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| Obama inauguration: 'less about history and more about seeing him get to work' | Obama inauguration: 'less about history and more about seeing him get to work' |
| (8 days later) | |
| It was, for all the half-met promises of the last four years, the defeats and disappointments, still a time to celebrate. | It was, for all the half-met promises of the last four years, the defeats and disappointments, still a time to celebrate. |
| Nobody had expected Monday's inauguration to ascend to the impossible standards set by Barack Obama's first swearing-in ceremony, when 1.8m people stood for hours in the bitter cold of a January morning, to claim a small part of the historic swearing-in of the first African American president. | Nobody had expected Monday's inauguration to ascend to the impossible standards set by Barack Obama's first swearing-in ceremony, when 1.8m people stood for hours in the bitter cold of a January morning, to claim a small part of the historic swearing-in of the first African American president. |
| But for the tens of thousands of people who streamed towards the Mall on Monday, all on foot, some with small children in push chairs or elderly people in wheelchairs, solely for the chance of catching a glimpse of Obama from a distance of up to a mile away, there was no sense of diminished occasion. | But for the tens of thousands of people who streamed towards the Mall on Monday, all on foot, some with small children in push chairs or elderly people in wheelchairs, solely for the chance of catching a glimpse of Obama from a distance of up to a mile away, there was no sense of diminished occasion. |
| It was, if anything, a strangely intimate celebration – if you can call anticipated crowds of up to 800,000 an intimate experience. | It was, if anything, a strangely intimate celebration – if you can call anticipated crowds of up to 800,000 an intimate experience. |
| "I was here four years ago, and for me the energy is the same. I'm still excited, still hopeful about what he is going to do in the next four years," said Ericka Jeter, a high school science teacher in Washington DC who was waiting at a security checkpoint. | "I was here four years ago, and for me the energy is the same. I'm still excited, still hopeful about what he is going to do in the next four years," said Ericka Jeter, a high school science teacher in Washington DC who was waiting at a security checkpoint. |
| For her friend, Vonne Jones, a doctor from Houston, the occasion was made greater by the timing. Monday was Martin Luther King Day. | For her friend, Vonne Jones, a doctor from Houston, the occasion was made greater by the timing. Monday was Martin Luther King Day. |
| Both women admitted they had harbored out-sized hopes for Obama when he was sworn in for the first time. This time around, their expectations were more down-to-earth. | Both women admitted they had harbored out-sized hopes for Obama when he was sworn in for the first time. This time around, their expectations were more down-to-earth. |
| "Of course, it's different from four years ago. But in some ways I feel it's more important," Jeter went on. "The first inauguration was about hope and change and seeing him make history. This time it's less about him making history and more about seeing him get to work." | "Of course, it's different from four years ago. But in some ways I feel it's more important," Jeter went on. "The first inauguration was about hope and change and seeing him make history. This time it's less about him making history and more about seeing him get to work." |
| Just like four years ago, the crowds that walked for blocks down to the Mall were even-tempered and respectful, queuing patiently at Metro stations and checkpoints, cheerfully trudging blocks out of their way when police switched or shut down access routes. | Just like four years ago, the crowds that walked for blocks down to the Mall were even-tempered and respectful, queuing patiently at Metro stations and checkpoints, cheerfully trudging blocks out of their way when police switched or shut down access routes. |
| Souvenir sellers lined the route, selling wool caps with Obama written in silvery-glittery letters. The takings were not as good as some had hoped, along the parade route or in the pop-up souvenir shop near the White House, which had only a sprinkling of customers before the ceremony got underway. | Souvenir sellers lined the route, selling wool caps with Obama written in silvery-glittery letters. The takings were not as good as some had hoped, along the parade route or in the pop-up souvenir shop near the White House, which had only a sprinkling of customers before the ceremony got underway. |
| By mid-morning, Scott Langlois had sold just four of the 100 souvenir ticket passes he had slung around his neck. "Four years ago they were selling like hot cakes," he said. But he was philosophical. "A second term inauguration isn't as big a deal as the first term, at least souvenir-wise," he said. | By mid-morning, Scott Langlois had sold just four of the 100 souvenir ticket passes he had slung around his neck. "Four years ago they were selling like hot cakes," he said. But he was philosophical. "A second term inauguration isn't as big a deal as the first term, at least souvenir-wise," he said. |
| It was, however, just a big deal as the first time around, for Kate McManus, a civil servant who came from Philadelphia with her son and nephew, both aged 10. Like most of those in the crowd, she was an Obama supporter. Washington DC is a solidly Democratic town. | It was, however, just a big deal as the first time around, for Kate McManus, a civil servant who came from Philadelphia with her son and nephew, both aged 10. Like most of those in the crowd, she was an Obama supporter. Washington DC is a solidly Democratic town. |
| "We are actually supporters," she said. "I know it's not as big as last time, but it could still be a while before there is another one of these we're going to want to come to. It's exciting to see history." | "We are actually supporters," she said. "I know it's not as big as last time, but it could still be a while before there is another one of these we're going to want to come to. It's exciting to see history." |
| A number of Republican lobbyists had made a point of hosting parties out of town. But there were still a few Republicans in the crowds, wanting to see a piece of history. | A number of Republican lobbyists had made a point of hosting parties out of town. But there were still a few Republicans in the crowds, wanting to see a piece of history. |
| "Neither of us were for Barack Obama, but we just wanted to be here. It's still an experience," said Riley Smith, who works for the Hilton hotels. | "Neither of us were for Barack Obama, but we just wanted to be here. It's still an experience," said Riley Smith, who works for the Hilton hotels. |
| For others it seemed as if they wanted to re-write history, or as if they had come looking for a fight, like the young man who draped himself in a Confederate flag and positioned himself near a checkpoint leading to the Mall, turning in a slow circle for maximum visibility. "I'm here celebrating my state's heritage," he said. | For others it seemed as if they wanted to re-write history, or as if they had come looking for a fight, like the young man who draped himself in a Confederate flag and positioned himself near a checkpoint leading to the Mall, turning in a slow circle for maximum visibility. "I'm here celebrating my state's heritage," he said. |
| But on this morning, however, nobody was looking for a fight. The crowd parted around him and went on their way. | But on this morning, however, nobody was looking for a fight. The crowd parted around him and went on their way. |
| It's what many were hoping for in the next few years, said Lucy Thorsen, a kindergarten teacher from Los Angeles, making her first ever trip to Washington DC. | It's what many were hoping for in the next few years, said Lucy Thorsen, a kindergarten teacher from Los Angeles, making her first ever trip to Washington DC. |
| So far as Obama's record goes, her faith in the president is as strong as it was four years ago, she said. "I'm entirely pleased," she said. | So far as Obama's record goes, her faith in the president is as strong as it was four years ago, she said. "I'm entirely pleased," she said. |
| She wished, however, that he could find a way to make good on more of his promises, figure out a way for the country to move on. | She wished, however, that he could find a way to make good on more of his promises, figure out a way for the country to move on. |
| "I just hope he can find compromises," she said. "What's made me really upset is the way Republicans have used scare tactics to block everything. I just hope we can work out a way to move on, and make some kind of progress." | "I just hope he can find compromises," she said. "What's made me really upset is the way Republicans have used scare tactics to block everything. I just hope we can work out a way to move on, and make some kind of progress." |
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