legacy Village on Tuesday night for what was probably one of the least formal of the various balls held across the country to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama. The “Toodle-oo W/Howdy-Do Obama” party thrown by Foxman, of Party411.com, featured all sorts of wacky ways to bid former President George W. Bush a relieved adieu and welcome Barack Obama to the White House, beginning with the chance to have one’s picture taken at a “First Supper” with caricatures of the Obamas, Bidens and Clintons.

Next up was a simulated White House men’s room wall complete with urinals over which partygoers could write graffiti messages concerning the Bush administration. Said Foxman, “Several years ago, at the beginning of the AIDs era, I held the Funeral for Casual Sex. We had a coffin, and everyone signed it. This time I wanted something for people to sign that would represent the George W. Bush years, and the restroom wall came to mind.”

While those so inclined added to the writing on the wall, some guests recorded YouTube messages to the incoming and outgoing Chief Executives, while still others perused items such as drilling rights in Alaska or the chance to serve as Sarah Palin’s wardrobe consultant for Campaign 2012 on the “Rod Blagojevich Silent Auction” table.

In the room beyond, the festivities ran the gamut from the silly to the sublime. There were games of chance; each guest received an “Economic Stimulus Package” at the door containing play money featuring Barack Obama’s face on a forty-four dollar bill, with Bush’s adorning one with a denomination of zero. The Economy Crapshoot Craps table and the Wish & Wager Wheel were busy all evening, with players laying down bets on everything from gas prices to job security while a DJ played tunes – many with a message – over a crowded dance floor. In the far corner, an ice cream buffet featured 44 different toppings in honor of the forty-fourth President.

Foxman, resplendent in a red ball gown and a sash proclaiming her the “Secretary of Change”, presided over the ceremonies which included the “End of the Horror/New Aura Horah” circle dance celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama and the end of the Bush era, the crowd lifting cartoon likenesses of Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on chairs overhead, while the comic image of “W” looked on, wearing a dunce cap emblazoned with the legend “Empty Warhead”. Far from being empty, however, the Bush figure contained a time capsule in which guests could deposit items representing their “shock and awe” at the Bush administration and its activities over the past eight years.

Jeanne Foote has attended several of Foxman’s parties over the years. “Her schtick is helping people have a good time, and she has a knack for it,” she says. From the look of those celebrating at Sammy’s, people certainly enjoyed the opportunity to ring in the Obama administration while creatively venting their frustration over the Bush years.

Here is a video montage of yesterdays events: