WP: Tickets in Hand Were No Assurance of Access

[kskiska]

Protesters, Long Lines Spoiled Party for Some

Saturday, January 22, 2005; Page A01

Some people who had wonderful tickets for the inauguration never reached their seats because of the lines at security.

Some shuddered at the protesters' shouts and scrapped or shortened their festivities.

And some said although they'd traveled across the country, the chaotic combination led them to settle for a view of the inauguration from in front of a TV.

"It was the most ridiculous thing I ever saw in my life," said Rob Miller, 38, a Bush supporter from Orangeburg, S.C., sporting a big black Stetson while standing in line yesterday at Dulles International Airport. "It got to be so much you couldn't enjoy it. We had great seats for the inauguration -- in the red zone -- but we could never even get there because of the lines."

As revelers from across the country checked out of their hotels and filed through the Washington region's airports yesterday, they shared the usual inauguration stories -- of the speech, of the sense of history and power, of the cold. But it seemed that many visitors would remember the nation's 55th inaugural celebration as well for the sight of sharpshooters on rooftops, for the burdensome security checkpoints and for the masses of riot police and shouting protesters.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27695-2005Jan21.html

[kuozzman]

1. There were protests?

[hootinholler]

2. This one is choice...

"They need a new law for these protesters: 'You cross the line, you do the time,' " said Kenneth E. Boring, 80, still apparently irritated by the experience as he waited to leave Reagan National Airport.

He and his wife Dottie, 59, of Dalton, Ga., are members of Republican Eagles, the elite GOP fundraising group, but they watched the president's speech from the confines of the Willard InterContinental Hotel. The security line was too long, they said, and made longer, in their opinion, by the protesters.

"It's time to put a stop to all this nonsense, protesting and causing confusion," Boring said.

First. Mr. Boring. That's rich on it's own.

I have to give you your props though, you were able to raise 250K+ to subvert my country. At your age you should know better cur, er, sir.

-Hoot

[Sydnie]

4. Lets hope Mr Boring lives long enough to see his requested new law

applied to the man he went to celebrate.

[Dover]

6. I guess they're just not used to being outside their gated communities...

but it's always easy to blame someone else rather than to consider the real reasons they couldn't get to their seats. When you support the most hated regime in history, you gotta put up with a little extra tight security. And all those Security Contractors are more than happy to oblige.

[hootinholler]

7. Wow, that's pretty harsh...

Insulting Stalin and Hitler like that.

-Hoot

[pokercat999]

8. Dottie is only 59 and is probably peeing

her pants waiting for MR BORING to die so she can find someone 20 years her junior. Fair play for putting up with Mr B these last 30 years after he threw away wifey #1 and the kids for the trophy. Ah yes, life at the top. Slow and painful Mr B, slow and painful.

[MADem]

9. Twenty years younger????

If she has the brains of a gnat, she'd trade his expired carcass in for two forties....or four twenties. Hey, she ain't getting any younger, may as well spend his money before she ends up on a walker!

[hootinholler]

10. I suspect she's...

had her share of 'tennis lessons'.

-Hoot

[kath]

27. Heh, I noticed the 21-years-younger trophy wife too! A "family values"

Repug.

[distantearlywarning]

3. This article reminded me of some of the things I've read

about the French Revolution: "The arrogant aristocrats ate their jet shaped cookies and tried to ignore the stench of the unwashed masses outside their door."

I got the impression that this article was trying to make the rich Repukes seem elegant and important, but to me they just seemed selfish and snotty and out of touch and like they needed to be taken down a notch or two. I don't think this article is going to improve the Republican public image any. Talk about elitism!

I also love the guy who said that they should just stop all this protesting nonsense! Well, sir, I'm sorry that all that "protesting nonsense" destroyed your nice party. That pesky free speech stuff! It's always getting in the way of rich people having a good time. Whatever were they thinking, letting all those average American citizens bother you like that! Next time we'll make sure that the entire inauguration revolves around you and your whims.

Where's Madame Guillotine when you need her????

[icehenge]

5. Good article, thanks for posting

You know the protesters had another benefit, they made the
rich snobs realize what its like to be wait in line. And then
be screwed out of their prized seat to see there king. I'm sure
they'll go home and tell there friends they missed the inauguration
because protesters. Boo Ho!

Double whammy. Inconvenience the Richie's and
spread the world about the protesting that "did" take place.

[NYC]

12. That is a double benefit.

I hadn't thought about that. All the whining Republicans will be publicizing the protesters.

Thanks. :hi:

[The_Casual_Observer]

11. It was the most ridiculous thing I ever saw in my life

I'd like to send mr 38 big hat on the next plane to baghdad for a real falujha s style BBQ.

[Demit]

13. Rich people shouldn't have to (gasp) wait in lines at parties! Lines are

for poor people waiting to do silly things like vote.

[harper]

14. My favorite line

This is my fave...

"I liked being part of history, and the passage of power," said Moidel, who said he considers himself a conservative Democrat. "But the long lines and being protested against. . . . There was one lady who yelled at me, 'Are you prepared to die?' I guess she thinks Bush is an aggressive leader who will get us into war."

Duh...but Bush is an aggressive leadere who has gotten us into war. These people are idiots.

[fasttense]

15. When will the rich realize

That without a healthy middle class there is not peace at home. They think they are uncomfortable now, just wait a few years when the middle class all but fades away. They think their money and power can insulate them from the rest of the unwashed masses.

[Palacsinta]

16. Not dressed to wait in lines, either........

I noticed a singular lack of common sense in a lot of the waitees......the women had furs on, yes, but spiked-heel boots, nothing on the head, and elegant, thin gloves? It was cold and icy in spots..........I'm thinking they thought they'd be whisked right through. Being a peasant, I knew I'd have to wait and dressed accordingly. BTW, I didn't get in either............

[daleo]

17. The important thing is, they paid their money.

They may not have gotten their seats, but they will get their political rewards by and by.

[sbj405]

18. I reminded the bitching rethug woman who pushing me in line

that this was the first inaugaration since our country was attacked on her president's watch.

I should have told her that she should have given more money and then she wouldn't have had to wait in line the common folk.

[fooj]

25. Good for you!

Wish I could've seen the expression on her face...must have been a real giggle!

[feminazi]

19. could these people be any more appalling?

"I felt very, very secure," said John Jernigan, in a black fedora and with a Mississippi drawl, still looking a bit dazed from the celebrations.

"Yes, there were some waits -- and in our section there were two cruddy-looking people," he said, referring to two protesters who found their way to the prime blue section B, right in front of the Capitol. "You would've just thought they were trash that had blown in is all, but I thought it was great."


two cruddy-looking people? trash that had blown in? god forbid mr jernigan should have his life sullied by the riff-raff.

:mad:

[fooj]

26. What a wonderful, Christian sentiment.....

Should we market it? Bet we'd make a fortune...what an ignorant asshole!

[CatWoman]

20. damn

a couple thousand people caused all that kaos????

[Straight Shooter]

21. Aren't these the same people who think security is worth the inconvenience

They go on and on about how America needs to be protected, and how we should give up some of our civil rights and the things we're used to having, just to keep our homeland secure. How soon they forget, as soon as it starts inconveniencing them, that they brought it on themselves.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

22. I'm in DC and I saw something I had never seen before, in my

hotel lobby there were 6, count em, 6 women standing and talking ALL with floor length mink coats. All a slightly different shade of dead animal. All completely oblivious to the insanity of it. I wish I had had a camera.

I LOVED seeing them in the security line, pushed against a concrete roadblock (first time they ever touched concrete, probably) right next to people with W signs with blood dripping. Their husbands fanning them, breaking out of line to rush and get them a sip of water. Vacant, scared looks on their faces. Priceless, to me.

BTW, snooping on Free Republic last night. The discussion was about how the Code Pink people got VIP tickets. They want to investigate this as a matter of national security -- Democrat officials who gave them the tickets.

[fooj]

28. Be afraid...be very afraid!

Bet they just crapped their pants when they realized who the "majority" was!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

[merh]

23. Guess they didn't contribute enough.

:shrug: What a bunch of cheap, whiney babies. If they had given more they could have bought a seat on his cabinet or in the admin, then they would not have had to wait in the lines like commoners. :shrug:

[fooj]

24. Didn't they know that Shrub is afraid of his own shadow......

That unprecedented security was for The King...like he gives a shit about his lowly supporters...let them eat cake! Or stand in unreasonably long lines just to grab a view of His Royal Slyness! SUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like the joke was on them for a change! I wonder how much it cost those idiots to get a big FU-- YOU??? HA!!!