Much has been written about the thousands of people denied access to Barack Obama's inauguration -- including the plight of those in the purple ticket line who stood in the 3rd Street tunnel for hours and others (including myself) in the blue line who saw the gates shut on them right before Obama's historic event.
Inaugural Chair Dianne Feinstein has promised an investigation. But, in reading over the quotes coming from various people, it appears that Feinstein will soon face a choice: accept the true version of what happened and hold the appropriate people accountable or allow history to be re-written in a way that covers up some gross incompetence.
The [inaugural] committee said it had based its plan on “historic precedent” and “calculations of the number of guests that could safely be accommodated in each area.” But the crowds were “unprecedented,” the committee said, and a “huge flow of unticketed people” made matters worse. [Bold added.]
Senate Sergeant At Arms Terry Gainer said he thinks there were a number of problems that led to the chaos. He said there may have been more tickets issued than they could handle. [Bold added.]
This narrative basically implies that the inaugural committee planned as well as could be expected, but so many members of the public came out that some folks at the back of the line inevitably got cut. Kind of sucks, but since 2 million people won't be coming to any events in the foreseeable future, no need to "blame" anyone...let's just move on.
If you were not one of the 2 million people watching the inauguration on the Mall in Washington, you could watch the spectacle on any number of television channels. Flipping between ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS would have yielded different commentary but largely the same mood: euphoria, awe at the magnitude of electing the first African-American president, and somber urgency about what confronts our financial system and the world. Yet, even as Obama warned of a difficult road, the crowds were wildly enthusiastic, and millions were moved. Main Street has turned a corner.
But if you had turned on CNBC, you would have seen a different world. Wall Street was in free-fall, with the worst day for bank stocks ever. Some major banks, Citigroup, Bank of America and State Street especially, lost between 25% and 60% of their market value. Similar sell-offs occurred in British bank stocks, with the Royal Bank of Scotland particularly eviscerated. Wall Street pessimism was terrible a few months ago, and has now transcended pessimism and evolved into manic nihilism.
OK, America, so I pulled a tiny prank tonight-and it was so classic that I have to tell you all about it.
It involves freedom of speech, a friendly message to one of those crazy Republicans we all know-and it forced that crazy Republican to get up at three in the morning because he could not handle the threat to his world view.
Wanna hear all about it?
Then come along and follow the story...because it's worth it.
After years of focusing on speeches and messaging, it difficult to resist the urge to turn today's events, or a line in President Obama's speech, to the current state of our country. As someone who spent an hour waiting in line for the subway, another hour on the subway and walking toward our ticket entrance (the purple entrance), and two hours waiting in a throng of people to enter before realizing that we needed to turn around and find a television somewhere to watch the actual swearing in and inaugural speech, the metaphor I choose is when both President Obama and Chief Justice Roberts made a mistake in reading the oath of office:
First, Obama jumped in before the "do solemnly swear" phrase, which seemed to throw the chief justice off his stride. Roberts rendered the next phrase as "that I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully."
"That I will execute," Obama repeated, then paused like a school teacher prompting his student with a slight nod. Roberts took another shot at it: "The off ... faithfully the pres ... the office of President of the United States."
Natasha and I ended up watching the event in Union Station, with about 1,000 others who had broken off from the main crowd to get indoors, and to find a television. This moment of levity and humanity made me feel a lot better about waiting four hours in the cold, on little sleep, but still not getting in despite having tickets for the event. If even the President and the Chief Justice were making mistakes, it shows just how we are all nervous, we are all trying hard, and we are all tired. However, as a nation, we have no choice but to, in my favorite line of the speech, "pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again."
Feeding Liberally Food For Thought
by Justin Krebs, Living Liberally
This coming week, as liberals around the country -- and Americans of all stripes -- prepare to celebrate the Inauguration, Drinking Liberally chapters are also Feeding Liberally.
Following the lead of Democrats Work, an organization we've long held a crush on, and inspired by the President-Elect's call to service, our chapters around the country are taking part in a national food drive, donating food or funds to local food pantries and to Feeding America, formerly America's Second Harvest.
In New York, we're gearing for the NYC Inaugural Ball on Sunday, but in true Living Liberally fashion, the best work is being done outside of NYC, where scores of our chapters are hosting their own celebrations to say goodbye to the Bush years, and share their hopes for a more progressive, forward-thinking set of Obama years ahead. And when you have so many chapters on the same page, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the moment for a higher cause.
We will be posting more information on our Feeding Liberally page, which we'll be updating throughout the week - as of right it's just a placeholder, but expect more content as we hear back from more chapters. So join us next week, bring your canned goods along with your dancing shoes, and let's raise a toast to fighting for progressive change, under Bush and Obama alike, and building progressive community - from New York to Nebraska to Alaska.
TurnBackHate.com invites you to sign our petition protesting President-elect Barack Obama's decision to invite Pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the Inaugural ceremony on January 20th, 2009. There can be no doubt about it: Pastor Warren is a minister of hate and has insulted gays, lesbians, Jews, atheists, practitioners of the social gospel, Holocaust victims, and ordinary Americans who want to put the politics of hate behind us. I hope you'll join us in silently and non-disruptively turning your back on Pastor Warren when he delivers the invocation.
Since launching my website and petition at TurnBackHate.com, I've heard dozens of ideas for how we should protest Pastor Warren at the inauguration: flying rainbow flags, singing a protest song, wearing special clothing or accessories, booing Rick Warren, and so on and so forth. These are all legitimate ideas but they all have a problem: they either needlessly limit the number of people who can participate or could potentially backfire. Turning our backs is the ONLY form of protest that both maximizes the number of participants and minimizes the risk of press backlash.
TurnBackHate.com invites you to sign our petition protesting President-elect Barack Obama's decision to invite Pastor Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church to deliver the invocation at the Inaugural ceremony on January 20th, 2009. There can be no doubt about it: Pastor Warren is a minister of hate who has repeatedly and unapologetically used rhetoric that is offensive, insulting, hurtful, and spiteful towards ordinary Americans of all walks of life. Whether you're watching the Inauguration on TV or online, listening on the radio, or attending the ceremony on the Mall in Washington, we hope you'll join us in silently and non-disruptively turning your back on Pastor Warren when he delivers the invocation.
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