Eugene Robinson: The District of Pandemonium

[babylonsister]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090115_eugene_robinson_inauguration_pandemonium/

The District of Pandemonium

Posted on Jan 15, 2009

By Eugene Robinson

Our nation’s capital will survive the financial meltdown, the deepening recession and the plethora of foreign crises from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Whether Washington will survive Tuesday’s inauguration, however, is an open question.

Rarely has a city that cockily considers itself the center of the political universe been seized by such a powerful combination of giddiness and anxiety. Barack Obama will be, after all, the 44th president of the United States; it’s not as if we haven’t gone through this drill before. But this inauguration seems to have been amplified by a feedback loop of historical importance, security paranoia and sheer numerical overload—a combination that has strained Washington’s ability to cope.

I knew things were getting bad a few weeks ago when I ran into D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and his greeting was not to wish me a good morning or ask how I was doing, but rather: “You got anyplace I can park some tour buses?”

snip//

Then again, fun isn’t really the point. There’s a reason why Washington is so tied in knots over this particular inauguration, a reason why so many people will brave the elements and defy the furies to see the advent of this new presidency.

The Obama administration begins at a moment of crisis, but also, perhaps, of opportunity. The nation has elected its first African-American president. The government he will head has been forced to take more of a role in the economic life of the nation than at any time since World War II. If ever there was a time to send a new administration to work with the nation’s best wishes, that time is now. This inauguration really does matter more than most.

So let the party begin. Somehow, we’ll make it to Wednesday. Won’t we?

[Happyhippychick]

1. We need more port-o-potties!

[firedupdem]

2. Good Article.....

The government he will head has been forced to take more of a role in the economic life of the nation than at any time since World War II. If ever there was a time to send a new administration to work with the nation’s best wishes, that time is now. This inauguration really does matter more than most.


We need to party now! We don't know what the rest of the year will even look like. We keep hearing it's going to get worse before it gets better.