More than 1M crowd DC for Obama's inauguration

AP on Yahoo ^ | 1/20/09 | Nafeesa Syeed - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON – More than 1 million people crammed onto the National Mall and along the inauguration parade route Tuesday to celebrate the swearing-in of the nation's first black president in what was one of the largest-ever gatherings in the nation's capital.

The Associated Press estimate is based on crowd photographs and comparisons with past events.

[NormsRevenge]

It's closer to 1.5 million, 2 million if ya count all the homeless and lobbyists.

top photo - People crowd to the windows of a building along Pennsylvania Avenue to get a view of the inaugural parade after U.S. President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th U.S. President in Washington January 20, 2009. REUTERS/Carlos Barria (UNITED STATES)

bottom photo - President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill wave as former President George W. Bush departs the U.S. Capitol during the inauguration ceremony in Washington, January 20, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES)

[A_Former_Democrat]

And I bet it was pretty much Lowlife City.

[Doctor Raoul]

My prediction was 1.2 million. I've seen media accounts of 1.4 million, so I believe I'm right. They'll overhype to protect Zero's image.

The Metro ridership figures will be a key piece of information.

[NormsRevenge]

Just got sworn in as the 44th President and constipation got ya down?

U.S. President Barack Obama gestures while delivering his speech after
taking the Oath of Office to become the 44th President of the United States,
during the inauguration ceremony in Washington, January 20, 2009.
REUTERS/Jim Young

The hand gesture is reminiscent.

[SMCC1]

It’s a huge crowd, but it’s not ground-breaking.
During the Phillies Championship parade here, there something like 2 million I think.

[lacrew]

Really? I was promised 4 to 5 million? What happened? I think the mania will soon subside, and Obama will be back on planet earth with the rest of us.

[DoughtyOne]

You can count my executive experience with the fingers on two hands.

Let me see... there's... well there's... Hmmm, how about...

Oh hell, I don't have ANY executive experience do I!

[popdonnelly]

I thought they were predicting 4 million. The AP must be disappointed.

[NewJerseyJoe]

How much should we bet that the MSM will give NO coverage to those attending the March for Life on Thursday?

[Westbrook]

> How much should we bet that the MSM will give NO coverage to
> those attending the March for Life on Thursday?

I’m not a betting man, but smart money is on “no coverage”. The only possible alternative is derisive or disparaging coverage.

[Gaffer]

Gee, I’d have never have thought you could get 1 million plus idiots to stand still in one spot for that length of time. Was Senior ZerO handing out lollipops?

[A_Former_Democrat]

No, Barney Fwank was.

[Gaffer]

You mean Gerbils, don’t you?

[Nam Vet]

I thought I read/heard 5-6 million ! What the hell happened? I'm curious. How many attended Dubya's ?

Nam Vet

[jocko12]

It is now prez ZerO.

[NormsRevenge]

Hundreds of thousands gather on the National Mall prior to the start of the 56th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, January 20, 2009. More than 5,000 men and women in uniform are providing military ceremonial support to the presidential inauguration, expected to be one of the best-attended in history. REUTERS/Thomas Meneguin/U.S. Air Force/Handout

[NormsRevenge]

Crowds fill the National Mall early in the morning before
the inauguration of Barack Obama, January 20, 2009.
(Brian Snyder/Reuters)

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***It’s closer to 1.5 million, 2 million if ya count all the homeless and lobbyists***

Is that all? About seven million people went to Gamal Nasser’s funeral in Egypt! One should have thought the big O could do better!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamal_Abdel_Nasser

[reagan_fanatic]

They were predicting closer to 200 million at the inauguration, with pockets of right-wing, redneck bible-thumpers left behind to lick their wounds and stock up on guns and ammo.

[Edit35]

What happened?

George Bush's fault.

His very presence caused two or three million people to stay home.

[browniexyz]

So it’s down now to “Hundreds of thousands” — what happened to five million???????????

[Gaffer]

He might be your prez, not mine. I’ll give him the same respect that Presidents Bush, Bush and Reagan, and yes Nixon were accorded.

[hadaclueonce]

I was hoping for a rocket pack, but...
I got a new tagline!

[GRRRRR]

FOX is showing some sort of Parade, LIVE At 518pm...there is NOBODY in the stands!!!

[hadaclueonce]

Taking out my pencil

[Publius6961]

Only one million?

What happened to the other 5 million which were expected?

< /sarc>

[ASOC]

I wudda loved to have my coffee stand at that picnic.....

[Trajan88]

I wonder if the media would have fawned over a Republican/conservative such as J.C. Watts or Michael Steele if either attained higher office... doubt it.

[Lion Den Dan]

It might be a million. The croud looks thicker than for the “Million Man March.” but the camera angle is too low for a good estimate.

[TankerKC]

We were at 14th and Independence...PACKED shoulder to shoulder!

[joma89]

Whatever happened to that 4 million estimate? Oh wait! That is what liberal do. They lie and exaggerate, otherwise known as propaganda.

JoMa

[castlebrew]

I was at the Capitol Malll on July 4th, 1980, with 500,000 reported. It was shoulder-to-shoulder. This pic (from techcrunch.com) is nowhere near that crowd.

I'd say more like 150K (250K, tops). Including the ~5000 immediately in front of the Capitol.