August 11, 2008
New Rules Proposed for Inaugural Parade
The Inaugural Parade has seen more than its fair share of controversy over the last few years. In 2001, a few protesters scuffled with police, resulting in six arrests. In 2005, D.C. police were accused by the ACLU of making false arrests and indiscriminately using pepper spray during the inauguration festivities. This past March, a federal court ruled that the park service had violated the First Amendment by preventing war protesters from getting near the parade. So news over the weekend that the National Park Service has proposed new rules about where the public can be during the parade come as no surprise.
To comply with the federal ruling, the park service says it plans to expand the amount of space protesters may have access to along Pennsylvania Avenue during the 2009 inauguration. Although the math seems a little fuzzy:
Under the proposed change, organizers will control 13 percent of Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Park. About 70 percent will be for the public and demonstrators, regardless of their views on a particular administration.We guess the other 17 percent is for law enforcement? Predictably, the folks from ANSWER aren't happy with the proposal, but it's hard to imagine a scenario they would be happy with. In the Post's story, they argue that Pennsylvania Avenue should be 100 percent open to the public during the parade. What do you think?
Photo by His Noodly Appendage
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White House Press Secretary Dana Perino denied the existence of the remaining 17 percent. "I don't want to talk in terms of 'residual percentages,'" Perino quipped, using air quotes. "Al Quaida could certainly take advantage of this information to launch an attack. However, we are prepared to address an 'aspirational innauguration horizon' if and when that topic becomes germane."
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I say 100% access; President Barr will be a man of the people.
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where are the laws on where the funding to pay for the security is coming from?
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The remaining 17% will be taken up by half-smoke vendors that didn't win permits for Nationals games.
Upon hearing this news, the Secret Service became alarmed at the potential for a devastating biological gas attack on the parade route.
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I say 100% access; President Barr will be a man of the people.
Not sure how many parades we'll have in President Barr's America. Though I expect pepper spray will play a prominent role in his inauguration.
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does anyone know how tickets will be distributed and who I'm going to have to screw to get one?
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"it's hard to imagine a scenario they would be happy with"
Umm, I don't think its hard to imagine. They want 100% open access to Penn Ave. Did you read the article?
"The inaugural committee already has 100 percent of the area around the Capitol and 100 percent of Lafayette Park," she added. "Pennsylvania Avenue is for the public."
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@dccmecu:
Talk to your Senator/Congressman. I've recently switched my voter registration to DC from TX, so I may have to pull a fast one on my reps ("Hey Ms. Hutchinson! I heard you were the one who started the gun legalization effort in DC, so I switched my registration! Hook me up with an inauguration ticket now, thanks!").
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Does anyone think that there will be any protests for President Obama? I mean conservatives don't normally protest like liberals do so I doubt the costs will be high on security.
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This is the worst thing to happen to the Presidency since Teddy Roosevelt went kraken and dragged all those harnessed children to their watery graves.
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well, the religious right likes to protest. I don't expect that the anti-choice, anti-gay crowd will be thrilled if Obama is elected.
At the same time, I would expect liberal/left-wing protests, especially anti-war protests. Obama isn't exactly the epitome of liberalism.
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@MS: Notice Obama would also be the first black president in this country, thereby eliciting horror and anger from the KKK-like crowd. I think if anything security would be tighter.
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Dontcha see - Worst President Ever Da Schrub had the biggest set of protests EVER for an incumbent prez & that was at BOTH his inaugurals. His minions did not want him to see or hear ANYTHING that was less than ecstatic, same with all his campaign appearances, heavily screened. You all know that, right?
Well Obama will be BELOVED compared to JackAss W. so I can't see many protests for him.
And if it's McCain? On Jan. 20 the SEVENTY TWO YEAR OLD will be picking off his melanomas, having his EKG, then strap on his oxygen tent & use his walker, surrounded by all of Bush's cronies,
b/c after all McCain = Bush's Third Term...