WASHINGTON -- Ticked off ticket holders who didn't get in to see the swearing-in ceremony Tuesday are getting consolation prizes.
Ticket holders who were blocked from entering the swearing-in ceremony will receive commemorative inaugural items, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies said.
Those with blue, silver and purple tickets who didn't make it in will receive copies of the swearing-in invitation and program; photos of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden; and a color print of the ceremony, committee spokeswoman Carole Florman said.
People should check the committee's Web site early next week for instructions on how to claim their items.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Consolation Prizes for Blocked Ticket Holders
Purple Tunnel of Doom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Senator Feinstein Statement on Incidents at 56th Presidential Inaugural Ceremony Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, today issued the following statement in response to reports of incidents which prevented a large number of ticketholders from reaching their designated areas at the 56th Presidential Inaugural Ceremony: Following is Senator Feinstein’s statement:
“I have just spoken with Mark Sullivan, Director of the Secret Service, and I have asked him to convene along with the U.S. Capitol Police, all law enforcement and other parties involved in planning for this Inaugural to conduct a prompt investigation into two serious incidents that have been reported. These reports have prompted great concern by members of the Inaugural Committee, including Senator Bob Bennett, and by Congress in general.
The specific incidents include the report that a decision was made to cut off access to Purple and Blue standing areas, which meant that a large number of ticketholders could not reach their designated areas. I am also aware of the incident involving the 3rd Street Tunnel, where thousands of people were stuck for several hours and apparently without any law enforcement presence. There may have also been other irregularities, but I have heard enough to know that something went wrong and we need to find out what happened. Mr. Sullivan has indicated that he will provide a full report.
I would encourage people who have direct information about these incidents to contact the Secret Service, in addition to contacting the Joint Congressional Committee for Inaugural Ceremonies at feedback@jccic.senate.gov.”
The 3rd Street Tunnel has now been widely reported as a complete fiasco, where ticket holders were stuck in the tunnel for hours, and denied access to the inauguration.
The tunnel has been dubbed the 'purple tunnel of doom' by ticket holders, a facebook group has even emerged entitled 'survivors of the purple tunnel of doom'.
MSNBC News
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Obama Takes Oath, Again
OBAMA RE-SWORN IN
At 735 pm, Roberts administered the oath of office again to Obama in the map room. Robert Gibbs said the White House Counsel, Greg Craig, believes the oath was fine Tuesday, but one word was out of sequence so they did this out of a "an abundance of caution." "We decided it was so much fun..." Obama joked while sitting on a couch. Obama stood and walked over to make small talk with pool as Roberts donned his black robe. "Are you ready to take the oath?" Roberts asked. "I am, and we're going to do it very slowly," Obama replied. Oath took 25 seconds. After a flawless recitation, Roberts smiled and said, "congratulations, again." Obama said, "thank you, sir." Smattering of applause. "All right." Obama said. "The bad news for the pool is there's 12 more balls."
Video of yesterdays blunder,
International Inaugural Coverage
Apparently Sky Italia, an Italian news agency, enjoyed my inauguration coverage. In fact, today they showed a few of my videos on their newscast.
Check out this clip:
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
President Obama
The crowd reacts after Barack Obama is sworn in as our 44th President. There were several (probably a dozen) loud firework type BOOMS after the oath was administered.
Inauguration 2009 - on the street
The Crowd Reacts as President Bush is introduced
Secret Service Police move people back and instruction people not to use any electronics, including cell phones - as they investigate a suspicious package (a brown purse) that was left on the ground.
Protesters at the inauguration - note the heavy guard they have in front of them
Senator Kennedy - Treated by Paramedics at luncheon
Senator Kennedy, who has been fighting brain cancer, was removed from the Inaugural luncheon by paramedics.
Update: 3:10 ET - apparently Senator Kennedy had a seizure.
No further details available.
Inauguration Day
Good Morning! It is 4am E.T. - I have heard the rumbling sound of helicopters flying overhead all night - I am heading down to the Mall to witness the inauguration - I will try to post pictures/videos soon!
Monday, January 19, 2009
President Elect Obama's Motorcade
President Elect Obama's Motorcade - on his last night as President Elect
Tightened Security - Obama/Biden Dinner
Security is tight in DC - this helicopter is circling over Union Station, where President Elect Obama and VP Elect Biden are having dinner. The helicopter can be seen using its search light to scan the roof tops of nearby buildings
CNN Headline Interview
Today, CNN Headline News showed several of my photos and interviewed me regarding the inauguration. Below is my account of life here in D.C. and the inaugural activities.
Yesterday was a little warmer than it was on Friday and Saturday - which was a nice change. I live in DC and have been going down to the mall to document the preparations for the last several days. Yesterday was by far the busiest I have seen it. In fact, a few times during the day I was unable to send/receive emails and text messages on my cellular phone. That was pretty amazing because the cell phone companies have erected several temporary towers throughout the Mall
area.
Overall, the crowd was in a great mood - lots of singing, yelling, and dancing at the concert. There was also a tremendous amount of diversity - and not just racial diversity - people of all ages from throughout the World were here to celebrate. Despite the cold weather, and the enormous amount of people crowded into such a small area, everyone was in a really good mood - strangers helping each other over stairways, taking pictures for each other, it was pretty impressive that with that many people no fights or anything broke out. One onlooker even described it as 'DC's Mardi Gras'!
One thing that struck me - the crowd was generally hooting and hollering all day - making lots of noise and having a great time. That changed when Obama delivered his short, six minute speech. The place was quiet as a church on Sunday - you could hear a pin drop on the Mall.
I live 4 blocks away from the Capitol - so I have been very lucky. I think I am going to go down to the mall for a little bit tomorrow, just to say that I was there. I am not planning on getting up / going down there super early. I will probably head down around 9am or so. Security has increased a lot today - in fact, I now have to show proof of residency just to gain access to my building.
Look for a video to be posted of the complete interview shortly.
Snow for Inauguration?
No Snow as of yet - but this just came across the wire:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING.
LOW PRESSURE WILL BRING A PERIOD OF LIGHT SNOW ACROSS THE EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE...NORTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...MUCH OF THE MARYLAND AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF AROUND ONE INCH CAN BE EXPECTED IN WASHINGTON...WITH 1 TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW TO THE NORTH AND WEST OF WASHINGTON INCLUDING ALL OF NORTHERN MARYLAND.
THIS IS THE FIRST MEASURABLE SNOW OF THE SEASON ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. WITH TEMPERATURES AROUND FREEZING...SNOW WILL BE ABLE TO STICK ON SOME ROADS. THIS WILL CAUSE SLIPPERY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TRAVEL.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
Posted 12 Noon on Monday, January 19th
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Vendors at the Inauguration
So, you want to remember this historic inauguration? No problem! Pins, hats, t-shirts, belts, cds, sweatshirts, posters, flags - you name it and it can be yours! Check out these videos I shot featuring the vendors of the inauguration!
More from the Concert
Above: A picture I took of the crowds in front of the Washington Monument
Below: 2 videos: 1 - me walking down the National Mall 2 - The crowd dancing to SHOUT by the Washington Monument
Inauguration Weekend - Saturday - Concert
I headed down to the free concert today (see previous post). The crowd was massive, but everyone was in a friendly mood.
One newsworthy item, my cellular phone, an iphone on the AT&T network, could not connect to data, such as email and websites - I also had a hard time sending text messages. The weather today was warmer than the past two days.
More photos added to the photo album - videos will be posted shortly
Click here for photos
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