# Is Biden being foolish to insist on an outdoor inaguration? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 14, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539 "2021-01-14T17:48:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/61 "2021-01-18T17:38:44Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > This bothers me, because there’s nothing that can be done to protect a subject who is determined to show he’s Tough and Not Intimidated, etc. (Particularly if the danger is coming from one of the armed law-enforcement people who have access to him.) Except that this isn’t actually true. The security systems are moving heaven and earth to make this as safe as possible, and there’s no doubt that Biden and his team are fully on board with their work. And this isn’t about “macho posturing”, this is about leadership. If the Trump Era can teach us anything, it’s that what the President does matters. It’s been cool to be all cynical and talk about how “all politicians are the same”, but Trump has proven that for the lie it is. For better or worse, people will take their lead from what Biden does, today, tomorrow, and for the next four years at least. Starting that all with “We let a bunch of yahoos dictate terms to the most powerful government on Earth” is just a bad, bad idea, and Biden knows that. And while we’re blathering on about “macho posturing”, maybe pause for a minute to think about how _Kamala Harris will be there too._ Because I’m pretty sure she understands that leadership matters, too. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/62 "2021-01-18T17:48:37Z")
CNN article describing screening of the National Guard troops at the Capitol: > **[Pentagon chief says 'no intelligence indicating an insider threat' to...](https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/18/politics/fbi-vetting-national-guard/index.html)** > > Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller said Monday that there is "no intelligence indicating an insider threat" to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, though National Guard members arriving in Washington are being vetted by law... ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/63 "2021-01-18T17:52:28Z")
> [@TheHill](#): > > A Virginia man was arrested Friday at an inauguration checkpoint in Washington, D.C., after police found him with an “unauthorized” inauguration credential and an unregistered hand gun with more than 500 rounds of ammunition in his car 500 rounds for a single handgun? This guy must be quite the optimist. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/64 "2021-01-18T17:56:03Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > This guy must be quite the optimist. An optimist with a semi-auto Glock. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/65 "2021-01-18T18:27:02Z")
I would be extremely wary of accepting any job where I had a roughly 1 in 10 chance of being killed. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/66 "2021-01-18T18:34:30Z")
I’ve often said that the fact that someone even wants to BE president calls their mental health into question. That said, I’m glad there are still good people who want to be. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/67 "2021-01-18T19:56:33Z")
There’s an old WWII cartoon by Bill Mauldin: It shows his two soldiers, Willie and Joe, taking cover behind a hill while just to one side of them is an officer standing up. Willie says to the officer: “Sir, to you hafta draw fire while yer inspirin’ us?” Sometimes you have to stand up to the enemy. But sometimes you have to keep your people out of danger. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/68 "2021-01-18T20:21:55Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > Sometimes you have to stand up to the enemy. But sometimes you have to keep your people out of danger. Now is the time to stand up to our enemy. To show weakness at this time in history would just allow them to walk all over us. Not the time to lukewarm in our response. The Guard is there to defend us and stand up to threats, not cower away and play it safe ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/69 "2021-01-18T21:09:37Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Now is the time to stand up to our enemy. [![](https://i.ibb.co/6Y9R8wZ/We-have-met-the-enemy.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/6Y9R8wZ/We-have-met-the-enemy.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/70 "2021-01-18T21:11:27Z")
No greater words could be spoken. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/71 "2021-01-18T21:33:09Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > Sometimes you have to stand up to the enemy. But sometimes you have to keep your people out of danger. And knowing which is which is part of leadership. Do you really think the people directly involved in this have spent less time thinking about it than we have? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/72 "2021-01-19T01:35:52Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > And this isn’t about “macho posturing”, this is about leadership. If the Trump Era can teach us anything, it’s that what the President does matters. It’s been cool to be all cynical and talk about how “all politicians are the same”, but Trump has proven that for the lie it is. For better or worse, people will take their lead from what Biden does, today, tomorrow, and for the next four years at least. > > Starting that all with “We let a bunch of yahoos dictate terms to the most powerful government on Earth” is just a bad, bad idea, and Biden knows that. For **every** Inauguration, security decisions are made. It’s ridiculous to claim that one set of security decisions equals “Leadership,” and a different set of security decisions equals “failure of Leadership.” By your description, _any_ attempt to deter potential attempts on the lives of the participants is defined as ‘letting yahoos dictate terms.’ That’s irrational. \ > [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > There’s an old WWII cartoon by Bill Mauldin: It shows his two soldiers, Willie and Joe, taking cover behind a hill while just to one side of them is an officer standing up. Willie says to the officer: “Sir, to you hafta draw fire while yer inspirin’ us?” > > Sometimes you have to stand up to the enemy. But sometimes you have to keep your people out of danger. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/73 "2021-01-19T02:39:43Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > > [@TheHill](#): > > > > A Virginia man was arrested Friday at an inauguration checkpoint in Washington, D.C., after police found him with an “unauthorized” inauguration credential and an unregistered hand gun with more than 500 rounds of ammunition in his car > > 500 rounds for a single handgun? This guy must be quite the optimist. Either that or he knows he’s a bad shot. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/74 "2021-01-19T03:09:57Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > It’s ridiculous to claim that one set of security decisions equals “Leadership,” and a different set of security decisions equals “failure of Leadership.” When one set of decisions involves the oath of office being taken in the same spot it is traditionally taken, and the other involves “hiding in a basement”, then yes, they are different, and should be judged differently. The hiding in a basement narrative will serve no purpose beyond encouraging the worst people in US society. Again, there’s zero chance that the people in charge of all this haven’t thought about all these issues, and **they** - _the people at most risk_ - clearly disagree with your assessment. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/75 "2021-01-19T17:24:57Z")
I keep thinking about the IRA mortar attacks on Heathrow (1994) and #10 Downing St (1991)… ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/76 "2021-01-19T17:47:38Z")
I think the real threat to Biden would be a turncoat cop or secret service agent. In that context, I don’t think it matters whether it’s indoors or outdoors. I last visited DC in 2017 and I was pretty surprised by the number of what looked like police command centers on every corner. I’m sure every sniper position in DC is thoroughly catalogued and that the police are well accustomed to sweeping that area for bombs. What worries me more is that if terrorists can’t reach the harder targets, they may be content to make a statement by going after softer targets - i.e. crowds farther away in less-secure areas, like enroute to the event, or congregating in a nearby open space. Even after the OKC bombing, it seems like the assumption is that domestic terrorists wouldn’t do a suicide attack, or indiscriminate mass casualty attacks. That assumption seems less safe than ever now. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/77 "2021-01-19T18:32:53Z")
Nope, they know better than to try and strike at a hard target. They will wait and lay low until spring. Nobody wants to really riot in the middle of winter anyways, the exception this time being that fearless all knowing leader called for the one on the 6th so like zombies they showed up (and the weather was nice). They may and try and strike a Governor again next time, or a Senator (remember Gabby Gifford?) who displeases them. Someone who eventually will let their guard down. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/78 "2021-01-20T01:30:02Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > When one set of decisions involves the oath of office being taken in the same spot it is traditionally taken, and the other involves “hiding in a basement”, then yes, they are different, and should be judged differently. It sounds as though you believe that the decision by Pope John Paul II, after having been shot, to travel in a bulletproof vehicle (the so-called ‘Pope-mobile’) should have been greeted with contempt and derision. But as this is P&E I won’t ask you if that is your actual belief. Responding to threats with measures intended to counter those threats is assessed by intelligent people as prudent, rather than being assessed as a character flaw or a failure of “leadership.” The indoor versus outdoor discussion is nothing to do with “leadership,” as there is nothing inherently virtuous about outdoor ceremonies as compared with indoor ceremonies. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/79 "2021-01-20T01:49:13Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > It sounds as though you believe that the decision by Pope John Paul II, after having been shot, to travel in a bulletproof vehicle (the so-called ‘Pope-mobile’) should have been greeted with contempt and derision. But as this is P&E I won’t ask you if that is your actual belief. Using the Popemobile allowed him to continue being seen, up close, by hundreds of thousands of people, which is part of the job of being Pope. It’s the exact opposite of the Pope disappearing into the depths of the Vatican never to be seen again. Which is what you’re advocating Biden do. Do you really imagine that Biden will be able to avoid public appearances for his whole term? No, of course not. And yet, any public appearance will contain an element of risk. That’s part of the job he signed on for. I’m sure he understands that far better than you. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539/80 "2021-01-20T23:32:30Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > It’s the exact opposite of the Pope disappearing into the depths of the Vatican never to be seen again. Which is what you’re advocating Biden do. . Where? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-biden-being-foolish-to-insist-on-an-outdoor-inaguration/930539.md?page=5)