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Being a betting man, a couple months back, after a particularly feisty week of polling gains for Obama, I went and bought a couple tickets to Washington, D.C. for his swearing-in. This was in early October. More and more, it was looking like Obama had a real shot at taking the thing, and I was gonna do everything in my power to be there to witness the passing of the torch. I’ve waited eight years for this day. So I grabbed a couple flights for Leigh and I. Done. Then I wrote Congressman Blumenauer here in Portland. Things were looking pretty dire after a couple calls to his aides. “Yes, thank you for your interest. We only have so many tickets, and your name is on the request list. Good luck.” is all they could offer up. They were free, but of course, liberal Portland’s requests were flooding their offices. So we crossed our fingers, and a couple months later I get an email from the Blumenauer office… It turns out my name came up in the raffle, and I was awarded two tickets to the Inauguration! Red, white and blue, with a good hit of orange. So happy. Here’s what the missive said, “I have been very pleased with the level of excitement our new President-elect has brought to this nation and our political process. We received over 6,000 requests from constituents of the Third Congressional District of Oregon to attend his inauguration!” then, “Yesterday my office held our lottery for tickets to the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Swearing-in Ceremony for President-elect Barack Obama and your name was selected. Congratulations. You will be receiving 2 ticket(s) to the Inauguration.” and, “Each House office has received 198 tickets. A very small fraction of these tickets are seated. The rest of the tickets are standing room only, with lawn space given on a first-come, first-serve basis upon arrival the morning of the swearing-in ceremony.” Seated? You gotta be kidding me. Imagine that. Hell, I’d be glad just to be able to see the thing, much less be seated. Each time I read these words, Gary bumps come over me in waves. (Goose? Hell no.) Incredible. Leigh and I will be tooling around D.C. on foot, cameras in hand, soaking up the final days of the Bush disaster, with high hopes for Mr. Obama and a new America. We’ll be staying with her friend Katie, who lives, “11 blocks form the Capital.” Perfect. If things get too tight there, we’ll go sleep on the White House lawn. Or at the Dischord house. Something like that. We flew out early this morning. Full reports will be on Draplin.com, with some surprises at Coudal.com, so be sure to check back, you star-spangled patriots! Wow.
There Are 18 Comments
That is absolutely amazing. To be witness to history. You lucky sod. :) Posted by: Derek Schille on 01/15/09 at 6:17 AM
Man have fun but dress warm!! I was there at Clinton’s second inauguration in ‘96 and while it was a good time, it was 13 degrees outside. I stood there for 3 hours and froze my ass off. Still a cool thing to witness an inauguration. Posted by: Steve West on 01/15/09 at 6:22 AM
Recently found out a coworker scalped her tickets to one of the balls on craigslist for $1000. While I consider such a practice absolutely sacrilegious and infuriating in the case of something like basketball playoffs, politics are a whole different story. Had I realized the potential to profit off my limited connections in “the biz,” I would have tried a bit harder to get my name on some lists around the office. At the same time, I’m glad to hear you got an in through good, old fashioned democracy. Anyway, enjoy the DC circus. I admire your faith in BO’s ability to change the face of America and am hoping for the best. Posted by: r cotton on 01/15/09 at 6:54 AM
Congrats sir! I would be lying if I said I wasn’t JUST A TAD envious. Have a great time and I eagerly await the photos that you’ll soon be posting. Posted by: Mike Kirkpatrick on 01/15/09 at 9:49 AM
As a fellow Oregonian, congratulations! Can’t think of a better representative to send. Posted by: Patrick on 01/15/09 at 10:34 AM
Fantastic! I’m with you, my wife is with you, and all of us who wont have the opportunity to see it live are with you. Posted by: Ivan on 01/15/09 at 1:01 PM
Incredible! Thank you for being my window into this event. Please keep us posted, as I’m all the way up here in Canuck-ville and CBC just can’t cut it when it comes to coverage of this event. Posted by: Paul Friesen on 01/15/09 at 2:02 PM
Grats man! Have fun - I’ll be there too but sounds like you will have better “seats”. I envision hanging from a lamp post with a horse cop yelling at me. Very optimistic about this next four years though. “What is that I smell?” … Change baby, change. Posted by: Maddox on 01/15/09 at 2:16 PM
That sounds like a great trip. Good on you for having enough faith on his election that you bought a ticket back then. Lets hear it for Obama! BTW - I love your work! Posted by: landon dowlen on 01/15/09 at 2:26 PM
So jealous that you’re there and I have to work - I’ll be trying to watch it on the internet while I’m at work!! Posted by: Sarah on 01/16/09 at 2:35 AM
Good luck in D.C. Bring me a souvenir…..something that won’t break! I’ll be scanning the TV coverage for you and Leigh; I can’t wait to read your daily reports on the events you attend. Dad and I are doing our ‘day of service’ , suggested by Obama’s campaign, locally by collecting items for a local food pantry for a couple hours Saturday. Have fun and be safe. Posted by: mamma d on 01/16/09 at 8:48 AM
Good luck in D.C. Bring me a souvenir…..something that won’t break! I’ll be scanning the TV coverage for you and Leigh; I can’t wait to read your daily reports on the events you attend. Dad and I are doing our ‘day of service’ , suggested by Obama’s campaign, locally by collecting items for a local food pantry for a couple hours Saturday. Have fun and be safe. Posted by: mamma d on 01/16/09 at 8:48 AM
Draplin! Posted by: Topher on 01/16/09 at 9:05 AM
Draplin! Posted by: Topher on 01/16/09 at 9:05 AM
I couldn’t think of a better Inauguration Correspondent! Posted by: Joseph on 01/16/09 at 11:02 AM
this has got to be one of the top 5 coolest things i have ever read on draplin.com. can’t think of a better american to represent the oregon… you are proof that karma works aaron. looking forward to the report. -etk Posted by: keeney on 01/16/09 at 1:22 PM
Posted by: ben on 01/17/09 at 8:32 AM
throw us a bone already……. we’re with you…. lets move…. lets congregate let see what up tooo……… Posted by: styk on 01/17/09 at 5:59 PM
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