I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
You can count the days until George W. Bush is history, or you can join 249,999 of your closest friends in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20 for the Barack Obama inauguration. And, much like the taxpayer-funded bailout, it’s free. Or seems like it.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has printed about 250,000 tickets to the Jan. 20 swearing-in ceremony at the west front of the U.S. Capitol.
The tickets are free and will be given to members of Congress and to President-elect Barack Obama’s presidential inaugural committee. Those who want to attend the ceremony should contact their local member of Congress to request tickets. The viewing area will stretch from the Capitol along the Mall. Some more distant parts of the viewing area will not require tickets and probably will be served by huge video screens.
Congressional staffers said Friday that there were reports of advertisements on the Internet selling inaugural tickets for hundreds of dollars each. They said any such ticket would be phony and of no value.
Not only that, but if congressional folk are caught selling the tickets, they could be charged with a crime. (Save some money: eBay’s got an authentic invitation to JFK’s inaugural for $375.)
Some congressional offices are being swamped with requests, with calls running nearly 4-to-1 over concerns about the Wall Street bailout.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s spokeswoman, Jude McCartin, said the office has had “hundreds and hundreds of request — the one number I heard was 500.” But so far, she doesn’t even know how many tickets the office will get.
“There’s no number on who can come into town and stand on the street and hope for a glimpse,” she said, “but there’s a finite number we’ll have to give out for the designated area where you’ll get to see the swearing-in.”
If you’re looking, Bingaman’s the one to hit up. Rep. Heather Wilson’s office said it has received just six requests in the last three days, but because they’re closing shop, won’t be honoring requests. Same likely goes for U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, and U.S. Rep. Tom Udall.
The lowdown on obtaining tickets is on Bingaman’s Web site.
For those more interested in the “goodbye” part of the Obama-Bush equation, yes, there will be an official “Departure Ceremony,” but the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies only promises that it exists, not what it entails. (Tar? Feathers?)
For more of a rebel yell, you can join a worldwide 10-minute party being promoted on Facebook for the day before Inauguration Day, other known as “Bush’s Last Day in Office.”
Monday, January 19, 2009 at 11:59pm will be the final day of one of the worst political eras America has faced. Exactly twelve hours later, the new, 44th President of the USA, Barack Obama will take over from what was one of the worst presidencies this nation has gone through.
Feel free to invite anyone you know for this massive, world wide celebration as we all wait for a new presidency that will hopefully end this error which was of having George W. Bush “elected” not just once, but twice.
Register and promote your own, in-person local parties here. You can also install this countdown widget if you’re all that interested in seeing the seconds sweep by. Here’s what a bunch of wine snobs are planning to consume to commemorate the day. My favorite (for its reason, not for the wine):
Strumerika will be drinking “The Old Man’s Blend” 2006 Groote Post from South Africa. Why? “Despite shining promises, this wine disappoints in the end. Sound familiar to you?”
And if you simply must wear it on your sleeve, CafePress has its usual assortment of rudely pithily worded T-shirts. (Gentlemen, think twice before donning that “Goodbye Bush” shirt.)
And for a historical note, given that the 2009 inaugural theme is “A New Birth of Freedom” in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, check out his first inaugural address (the I-won’t-interfere-with-slavery one) and his second inaugural address (the with-malice-toward-none-with-charity-toward-all one).
