Monday, January 19, 2009

State of Emergency Declared in DC!

Missed it last week, but I'm totally not making this up.

The President today declared an emergency exists in the District of Columbia and ordered Federal aid to supplement the District's response efforts in support of the 56th Presidential Inauguration.
I've just gotta stop reading this Internet thing. It's starting to damage my calm. Glad I don't live anywhere near the disaster area, that's for damned sure.

I got wind of the apparent predicted disaster this morning while reading J D Tuccille's unbelievably good blog (which, if you don't read it, go! What the hell are you doing on this dinky POS?) where he goes on to gleefully report:

Even members of Congress are being told what they can and can't carry on their persons on the big day. The list of items forbidden to lawmakers includes pocket knives, backpacks, alcoholic beverages, signs, posters and thermoses.

Those are the restrictions on politically powerful people.

As for the rest of us ... After decades of increasingly tight security, the crowning of a new emperor ... errr ... president is getting tighter still. Thousands of active-duty military troops supplemented by National Guard personnel will join the ranks of the D.C's 4,000 police. Another 4,000 police are coming in from around the country. Streets will be blocked, bridges sealed, and people hoping for a distant glimpse of Obama will have to pass through security checkpoints.
Boy, if they're that worried about what-all members of Congress might be carrying in their briefcases (or do congresscritters have people carry those for them?) it's a good thing all my friends are staying away. One look at the way some of them go around heeled would melt the Ray-bans right off the Secret Service golems...

I wanted to show you this graphic, which is either heartbreaking or hilarious depending on whether you're a partisan of an enemy nation. But seriously; whoever heard of a 5 meg .pdf? Be warned; you need a fast connection or lots of time on your hands. Whoever's responsible for this - I can recommend a really good web designer. Discretion guaranteed.

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