Tampa resident Michael A. Steinberg wanted to celebrate Barack Obama's presidential inauguration.

And unlike desperate-for-attention White House fame whores  dedicated Obama fans Michaele and Tareq Salahi, Mr. Steinberg went about his plans the right way. He dutifully obtained two complementary tickets from his congressman, Republican Gus Bilirakis, and arrived in time for his Jan. 20 seating.

The tickets were for the Blue Section. For anyone who remembers what happened on Inauguration Day in the Blue Section, this is where the scary music starts to play.

Mr. Steinberg and his guest shivered in line for several hours before being informed they would not be seated. It was a bitter disappointment; more than that, he says it was a breach of contract. As the U.S. Court of Federal Claims notes in a newly public opinion:

"Mr. Steinberg asserts that the (inaugural committee) knew that many ticket holders would be unable to be admitted to the inauguration ceremonies and that the (committee) had a contractual duty to advise him of this fact publicly before he incurred the expense of traveling to Washington."

But claim court Judge Emily Hewitt, in an opinion dated Nov. 24 but available now, reasoned that the elements of a contract -- bargaining and consideration -- were never met in Steinberg's dealings with the inaugural committee. No contract, no breach. And, for Mr. Steinberg, nothing left but a sour taste in the mouth.