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Pictures can be found on the new gallery page located here. I am in the process of uploading them now and should be finished within the next hour or so. Also, here is a video I took of the crowd reacting to the introduction of Barack Obama:
UPDATE 10:26pm: Finally finished uploading pictures to the gallery.
UPDATE 11:09pm: Video my friend shot while Obama took the oath:
Am posting from my phone (a first!!) while walking around the Mall (okay, actually I’m just watching Chris Matthews on the TV outside of the MSNBC makeup trailer) but I just wanted to drop a quick line noting how unbelievable the energy in and around the Imperial District is right now. While I obviously expected tremendous crowds on the National Mall for all the festivities, I never expected the extraordinary pedestrian traffic to fan out as far as it has. Walking around the city today I couldn’t help but feel like I was in Times Square except everyone was extremely friendly and excited to be there.
UPDATE: Keith Olbermann described DC right now as “making New Year’s Eve in Times Square look like a night in a library.”
Tomorrow I’ll be waking up at 3:30-4am in order to be on Metro by 5 and on my way to Capitol Hill. I’ll most likely end up lounging in Starbucks until around 9 when I’ll then make my way on to the Mall to brave the cold until the swearing in at 11:30am followed by the parade at 2:30pm. I will have pictures from today, yesterday and tomorrow up tomorrow evening or, even more likely, on Wednesday.
UPDATE II: Having some issues getting my Gallery set up. Should have the pictures up tonight.
Via Democratic Central:
But if Brian gets the ticket from his brother the Congressman, then by definition his brother the Congressman has made a campaign contribution to Brian’s campaign. Now, Jim Moran can write a campaign check to his brother for an unlimited sum of money out of personal funds, or out of his Moran for Congress account (see 2 U.S.C. section 439a — http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode02/usc_sec_02_00000439—a000-.html) but he can’t even give Brian a legal pad from his Congressional office for Brian to take notes for a campaign speech. When Jim Moran receives his allotment of 200 or so tickets, he receives them as Congressman Jim Moran, not as private citizen Jim Moran, or as candidate Jim Moran. Therefore the tickets belong to Congressman Jim Moran just as much as a legal pad in his office belongs to Congressman Jim Moran, and he may not use them to assist a state candidate.
Even if Brian Moran is not in violation of federal law, trying to “sell” the ticket to anyone willing to work for his campaign is, at the very least, highly unethical.
The other day a coworker of mine told me the offices of both West Virginia senators admitted they had no inauguration tickets to give to constituents because they had “given them all to friends and family.” Today I receive a Facebook update from Brian Moran offering the chance to “win” an inauguration ticket if I sign up to help organize for his upcoming campaign for governor.
This January 20th, America will make history. We’ve all worked so hard for so long to make this a reality - if you’re like me, you can’t wait. Barack Obama knew that what mattered most were the grassroots - everyday Americans building a better future for themselves and their kids.
Unfortunately, there won’t be nearly enough tickets to the inauguration for every Virginia volunteer and grassroots organizer to go. That’s why I’m going to give away inauguration tickets to dedicated Democratic leaders who sign up on our website, http://organize.brianmoran.com. If you sign up today, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a ticket to President-elect Obama’s swearing in, and we’ll let you know the winners by January 16.
I’m sorry but (and correct me if I’m wrong here) aren’t these tickets supposed to be awarded on a first come, first serve basis to constituents who requested them? It seems some Democrats, however, have found an awesome way to con people, though.