How cool is this? "Obama to take train to Inaugural" He is going to pick up Joe too!

[Jennicut]

President-elect Barack Obama will journey to the nation's capital for his historic inauguration by train, his inaugural committee announced today.

The trip on Jan. 17 -- three days before his swearing-in -- is designed to highlight the inaugural theme of "Renewing America's Promise" by reviving a tradition of presidential whistlestop tours and by stopping in cities crucial to the American story: starting in Philadelphia, where independence was declared in 1776, and Baltimore, where the national anthem was penned to honor the War of 1812. In between, Obama will pick up Vice President-elect Joe Biden in Wilmington, Del.

"As part of the most open and accessible Inauguration in history, we hope to include as many Americans as possible who wish to participate, but can't be in Washington," Emmett S. Beliveau, the inaugural committee's executive director, said in a statement. "These events will allow us to do that while honoring the rich history and tradition of previous inaugural journeys."
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/12/obama_to_take_t.html

I love whistlestop tours.

[Jennicut]

1. oops, I didn't see BrentTaylor already posted this. I was excited.

[roguevalley]

36. as long as he doesn't arrive in disguise, or in a dress. :-D

Legend or urban legend about Lincoln. I personally hope he skipped that part in his reading. :evilgrin: he hasn't got the legs for a dress.

I cannot wait for this innaugeration. The speech, the Lincoln touches. It will be awesome.

[saracat]

2. Too bad it costs too much for regular folks to go to the Inaugural Events.

[Captain Hilts]

4. And short hops on Amtrak are REALLY expensive. nt

[ClarkUSA]

14. Anyone in NY and NJ can hop on NJ Transit to Philly for less than $20-$30 round-trip on off-hours.

Amtrak is not the only alternative. Even Amtrak isn't that expensive compared to driving and parking.

[Sorceress]

17. NJ Transit is fantastic, isn't it? I wish the Metro/Lightrail were that good here in MD/DC/VA.

[ClarkUSA]

20. Yeah, it is. I'm glad that public transportation has a good friend in the PE and his VP

Hope the DC rails hold up during the inauguration. I'll be staying with friends close by to the WH, thank goodness. :)

[Captain Hilts]

18. He's not making THAT trip. He's travelling Philly-DC which costs $140. nt

[ClarkUSA]

21. True, but people travelling to the rallies can pick and choose which stop they want to be at.

It's all about accessibility. This idea is about being there For The People, which Barack has always been about.

[peace13]

7. Parade is free..

as well as viewing the inauguration on the big screen at the mall. Those two things are probably the best of the bunch, unless that is, you enjoy choosing up sides and smelling armpits at a 'Ball'. Lot's of free stuff out there. Happiness is where you find it, possibly in the middle of one million Obama fans. Peace to you, Kim

[AllentownJake]

9. Depends on your definition of too much

I'm going to a party with my congressional delegation and Govenor on the night before the innaguration. The cost was $300 for two tickets. Not exactly cheap but the same I would pay for an NFL football game or a NBA basketball game :shrug:

[saracat]

44. I am talking about the $50, 00 folks have got to cough up for the Inaugural Balls etc. Regular folks

aren't going to those. I have a friend who is a huge Obama supporter, both she and hubby donated the max and volunteered. She gave her money to a bundler who now says she will have to cough up even more money to even be "considered" for Ball tickets. I believe between Primary money and GE They each gave over $7500 each. The bundler said it doesn't count and neither does volunteer effort.

She is wondering exactly "who" gets to go. She has decided to stay home.

[tigereye]

11. I would think that there are bus groups just going to the city for the day...

I did that in college when Carter was elected. It was pretty cheap, actually. I don't know if it still works that way... if folks can simply stake out a position along the route just to soak up the energy!


It was frigid that day, too! But it was exciting nonetheless.

[Mike Daniels]

3. delete

[Puzzler]

5. Uh-oh... one person in the comments section is not too happy...

... "The man really is full of himself..talk about arrogant!"


Yeah, that's right... the gall of Obama for taking the train. When will this train-taking arrogance end? {sarcasm)

[DoctorMyEyes]

6. I hope he made his reservations early

Every Amtrak train into DC that week has been sold out for weeks! LOL

[peace13]

8. Maybe they will give him is own car! n/t

[LynneSin]

13. That's on a Saturday and Amtrak probably has a train just for Obama

Most people are heading to the inauguration on Sunday or Monday.

[Captain Hilts]

19. Amtrak will be so overloaded the Day Before and Day of...

Women will probably take over the men's rooms in Union Station,etc. It's going to be chaos. Fun, but still chaos.

[bertman]

10. THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA!!!!

I can't believe they would announce this weeks ahead of time. How the hell are the SS agents going to be able to secure all of the areas through which the President's train passes? We're talking lots of urban settings where an ambush could take place.

Even if he were in an armored rail car this is INSANE.

[jberryhill]

22. Helicopters /nt

[bertman]

41. jberryhill, what do you mean by helicopters? If you mean, helicopters can secure the President-elect

while he rides through urban areas, I think you are making an erroneous assumption. Too many places for perps to lie in wait undetected.

On the other hand, if you mean helicopters would be a potential threat, then I agree, but that is always going to be the case. That's why the SS carry Stingers and other such devices.

[alwysdrunk]

24. I was just thinking this

Bad, bad idea. And why announce it now? I don't want to elaborate, even in my head.

[rollin74]

31. I agree

this sounds like a security nightmare. Far too risky imo. I hope they re-consider.

[Flash Bazbo]

38. It's a great idea but a security nightmare. n/t

[bertman]

42. A security nightmare indeed. To my mind, that's what makes it a bad idea.

[LynneSin]

12. Anyone want to hang at my house and go to the train station in Wilmington - Ping me

That'll be fun

:woohoo:

[Jennicut]

43. OMG, if only I lived in Delaware. Well I guess I will just have to watch it on tv from my toasty

warm house in CT.

[ClarkUSA]

15. A group of us from Team O are going to the Philly rally then it's onto D.C. the next day.

:party: Obama Is 44! :woohoo:

[firedupdem]

16. I'm happy for you!! Please take lots of pictures to share!! n/t

[jberryhill]

23. Oh great....

It's bad enough that Joe Biden was eavesdropping on all those dinner table conversations while he was on the train from Wilmington to DC, but now he's going to let Barack Obama listen in too?

[Odin2005]

25. Awesome! n/t.

[BrklynLiberal]

26. Is the train trip starting in Chicago or Philly?

[nsd]

27. Philly. /nt

[BrklynLiberal]

29. Thanks.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

28. now THAT is cool !

To have a President who can and will be welcoming to ALL of us, and not just the elite :bounce: Not to mention, nobody's going to try to throw shoes at him!

[ecstatic]

30. I love it and hate it :( nt

[JaneQPublic]

32. Didn't Bill Clinton take a train in for his inauguration, too?

Seems to me it was through historical sites in Virginia.

[tabbycat31]

33. what time does he leave Philly?

I think I want to make a trip to Philly that day.

[babydollhead]

34. I said "Aww He's going to pick up Joe"

and my teen son said, "The plumber?"

[tabbycat31]

35. oh HELL NO

Joe the Dumber does not deserve any contact with Obama after he calls someone who prompted threats on his life "the real deal"

[Cha]

37. This is Fantastic! I might know

they'd do something really different and awesome to include more peeps!:bounce::patriot::fistbump::patriot:

[Uzybone]

39. I'll definately not be going to work on 1/20/09

This will be an awesome spectacle.

[AnnieBW]

40. I live right by the major freight tracks between Balto and DC

I'm hoping that they have a big rally at Camden Yards in DC, then take the freight tracks down to DC, rather than the Amtrak tracks. Then I can say that history passed right past my backyard!