by Jim Puzzanghera
Parking lots for Washington's subway were nearly filled before dawn in the Virginia suburbs, people filing in the darkness like rush hour commuters onto crowded platforms and packed subway cars.
But there was a celebratory air, as people bundled against the cold carried signs, American flags and the occasional blanket in anticipation of the long wait for the inauguration in sub-freezing temperatures.
Alma Gallardo, 50, a kindergarten teacher from Moorpark, Calif., had to buy a winter coat, gloves and a furry brown hat for her first trip to Washington. But she did not want to miss history.
"The last eight we've lost so much I feel like we've gone backwards," she said as she rode in a crammed subway car from her hotel in Fairfax, Va. in the pre-dawn darkness. "I just feel now there's hope for our country."
She came to Washington with her daughter, Elisa, 17, and several other relatives. Among them was her sister Margaret Pantzloff, 47, from Watsonville, Calif. Pantzloff carried a small red-and-black United Farmworkers flag that belongs to their father, Inis Marines, who at 70 was too old to make the trip. He was a UFW activist, and the flag has the slogan that Obama adopted during his campaign , "Si Se Puede" -- yes we can.
"This is so historic, we wanted to witness it," Pantzloff said after affixing a button to the fleece hat of her 8-year-old son, Marcus, that said "I'm an Obama kid." "Maybe someday we'll have a Mexican-American president. It's possible now."
Comments
Hope has arrived.
1/20/09
Posted by: C.Morrisā | January 20, 2009 8:00 AM
Time to put all politics - liberal, conservative, Democrat or Republican - aside for at least a day and simply revel in the historic moment.
And then it's time to gawk at Obama's political capital...
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | January 20, 2009 8:10 AM
January 20th, 2009 will be a very historic day for the United States. There is excitment all over the country and world for 2 reasons: the Inauguration of a new President, Barack Obama, and the departure of George Bush. The masses are overwhelmed with happiness and joy for both reasons.
Posted by: Doug R. | January 20, 2009 8:44 AM
Yes--Hope has arrived, now let's just Hope that "Change" will follow--a Change for the better!
Posted by: Joe Hunley | January 20, 2009 9:15 AM
The intrepid reporter seems to have missed the ABC News report on how the fat cats with their private jets are dominating the inauguration. See http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6680531&page=1
Many of these fat cats who donated mega bucks to the inauguration are the recipients of government "bail out" money, or hope to be. For their donations they are first in line to the official Obama celebrations, while the common folk wait in line and shiver in the cold.
Posted by: Pay for Play | January 20, 2009 9:15 AM
And now for a dose of reality from the Trib's inimitable John Kass:
.
"Unlike media, Obama knows he's no wizard"
.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-20-jan20,0,3410243.column
Posted by: MJ | January 20, 2009 9:25 AM
For the first time in my life I am not proud of my country! I can't believe the majority of them turned America over to a con man that is totally unqualified.
Posted by: Denny Crane | January 20, 2009 9:54 AM
America has picked up the pieces, left behind by the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and the Kennedy Brothers. President Obama is the embodiment of those men's dreams and visions. America can dream again, she can leave behind the clothes of mourning and take up, her unfinished business: "....with liberty and justice for all."
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | January 20, 2009 9:55 AM
Hope? Based on what?
The old, failed ideas like new Deal Big Government programs and pacifist foreign policy based upon appeasement... ideas with NO historical precedent of success, ever?
All coming from a serial political opportunist who is thoroughly inexperienced in an executive position, and who's unaccomplished political career's primary theme has been getting elected to the next higher office?
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | January 20, 2009 10:22 AM
Denny,
Nice to see the minority 81% when I say that we can not believe the pugs have whipped you into such a fear. Please for your sake, turn off the faux news.
Posted by: Xcellentform | January 20, 2009 10:43 AM
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | January 20, 2009 10:22 AM
Far better than the tragically failed policies of "Trickle Down" and military adventurism that have brought us to the low we are now experincing. Bush enacted Reagan's policies in full, and they have led to economic failure and military disaster. Thank god the country finally sees the dangerous fraud that Reaganism is.
Posted by: Reaganism = FAIL | January 20, 2009 11:09 AM
Utterly spooks me to see the Chicago gang smiling with hugs and high fives for each other on the Capital steps not to mention the Clinton retreads.
Posted by: Bubba Porter | January 20, 2009 11:36 AM
Xcellentform, Put down the Obama Kool-Aid, read my post again and do your homework on the Daley Machine in Chicago. I can tell you know nothing about Chicago politics and you don't live here. Stop with the racial cop out, it doesn't work here.
Posted by: Denny Crane | January 20, 2009 1:07 PM
Denny Crane- If your not proud of the country you live it...leave. Get out. Move to India or China or some South American country. Your posts are not worth reading more than once. History will be the judge of Bush #43, not some quack like you.
Posted by: Doug R. | January 20, 2009 2:20 PM
Posted by: Denny Crane | January 20, 2009 9:54 AM
Well, according to the wisdom of the Republicans who've just left office, if you're not proud of this country and not able to whoop and holler your support for the President, you're a terrorist-loving anti-American traitor and you should be treated like one. When you leave the United States permanently for the country that suits you better, please don't let the door hit you on the way out. Buh-bye.
(It really DOES feel good to be able to return that little tidbit of compassionate Conservatism to its roost!)
Posted by: Op109 | January 20, 2009 2:41 PM
Doug R.
You get out, you got scammed by the do nothing Chicago con man, not me. I live in Chicago and follow politics. People like you put Bush in office not me. Obama has never done a thing except play his part in the corrupt Chicago Daley Machine and fools like you took the bait, hook line and sinker. Just one example is he claims to be a community organizer. I guess you missed the part where Obama the carpetbagger moved to Chicago and he and his lawyer buddies had the real community organizers from the neighborhood thrown off the ballot on a technicality.
That's how he was elected to the Illinois Senate. So do your homework before you preach to someone who actually lives in Chicago and knows his local politics.
Posted by: Denny Crane | January 20, 2009 3:09 PM