With President Bush’s re-election less than one week past, planning is well underway for his second inaugural ceremony.

Last weekend, we reported the inauguration will have unprecedented levels of security, including 4,000 combat troops, metal detectors, and more undercover police, and the Department of Homeland Security announced yesterday that the event would be overseen by the Secret Service as a “special security event.”

Sen. Trent Lott, chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Activities has already drove the “first nail” for the inaugural platform, already under construction at the U.S. Capitol. His committee’s website has a live webcam where constituents can monitor the construction of the platform online. We also assume the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee is also well under way in their planning, and at least one hotel is already offering special inaugural reservations.

Meanwhile, a discussion on Indymedia seems to indicate planning is under way for protests as well. Activists have established a website which asks supporters to come for a “week of action” from Jan. 15 until Jan. 20, 2005. The activists will be holding the first of a series of “spokescouncil” meetings – where activists from different backgrounds come together to plan – this Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Lerner Hall at George Washington University.

In 2000, supporters and protestors alike endured cold, damp weather to watch his speech and line the “parade” route to watch President Bush speed by. His motorcade was hit with eggs and jeered by thousands of protestors, many bitter over the controversial Florida re-count.