Column: The Million Things We Don't Know March

Post columnist Marc Fisher exposes in an online essaay the Big Lie about the planning for the inauguration: That despite the projections and estimates, no one knows what to expect for the big day. Fisher writes:

Ten thousand buses. Or maybe 3,000.

Four million people. Or maybe 1 million.

Closed bridges. But maybe we'll reopen a couple of them if the traffic backup's not too bad.

Check our web sites. But be careful: Our maps are wrong.

Watch the street signs. But wait: We put up signs in the wrong places and our people are out there now checking.

I love the ritual of the big political news conference. This morning's session with Mayor Adrian Fenty, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and the head of the U.S. Secret Service included the classic bunch of guys in suits and uniforms (plus D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier) crowded behind the elected officials in a show of authority and confidence. 'We've got this inauguration thing under control,' was the message.

But the actual content of the conference sent a rather different, and refreshingly honest, message: We have no idea what's going to happen, and we just want to be as ready as we can be.

Read the full column.

By David A Nakamura  |  January 13, 2009; 6:00 PM ET  | Category:  Crowds , Point of View , Post Coverage
Previous: Montgomery County (Md.) Releases Transportation Information | Next: After-Party Watch: Welcome to 1600 Hosted by Spike Lee

Posted by: Bradenkay | January 14, 2009 6:41 AM | Report abuse

The comments to this entry are closed.