Construction begins for inauguration ceremony

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - In a nail-driving ceremony for what could be a nail-biting election, senators on Wednesday officially initiated construction for the Jan. 20, 2005 presidential inauguration.

When finished, the West Front of the Capitol will be ready to welcome more than 200,000 expected to attend the 55th presidential inauguration. Hundreds of thousands more will line the parade route and watch from afar on the Mall between the Capitol and Washington Monument.

Regardless of whether it is President Bush or Democratic challenger John Kerry who is sworn in next January, "inaugurals show that we as Americans support our basic democratic ideals, that we respect our leader, we revere our leader's selection," said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Architect of the Capitol Alan Hantman said there will be seating for 12,000, with others standing. He said $2.8 million has been appropriated for inaugural costs, although the total cost of inaugural events, the parade, parties, fireworks and security costs, is far higher. In 2000 President-elect Bush took in $40 million from campaign donors for his inaugural celebration.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6191981/

[KansDem]

1. Remember...make everything about 3-4 inches higher...!!!

You know, podium, microphone stand, backdrop...

Higher than last time...

[OKNancy]

3. Big smile on my face

reading your post....and I got butterflies. You know that feeling when your stomach "turns over". I'm so excited and nervous.

[MADem]

2. This will probably be the first time

...in recent history that military personnel, who are often plucked from their jobs against their will to go work on that fucking thankless Inauguration Committee workforce (it gets uglier as January approaches and they are forced to freeze their asses off in stupid rehearsals), will be VOLUNTEERING in DROVES for the available positions.

ANYTHING, anything, ANYTHING to get out of the fetid Gestapo-like Headquarters that is called the Pentagon...especially those working for the more political Assistant Secretaries of Defense!

[PartyPooper]

4. "...We revere our leader's sElection", said Sen. Trent Lott R-Miss.

Spoken like a true repuke expecting a redux of 2000.

:eyes:

[JP Belgium]

5. John Kerry better start rehearsing this:

"I, John Forbes Kerry, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and I will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States"

Let it sound loud & clear so the whole world knows its time to start rebuilding things.

[CO Liberal]

6. Followed by "Reporting for Duty!!!"

:-)

[TahitiNut]

8. No. He should follow that by turning to a Federal Marshal and saying ...

... "arrest those two men." Both Smirk and Sneer are war criminals.

[deadmessengers]

7. wow

You know, I got chills reading that, and thinking about how proud I'll feel hearing him recite those words.