Stupid Question Time: How do Dems Do the Inauguration?

[neebob]

Is it mostly for Republicans or what? What I'd like to know is which of our Dems - the elected ones, I mean - are participating in what ways. Are they also partying like it's 1999? What functions do they attend, and do they have to be invited? Do they pay? Or do they get paid or benefit in other ways?

I really don't know how it works, and I'd like an overview as well as names and details - what's typical and what's specific to this inauguration. I know the Clintons and the Carters are attending a particular ball, which I assume is by invitation. What's John Kerry doing this week - compared to, say, Barbara Boxer or Dennis Kucinich? Anybody know how to find out?

Thanks in advance for any information. I have to go to work, but I'll check back in this evening.

[neebob]

1. Well, that was a fast drop

Maybe it really is a stupid question, or maybe it just can't compete with the prairie coatdress - which I have to say I had some serious fun with last night.

Of course there's an implicit question, and that's who can I still respect next week. Here's a somewhat encouraging story:

`Blue' Washingtonians Counter `Red' Carpet Inauguration Galas

Jan. 20 (Bloomberg) -- When President George W. Bush was first inaugurated in 2001, Donna Brazile and other Democrats fled Washington to lick their wounds. This time, they're standing their ground.

<snip>

Democrats in Washington, where Massachusetts Senator John Kerry received more than 90 percent of the vote in last year's election, won't remain quietly in the background. James Carville, a Kerry adviser who also worked for President Bill Clinton, said Democrats should mark the inauguration by showing support for their party.

``Look, we Democrats can either swallow all of the Republicans' malarkey about `the people have spoken' and go hide in a corner somewhere,'' Carville wrote in an e-mail to supporters of the Democratic National Committee. ``Or we can fully embrace the grassroots power that we so clearly demonstrated in 2004.'' Carville's office says he is sticking around Washington today; he didn't respond to calls seeking additional comment.

<snip>

Most elected officials of both parties, including Kerry, will attend official events. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will join a bipartisan group of House and Senate congressional leaders for a morning coffee with Bush and First Lady Laura Bush before escorting him to the swearing in, said Pelosi's press secretary, Jennifer Crinder. In addition, both chambers of Congress are officially in session.

<snip>

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=a2rlzHUfsmCg&refer=us

I'd still like to know who's doing what this week. Now I really do have to go to work.