GB said today on his radio show that they have been in the process of getting permits for about 8 months now and they won't receive them until 3 days prior to the event. This is SOP National Parks people who issue the permits for these types of venues. He said he had no reason to believe the permit would fall through.
Permits or no, I plan on a vacation to D.C. to see the Lincoln Memorial on that day, and many other sites. I may happen to stop to say hi to people I know, whose to say?