All aboard the Obama Express to Washington, DC. The January 17 trip includes a stop in Philadelphia, a stop in Wilmington to pick up Biden and his family, and a stop in Baltimore before arriving in the capital.
All aboard the Obama Express to Washington, DC. The January 17 trip includes a stop in Philadelphia, a stop in Wilmington to pick up Biden and his family, and a stop in Baltimore before arriving in the capital.
"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," said Emmett S. Beliveau, Executive Director of the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee. "These events will allow us to do that while honoring the rich history and tradition of previous inaugural journeys."
Aides said Philadelphia and Baltimore were chosen because of the roles they played at pivotal moments in U.S. history and because they fit in with the inauguration's theme, "Renewing America's Promise."
The committee has said the theme was chosen to underscore Obama's "commitment to restoring opportunity and possibility for all and re-establishing America's standing as a beacon of hope around the world."
Hopefully, this will enable President Obama to take a cue and increase Amtrak funding, expansion and the development of an energy efficient high speed rail that will make any trip of under 1000 miles economically feasible by rail. It's good for the economy, the environment and the already too crowded skies. Imagine no delays, no lost baggage and no sitting on the runways for hours in hot and over stuffed airplanes without any explanation as to why.
In the tradition of past Presidents-elect, the daylong trip will include a series of events on the way to Washington, DC. Saturday morning, President-elect Obama and his family will hold an event in Philadelphia before boarding a train bound for Wilmington, Delaware, where he will be joined by Vice President-elect Biden and his family. Together, the families will travel to Baltimore, Maryland, and hold another event, before finally arriving in Washington, D.C. on Saturday evening.
In keeping with the theme of the 2009 Inauguration, "Renewing America's Promise," the President-elect and Vice President-elect will hold events in some of the cities instrumental to that promise: Philadelphia, where that promise was realized; Baltimore, where that promise was defended, then immortalized in our national anthem; and Washington, where Americans of all backgrounds will gather over four days, united in common purpose and resolved to renew that promise once more.
The excitement is building. Hotels have been sold out for miles around DC, Maryland and Virginia since November 4th, 2008. Restaurants are already booked up, with cash advance reservations. Don't even try to get a ticket from your Senator, Congress-person or usual DNC connections. None are available. The inauguration balls are all sold out as are most other inaugural events.
After nearly four weeks of fundraising, President-elect Obama’s inauguration committee has raised almost $10 million, in part through donations from Hollywood stars like Sharon Stone and Samuel L. Jackson.
Culminating on Jan. 20, the multi-million dollar four-day event is expected to draw as many as four million visitors to Washington D.C., as part of the largest inauguration event ever.
Some have wondered whether Obama would be able to continue the unparalleled fundraising efforts that characterized his election campaign. He is still far away from reaching the $50 million goal but it is not without precedent that inaugural fundraising started slowly. In an unprecedented move this week, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) unveiled an online searchable database of donors who have given more than $200. Jackson and Stone each gave $50,000, the maximum amount for individuals and the most common donation amount.
Other notable donors include actors Halle Berry, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jamie Foxx, as well as Wendy and Laurance Rockefeller, and Lisa Henson, the daughter of Muppets creator Jim Henson.
Here are two useful guides to inaugural activities:
http://inaugural.senate.gov/...
http://dc.about.com/...
This is a truly historical event. Have your own party for President Obama and Vice President Biden. Invite all your friends, have a great time, celebrate America's victory. Raise a glass of champagne to the Obama's and the Biden's. Toast their future successes...and ours!