# Will You Protest The Presidential Inauguration? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285 "2005-01-18T02:05:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/1 "2005-01-18T02:05:24Z")
The last presidential inauguration I protested was Nixon’s second on January 20, 1973. I wore a black armband on the left sleeve of my brother’s US Army shirt. Needless to say there were quite a few black arm bands that day, protesting everything from the Vietnam War to issues arising out of Watergate. Since then I never felt the need to protest inauguration day, until now. I’m not sure what I will do, but I do know I will be more open about it. Perhaps I will fly the Flag from my car antenna, complete with black ribbon. Perhaps that same flag will be flow upside down. I don’t know. I may wear that black arm band again. Do you plan to protest? If so, how? ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/2 "2005-01-18T02:11:35Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Do you plan to protest? If so, how? I’m not sure it really counts as _protesting_ per se, since I can’t actually tell anyone I work with WHY I’m doing it, but I’ve been giving considerable thought to wearing all black in mourning. It’s the little things that make us who we are. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/3 "2005-01-18T02:45:35Z")
No. I hate that he won but he did and I accept it. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/4 "2005-01-18T04:20:37Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > No. I hate that he won but he did and I accept it. Isn’t democracy a wonderful thing? ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/5 "2005-01-18T04:38:11Z")
You know, there was a thing on the news tonight about a group that plans to protest the inauguration, and the first thing that came to my mind was “What’s the point??” I even briefly considered starting a Pit thread ( :eek: ). What _is_ the point of protesting an inauguration? The guy won months ago; if you hate the person being sworn in, your work should have been done on election day, not inauguration day. There’s nothing wrong with the inauguration itself. What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/6 "2005-01-18T17:47:11Z")
There is no one in power who would listen to a protest. The senate, the house, and the white house are all in the same camp. A protest will do nothing but amuse those guys. Besides, nothing protestable happens at an inauguration. It’s just a celebration. “We won, and we’re happy. Here’s an optimistic speech.” ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/7 "2005-01-18T21:11:30Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > What _is_ the point of protesting an inauguration? The guy won months ago; if you hate the person being sworn in, your work should have been done on election day, not inauguration day. There’s nothing wrong with the inauguration itself. What am I missing? Nothing. You are right on target. Hannity had some woman on the other night who is attempting to get everyone to totally boycott Washington, DC on inauguration day. Don’t go anywhere near the place. She was doing this supposedly because she “cared” about the little people who had no voice. She had no intelligent response to him at all when he asked her if she didn’t think that they had had an opportunity to shout real loud last November. She also had no intelligent response when he asked her why, if she cares for the little people so much, she is trying to screw them over: all the people who work on commission that won’t make any money that day, the small business owner who will have no sales, etc. Protesting on inaugaration day is all fluff and no substance. It simply sets the protestors up for people to laugh at. It certainly won’t accomplish a damn thing. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/8 "2005-01-18T21:30:17Z")
There are a couple of anti-Bush events I am considering going to on Thursday evening here in Chicago. I wouldn’t call it protesting, though, because I’m not protesting that Bush won. Obviously, he did. However, I think it’s a good idea to keep up activity, to keep up morale and discussion on how we can shift the direction of the country. More of a liberal solidarity pow wow, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/9 "2005-01-18T21:36:23Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > No. I hate that he won but he did and I accept it. Bingo. Protesting an inauguration equates to, in my mind, protesting the election process. The time for that has come and gone, and we’re 4 years late. The 2004 election results sucked, but the final outcome will be accurately reflected on Thursday. Let him, his staff and his supporters have their speeches, pomp, circumstance and events. They worked their asses off for it. Come Friday morning, we can begin the process anew. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/10 "2005-01-18T21:41:16Z")
I hate to admit it, but **Clothahump** is right–there’s no point to protesting because nobody cares. Not the people, and not the SOBs who are in charge. To quote Joe Hill, “Don’t mourn, organize!” If you really want to make a difference, put down the giant puppets, take a shower, put on a tie, and get down to your local Democratic Party office to voulnteer. Now is the time to get ready for the congressional and Senate races in 2006. Get involved, resist, and prepare to take our country back! ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/11 "2005-01-18T21:58:28Z")
Came in my e-mail last week: > [@](#): > > Since our religious leaders will not speak out against the war in Iraq, since our political leaders don’t have the moral courage to oppose it, Inauguration Day, Thursday, January 20th, 2005 is “Not One Damn Dime Day” in America. > > On “Not One Damn Dime Day” those who oppose what is happening in our name in Iraq can speak up with a 24-hour national boycott of all forms of consumer spending. During Not One Damn Dime Day, please don’t spend money. > > Not one damn dime for gasoline. > Not one damn dime for necessities or for impulse purchases. > Not one damn dime for anything for 24 hours. > > On Not One Damn Dime Day, please boycott Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target and Pepsico (Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Pepsi products). > Please don’t go to the mall or the local convenience store. > Please don’t buy any fast food (or any groceries at all for that matter). > For 24 hours, please do what you can to shut the retail economy down. > > The object is simple. Remind the people in power that the war in Iraq is immoral and illegal; that they are responsible for starting it and that it is their responsibility to stop it. Not One Damn Dime Day is to remind them, too, that they work for the people of the United States of America, not for the international corporations and K Street lobbyists who represent the corporations and funnel cash into American politics. Not One Damn Dime Day is about supporting the troops. The politicians put the troops in harm’s way. Now 1,200 brave young Americans and (some estimate) 100,000 Iraqis have died. The politicians owe our troops a plan - a way to come home. There’s no rally to attend. No marching to do. **No left or right wing agenda to rant about**. On Not One Damn Dime Day you take action by doing nothing. You open your mouth by keeping your wallet closed. For 24 hours, nothing gets spent, not one damn dime, to remind our religious leaders and our politicians of their moral responsibility to end the war in Iraq and give America back to the people. Even though we may spend the same dollars at the same places the day before and after January 20, it’s the statement that counts. Hopefully, if there are needs that must be met, we can try to spend our dollars at local-based businesses instead of corporate giants. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to actually make a statement that is heard? It’s possible. This is the year to have no fear. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/12 "2005-01-18T22:04:59Z")
I’m going to protest. Unlike some of you, I believe that this election was rife with fraud, just like the last one. This administration didn’t win the election, they won the vote count – the United States, and the whole world, lost the election. We are watching the systematic dismantling of democracy, and the creation of some odd kind of fascist theocracy. I like the black armband idea, but in any case, I just can’t calmly accept this evil man’s celebration without some statement. I don’t care that it will make no difference – I have to be true to my beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/13 "2005-01-18T22:11:12Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Nothing. You are right on target. > > Hannity had some woman on the other night who is attempting to get everyone to totally boycott Washington, DC on inauguration day. Don’t go anywhere near the place. She was doing this supposedly because she “cared” about the little people who had no voice. She had no intelligent response to him at all when he asked her if she didn’t think that they had had an opportunity to shout real loud last November. She also had no intelligent response when he asked her why, if she cares for the little people so much, she is trying to screw them over: all the people who work on commission that won’t make any money that day, the small business owner who will have no sales, etc. > > Protesting on inaugaration day is all fluff and no substance. It simply sets the protestors up for people to laugh at. It certainly won’t accomplish a damn thing. Ironically enough, I’m wondering how good business will be in the District on Inauguration Day anyhow. There are going to be a whole bunch of street closings that day, the federal government won’t be working which means that the businesses in L’Enfant Plaza are probably going to suffer just to pick an example. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/14 "2005-01-18T23:35:09Z")
If I remember, I’ll wear all black Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/15 "2005-01-19T01:05:42Z")
I’ve seen that stupid “Not One Damn Dime Day” email about fifteen times in the past year, complaining about issues ranging from the war in Iraq to oil drilling in Alaska to the wealth gap, and now the inauguration. It never fails to piss me off - political glurge can be even more annoying than the other varieties. I’m going to buy a big, expensive toy for myself on Thursday…maybe a telescope? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/16 "2005-01-19T01:15:17Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Hannity had some woman on the other night who is attempting to get everyone to totally boycott Washington, DC on inauguration day. Don’t go anywhere near the place. She was doing this supposedly because she “cared” about the little people who had no voice. She had no intelligent response to him at all when he asked her if she didn’t think that they had had an opportunity to shout real loud last November. She also had no intelligent response when he asked her why, if she cares for the little people so much, she is trying to screw them over: all the people who work on commission that won’t make any money that day, the small business owner who will have no sales, etc. She probably has free tickets to something in DC on Thursday, and wants to be sure of a kick-ass parking spot. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/17 "2005-01-19T01:46:36Z")
I’ll let the inauguration pass and follow it up with four years of savage derision. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Deschain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@Roland\_Deschain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Deschain)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/18 "2005-01-19T02:16:26Z")
I will say a prayer and thank God that the tides of chaos, socialism, and surrendering our sovreignty to the United Nations have been held off for four more years. I plan to _celebrate_ by ordering access to the premium portion of Glen Beck’s radio show, and dedicate myself to volunteering in my neighboring state of Ohio to get more evangelicals registered for 2008! I would like to see Jeb Bush in 2008, but will be thrilled even if it is Condi Rice as Dick Morris recently predicted is the Republican nominee. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/19 "2005-01-19T02:30:06Z")
> [@Danalan](#): > > I’m going to protest. Unlike some of you, I believe that this election was rife with fraud, just like the last one. This administration didn’t win the election, they won the vote count – the United States, and the whole world, lost the election. We are watching the systematic dismantling of democracy, and the creation of some odd kind of fascist theocracy. > > I like the black armband idea, but in any case, I just can’t calmly accept this evil man’s celebration without some statement. I don’t care that it will make no difference – I have to be true to my beliefs. Well, heck - we had plans to send you all to the labor camps, but that black armband stopped it dead in its tracks. Curses - foiled again. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285/20 "2005-01-19T02:31:43Z")
I’m protesting by going to work like any other day, but working twice as hard (I work for a union); not watching the ceremony (hey, I didn’t give him my vote, he ain’t getting my ratings); and do my best to represent the workers he and his administration are hell-bent upon fuc-- er, never mind, this is becoming a rant. Happy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-protest-the-presidential-inauguration/285285.md?page=2)