How close do you think people could get to the inauguration if you can't get tickets?

[jenmito]

My sister and her family told me today they're going to Obama's inauguration. They LOVE Obama but don't know much about politics so they weren't even aware that you need tickets. Does anyone know if you can just go down there and get close enough to "witness history"? If 5 million people go, as some estimate, there must be an area where people can't get in anymore but can stand NEAR the AREA, right?

[liberalmuse]

1. I don't care if you're in some skeezy dive in DC....

watching it on a big screen. You can tell your grandchildren that you were there when President Barack Obama took the oath of office.

[jenmito]

4. True...

My sister is White and my brother-in-law is Black and they have 3 kids-my two nieces are close to Obama's daughters' ages and my nephew is about 5. They're all SO excited about Obama and want a piece of the history of the inauguration.

[liberalmuse]

8. My family is trying to get there, too...

and we are a bunch of Scandanavian mix whites. I would never discourage anyone from going to DC for this. I don't care where you end up. There will be a story to tell your posterity. This is history in the making, and it's fascinating that so many people recognize it this time around.

[jenmito]

9. Good luck...

Yeah-they may as well just go and see how close they can get. I'm sure they'll be in good company. :hi:

[DoctorMyEyes]

10. We're just going to be there

Maybe if they go into it like we are planning to - just to be happy to be part of the record breaking crowd celebrating this historical moment they won't feel disappointed.

We're not even dreaming of getting close to the parade route. It's just going to be a happy, happy place to be and there are going to be JumboTrons all over. My granddaughters are too young to really "get" what it all means, but I want them to remember that they were there.

[jenmito]

11. Thanks for that...

I'll tell them they should do that. :hi:

[Doityourself]

22. amen!!! tickets or no, my ass will be there for history!!

edited to add: my mom and dad did the march on washington, and you betta believe i'll be in washington for this historic event!

[jefferson_dem]

32. We'll be there..in DC.

The closer the better but I just want to be breathing the same air as Barack when he takes the oath. It will be a magical moment.

[babylonsister]

2. Here's a map you can show her...

[jenmito]

6. Thanks...

I saw that here the other day. :rofl:

[JimDandy]

26. Haha. That's probably how it's going to feel to the 5 million wanna goers. n/t

[AllentownJake]

3. I'm going for the parties in D.C. and N. Virgina

I can watch the speech on youtube :-)

[jenmito]

7. They're a young family of 5...

and live in central NJ. I don't think they'll want to go to parties, but they'd love to be in the crowd. :)

[valerief]

5. You can always host a party and watch it on teevee. nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. yes. - At least it was that way with the Clinton inauguration. We had

tickets - but they never collected them. It would have been a logistical nightmare.
So, he gets sworn in on the capitol stairs - facing the entire Mall - toward the
Washington monument. The section close to the stairs will probably be controlled
it is for vips mostly.

That leaves the entire Mall in front of that. They said they would set up jumbotrons
so everyone can see and hear. I am thinking it will just be one huge, wonderful mass
of happy human beings. Hell - they are now saying 4-5 million. Probably the biggest
crowd ever, anywhere.

so we are going - just to pretty much join in that crowd of happy people. I did
ask my congressman for tickets but don't know if I will get them

They say there are only 250,000 tickets even printed.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. Oh - also, the parade - motorcade. you can find out the route and

get there super early and stand on the side of the street

[jenmito]

17. Thanks again!

I'll let them know! :hi:

[jenmito]

15. Thanks for that...

Yeah, I just called them and told them they should do that. Also, I found out who their congressman is and emailed him requesting tickets just in case. :hi:

[ramapo]

13. It's going to be a huge and happy time

I have a hotel but am too far down the list to hope to get tickets. Should've gotten on the list when I got the hotel room (last June!). But even if you have tickets you might be a couple of blocks away so not having tickets is no reason to stay home. I think they're going to open up the entire mall and put up giant TV screens. It is going to be an amazing event.

[jenmito]

18. Yeah, I'm sure you're right...

they're going and I'm SURE they'll have a GREAT time! Thanks! :hi:

[DCBob]

16. The entire mall will be opened up. That will hold about 3 million folks.

Plus many people will be lined up along the parade route throughout the city. Most won't be able to see Obama directly but there will be jumbotrons screens all over. It will an incredible experience no matter what. I will be there. Can't wait.

[jenmito]

20. Excellent...

They're going after hearing all the input on this thread. Thanks! :hi:

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

19. Since the dawn of time there have NEVER been even 2 million people in DC, let alone on the Mall

DC used to have a population of 660,000. Today it's about 500,000.

There have probably never been more than 2 million human beings within the DC city limits... not for a minute. (I cannot think of anything that would have drawn over a million and a half non-residents.)

And they are talking about 5 million?!

Whew... I cannot imagine anyone whose not in the official crowd will be able to see a thing... maybe a bit of the parade?

[jenmito]

21. Yeah, I heard that...

I'm sure they'll be happy just being part of the whole event! :hi:

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

23. Not to be coarse, but the toilet situation is something to ponder

Are we talking about 100,000 port-a-johns? Are there that many in the US?

The metro system certainly cannot handle 5 million people. Or even 1 million.

And the medical infrastructure.... goodness. If it's the usual temperature we could be looking at more frost-bitten feet then DC has band-aids, let alone competent medical help.

Does anyone expect several MILLION people to go trough metal detectors?

It's all a non-trivial logistical puzzle.

[jenmito]

24. True...

I wonder how many people DO think of that! It could literally get messy! :D

[nancyr]

25. Yes, that poses a bit of a problem.

Certainly not for the intestinally-challenged. I will be watching on t.v. I think.

[fortyfeetunder]

35. You got that right about Metro

I remember during the Bicentennial, Metro decided to run the subway -- which wasn't much then when it opened in 1976. There were 1 million people on the mall. The subway was inundated after the fireworks show, and my running buds and I opted for the bus...what was a 25 minute ride home actually took 3 hours.

Sorry, there is NFW I will be in DC for the first Obama inauguration! I am aiming for the Easter Egg Hunt or the 2nd Inauguration!

[NoSheep]

27. The car park out where you get the train into DC

[mtnsnake]

28. Tell them they can get tickets if they have 30 or 40 thousand dollars to spare

I heard on Canadian radio that some people were actually paying up to that amount to get in.

[jenmito]

29. They don't have ANY money to spare...

I'm sure they'll just go and be a part of the crowd of people who can't get close.

[mtnsnake]

30. Ya know something? They just might find a way to get in if they show up

I don't know how many times I've been told in the past that I'd never get into some event because of being sold out or for other reasons. Usually I got in and didn't have to pay some obscene price either. Sometimes it just takes a will to get in, although to get into this event, it's gonna take some luck, too. Wish 'em the best for me.

[jenmito]

31. They WILL do their best...

and thanks. I will wish 'em the best for you. :hi:

[mucifer]

33. If you are there you will be with millions and it will be fun and you will see it all

on the jumbotron. When you leave you will be around millions of happy people and you won't regret it. Well, anyway, that was my experience in Grant Park on Nov. 4th. I had a ticket but was in the back of the ticketed area. There were 2 jumbotrons in DC there will be more.

[jenmito]

34. Thanks for sharing your experience...

my family will go now and I'm sure they WILL have a great time. :hi: