Going "gaga" over the inauguration

Yes, I'm the one of the Washingtonians who are leaving. You're right about us seeing more on TV than in person. Also, with this cold, I don't think I could stay long outside anyway. The hotels or even hostels and motels are fully booked in and around the DC area. I heard that some are "sub-leasing" their apartments for a few days. What a great way to earn money huh?! lol

I just can't understand why people are so eager to be in those mob scenes with masses and masses of people...can't see a thing... haven't much a clue what is going on as ....can't see a thing... and I just don't get the point of it.

I can't even see it for fun.. I lived in Las Vegas and was going to go out New Years Eve and then saw some news clips about previous years - they literally close down Las Vegas Blvd from start to finish - the blvd is literral lined from casino door on one side to casino door on the other side - crushed in there, crammed in there, literally under arm to under arm - yet they all do it. I can't understand it. I see absolutely no fun in something like that.

In the Inagural issue... again, what's the point? SO much security, security checks, so much blocked off ... canyou even see the actual platform where they will be? To me it is just to much for next to nothing.

I think the similar to the Rose Parade. I have been there and sat on the curbs and in the bleachers and that was about 25 years ago so I knowi t is worse now, but even back then... much ado about nothing. I MUCH prefer to watch it on TV at home! So much more enjoyable as you can see up close, hear the commentary about it and no stalls or things not working and all that extra junk that goes on

And today I heard on the news that they are wanting to make it a holiday! Guess they probably could make it a holiday, but bet they cana't make it a PAID holiday - and who can afford to miss a days pay? Just watch it on the news when you get home!

You're right. I don't see why people have to clamor on these things too. I understand that these are "ONCE IN A LIFETIME" events but still... Well, that's their lives their risking not ours, so it's really up to them.

When I was a kid, just before the excitement of the bicentenial, I had meet a couple who had been married for something like 98 years, she was 114, and he was 115 they literally died together, a few months after I had meet them but they lived long enough to see the bicentenial, and they remembered the centenial of the usa.

When it came to talking to them, it wasn't the big events in history that was so amazing, it was the daily life changes they experienced.

How amazing is it to have lived through the worlds changes, sure they were there for some big shot speech or whatever, but what was so fascinating to me, was the change from dirt roads, the way communication evolved from letters and telegraph to phones just the change from phones being a party lines to having private lines.

The introduction of television, and radio, I mean think about it they had truly seen change, how awesome was that? And now in this age of disposible relationships, and people not working on their marriaages when things get tough, here was a couple that ok so they were a bit short of a hundred years but here was a couple who had known each other for a hundred years and been married for most of that.

Listening to the way they talked about just the little things was way more of a big deal to me, then being alive during something that is considered a historic event. In fact it made me realize that even the little things we do in our lives are historic events.

The oldest man in this country is 112 years old, to be honest if I had a chance to talk to someone or see someone on this "great" day I would rather talk with the man who has seen so many changes in the world, who is living history, not just particpating or watching an historic event.

coffeebreak, I know what you mean in regards to the crowds and not being able to see, one year my sister and a group of friends wanted to go to NYC I live in NJ close enough, to watch the ball drop for the New Year, also I had an uncle who went one year, and both said the same thing, it was cold, you couldn't see anything, and it was to crowded, for my sister and her friend she just wanted to go see it once, I have never had a desire to go.

The thing is the part of NJ I lived in, I should be about 20 to 30 minutes from nyc, depending on lights and traffic, but the normal traffic is bad enough that it is at least 45 minutes or more.

Yet the return trip home on New Years eve for my uncle in the late 1960's was so long that it took him nearly 5 hours to get home.

My sister went in the 80's so 20 years later the crowds were so much bigger that it took her nearly seven hours to get home. For at most a 45 minute drive.

And they didn't see anything but crowds.

SO I don't get it, LOL and to go out in the cold like that I see no point to it.

I agree. All that hassle for nothing but crowds and being cold.

Yes, well I like a good parade lol mom used to take us to see the different parades on the 4th so I guess I learned to like marching bands, but that they would air on tv after he was sworn in him driving in the car down to the white house is a bit much.

And then those people who bought tickets to the bleacher seats weren't allowed to get through security and didn't even get there.

Seems like they went over the top with all of it.

I know that we always pay attention to the first 100 days and all that, but to me what is important is what he does now that he is in office, not what kind of dress was worn by who, what kind of coats the kids had on etc.

I believe in that too. The first 100 days are important but more important would be what he does for the rest of the days that he would be in office. He might be active and up and about for the first 100 days and then slow down or stop working after that, so what's the use of working hard for the first 100 days. What's really important is for him to keep the momentum going. So far, I like what he is doing so let's all hope for the best.

I agree with you, I find it hard to say that the first hundred days will gauge the way he is going to be as president, I mean for some of it I figure he has to find out all the things left over oh I know there is that whole transition etc but there is only so much he could do as president elect since at that point he is likely to be busy setting up his staff and learning what things were left a mess.

On top of that the first hundred days is not going to let us know what is going to go on for the next 4 years.

I am hopeful, if only based on the fact that we finally are no longer in a dictatorship in the USA and back to having an elected president.

I also feel like due to the focus so many are putting on his heritage, he is well aware that there is going to be more careful scrutny on him than previous presidents so he is going to have to work at those issues he mentioned in the campaign.

I don't think people have gone gaga over a president like this since the 60's and all that focus was put on Jackie O and JFK.

It is good that people are feeling hopeful though, since for me I do feel the power of positive thinking is important, if people feel like things can change and improve then they themselves are likely to work towards making changes needed and making improvements.

So I also think there is going to be a positive ripple effect from some of this, I just hope that the focus stays where it needs to be, on the issues, and what needs to be worked on, not on silly things like who is wearing what,

I mean I heard some people kick up a fuss about the fact that Michelle Obama's mother was moving in the white house, well it is about the first FAMLY, and I think it is great that as a family they are aware that the demands on the time of the President and First Lady mean that someone is needed to be around as a constant in the lives of the children, and rather than some strange woman who is a nanny [no doubt there will be plenty of staff to take up some things] but no one has said anything about a nanny being in residence when other presidents were in office yet because they would rather have family be around keeping things more personal people had to kick up a fuss.

I would rather a fuss be kicked up over health care, the situation with the military men and women, the fact that many families in the military are having a hard time struggling because they don't get paid enough to feed the children.

I have friends he had been in Iraq, he came back and his new station point is Hawaii, with the prices of things in Hawaii, they have having a hard time, because even though the cost of many things in that state are so much higher he doesn't get cost of living increase in military pay.

Or what about the sitution where seniors have to sell their homes that they worked hard for years, paid off their mortgages and now can't afford to keep them because taxes have gotten so ridiculous.

Why is a couple who are in their 70's paying such high school taxes? How many 70 year old couples have children in the 3rd grade?

It is going to be interesting though, at least there is a good chance of having some of the issues worked on, and improved, I mean lets face it took FDR years to get the country back on its feet after the depression, so no doubt it is going to take some time to turn things around.

Should be an interesting year to see what if any changes are made.

The main bridge is being closed although some are appealing this decision. The Metro would not close down although there are some stations that are just for "exit" and some are just for "entrance". In our area, classes are cancelled on that day too.

You're right. Well, I don't know what would happen but I would definitely try to avoid being on the road on those days.