Thread: The Inauguration of the Century

Originally Posted by SHELBYDOG

I say shoot for the stars , not many people win a US presidential election, only 44 to date, every president elect should have an extravagant inauguration day, it's the most powerful job in the world, a definate big win! It's not Obama's fault on the state of the economy & it's his day.

My tax money has been spent on a war I don't approve of & trillions of dollars worth. Sucks when your tax dollars aren't spent the way you might like them to be..............

Here is "your" celebration in a nutshell :

I predict that D.C. will look like post-Katrina New Orleans.

People are going to be unable to get to the national mall to actually see the ceremony. Traffic will be stopped, even on the highways (just like it is on the 4th of July with 1/6 of the expected crowd population).

People will get mad.

Food and water is not going to be available; the Washington Post is already telling residents to stock up on water and bread. And anyhow, the mall is already known for having hardly any places to eat nearby. Most out-of-towners will not be ready for the hunger pains.

People will get madder.

Old people will need ambulances (which will be stuck in traffic) and there will likely be deaths; it sounds morbid to consider this, but I know firsthand that even during the WWII monument ceremony, security officials assumed a certain number of deaths and planned accordingly.

People will get even madder.

The weather is probably going to be freezing, and if it happens to snow, it will be bad. Some will get frostbite on their toes, but not enough medics will be on hand.

People will get still madder.

The metro (subway) will be jammed. One Washington Post columnist ran a prediction on how long it would take a crowd of just 2 million to evacuate the national mall. His estimate? It’ll take 2 days to get people out. He explains that it took 45 minutes for a crowd of 40,000 fans to exit the Nationals stadium on opening night.

People will get enraged.

Even during an average rush hour, the amount of people standing on the platform is dangerous; with thousands of people pushing, I can easily see people falling into the track. The only way to stop this is through tight regulation at the metro entrance; that will cause conflict. Fights will break out.

When the fights break out, the police will get involved.

The fights will turn into riots.

People will scream RAAAACIST!

It’s not going to be pretty. I think I’ll stay at home in front of the television with a big bowl of popcorn and a couple of 'Presidential' DVD's ( Dave, Man of the People, Head of State, Distingished Gentleman ... )

Originally Posted by Jolie Rouge

Here is "your" celebration in a nutshell :

I predict that D.C. will look like post-Katrina New Orleans.

People are going to be unable to get to the national mall to actually see the ceremony. Traffic will be stopped, even on the highways (just like it is on the 4th of July with 1/6 of the expected crowd population).

People will get mad.

Food and water is not going to be available; the Washington Post is already telling residents to stock up on water and bread. And anyhow, the mall is already known for having hardly any places to eat nearby. Most out-of-towners will not be ready for the hunger pains.

People will get madder.

Old people will need ambulances (which will be stuck in traffic) and there will likely be deaths; it sounds morbid to consider this, but I know firsthand that even during the WWII monument ceremony, security officials assumed a certain number of deaths and planned accordingly.

People will get even madder.

The weather is probably going to be freezing, and if it happens to snow, it will be bad. Some will get frostbite on their toes, but not enough medics will be on hand.

People will get still madder.

The metro (subway) will be jammed. One Washington Post columnist ran a prediction on how long it would take a crowd of just 2 million to evacuate the national mall. His estimate? It’ll take 2 days to get people out. He explains that it took 45 minutes for a crowd of 40,000 fans to exit the Nationals stadium on opening night.

People will get enraged.

Even during an average rush hour, the amount of people standing on the platform is dangerous; with thousands of people pushing, I can easily see people falling into the track. The only way to stop this is through tight regulation at the metro entrance; that will cause conflict. Fights will break out.

When the fights break out, the police will get involved.

The fights will turn into riots.

People will scream RAAAACIST!

It’s not going to be pretty. I think I’ll stay at home in front of the television with a big bowl of popcorn and a couple of 'Presidential' DVD's ( Dave, Man of the People, Head of State, Distingished Gentleman ... )

I wouldn't go there if everything was free to me to attend, my TV is fine for my attendance.
Everyone predicted alot of things were gonna fail on the 2000 Millennium New Year & barely nothing happened.
I don't know what to think other than it's gonna be a day of total chaos for the average person(s) to tolerate. However I don't believe Obama should be slighted or expected to cut back on what he worked so hard at on his campaign trail to win. It's his day, his party & I'm positive any one of us would want to treated equally if it were our win & our day.................
If I'm not attending I really don't care what happens to the ones who have chosen to attend, it's in Washington's hands & it's their problem.

However I don't believe Obama should be slighted or expected to cut back on what he worked so hard at on his campaign trail to win. It's his day, his party & I'm positive any one of us would want to treated equally if it were our win & our day.

But we are not spending a FORTUNE on this huge party while AT THE SAME TIME telling others how they must sacrifice "for the greater good"

Do you not see the irony ??

Originally Posted by SHELBYDOG

I can't wait, I've been waiting 8yrs for 1/20, it will be a great day in the USA!

Whoo Hoo!

I can't wait either!!

Originally Posted by sdb_ngc

I can't wait either!!

:

Well, I said it before and I'm gonna say it again. I HATE the extravagance and the cost of all inaugurations-I don't care who is elected -a simple swearing in is more than adequate. We don't need an early MardiGras

Some blacks choose inauguration over work[i]
Coming a day after Martin Luther King holiday, many will extend the break
Wed., Jan. 14, 2009

ATLANTA - Asante Bradford gave his bosses nearly three months notice that he would not be at his desk on Jan. 20.

A day after Barack Obama's historic presidential win, Bradford knew he wanted to be able to whoop it up when Obama was sworn in as the nation's first black chief executive — and that he couldn't do that at work.

"I decided if I couldn't be (in Washington D.C.), I'm just going to take the day off, just so I can scream and holler," said Bradford, 40, who works for the state of Georgia as a liaison to the entertainment industry. He plans to watch the festivities at home with friends.

People across the country may notice the absence of their black colleagues and classmates on Inauguration Day, as many who won't be traveling to Washington gather at homes, restaurants and churches, huddle around TVs and watch the historic swearing in from afar. And while the ceremony itself will only last a few hours, the entire day offers a chance to reflect and rejoice in the moment.

'Being at work is not an option'

"Being at work is not an option," said Brenda Wilson, a 51-year-old manager at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta who abandoned her dreams of heading to Washington but will not be in the office. "I wouldn't be able to get any work done, wondering what was going on."

Coming a day after the federal observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday — many black Americans deem the day as something of a holiday requiring cultural solidarity, much like the Million Man March or the first King holiday in 1986. Then as now, many black people felt compelled to miss work, said Mark Anthony Neal, a professor of black popular culture at Duke University.

It recalls the 1965 theatrical classic "Day of Absence," a one-act satire by black playwright Douglas Turner Ward that ponders events in a fictitious Southern town when all of the black people suddenly go missing. "There's a symbolism to this moment that would allow that they stay home and celebrate in their own ways," said Neal, who plans to watch the ceremony with his daughters at their school.

Some businesses, particularly those with a large number of black employees, will accommodate workers, realizing the significance of the day.

Offices at The 100 Black Men of Atlanta will be closed to give the staff "an opportunity to participate in the experience" of the inauguration, said its chief executive officer John Grant. The group is a local chapter of The 100 Black Men of America, an organization of professional men who serve as mentors and role models for at-risk youth.

Volunteering that day with students

Many from there will spend at least part of their day at a boys' charter school in Atlanta, watching the ceremony with about 175 sixth- and seventh-graders, including quite a few who will interrupt their workdays to volunteer.

"We want to sit with these young men and have a conversation with them about the importance of what this means to the nation, to the world and the image for young African-American men to see (Obama) with his wife and family and what this can mean for them," Grant said.

Organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, headquartered in Baltimore will stay open, though employees will likely pause to watch the events.

Morehouse College, the renowned historically black institution in Atlanta, has not canceled classes but will offer a campus viewing for students and faculty. "It's important for students to view and discuss the significance of an extraordinary moment in American history," said Robert Franklin, president of the all-male college. "At the same time, we want to continue the work of preparing future leaders."

The college is also sending two busloads of students to Washington.

History unfolding live on TV

But others, like Bari A. Williams, a corporate attorney in Oakland, Calif., will have to experience history from afar. She said she's either planning to work from home or take the day off to watch the ceremony on TV with her only black co-worker in an office of about 50 lawyers.

"This is history unfolding live, said Williams, 28. "It's one of those 'Where were you?' moments that you'll discuss all of your life. This is the real New Year's Eve to me and all of my friends."

While thousands of blacks are expected to make the pilgrimage to the capital for the long inauguration weekend, others were convinced by the cold temperatures, high price tag and big crowds to stay put.

Estella Gary, a 27-year-old public affairs specialist from Tallahassee, Fla., said she thought about being there in person, but got nervous that she might get caught in a logistical nightmare. "I don't want to miss any of this historical moment at all," said Gary. "Who knows if I'll ever see it again?"

More introspective than jubilant

Instead, Gary is watching at home — alone. She said she doesn't want to repeat her Election Night mistake of watching with friends.

"It became a social hour," she said. "This time, I want to focus in and watch it. I don't want to be somewhere having a conversation about it."

As with Gary, the inauguration will likely be more introspective than jubilant for some, said Neal, the expert on black popular culture.

"You can understand why people actually want to pay attention to Obama taking the oath, to want to hear Aretha Franklin sing. That makes it very different than Election Night," Neal said. "It's a much more reflective moment."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28661596/

Obama tells daughters he ran for president for them, all children
2 hrs 43 mins ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) – In an open letter to his young daughters, US president-elect Barack Obama said Thursday that he entered the race for the White House "because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation."

"When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me -- about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world," Obama said in the letter published in Parade magazine, a weekend newspaper color supplement.

"I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfilment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation," wrote the soon-to-be Dad-in-chief.

Obama's wish-list for children includes challenging and inspirational schools; equal opportunity to go to university, regardless of their family's financial standing; and well-paid jobs with benefits such as health care and a pension plan that will allow them to "retire with dignity."

The 47-year-old father of Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, said he wants to "push the boundaries" of discovery to encourage the development of new technology and inventions that improve lives and protect the environment.

And he spoke of his vision of a United States that has reached "beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other."

He would strive to send young Americans to war "only for a very good reason", trying first to settle differences with other nations peacefully.

"These are the things I want for you -- to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world," wrote Obama.

"And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure," wrote Obama, who on Tuesday will move into the White House with his two daughters and wife, Michelle.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090115...children/print

Next Tuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On this historic occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also a devoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for his children. Here, he shares his letter to them.

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad

http://www.parade.com/export/sites/d...daughters.html

Secret Service unveils Obama's new limo
By Greg Gordon – Wed Jan 14, 12:21 pm ET

You might call it Limo One.

The Secret Service today formally unveiled the new limo that will carry newly sworn President Barack Obama in next Tuesday’s inaugural parade, U.S. and presidential flags waving from the hood.

It’s another shiny, slightly stretched black Cadillac, this one appearing to have thicker steel and glass than ever. Not much else is being revealed.

“Although many of the vehicle's security enhancements cannot be discussed, it is safe to say that this car’s security and coded communications systems make it the most technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world,” said Nicholas Trotta, assistant Secret Service director for the Office of Protective Operations.

The announcement comes as no surprise, because industry spy photos of the unpainted car were posted on the web in recent weeks.

For embattled General Motors, which has produced most of the recent presidential limousines, it’s a win for a change amid sinking sales and a sea of red ink that has forced the auto giant to seek billions of federal bailout dollars.

GM spokeswoman Joanne Krell said the company is ``awfully honored'' to have been selected as the limo maker again. Producing a new presidential limo is a ritual that is repeated every four years as the Secret Service strives for the perfect shield against terrorists, nut cases or other would-be assassins. `It’s entirely fitting that an American president is in a great American brand," Krell said. "I am really prohibited from actually talking about the safety features of the car. It’s built to precise and special specifications. It undergoes extreme testing and development.’’

She said the car ``incorporates some of the top aspects of Cadillac’s production cars, including signature design and hand cut and sewn interiors, but is not like any single model.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcb_washingt...masnewlimohtml

To have a glimpse of the new ride, click here and scroll to the bottom of the press release:

http://www.secretservice.gov/press/GPA02-09_Limo.pdf

I am so glad I rerouted my vacation around DC instead of through it. I was going to take Route 95 S to FL but not anymore!!

I am excited to see the new Prez take his oath and will watch it on TV from sunny FL