Monday, January 19, 2009
Inauguration Report: Swissgirl
The Razor is looking forward to any reports it can get from our Washington-area corresponents (IPLawGuy, TradelawGuy, Waco Farmer, IPSLawGuy, etc.). The first fine report is from Swissgirl:
Inauguration weekend: day 1
“Label your kids.”
This was, we discovered, a very apt piece of advice given in this morning’s Washington Post as one of many survival tips for dealing with the crowds here for inauguration.
It should have also read “Label your sister” and “Don’t expect too much, and you might be surprised.” Oh, and “Carry a working cell phone and use it.”
The weather cooperated, by warming up to above freezing, at least ten degrees warmer than the two days before. There was no snow, or rain.
But mostly, people were happy. The beaming, proud middle-aged African-American women in long fur coats, getting their pictures taken with their girlfriends. The kids who climbed bare trees, looking for better views above the crowds. The vendors, selling Obama buttons and watches and calendars and even kitschy Obama earrings. The guys wearing black scarves with Obama printed on them, or women with spangly Obama shawls. The white people and African-American people and Asian people and people speaking French and Spanish and Portuguese. The people who squeezed against us, pushing us forward in the masses of people. The Secret Service agents and the DC police; the Metro attendants explaining the different types of commerorative Obama farecards for sale: everybody, everybody was in a good mood.
Nobody got angry and started yelling when the guards inexplicably were letting people out of the Lincoln Memorial concert but not letting them in. Nobody got out of control in the crowd. The anti-gay protesters were almost completely ignored, mainly laughed at because their message was so conspicuously out of place among the mood of the day.
The surprise? We happened to be interviewed by a roving reporter for USA Today, about our experience trying to get into the Lincoln Memorial concert. Maybe that was our fifteen minutes of fame! It was fun to watch the reporter scribbling every word we said, painstakingly spelling the names of these people she happened upon in a crowd.
We got home after a long trek and a crowded subway ride, cold and happy. Ready to to it again on Tuesday.
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Nice report. I watched parts of that concert yesterday and I had some thoughts:
1. Does everybody have to be backed up by a gospel choir? Seriously, it happened three different times yesterday.
2. When you have James Taylor on stage and he is playing a James Taylor song, shouldn't you just let James Taylor sing it? I mean, it is freakin' James Taylor, who exactly are you going to get that will do it better?
3. Garth Brooks can ruin any song, but the unintentional comedic value of a man wearing a headset microphone almost makes it worth it.
4. Should the president elect have to defend the lyrics of songs played at his inaguration? When Pete Seeger and Springsteen sang "This Land is Your Land" they sang the verse where Woody Guthrie basically decries the notion of property rights. Should Obama be asked whether he agrees with that sentiment?
5. Best moment - Bono couldn't resist and felt it necessary to make a political statement by very dramatically talking about how he hoped for the fulfillment of an American, Irish, African, European, Israeli, and....wait for it....big pause for emphasis....Palestinian dream. The camera almost immediately went to Obama's face and he was making the same face that I've seen people after eating Taco Bell. That uncomfortable, something is not quite right face. It was hilarious.
I am the one I've been waiting for.
1. Does everybody have to be backed up by a gospel choir? Seriously, it happened three different times yesterday.
2. When you have James Taylor on stage and he is playing a James Taylor song, shouldn't you just let James Taylor sing it? I mean, it is freakin' James Taylor, who exactly are you going to get that will do it better?
3. Garth Brooks can ruin any song, but the unintentional comedic value of a man wearing a headset microphone almost makes it worth it.
4. Should the president elect have to defend the lyrics of songs played at his inaguration? When Pete Seeger and Springsteen sang "This Land is Your Land" they sang the verse where Woody Guthrie basically decries the notion of property rights. Should Obama be asked whether he agrees with that sentiment?
5. Best moment - Bono couldn't resist and felt it necessary to make a political statement by very dramatically talking about how he hoped for the fulfillment of an American, Irish, African, European, Israeli, and....wait for it....big pause for emphasis....Palestinian dream. The camera almost immediately went to Obama's face and he was making the same face that I've seen people after eating Taco Bell. That uncomfortable, something is not quite right face. It was hilarious.
I am the one I've been waiting for.
# posted by 
: 10:19 AM
: 10:19 AM
Swissgirl - great report. You could have written the piece they did on NPR this morning.
RRL: Did anyone sing "We are the world"?
~ I agree - just let James Taylor sing!
~ Bono needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut sometimes. But then the Dixie Chicks didn't take to well to being told to "Shut up and sing" a few years back.
On a different note is anyone doing anything fun in their home town (not DC) tomorrow during the Inauguration.
If it doesn't snow here in Durham, I'll send you a report from the Inauguration Brunch we are suppose to attend tomorrow down in Raleigh.
RRL: Did anyone sing "We are the world"?
~ I agree - just let James Taylor sing!
~ Bono needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut sometimes. But then the Dixie Chicks didn't take to well to being told to "Shut up and sing" a few years back.
On a different note is anyone doing anything fun in their home town (not DC) tomorrow during the Inauguration.
If it doesn't snow here in Durham, I'll send you a report from the Inauguration Brunch we are suppose to attend tomorrow down in Raleigh.
Day I:
I stopped at a streetside lettuce and dressing vendor to buy ingredients to make my world-famous IPSlaw for President-elect Obama. Tasted a little myself. Good flavor, slightly crunchy, slight bitter taste (probably illegal pesticides). Will wash it thouroughly and chop with vigor to ensure a IPSlaw that eats like a slaw, not a salad.
Purchased red cabbage and carrot shreddings from an Anti-Gay Rights protester near the White House. Mixed well with lettuce and dressing. Might add dried cranberries that they were selling at the White House Peace Vigil tent.
Few diffuculties today. Saw McCain walkig down street today (though that IPSlaw might need some more dressing and perhaps some vinegrette). I really hope that Obama likes my slaw! Now to get inaguration tickets...
I stopped at a streetside lettuce and dressing vendor to buy ingredients to make my world-famous IPSlaw for President-elect Obama. Tasted a little myself. Good flavor, slightly crunchy, slight bitter taste (probably illegal pesticides). Will wash it thouroughly and chop with vigor to ensure a IPSlaw that eats like a slaw, not a salad.
Purchased red cabbage and carrot shreddings from an Anti-Gay Rights protester near the White House. Mixed well with lettuce and dressing. Might add dried cranberries that they were selling at the White House Peace Vigil tent.
Few diffuculties today. Saw McCain walkig down street today (though that IPSlaw might need some more dressing and perhaps some vinegrette). I really hope that Obama likes my slaw! Now to get inaguration tickets...
# posted by : 1:16 PM
: 1:16 PM
Weather report: 65 degrees with low humidty in my living room. TV brighteness - set; volume - check. All set for the inauguration.
As many of you may know, the Commonwealth of Virginia has, in conjunction with the US Sevret Service, closed all bridges leading to/from DC. This means that for us Virginians unless you are within walking/biking distance, or willing to throw the dice with Metro, you are oficially "not invited" to the inauguration. So, I am proud to say that, barring my wife and kids causing me to do something I will later regret, I am taking all this in from the comfort of my home.
"How can you live in the DC area and not go?" you ask. Honestly, I am at a loss for how something that should have been a cinch for locals turned into a tourists only event.
As many of you may know, the Commonwealth of Virginia has, in conjunction with the US Sevret Service, closed all bridges leading to/from DC. This means that for us Virginians unless you are within walking/biking distance, or willing to throw the dice with Metro, you are oficially "not invited" to the inauguration. So, I am proud to say that, barring my wife and kids causing me to do something I will later regret, I am taking all this in from the comfort of my home.
"How can you live in the DC area and not go?" you ask. Honestly, I am at a loss for how something that should have been a cinch for locals turned into a tourists only event.
# posted by : 2:01 PM
: 2:01 PM
Thanks, y'all!
It does feel like an event for tourists, seeing the steady stream of buses driving into town down Connecticut Avenue, outside my building. I guess they wanted to keep cars out of the city, by closing the bridges . . . it's left to be seen how easily people from Virginia can get into town on the free buses offered . . .
It does feel like an event for tourists, seeing the steady stream of buses driving into town down Connecticut Avenue, outside my building. I guess they wanted to keep cars out of the city, by closing the bridges . . . it's left to be seen how easily people from Virginia can get into town on the free buses offered . . .
# posted by : 9:46 PM
: 9:46 PM
My office is in what they are calling "The Green Zone" in Washington... you need to have proof of your right to be in the area. And as TradeLawGuy pointed out, those of us who live on the wrong side of the river have been told to stay out.
Meanwhile, with both Monday and Tuesday being holidays, the office is closed.
So I decamped to Quebec where I went skiing on Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning. Monday afternoon I visited one client in Montreal and tonight I had dinner with another. Tomorrow I have three client meetings and then I will fly home.
No, its not sour grapes because my guy lost. Yes, if McCain had won, I'd have been attending and participating, but really, having been to 4 inaugural balls and participated in the hoopla in the past, it really doesn't have that much appeal to me any more.
Iplawwife did take some out of town guests and the iplawkids downtown on Sunday and they got caught up in the excitement. Good for them. I had more fun skiing than I would have in DC
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Meanwhile, with both Monday and Tuesday being holidays, the office is closed.
So I decamped to Quebec where I went skiing on Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning. Monday afternoon I visited one client in Montreal and tonight I had dinner with another. Tomorrow I have three client meetings and then I will fly home.
No, its not sour grapes because my guy lost. Yes, if McCain had won, I'd have been attending and participating, but really, having been to 4 inaugural balls and participated in the hoopla in the past, it really doesn't have that much appeal to me any more.
Iplawwife did take some out of town guests and the iplawkids downtown on Sunday and they got caught up in the excitement. Good for them. I had more fun skiing than I would have in DC
# posted by : 10:31 PM
: 10:31 PM << Home
