The Virginian-Pilot
©
Want a ticket to the swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Barack Obama?
Join the line.
Local congressional offices, which will have a limited number of free tickets in January, were deluged with requests Wednesday for the Jan. 20 event. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will produce about 240,000 tickets and allocate them to the members of Congress after their own January swearing-in.
Local congressional offices don't know how many tickets they will receive or how they will be distributed, but expect they will have more requests than tickets.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee, which should be formed within a week, also will receive a share of tickets to distribute.
Joni Ivey, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News, said his office will start taking requests today from constituents in the 3rd Congressional District. U.S. Sen. Jim Webb's office, which has been receiving requests for more than a year, is directing people to his Web site, where staff members expect to have more information today.
Details of Inauguration Day are still being planned, but traditional events include the swearing-in of the president and vice president, a parade and several balls. Web sites have already popped up taking orders for tickets to the swearing-in, but Carole Florman, communications director for the joint congressional committee, said people should be careful about buying tickets that are available for free from their representatives.
"It's really buyer beware," Florman said.
There are no details on the inaugural ball or parade, which will be organized by the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Other events - including other balls, galas and concerts, which often surround Inauguration Day - are sponsored by other organizations, Florman said, that will dictate details and ticket information.
Denise Watson Batts, (757) 446-2504, denise.batts@pilotonline.com
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The Term "Monkey Ward's"
just as "Mickey D's" & "Take it too the Hoop", for McDonald's', all came out of Black neighborhoods during the 50s & 60s. Black guys, entering the military & traveling the world, passed it on to society as a whole. The same is true of the phrase "24/7". Blacks who toiled long days came up with that 1 way back & now that's part of everyday life. Corporations are still doing the same things 2day. There has been class warfare since the richer entities get bigger & better breaks on taxes & practically everything else. A child of a wealthy, accomplished family can be admitted to a fine college regardless of his GPA, lack of community service, athletic ability or anything else. Too often, these same brats get better treatment in the judicial system. I was reared to willingly pay my share of taxes. I expected my tax rate to rise as my income rose. Have a good 1.
Twomiler
I agree the Mobil Oil/Montgomery Ward thing was disgusting--didn't know until you told me why "Monkey Ward" (what the sailors called it in every state I ever lived in) failed, but I got enough bargain stuff there while they were failing to smile a bit now! However, it still doesn't pass muster as "welfare" in my definition. 'Cuz we then have to make it a class warfare thing and say they availed themselves of a break you or I couldn't get. Well, actually, I was almost able to claim a business I ran in the red, but the tax law changed just then. And it would have been chump change for me, not millions or billions (smile!).
Corporate Welfare & Inauguration Tickets
I agree that the bailout can be viewed as a form of welfare. I'm talking 'bout huge corporations using loopholes not available to most. During the '80s, Mobil Oil intentionally set Montgomery Ward up as a perennial money loser, on paper, to avoid taxes on assets. When a corporate entity is allowed to use means, not available to others, to avoid taxes, legally, that's welfare. All persons, if circumstances necessitate, are eligible for welfare. Our taxes pay for social programs. That means 1 on welfare, temporarily, has paid & will pay, into the funds for that system. We shouldn't have to help wealthy corps. become wealthier through our taxes. We already do that through our hard work & purchase of their goods. If they paid their fair share, then it wouldn't be corporate welfare anymore than welfare for a person fallen on hard times.
Wow!
A lot of schoolyard sniping still going on after the election. "We didn't vote for him--we wouldn't go to the Inauguration." "Oh, yeah, well we wouldn't invite you anyways." Sheesh!
Twomiler, I do have to write this because I neglected to do so in the heat of the election when so many people wrote of "corporate welfare." Welfare is when someone gets money they did not earn. A tax rebate or any other tax adjustment is not welfare. Letting corporations keep more of their money by tax breaks is not welfare. And everyone was throwing that "corporate welfare" term around long before the bailout (which looks like it will be welfare, in the classic definition of the word).
CNN
As of November 10th says that websites are selling tickets for over $10,000. And they are not traceable to the congressional office that offered them for sale either. Eeek!
I'm well past 50yrs old
& I didn't know anyone on welfare 'til I attended a predominately, (formerly all White), White high school. Several White classmates were in families on welfare. I had grown up in an all minority neighborhood, gone to all Black schools & never met a person on welfare prior to my high school yrs. Contrary to what too many of my fellow posters want to believe, most Blacks & other minorities work just as hard as any one else. Obama's White mother was on welfare when times got tough. She got out through hard work & education. Corporate welfare takes far more out of our budget than family welfare. The welfare reform of the Clinton yrs. meant people couldn't stay on welfare indefinitely. It requires a path to work. The majority of people on welfare are White. So, why do some of you link Black to welfare?
You really need another line to constantly post
"vabeach757 on Thu, 11/06/2008 at 10:00 pm.
those bringing up the race card any time there is opposition to BHO. The people 'booed' when McCain said Obama's name NOT because of his race, but because of the outcome. Get a grip. Besides, BHO is bi-racial. I bet Rev. Wright, Ayers, Khalidi and Farrakhan already have their designated seats for the 'coronation.'"
Over and over and over you constantly refer to the same tired names. Maybe one of these days you alone will get sick of doing it, but let me ask you a question? So what if any or all of those men have a seat behind the President elect????? Why do you care so much???? Do you really think your comment makes any difference????
Do you know what sounding like a broken record means??????
Re: RENO's comment
Better chance for the rest of us...
Submitted by peterc on Fri, 11/07/2008 at 10:29 am.
"Submitted by RENO on Thu, 11/06/2008 at 3:14 pm.
Remember, over 50 million voters will not need invitations."
Good, makes room for the 64 million voters that might want one.
Well said, Peterc!
Reno
Submitted by RENO on Thu, 11/06/2008 at 4:14 pm.
Remember, over 50 million voters will not need invitations.
And you Remember, over 60 million had any intentions of inviting you anyway.
Better chance for the rest of us...
"Submitted by RENO on Thu, 11/06/2008 at 3:14 pm.
Remember, over 50 million voters will not need invitations."
Good, makes room for the 64 million voters that might want one.