I know we're trying to be humble, but the crowd figures for the inaugural are staggering

[bigtree]

I always wondered why we didn't see as many people come out into the streets for protests or for celebrations like the inaugural ceremony as in other countries. Barack Obama's candidacy and his presidency has created a wellspring of interest which has drawn Americans out into the open in support of this man in the hundreds of thousands for his speeches and now, as projected, in the millions. His popularity is a fascinating phenomenon which has great potential for sparking an era of national unity as well as create a productive climate for progress on his change agenda.


from the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/21/opinion/21fri4.html

Officials are predicting that the largest inaugural crowd in history — as many as four million . . .

Two months short of Inauguration Day, the excitement of a grand national convergence on the Capitol is already palpable. Officials are predicting that the largest inaugural crowd in history — as many as four million — will spill down the National Mall. Many may camp overnight to get a good spot by the forest of JumboTron screens affording most visitors the best sight of President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in, a speck of an event far off at the west front of the Capitol.

The celebration for the first African-American president could not be more exquisitely timed. It occurs during the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, on the day after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, with the theme of the “new birth of freedom” foreseen by Lincoln at Gettysburg. The Capitol’s new $600 million visitors’ center already is abuzz with talk of the Obama era . . .

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Holy crap! That's way more people than in my entire state!

[John Q. Citizen]

2. It's about 4 times as many people as live in my state.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I guess maybe 2 and half more than mine? ..

[Sinistrous]

4. Motels in my area are already getting heavy bookings for Jan 19, and

I live about 100 miles from D.C.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. And it's going to cost DC a gazillion dollars. Maybe even a jizillion. n/t

[Missy Vixen]

6. One of our friends is going

I don't believe she got a ticket, but she's already bought the plane tickets and she's staying with another friend. We are so thrilled to know she'll be there to see history live. I hope she'll be telling us how it all went when she gets back!

Julie

[seemunkee]

7. My wife is concerned about going down

I keep telling her she will be sorry if she misses it.

[bigtree]

9. like they say

going early is a must.

I went to the first Clinton inauguration and arrived in town at 5:30 in the morning. (The wait for transportation is expected to be crazy) The traffic was relatively calm and you could pretty much walk to the back of the Capitol by the Arboretum and look up at the platform from the closed gates far away from the raised podium. We thought we were in a good place to stand and wait but at about 6:30-7:00 they moved us to the side where our view was blocked by bushes. Apparently, the middle of the lawn, where you can see a pinpoint of the podium, is reserved for 'ticketholders'. The best bet would be to find the 'public' areas and scope out a good place in front of one of the telescreens instead of expecting to get a place with a really good view. Bring binoculars just in case. Spots along the motorcade are good too, but the effect is fleeting unless he'll get out and walk past. I expect all of those precious spots to fill up fast, maybe overnight.

[shadowknows69]

8. I think it's great it will be a rocking party and all

But why the hell couldn't we get four million people in the streets of DC at one time to stop the war? I just think that's sad.