Thoughts on a Barack Obama presidency and inauguration travel tips

Our recent post, "Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony: How to get inauguration tickets," ostensibly about travel to Washington, has elicited an outpouring of reactions to the election.

For example, Melanie Hubbard commented:

"The first greatest days of my life was when my children were born. The second greatest day of my life was when Obama, was selected to be our president. I to am a product of a biracial relationship. I thank my generation of peers, to make such a wise, and intelligant [sic] decision to choose Obama as president elect. Because of my generations positive decision the world will forever be grateful."

For more on the Jan. 20 inauguration, see our post: "Obama inauguration ticket info plus travel tips and links," where we encourage you to share your comments and feedback on the election, and your experiences trying to source the tickets.

-- Andrew D. Nystrom, senior producer, Los Angeles Times Travel

Photo credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Pedro Dixon]

I totally agree it is time to put all the hate a side. It is time for all of us to join forces letting others know it is time to stop the hate crap. Stop exciting others by joining a creep just to hate other people. Sick fools always need others to go along with them. They try to find others who they think are weak in strength and mind. Most of all they introduce those fools, who chose to follow with drugs, which makes them think they could take on the world. We need to stop talking about all the possible wrong things that could happened and waiting to blame President Elected Obama or just because he is a Blackman who should have never been voted in office. You, wonderful beautiful Americans. All people, all parties our country economy is in trouble and it’s going to take all of us to put our hate in our hip pockets. We need to reach out with ideas through our elected officials via emails. Phone calls etc. This is in hope that yours may one day cross the desk of our elected President. He who strongly feels that he wants to revive our people’s country to give us back the tools that we need to raise our families. Look, President Elect Obama must be truly crazy, very foolish or really wants to work as hard as possible for this country of ours. He and his family will not make it, if all we do is spend our time findings ways to rip him apart at every turn. I could have deleted this blog at any time, but after reading your replies I found that you wonderful folks are truly are sincere. Yes, they are a few replies with hate overtones, but some I felt will work with us and they were expressing their opinions. This is great! Now, if they can please send some suggestions on what can be done in order to help make things better with out the hate overtones this would be welcome. Again, thanks for your wonderful replies. President Obama and his family will be a wonderful representation for our country, as would Senator McCain and his family. But, what matters now is how we as American of our great country can come together as just beautiful people. As a man or women helping to make our country strong again. May our gods bless our World, The United States Of America, most of all bless the people who will make our country a strong nation. If you worship no God. Then you must love yourself for you are your own God. Folks, let me know what you think about Senator Hilary Clinton for Secretary Of State. This woman collectively had over twenty million female votes locked down. Gov. Edward Rendell for Energy and Transportation Secretary would be great Too!

[Owen Sharpe]

Hitting the ground running.

The financial meltdown and urgency of the economic problems have caused Mr Obama to say he wants "hit the ground running" on January 20th.

But he's in the US. He notes that almost as many people voted against him as voted for him. He anticipates wrestling with opposition to make changes whihc may be too little and may be too late.

I'm in Hong Kong. Here there is universal elation. My correspondence in England and New Zealand and Australia report the same thing.

It is the among the young and the poor and people outside America that feel so good right now. "Feel good" translates as orders. Orders give jobs. Jobs buy houses. Values rise.

Sure hit the ground running. But it won't be a marathon.

Owen Sharpe
Festival Director
New Zealand Schools Choral Festival
www.schoolschoralfestival.co.nz

[Michael Scott]

Our founding fathers were master builders. They constructed our constitution on a foundation of separation of church and state. They framed her with the beams of separation of powers. Her roof is a sturdy composite; freedom of speech. Her thick walls derive their strength from a dual layer of equality under the law and the majority’s responsibility to protect the minority. Masterfully done, I must say.

Friends from other countries who witnessed, first hand, the money and the lies poured into this election were appalled. This is not the wholesome democracy Americans profess to export! I have fielded many questions regarding jailed protesters, warrant-less wiretaps, torture, Valerie Plame vs. Karl Rove, and signing statements (Did you know that the vice-president is not a member of the executive branch?). I have pondered such questions a great deal lately.

I was intrigued when Alan Greenspan acknowledged that he had made a “mistake” in believing that banks, operating in their own self-interest, would do what was necessary to protect their shareholders and institutions. Greenspan called that “a flaw in the model ... that defines how the world works.” Wow! How could such a thing sneak up on a man of his intellect and experience?

The American people as a whole are optimists. We want to believe in our elected leaders. When they claim the need for confidentiality we want to believe that they have top-secret vital information. We want to believe that our leaders, operating in their own self-interest, would do what is necessary to protect their shareholders and institutions.

So what happened!? It’s the “boiling frog principle”. A frog placed in boiling water jumps out. A frog placed in cool water over a fire relaxes as the water gets warm and comfortable. When the water boils it is too late. Optimistic American frogs have slowly simmered in a sordid stew of ever-increasing white-collar crime, executive privilege, lobbying (bribery), and religious fundamentalism. Its toxic fumes have eroded our constitutional walls. Her rusting frame sags under the weight of greed and corruption. Her very foundation has begun to crumble and leak.

For those who decry harsh punishment for white-collar crime, I submit the devastation of the world economy as exhibit A. If people cannot trust their government that institution becomes worthless. Politicians, clergy, and corporate executives must not be allowed to define their own legal behavior or to investigate their own crimes. Secrecy must be the exception rather than the rule. An armed robber steals money. Corruption slowly devours a country’s soul.

Our founding fathers knew all too well that power corrupts and that the self-righteous may fall prey to the seven deadly sins, thus we celebrate Independence Day. Can our new president restore government to the people and renovate our tormented constitution? Yes he must!

[d tyler]

Barack Obama discovers a leak under his sink, so he calls Joe the plumber to come and fix it. Joe drives to Obama's house, which is located in a very nice neighborhood and where it's clear that all the residents make more than $250,000 per year. Joe assesses the problem and tells Obama that it's an easy repair that will take less than 10 minutes. Obama asks Joe how much it will cost. Joe immediately says, "$9,500. "$9,500?" Obama asks, stunned. "But you said it's an easy repair!" "Yes, but I charge a lot more to my clients who make more than $250,000 per year so I can fix the plumbing of everybody who makes less than that for free," explains Joe. "It's always been my philosophy. As a matter of fact, I lobbied government to pass this philosophy as law, and it did pass earlier this year, so no w all plumbers have to do business this way. It's
known as 'Joe's Fair Plumbing Act of 2008.' Surprised you haven't heard of it, senator." In spite of that, Obama tells Joe there's no way he's paying that much for a small plumbing repair, so Joe leaves. Obama spends the next hour flipping through the phone book looking for another plumber, but he finds that all other plumbing businesses listed have gone out of business. Not wanting to pay Joe's price, Obama does nothing. The leak under Obama's sink goes un-repaired for the next several days. A week later the leak is so bad that Obama has had to put a bucket under the sink. The bucket fills up quickly and has to be emptied every hour, and there's a risk that the room will flood, so Obama calls Joe and pleads with him to return. Joe goes back to Obama's house, looks at the leaky pipe, and says "Let's see - this will cost you about $21,000. " "A few days ago you told me it would cost $9,500!" Obama quickly fires back. Joe explains the reason for the dramatic increase. "Well, because of the 'Joe's Fair Plumbing Act,' a lot of rich people are learning how to fix their own plumbing, so there are fewer of you to help pay for all the free plumbing I'm doing for the people who make less than $250,000. As a result, my rates for wealthy customers rise every day. "Not only that, but for some reason the demand for plumbing from those who get it for free has skyrocketed, and there's a long waiting list for repairs. This has put a lot of plumbers out of business, and they're not being replaced - nobody is going into the plumbing business because they know they won't make any money. I'm hurting now too - all thanks to greedy rich people like you who won't pay their fair share ." Obama tries to straighten out the plumber: "Of course you're hurting, Joe! Don't you get it? If all the rich people learn how to fix their own plumbing and you refuse to charge the poorer people for your services, you'll be broke, and then what will you do?" Joe immediately replies, "Run for president, apparently." Joe the Plumber - great joke or is it?