Inauguration or Coronation?

[Charade]

Where are your seats?

 

[akhenaten]

That is so funny.... my seats are front row.... right in front of my Tv set , in the warmth!!
As much as I would like to go..I hate the cold!!LOL
If it was summer..I would be in section D3 maryland ..i think LOL

Where are your seats?

 

[ckay87]

I simply can't see how this can be anything but great for the area's economy. Sorry OP, I just don't see it.

Furthermore, come the heck on....let people be a little happy, for now at least. Let people celebrate, feel patriotic and hopeful for a few days. It happens so incredibly seldom, what's the harm? Again, I don't see the problem.

 

[chris1gill]

I simply can't see how this can be anything but great for the area's economy. Sorry OP, I just don't see it.

Furthermore, come the heck on....let people be a little happy, for now at least. Let people celebrate, feel patriotic and hopeful for a few days. It happens so incredibly seldom, what's the harm? Again, I don't see the problem.

I agree, flights from all over are booked solid getting into DC, hotel rooms went for top dollar and they are booked all the way to Baltimore, this brings money into the DC area. People are going to eat, so they're going to go out to do it. People want to have a celebration, not riot in the streets. People are paying top dollar to attend ball's and functions, there are still people with money in this country and if this is how they want to spend it, all the power to them.

As for using previous examples, just look at the last inauguration which had THREE days of festivities including the following: Jan. 20 swearing-in, the parade, a black-tie ball and special events in Washington landmarks like the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the Willard InterContinental Hotel and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, three candlelight dinners at which the president and vice president will appear the evening before the inauguration, and then I believe they had fireworks to top it off.... this is no more extravagant than that, the fact that people have chosen to come to D.C. on their own dime and spend their own money, is nothing but good for the D.C. economy.

 

[Soarin08]

Four days?? That is BEYOND stupid! And way over-the-top.

 

[mkingdomlvr]

Four days?? That is BEYOND stupid! And way over-the-top.

Seems like idolatry-4 days to worship a man.

 

[LakeAriel]

Seems like idolatry-4 days to worship a man.

I'll be celebrating the changing of the guard...

 

[Quiksilvr]

Where are your seats?

I *live* in Seating Area A, and I am not looking forward to this at all. I live about as close as you can to the Capitol Building and that weekend is going to be a nightmare. I'd leave town completely but my wife is nervous about leaving the house unoccupied. We've talked about renting out one of our floors, but haven't done anything about it yet. There aren't a lot of bars in our immediate neighborhood, so the crowds shouldn't affect us late at night. However, the bars in the SW Waterfront area aren't too far away, so we might catch a little bit of long-range fallout from that (I still think that's unlikely).

I think we're going to batten down the hatches, turn on the television, and wait for the "All Clear".

 

[akhenaten]

Seems like idolatry-4 days to worship a man.

So if you went to a wedding and they had a rehersal dinner on friday...
wedding and reception on saturday and on sunday a brunch and perhaps an outing,....
would you be worshiping the couple who were getting married , or would you just be celebrating the occasion????

 

[Hoodie]

Keep in mind there were predictions of riots in Grant Park on November 4 due to the masses of people. It did not happen..Happy, hopeful people tend not to have mayhem in mind when they gather to celebrate something so meaningful. I do hope no one does anything intentionally or indirectly to shatter that image and our image around the world.

Several thousand people in one relatively controlled place for a couple of hours doesn't really compare to the millions expected to disburse throughout an entire city (already having issues with crime) for four days and adding a non-stop flow of alcohol.

Right now the estimates are for 2 million people. I've seen marches/protests/celebrations with 1/10 that amount end up with numerous arrests and pepper spray being used by the mounted police. Yes, even ones that started "happy and hopeful". Thankfully, the Park Police are extremely well trained for these events, but they also won't tolerate any disturbance. I expect there will be will be some arrests, I hope not a lot.

I don't think people are prepared for what to expect either.

 

[librarygal]

I live in the DC area and almost weekly there is an article in the Washington Post about how difficult the logistics of this thing will be. They are expecting 10,000 tour buses. Where do you park them? If the maximum number of buses parked at RFK stadium and everyone got there around the same time it would take something like five hours for everyone to get on a train at the Metro. Where are the high school bands going to sleep? School gyms? I am glad I have a four day weekend.

 

[LakeAriel]

Several thousand people in one relatively controlled place for a couple of hours doesn't really compare to the millions expected to disburse throughout an entire city (already having issues with crime) for four days and adding a non-stop flow of alcohol.

Right now the estimates are for 2 million people. I've seen marches/protests/celebrations with 1/10 that amount end up with numerous arrests and pepper spray being used by the mounted police. Yes, even ones that started "happy and hopeful". Thankfully, the Park Police are extremely well trained for these events, but they also won't tolerate any disturbance. I expect there will be will be some arrests, I hope not a lot.

I don't think people are prepared for what to expect either.

I agree security will be very, very tight..It needs to be, there are way too may nut jobs roaming around.
I also agree the alcohol does not need to be available 24/7 if that occurs.

 

[Quiksilvr]

Several thousand people in one relatively controlled place for a couple of hours doesn't really compare to the millions expected to disburse throughout an entire city (already having issues with crime) for four days and adding a non-stop flow of alcohol.

Right now the estimates are for 2 million people. I've seen marches/protests/celebrations with 1/10 that amount end up with numerous arrests and pepper spray being used by the mounted police. Yes, even ones that started "happy and hopeful". Thankfully, the Park Police are extremely well trained for these events, but they also won't tolerate any disturbance. I expect there will be will be some arrests, I hope not a lot.

I don't think people are prepared for what to expect either.

I agree. I'm not so concerned about the people coming to DC causing problems as I am about the people already here who cause problems and who will take advantage of the opportunity to cause a few more. The stuff that goes on in this city is pretty ridiculous. Add a couple million drunk partygoers and it could be recipe for murder and mayhem perpetrated by the locals.

 

[mkingdomlvr]

So if you went to a wedding and they had a rehersal dinner on friday...
wedding and reception on saturday and on sunday a brunch and perhaps an outing,....
would you be worshiping the couple who were getting married , or would you just be celebrating the occasion????

We're very simple with our weddings in our church. We have the ceremony in Church and that's all about God blessing the couple and then a small gathering in the Church hall with food brought by the Church family. We don't go all out crazy like some folks do. Everything in our wedding was about God-we were worshipping God and thanking Him for bringing us together.

 

[Soarin08]

Seems like idolatry-4 days to worship a man.

Keep in mind though, it's been that way from day one.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Where are the high school bands going to sleep? School gyms?

Yep! Aero beds and sleeping bags! Dont fret, drum corps do this all summer long, different school in a different town every day! They will be fine!

 

[Charade]

Keep in mind there were predictions of riots in Grant Park on November 4 due to the masses of people. It did not happen..Happy, hopeful people tend not to have mayhem in mind when they gather to celebrate something so meaningful. I do hope no one does anything intentionally or indirectly to shatter that image and our image around the world.

Well, happy people set bonfires in the middle of Broad st. in Philly the night they won the world series. Don't be too quick to say "nuttin' will happen".

 

[Carpenters]

The bottom line is simple. The Inauguration should be a celebration. I don't care who wins, this is a triumph of democracy and definitely calls for a party. I question the people planning this Inaugural (I don't think the soon to be President has anything to do with it) when in the midst of the economic woes we are in as a country, the President will be seen spending four days celebrating himself. I understand one of the days is dedicated to community service however, it doesn't count nearly as much when you do something because someone is watching. QUOTE]


I just want to add my comment about the bolded part above. The Republicans spent a lot of time at their convention mocking and ridiculing Barack Obama's time as a community organizer. Community service has always been a part of his life, and he's making it part of his inauguration. That's not just because someone is watching, that's his way of life. The four days of celebration might be excessive, and I don't quibble with the criticism of that. I'm not going and don't live there, so don't have a strong opinion, but I honestly think the community service is a sincere signal to the American people of what he wants his presidency to be about. That's my opinion. Flame away, my conservative friends!

 

[Tigger Woods]

I like to party as much as the next guy, but 2 million people and bars open 24/7 sounds like Mardi Gras, not an inauguration. Will drunks be throwing beads at Michelle?

 

[LakeAriel]

Well, happy people set bonfires in the middle of Broad st. in Philly the night they won the world series. Don't be too quick to say "nuttin' will happen".

hoping again?