Inauguration day 2009

[Meg 368]

I’m starting a new topic, just for the inauguration in January.   I’m keeping it separate from the political thread because this is about inauguration logistics, not the political process.

 

For those not familiar with inaugurations, the terms of the US President and Vice President end on January 20th at noon, at which time the new President and VP are sworn in.   (That date and time are specifically stated in the Constitution, Amendment XX, Section 1.)

I’ve always watched the local DC news stations so I’ve seen the preparations for more inaugurations than I care to count.  This time around, the preparations are unusual.

They are expecting the crowd to be larger than the subway and bus system can handle.  They are advising people to walk and expect long lines since the system will be over capacity.   [link]

Hotel rooms are difficult to come by so local residents are renting out their homes.  In this case, “local” can mean an hour or two away and “rent” can be over $1,000 a night.  [link]

The cell phone companies are significantly increasing capacity but are still asking people to minimize their usage.  In order to reduce strain the network, they are recommending texting instead of calling and waiting until later to send pictures.  [link]

The military will be on high alert.   This is not unusual but normally it doesn’t involve over 10,000 people.  [link]

I could go jump into all of this.   I live close to a commuter train stop that can get me into DC in 20 minutes.   But I’ve been in a crowd over 1 million there before during the bicentennial.  I have no desire to do it again.

 

 

[Duke87 1,070]

Well, naturally people are going to go nuts since it's a dual party - they get to see the president everyone hates leave and see the first black president enter.

Still, the question is begged, "jeez, why not just watch it on TV?"

I live in a position where I could easily go to Times Square on New Years Eve to see the ball drop.

But I never have any desire to since the situation is so crazy that if you want to get in a position where you'll actually be able to see the ball you have to start camping out early the morning before. And then you're standing around all day in a huge crowd out in the freezing cold. No thanks.

Only two people in my family have ever been there - my uncle and my grandfather. Both of whom have been there several times - as cops on duty.

Which brings up the point that I don't exactly envy position the DC police will be in on this one.

The Secret Service would be involved with the ceremony itself, of course, but outside of that... I can't blame the military for being on alert. Seems like a great opportunity for some nutcase to try something stupid. Either directly involving the executive figures or more generally terrorizing/being violent in the crowds.

[Simcitymaster13 27]

I am really happy the Barack Obama is the first black president in US History. I can't belong its history.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Sounds like a good day to stay indoors and avoid the crowds.

Still that would be an event worth attending for the historical aspects.

[panthersimcity4 162]

I would never be able to make it since I live on the complete opposite side of the country. Of course maybe McCain will be here in Arizona bawling about how he lost.

[Meg 368]

 

[Micah 16]

Still, the question is begged, "jeez, why not just watch it on TV?"quote>

Cause then you can't brag to your friends that you were there.

[_Atticus 10]

I also live near DC, about 30 minutes to the heart of downtown. We might actually rent out the house. IMO it is a win win situation for us. We avoid the huge crows and the chaos that comes associated with them, and at the same time we get something for it.

[Meg 368]

Well, the circus has begun. 

The Obamas wanted to be in DC today so the kids could start the semester in their new schools.  A reasonable parental goal, imho.   Turns out that the Blair House (the official White House guest residence) is booked until the 15th so they are staying at local hotel.

Not surprisingly, this is disrupting traffic near the hotel with road closures, security checkpoints and so forth.    The Blair House has the advantage of being inside the security zone around the White House.  Well, in terms of vehicles.  The average person can still rollerblade in front of it.  But the road closures around the Blair House have been there for years.

Meanwhile, the paparazzi continue to hound those poor children.    [link]

. . .Sasha, a second-grader, wore a look of wariness and fascination as she eyed the row of television and still cameras filming the motorcade, which included a D.C. police car in the lead, followed by two black SUVs, a minivan, another SUV and a Secret Service uniformed division car. . .  quote>

 

I hope everyone has learned something about White House kids since Amy Carter's day.  I suspect she is warped for life.   They did manage to leave Cheslea Clinton alone, for the most part.

I think their parents made the right choice in terms of schools.    Those schools are well versed in how to handle Secret Service agents, unlike the schools Amy Carter attended.

 

[Aontan 0]

Originally posted by: SkiGeek

Meanwhile, the paparazzi continue to hound those poor children.quote>

I'm afraid it's going to be like that for at least the next four, if not eight, years.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Did we realy need [Watch the language-91] Garth Brooks  singing  "American Pie"?

I mean Don McLean isnt dead, and probably isnt busy.

Just a thought

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

I just can't wait until this circle-jerk group-grope is over. The Chicago Tribune has had a special section every day devoted to it, and the local news is now all Obama, all the time. From features of what restaurant is serving an Obama-burger, to endless talk about Michelle Obama's dress, what dog they might get (with a comparison of possible choices), and an endless parade of schoolkids doing their Obama songs... it's gotten just stupid. It's as if there is absolutely nothing else going on in the world.

Does anyone remember, just 4 years ago, the howls of indignation from Democrats over the $40 million spent on Bush's festivities? This inauguration wil run 2-3 times that much, but not a peep from them now. So much for an end to politics-as-usual. They didn't promise an end to hypocrisy-as-usual, I guess.

[Danlikebooks 6]

Originally posted by: Micah

Still, the question is begged, "jeez, why not just watch it on TV?"quote>

Cause then you can't brag to your friends that you were there.

quote>

Plus, if you go, then you can tick off your Republican friends by telling them that you were there!

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: manticorefan I just can't wait until this circle-jerk group-grope is over. The Chicago Tribune has had a special section every day devoted to it, and the local news is now all Obama, all the time. From features of what restaurant is serving an Obama-burger, to endless talk about Michelle Obama's dress, what dog they might get (with a comparison of possible choices), and an endless parade of schoolkids doing their Obama songs... it's gotten just stupid. It's as if there is absolutely nothing else going on in the world.quote>

Some of that is people wanting to celebrate the festivities.  And some of it is proof that there are brainless morons among us.

Does anyone remember, just 4 years ago, the howls of indignation from Democrats over the $40 million spent on Bush's festivities? This inauguration wil run 2-3 times that much, but not a peep from them now. So much for an end to politics-as-usual. They didn't promise an end to hypocrisy-as-usual, I guess.quote>

Yeah, but a lot of that is security related expenses.  The part that is projected to be primarily for the party is roughly what Bush's cost in 2004.

[canis39 2]

I live out in Virginia, about 45 minutes from DC (and that's with no traffic) and we're not sure what to expect out here. Town and county officials are preparing for the worst (traffic, etc) but it might all be sort of a big drill...won't really know until tomorrow. One thing's for sure...won't be driving anywhere tomorrow!

[canis39 2]

Also, good to see the Republicans getting an early start on the complaining.

[Rockstone 0]

Ah, the coronation as begun!

[Meg 368]

The security preparations are insane.  They are closing all bridges from Virginia into DC.  They are closing about 150 blocks of downtown.  Pedestrians only.

Of course, you can take the subway.  But they expect it to be over capacity.   It's okay to walk across the bridges.

They expect the crowd to be so big that you have to pick whether to watch the ceremony at the Capitol or watch the parade along Pennsylvania Avenue.  It will be too crowded for people to move from one place to another.

They want people to plan to stay downtown for several hours after all is done because it will take that long to clear everyone out.

So, basically, be prepared to walk for several miles and stand around for hours.   All in below freezing temperatures with a wind chill in the teens. 

Oh yeah, no backpacks, strollers, or bicycles.  or purses bigger than a paper lunch bag. so anything you need for that period of time has to be carried on your person.

 

I will be happy if it all goes without major injuries or massive numbers of people needing medical attention.  This is crazy.

(sorry, had to get that off my chest.  I'll go back to counting.)

[your_adress_here 11]

Of course the security costs are high, the inauguration is so needlessly big.

[canis39 2]

I don't know about "needlessly". Personally I wouldn't consider going...too far, too cold, too many people, etc...but who am I to judge people who feel like they need to be there? This is certainly one of the more historic events of my lifetime. And unfortunately, security is a way of life in our society right now. Lot of crazies out there.

[rushman5 33]

Well I went to see Obama speak Saturday downtown. Luckily, it was only a 3 mile bus ride across the city for me, but standing out in 20 degree weather was not much fun either. I don't know how much colder it will be tomorrow, but no doubt it will be very chilly. Still, 200,000 people showed up yesterday, roughly 1/3 of Baltimore's population.

The festivities were nice, secure, organized, but no over-bearing, and I actually saw the president with my own eyes. I was truly captivated by his presence.

As to watching it on TV, I know that in my school it will be on every room's television and/or computers. But I can tell you that the traffic on I-95 this entire weekend was horrendous. Heck, its only a 1 mile walk from my house; me and my homies went down to look like five times today.

Too bad Baltimore City public schools aren't off, I mean the county is and the DC schools are off, but the city isn't? What a bummer. Oh well, almost all of my friends are going or just not coming into school.

[Patricius Maximus 236]

There sure is a lot of people at the Mall. I'm just seeing it from CNN, but in places they look they are packed like sardines.

Also, I have calculated that if each person takes up 0.4 m² of space (which would be very crowded), then 3 million people can fit on the mall.

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: Patricius Maximus

There sure is a lot of people at the Mall. I'm just seeing it from CNN, but in places they look they are packed like sardines.

Also, I have calculated that if each person takes up 0.4 m² of space (which would be very crowded), then 3 million people can fit on the mall.quote>

If the National Mall is 146 acres, then dividing it by 2.47105381 to convert to hectares would yield 59.0841038787 hectares.  Multiply that by 10,000 and then divide that by 0.4 and it yields a total person count of 1,477,102.59697 people that can fit in the National Mall.  That's assuming that the 146 acres figure I saw is accounting for standing area that is lost by the reflecting pool and whatnot, and I kinda doubt that.

They are expecting 2-4 million people to show up, so either I've screwed up my calculations somewhere, or they are going to be packed in a lot tighter than 0.4m² per person.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 7, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[deathtopumpkins 43]

Well he's president now...

I haven't been watching any coverage of it though. Don't have TV and don't really feel like bothering finding a stream on the internet.

And down here in Hampton Roads they're even dealing with a surge of people on the interstate over the last couple days by opening all available lanes and increasing state police patrols. Plus they set all the VMS signs to display "Expect Delays I-95 and I-66 Jan 20/Inauguration Traffic to DC..." There was only a slight surge of traffic though... Nothing as major as what I've been hearing on the DC Metro and the roads surrounding the city.

[warrior 169]

For once I actually felt like a politician was not trying evade things, and just "skimming" over things.

I also understood what Obama was syaing 99% of the time (wish our polictians were more like that)

I'm really glad nothing bad happened, and it was amazing seeing all those people.

The thing I didn't like was the BBC commentators talking over people and saying things that had just been said.

I hope everything continues to be good over there.

Jonathan

[Boggy1 45]

That was very good. The Reverend guy sucked, Aretha Franklin sang terribly, but Yo-Yo-Ma et all played a beautiful song. The speeches were all very good. That old black minister was fantastic.

All in all, a pretty good Inauguration!

[Haljackey 17,241]

Yay Obama, or should I say, President Obama!

Great speech, well done! I know you'll change things for the better.

-After Bush, who could make things worse?

Best,

-Haljackey

[Duke87 1,070]

He flubbed the oath.

Poor guy, must have been a nervous wreck.

Well, he made a good speech anyway.

Also, I'm not sure which was more amusing: Aretha Franklin's rendition of "America" or her hat.

[Fresh Prince of Wmbg 44]

Originally posted by: canis39 I live out in Virginia, about 45 minutes from DC (and that's with no traffic) and we're not sure what to expect out here. Town and county officials are preparing for the worst (traffic, etc) but it might all be sort of a big drill...won't really know until tomorrow. One thing's for sure...won't be driving anywhere tomorrow!quote>

 

I feel for you. My parents work in Lorton and took tpday and tommorow off. Is it true they closed  the Interstates and bridges?