Presidential inauguration: 700,000 expected in D.C. to watch Obama take oath of office

Chicago Tribune ^ | 01/21/2013

[SeekAndFind]

WASHINGTON -- Four years after making history by becoming the first African-American president, Barack Obama will kick off his second term on Monday with a scaled-back inauguration that reflects the tempered expectations for his next four years in office.

Lingering high unemployment, bitter political battles and a divisive re-election campaign have punctured the mood of optimism and hope that infused Obama's 2009 inauguration after a sweeping election win.

This time, Obama's inauguration will feature smaller crowds and a reduced slate of inaugural balls and parties to match the more subdued tenor of the times.

When Obama raises his right hand to be sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts outside the U.S. Capitol at 10:55 a.m. Chicago time, it will be his second time taking the oath in 24 hours.

He had a private swearing-in on Sunday at the White House because of a constitutional requirement that the president be sworn in on Jan. 20. Rather than stage the full inauguration on a Sunday, the main public events were put off until Monday.

Obama begins the day worshiping at St. John's Episcopal Church across from the White House. He will then take the oath again and deliver his inaugural address from the Capitol's west front overlooking the National Mall, where a crowd of up to 700,000 is expected to watch.

That is down significantly from the record 1.8 million people who jammed Washington in 2009 for Obama's first inauguration.

As Inauguration Day dawned and people streamed through the wintry cold toward the Capitol grounds, Washington was in security lockdown, with thousands of police and National Guard troops deployed, barricades up and Humvee military vehicles blocking major intersections.

Outside the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, an elaborate presidential viewing stand, encased in bullet-proof glass, awaited Obama and other VIPs

[Jack Hydrazine]

According to Obama’s paternal grandmother, she swears Obama was born at a hospital in Mombasa. She claimed she was there and witnessed it. But Obama’s people shut her up pretty fast after saying that.

[mylife]

is it PC to say "bangs" considering all the gun talk et al?

I would not push your luck ☺

[Truth2012]

I sneaked a peek over here at upstream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/Smithsonian-On-UStream-TV

And there must have been 2-3,000 people there.

[penelopesire]

My great grandmother was a Guthrie...lol..but no commie. Woodie was her cousin. Woody was a commie for sure.

[Lakeside Granny]

He’s going to let his election comm. er newly minted 501c3 bend the minds of the people so he can enact gun control.

[Hot Tabasco]

Well, I just finished giving myself a root canal with my DeWalt cordless drill. Did I miss anything?

[Wisconsinlady]

Beyonce now? Seriously?

I bet this coronation is making the Queen of England jealous.

[penelopesire]

The dems in the senate are scared to death of the gun control political blowback that is coming but alas our spineless republican ‘leaders’ will probably miss the opportunity of a lifetime by sitting on their hands.

[Lakeside Granny]

I thought he hated the Stars and Stripes. It’s to violent!!!

[1_Rain_Drop]

"I just tuned in to listen to Mark Steyn. He’s funny enough to make this day almost bearable."

Consider yourself extremely blessed. I turned the radio on to listen to Mark, and all I got is stuff about that DC bozo. Preempting Mark Steyn should be illegal. He's undocumented, ya know! Every few minutes I turn on the radio to see if I can hear Mark's glorious voice.

[Lakeside Granny]

Thats TOO not to. LOL

[1_Rain_Drop]

"I just tuned in to listen to Mark Steyn. He’s funny enough to make this day almost bearable."

Consider yourself extremely blessed. I turned the radio on to listen to Mark, and all I got is stuff about that DC bozo. Preempting Mark Steyn should be illegal. He's undocumented, ya know! Every few minutes I turn on the radio to see if I can hear Mark's glorious voice.

[Resettozero]

Presidential inauguration: 700,000 expected in D.C. to watch Obama take oath of office

Seven hundred thousand folk traveled into DC to watch the swearing-in on TVs? Well, the Presidential inauguration has become so much more than just the swearing-in and a speech over the years -- a veritable feast, a revelry, an...inaugurazing.

[Purrcival]

Well, as a 24x7 member on Rush’s site, I tuned in there to listen to the audio feed (no DittoCam when El Rushbo isn’t there, but he does provide an audio feed for his guest hosts). I didn’t even bother to tune in to WSB for the very reason you cite.

[mlizzy]

LOL Sasha is Yawning! Pop has her bored to tears LOL!

Wasn't that funny? It was worth watching just for that! Seems Christ is behind those subtle but poignant moments, like when the baby cried during O's speech at Notre Dame.

[Jacknudy]

You’re mistaken.

But what about it do you find commie?

[MomwithHope]

gee, last night Brian Williams said there would be 200 million people there.

[Carry_Okie]

Even the bureaucrats aren’t turning out in droves.

[VanDeKoik]

“The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob.”

So you are going to resign right now, right?

[itssme]

I won't listen, watch or read anything about the “HOG” and his “in-NOG-er-ation.” He is no “president” of mine. A domestic enemy of the state, YES, but not a true President of the United States. And he must, and WILL, be removed.