On the one hand, there would be no better, and perhaps necessary, rebuke to Trump and Trumpism than having a real jam-packed inauguration.
On the other hand there’s, y’know, a deadly uncontrolled pandemic raging in the world and especially the US. Arguably, stopping COVID is Biden’s clearest and most important mandate.
I’m pretty torn on this but I think I want liberals to stand down from all these crowded celebrations. We mocked the Trumpkins for being superspreaders, we shouldn’t be doing the same thing. And for god’s sakes, let’s not kill the man before he gets a chance to be president, like Harrison.
I completely agree. Gathering a large crowd together is an objectively bad idea right now. And celebrating an inauguration does not justify the danger. Biden should be showing the country and the world that he and his administration will take disease control seriously.
This is a debate? I don’t think there’s any question that Biden knows that a conventional inauguration, with the massive crowds at the swearing-in and the large number of parties, isn’t possible. Look, for example, at his rally yesterday in Wilmington, DE. Mostly people in their cars, and the few not in cars were social distancing.
FWIW Biden’s victory speech last night did not have a lot of people at all (maybe a few hundred). Compare that to Obama’s victory speech in Chicago in 2008 which drew something like 250,000 people.
So, I am thinking the Biden camp is understanding not to do big crowds.
I’m riffing off stuff I saw on Twitter where some people were fantasizing about how Biden would surely own Trump by having a much bigger inauguration, and why that’s important because Trump thinks it’s important.
So I was just starting this thread to gauge sentiment and mildly disapprove of the big-festival concept.
The swearing in should probably be done in the Rotunda to discourage people crowding the Mall and Capitol grounds. And cancel the limo ride to the White House. Maybe schedule a proper inauguration for later in the year. This will also give Trump an excuse to not be part of the process. They rescheduled the Olympics; they can reschedule the inauguration.
Actually, you really can’t reschedule it; the swearing in happens at noon on January 20. If they want to have a public celebration later, sure, but it’s going to look inappropriate. Sort of like how you can get married in a civil ceremony at city hall but you really can’t have a fancy church ceremony months later.
Everybody in public wearing a mask looks inappropriate too, but that’s the world we live in now. Regardless, only the swearing in is absolutely necessary and it can be done inside with a limited audience. Everybody else can watch it on TV.
I agree with that. What I don’t agree with is “schedule a proper inauguration for later in the year.” If he’s sworn in as scheduled on January 20, what sort of proper inauguration do you think they can or should have later in the year?
I don’t know, all the balls and crap I guess. Something where foreign dignitaries, business leaders, public advocates, and other muckety-mucks can press the flesh with the new regime.
Yeah, suppose we all make a point of watching the inauguration broadcast (if all goes well), so it gets the highest ratings ever, or whatever the metric is? That would be a nice show of support for the return to responsible governance.
