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Many of President Obama's detractors seemed pleased yesterday morning when reports pointed to diminished turnout for his second inaugural. After historic crowds four years ago, most estimates said the 2013 audience would be less than half as big, and Obama's critics took saw that as meaningful evidence of ... something.
But as Inauguration Day wrapped up, the right's talking point started to look far less compelling.
At least one million people attended the president's swearing-in on Monday, an inaugural official said.
That far surpassed projections of between half a million and 700,000 attendees provided by inaugural planners before the event. But despite the healthy turnout, the crowd size was far below the president's first inauguration, where an estimated 1.8 million flooded the National Mall.
In a case like this, context is everything. Looking back through recent history, Bill Clinton's first inaugural drew about 800,000 people in 1993, which was considered an enormous crowd. In contrast, about 300,000 came to see George W. Bush's first inaugural, and 400,000 saw his second.
It's true that Obama's crowd yesterday wasn't nearly as big as the audience from 2009, but the 1 million people who showed up was significantly more than Bush's two inaugural crowds combined -- a detail some on the right chose to overlook when making a fuss yesterday morning.
It's also true that the 2013 inaugural crowd came up short of the 1.2 million people who attended Lyndon Johnson's inauguration in 1965, but this only helps underscore the larger point: Barack Obama's 2013 inauguration was among the biggest events ever held on the National Mall.
When comparing Obama's 2009 crowd vs. Obama's 2013 crowd, yesterday may seem less impressive. But when comparing Obama's 2013 crowd to history, it was extraordinary.
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Not only was the crowd smaller, but the weather was warmer- clearly an indication of something important.
Next topic: Michelle's haircut.
He-he. Agreed. Who really cares how many turned out. This isn't a popularity contest.
The only sustaining goal for the Republican Party over the last four years has been to make Barack Obama a one term president and defeat him in his reelection bid. This was not only communicated very publicly by Mitch McConnell, but in the actions (and inaction) of conservatives everywhere. Their childish behavior having failed miserably, now is the time for the objective to shift. The protection and prosperity of working Americans ought to be the only driving force behind every decision made by our leaders. Deficits cannot be balanced on the backs of the disadvantaged. The least among us cannot be made to pay more than the wealthiest capitalist barons. THe rebuilding of this country needs to start immediately. - progressive
I was back in the sad crowd of 100,000 to 200,000 at the Washington Memorial that was separated from the rest by fencing and separated from the moment by a malfunctioning Jumbotron. It was still good to be there, but very frustrating too. But that crowd alone was a very big crowd.
I was there as well. I was saddened to see that a large section of the mall had been closed off, and that the city did a terrible job managing the crowd who were trying to make their way to the mall. We were turned away at 4 entrances to the mall that we had been directed to by city officials. It took 3 hours to walk from Union Station to the opening at the Washington Monument, and then the sound on the jumbotron failed. While I am extraordinarily proud of President Obama and glad that I could be there to show support, I think the city did a terrible job managing the crowd (with the caveat of great thanks that they kept us safe), and the Inaugural planning around the use of the mall and the sound system was a failure.
I was there, and as I looked around I knew that there were at least 1 million Americans standing out there, strong, together! The same feeling of calm yet electrical energy pervaded the atmosphere! I was buoyed and energized by the whole Inaugural and am proud that Americans of good conscious, a heart, empathy for others, rejected the GOTP agenda at the polls last November.
To the GOTP - you lost, get over it and WORK TO GET THIS NATION OUT OF THE CRAP YOUR POLICIES CREATED.
Good for you, Zora. I'm envious that you were there. Even if you're not in viewing distance of the dais, there's something about the atmosphere of that kind of event that satisfies and sustains.
But I almost (I say, ALMOST) feel sorry for the GOP these days, as they have so little to grasp when trying to denigrate this president.
The idea that the Right actually "Cares" is pretty ridiculous. It wouldn't matter if 5 million people had shown up because they would still be seeking ways to rig the election process against them.
Oh and just as an aside...didn't Mitt Romney feel like he needed to photoshop his crowd size
I missed it completely as I was taking my son on a college visit. This does not mean I wasn't happy he is starting his second term or wishing Romney were being inaugurated instead. I worked hard on the Obama campaign and I am hoping he does great things in his second term. I just had other things to do. Sorry, GOP.
Yesterday I believe I overheard a FOX personality - one Steve Doocy - utter something like "Today is the worst day ever!" and could not but wonder how pisspoor some people can be!
Here, we are celebrating a swearing in of executive power derived from a free and fair election and subject to change through the next election cycle just four years from now and those people over there at FOXNEWS are fretting the sky is falling!
I thought yesterday was so becoming of a nation of free and liberty-minded people! I'm just miffed the Murdoch crowd can't feel the glory of democracy, and instead continue to pooh pooh us! -Kevo
Kevo,
Faux was riffing on the totally bogus idea that Jan 21st is the most depressing day of the year...
see here
http://www.theweek.co.uk/health-science/51101/saddest-thing-about-blue-monday-bad-science
PS
Totally Bogus = FauxNews every day of the year, of course....
Next Fox News bottom scroll:
"Over a million people protest Obama's inauguration."
Free stuff always attracts a crowd.
you actually are political hack retarded enough to think it costs nothing to drive from all over the nation to celebrate democracy .... this all trashed the local economy in the warped mind of the gop ..... thanks for yet another example of why the gop political hacks only offer economic failure over and over again , because your politicians told you so
how can people be so warped , as to actually politicize the economy?
LOL, when I read this article the first thing that came to my mind was, how long is it going to be until Shooter says something regarding the takers or free stuff? Thanks for not disappointing.
Ok and just how much of that "Free Stuff" do you get Shooter? How much have you sent back on principal?
Your Social Security? Your Medicare?
I am honestly sick to death of your Trolling on this line of BS. I grew up on welfare and food stamps and got a public education. I have worked almost every day since I was 15 years old including a long career in the military until I scratched and clawed my way out of poverty and into the middle class.
I do not consider myself a "Taker" I consider myself a "Giver" I have tried to live a life of service to the country I love and I am not going to let any collection of bitter old frauds or thieving cowards try and defame my life.
Drop the "Taker" "Free Stuff" talking point I know better and am not going to stand it any more.
It's obvious Shooter is the product of a privileged household and has never worked an honest day in his life and has never been exposed to the harsh realities of life. This is something daddy's boys like him will never know.
We believe Shooter speaks from the sanctity of his mom's basement .
He puffs up his chest and says "My rapier like wit has slain the durty libruls again. "
As I say, Obama voters come in two flavors, one wants free stuff and the other wants to give it to them. Yes there are makers and yes, there are takers. The people here want to redistribute, including you, no? Isn't that what Obama campaigned on, redistibution? If it walks like free stuff, and talks like free stuff, then it's likely you're in the party of free stuff.
Now, if the free stuff was just kept level, I wouldn't harp on it so much. But it isn't and never will be with Obama in office. Democrats are all about MORE free stuff. As much free stuff as they can possibly promise. On somebody elses dime.
It's nice you scratched and clawed your way to middle class. Did you expect to have it all served up to you on a plate? Doesn't sound like it, yet that's what a lot of people expect. Prosperity on a plate. You took advantage of opportunities and worked your way up from where you were. The Obamaphone lady just wants a free phone and Obama is happy to give it to her.
As far as "am not going to stand it any more", feel free to put me on ignore, because I'm not stopping it. You know I'm right and you are feeling pangs of shame one gets from association with crass corruption.
Y'all do know that trolls thrive on attention?
incubus: a male demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women
succubus: a female demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping men.
So which are you?
In defense of Shooter. He's talking about people like Mitt Romney who pay a 15% tax rate.You know the "takers".
Dragoon21b= exception to the rule. Thanks for your service in the military.
I'm not the exception I am just one small part of the rule and only the willfully blind don't see that
So, Obama's two inaugurations combined drew three times as many people as W's two...
Looks like it on the surface. A lot more people had jobs back then.
Haven't seen anything about how Orly Taitz's Inauguration Protest went. Does anyone know how many 'people' actually showed up for her dog and pony show?
I see Seven Westboro-ites showed up. LINK
.
OP
This would include the abc and cbs networks then , they started squawking about the low numbers on sunday , but they were throwing around numbers like 500,000 might show up , then after getting their numbers wrong , they kept repeating how low the turn out was at 700,000 , only to report the last numbers without even blinking an eye
It reminded me of all the fake poll numbers in this last election , the east coast corporate media has a major disconnect with the reality of the rest of america , much like the gop , they also went on and on about how obama refuses to work with the gop , and what a shame it all is ...
Apparently they feel the need to set the tone of their displeasure "early" , for this new admin ......They are not very happy america did not go with the wall st guy , who had a nice smile , and would be less offensive to whitey america , because he would have worked better with the corporate DC insiders , in a more natural way for "THEM"
Looked like a f*ck of a lot of people to me .
This 'meme' is evidence of WHAT? It started right after the election. LESS PEOPLE VOTED FOR OBAMA...which was evidence of...??? He WON. Now it's LESS PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THE INAUGURATION! And??? They are stupid, crass and whiners...and the country KNOWS it.
I was there and agree with Zora Renee, huge, mellow crowd. The main reason I personally went was to show support for the Pesident, to see history first hand and to be part of the citizenry who soundly
re-elected Barack Obama and Joe Biden. I also went to help make sure that the hoped for headline of diminished crowds was not realized.
when it comes to president Obama, some just want everything to fail, or just can not stand the truth, from less people voting for him this time around, but the first time more people voted for him, the G.O.P chose to obstruct and block, praying for the country to fail so they can win.