Note:

Meridian Star Editor Fredie Carmichael will be in Washington, D.C. to cover the inauguration of Barack Obama. E-mail him at editor@themeridianstar.com.

By Fredie Carmichael

Editor@themeridianstar.com



8 p.m.:

That was a pretty neat interview. I was talking to U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker in his Russell Senate Building office on the fourth floor (Room 487 to be exact) when he got a message on his Blackberry: it was time to vote to confirm Hillary Clinton as the next secretary of state, which he voted yes on.

So, the second-half of our interview took place as we walked the underground tunnels of the Russell building and entered the Captiol. Pretty neat stuff. If you've never been, they even have a mini-subway system for Congress and staffers to use to get from their office buildings to the Capitol.

That's about it from here. I took the rest of the afternoon to relax and do some sight-seeing of my own — along with a little Metro riding. The reason: I accidentally put a $20 in to get my rail card the first day I was here, expecting to get change (a ride is usually about $1.30, depending on the location and distance traveled). When I took my entire $20 and spit out a rail card for that much, I decided I needed to use it. I made stops at Chinatown, the Pentagon, Eastern Market, Metro Center, and, finally, Foggy Bottom-GWU, the closest to my hotel.

It was a neat experience. I even went to the Pentagon City shopping complex — pretty massive place.

I was basically trying to do as much sight-seeing as I could underground and not out in the cold.

One thing I did notice outside as I walked the perimeter of the Capitol — lots of litter.

Here's a photo of the front lawn from earlier today.





That about does it for me. I may post tomorrow if I find any extra stuff in my notebook that I missed over the past few days. I want to thank Adam Buckalew from Congressman Gregg Harper's office for the help this week. He and his roommate, Jordan, who also works for Harper, let me crash on their couch on Monday and Tuesday, the two nights I couldn't get a hotel room. Thanks again guys.











I've wrapped up my interview with U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, a rookie member of Congress for the Third Congressional District. I will have most of the highlights from that interview this Sunday in The Meridian Star.

I have since taken my luggage across town to the hotel I'll be staying at tonight and grabbed a bite to eat: a $4 hot dog from a street corner with lots of mustard. But an otherwise good hot dog.

A highlight:

"I will never forget that view from where I was sitting (during Tuesday's swearing-in)," Harper said as he sipped a Dr. Pepper in his office in the Cannon Building today. "There were people as far as I could see. It was unbelievable. It was a truly historic moment."

Around the city:

It's pretty quiet today, probably reminiscent of most days in D.C. The Metro wasn't that crowded and most folks who remain appear to be on their way out of the city, probably taking flights out this morning and afternoon.

As I made my way up 24th Street I noticed luggage being shoved into cabs and people standing near street corners with theirs beside them.

I'm about to head back to the Capitol to interview U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran. I'll try to snap some photos and post those tonight.

Otherwise, I plan on getting some rest before my flight in the morning.

It's been a great trip; thanks for reading the blog.

And again, thank Mobile Solutions of Meridian for sponsoring these reports. The 3G Wireless card is great. Be sure and go by and see Keyes and the crew at their new Highway 39 Location.





7:30 a.m.:



Good morning folks.

It's a new day here in Washington, D.C. ... and still cold, 22 degrees to be exact.

I just grabbed a vanilla latte from Starbucks and am about to pack my stuff up. I have some interviews with U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran near the Capitol today, but I'll have to carry my luggage with me. I'm staying back in my hotel on the northwest part of the city tonight.

I do have some disappointing news to report: I caught up with Ms. Johnnie Delk, the 65-year-old Meridian woman who made the trip to see the inauguration, this morning. She had tickets to the swearing-in but, due to the crowds, wasn't allowed in. Her daughter, who shave gave other tickets for a different gate, got in with ease and was able to see everything. She, however, was turned away at her Purple Gate and didn't get to see it.

"It was total chaos, so many people wanted to get and couldn't, even with their tickets," Delk said. "I was still a part of history, though, so I can't complain too much. I just wish I could have seen it."

I'm about to pack up; I'll check with you guys later today.



Here is the final video from yesterday's swearing-in:







New video and photos:







Backpacks and American Flags were popular items at Tuesday's inauguration.







President Barack Obama addresses the nation — and the hundreds of thousands on hand to see him in Washington, D.C. —on the steps of the U.S. Capitol moments after taking the oath of office Tuesday.







President Barack Obama takes the oath of office as he's sworn in as the country's 44th president on Tuesday.







Vice President Joe Biden is sworn in.







Aretha Franklin sings "My Country 'Tis of Thee," at the beginning of the swearing-in ceremony. Franklin also sang at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.









Yours truly, freezing my behind off, as I waited for the swearing-in to begin.







This is video I shot as people awaited the swearing-in this morning.







Snipers stand guard atop the U.S. Capitol behind the flag as tens of thousands pack into the National Mall and front lawn of the Capitol on Monday.





Tens of thousands of people fill the National Mall early Tuesday morning before the swearing-in of President Barack Obama.







Thousands of people trying to make it to the swearing-in of Barack Obama on Tuesday morning about 7:30 a.m. exit the Capitol South Metro station. From train to actual exit, it took about 30 minutes to emerge from the ground.







Tens of thousands of people fill the National Mall early Tuesday morning before the swearing-in of President Barack Obama.













8:30 p.m.:



'Get your Obama hot dogs'



Well, folks made plenty of money this past week — and the past year to be more precise —using Barack Obama's name as the selling point.

But Tuesday after the swearing-in may have taken the cake ... and may well have been the most well thought out ploy of them all. It was ingenious and, more importantly, fun.

Lee Glazer, her husband, their three children, and a few neighborhood friends huddled around a small charcoal grill and cooked hot dogs Tuesday afternoon. There was a small table with buns and a table with ketchup and mustard near their front gate of their North Carolina Avenue home.

They were selling hot dogs for $1 each, calling them, "Special Obama's Dog." The children marketed the hot dogs to the hundreds of hungry spectators — most of whom hadn't eaten since at least 7 a.m. — with two hand-painted signs. They also screamed, "Get your Obama hot dogs."

Most people chuckled as they walked past and thought it was a clever venture. Others stopped.

"We planned this about two weeks ago," Glazer said. "We thought it would be fun ... and it's been great. We've gotten to meet a lot of people."

So what do they plan to do with the money?

"They're already posturing for what toys they want," Glazer said of the children.

For the record, I had two of them, and the fresh-from-grill hot dogs were pretty darn tasty.











Patient crowds



Here's a recap of this morning that I haven't been able to post yet:



As I entered the cramped Metro station at 6:30 a.m. and tried to squeeze inside a rail car, I knew it would be a long transit. The sub 20-degree temperatures made me think the Metro was the best way to get to the Capitol for the swearing-in.

After I exited at the Capitol South Metro Station, I saw an even larger mass of people. But there was something different about this crowd — something that has been consistent this week in Washington.

There was no pushing, not shoving and everyone, all thousands of them, cooperated with the officers who shouted instructions over a bull-horn.

Some, even started singing in unison, repeating what the officers were saying.

"Keep it moving, keep it moving; don't use the gate ... keep it moving, keep it moving; don't use the gate."

It was an amazing scene.













6 p.m.

Photos from the inauguration

President Barack Obama addresses the nation � and the hundreds of thousands on hand to see him in Washington, D.C. �on the steps of the U.S. Capitol moments after taking the oath of office Tuesday.





Millions of photos were no doubt taken as hundreds of thousands watched as Barack Obama was sworn in as the nation's 44th president.



R&B; superstar Usher takes photos before the swearing-in.



Actress Angela Bassett is interviewed as she exits the Capitol after the swearing-in of Barack Obama.



3:15 p.m.

Well, as I walked along these crammed streets I happened upon the perfect thing to share with all you blog watchers. I found a family selling hotdogs, marketed by a sign on the fence that said, "obama hot dogs," for $1 each.

They were grilling on the front porch, and their kids screamed, "hot dogs, hot dogs... get your $1 hot dogs." Of course, I had to get one. They were good, too. Only problem they had: the mass exodus from the Capitol left them with a steady

crowd of patrons -- and they had to replenish their charcoal midway through.

Aside from eating two hot dogs (it was the first bite to eat I've had to eat all day) I got to interview them and take photos. I'll post those as soon as I make it back to my computer.



1:45 p.m.:

The masses are now making their way, if possible, to get a spot for the parade. I'm blogging on my phone; I hope to get back to my computer this afternoon to upload some photos, video.

Before I do, a few snippets from my seat today: Celebrity sightings. Usher sat about 15 seats to the left of me, although he had to move when the festivities began. Oprah walked in minutes before it began and all cameras went to her. Two others of note near me: Samuel L. Jackson and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Crowd. The crowd -- and their chants -- from across the National Mall echoed all the way to the steps of the Capitol in waves. They chanted, "OBAMA" and "Yes We Can" ...some even chanted "Hey Hey Goodbye" when now former President George W. Bush was introduced. But that chant died down as it neared the front lawn.

The weather. It was brutally cold ... enough said. For this Mississippi boy, I can honestly say I've never been that cold, especially not for so long.

I'll check back in with you guys soon.



9 a.m. (EST)

I have made my way through security (three rounds of metal detectors) to my seat on the front lawn of the U.S. Capitol -- 50 yards from where Barack Obama will be sworn in as the nation's first black president. The crowd is so enthusiastic they're chanting "yes we can."

First celebrity sighting: Jamie Lee Curtis. I'm filing this report via my Blackberry. I'll do my best to send a photo but

reception is shoddy.

The Metro was shoulder-to-shoulder by 7 a.m. when I left ... only 10 blocks away

from the Capitol.

My hands are numb; I'll file more as soon as I can.





12 a.m.:

Night has fallen on our nation's capital.

When she awakes, more than a million will be waiting at her door to welcome the nation's 44th president, Barack Obama.

It took me two hours to get from my hotel in the northwest part of downtown to the apartment I'm staying at on the southeast part of town. In reality, it was only about 4 miles, but transportation was tough.

Temperatures were sub-30 degrees and I had my luggage and news equipment. I started out in the cab, where I made it about a a mile and a half, and it cost me a $16 fare. Then, I opted for the Metro. Bad idea. It was so congested I could barely move.

When I finally had to make a switch of rail lines, I was in deep trouble. I posted a short video below of one of the crowds I encountered at L'Enfant Plaza (and this was after I wouldn't fit on one of the trains, so most of the crowd had departed).

I'm about to get some sleep before the dawn of the inauguration. I'll post some more tomorrow. I'll know tomorrow if I'll be able to blog from the inauguration. It may not work, but I'll try.

I also posted below a photo of my ticket, which includes how close I'll be to the stage. I should be able to get some good stuff tomorrow. It's 1 a.m. here and I need to get some sleep. Until tomorrow.















6 p.m.:

The day time casuals have given way to night time formal as hundreds of Obama supporters dress up for one of the many inaugural balls going on around town (nope, doesn't look like I'm going to any; couldn't find a ticket (under $150).

As the day wore on, the Metro swelled and excitement ebbed. People are excited that in less than 24 hours the country's first black president wil be inaugurated.

At the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station, near the George Washington University Hospital, Obama t-shirts, buttons, flags and beanie babies (yes beanie-babies) flew off the tables set up on the street corner. I got two prices for the beanie-babies (one guy told me $20, another $15).

Nasir Shahid said it was a busy day, but not quite as busy as Sunday.

"Nothing could be Sunday," Shahid said. His special: Obama toboggans for $5.

My story will be filed soon for tomorrow's paper. I'm about to trek across town to stay in a buddy's apartment (where I'll sleep on the couch the next two nights).

I'll try to blog again tonight, if not, I'll post some photos and then blog again in the morning.

Thanks again to the folks at Mobile Solutions for sponsoring this blog with the AT&T; 3G network card. It's working great.

Call them at (601) 553-8205 or visit their new location on Highway 39 North.



Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and newly elected U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, Third District, browse through Harper's new office Monday as they prepare for Tuesday's swearing-in.



Hundreds of people waited in line for hours to pick up their inauguration swearing-in tickets for today as Barack Obama is sworn in as the country's 44th president.



Nasir Shahid of Washington, D.C., sells Obama memorabilia to people exiting the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station late Monday. The memorabilia was selling fast as hundreds crowded the downtown streets.



3 p.m.:

I have found a warm spot where my 3G wireless card is working: Starbucks at George Washington University, where Obama t-shirts are selling for $15, hoodie sweathshirts for $20 and pins that say, "Yes We Can," for $3.

The snow flurries have subsided and the Metro is swollen with people.

A few local highlights before I recharge batteries and get back out to get some more:

Stewart Alexander, a recent Meridian resident who joined the Navy and is now residing in Rhode Island, and Meridian Public School District's Jonas Crenshaw made it to D.C. last night. They picked up their tickets at the Cannon building this morning (and they didn't wait in line the full 2 hours like most folks). As Jonas put it with a sly grin: "we just got lucky that someone let us get in front of them."

The scene today around the Capitol was consistent � long lines of people braving the cold to pick up their tickets from their congressmen's office. Thousands wrapped around buildings and waited for hours to get their tickets to the swearing-in.

Adrain Kendrick and his wife, Wanda, waited in line for two hours to pick up their tickets from rookie U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper's office.

"How in the world did you get through that line," Wanda, principal of Harris Elementary in Meridian, joked with Jonas, who is the human resources director of the school district.

Gov. Haley Barbour also made a brief appearance. He, of course, didn't have to wait, either. His folks did a security sweep beforehand so he got right up.

"This (inauguration) speaks volumes about America," said Barbour, the Republican governor and former head of the National GOP.

"In my lifetime we had legalized segregation. And while I'm still active � I consider myself pretty young � we elected an African American for president. That tells you about how, as Americans, we are comfortable with change. We recognize the rights of others and we truly believe in equality. You have people, Republicans and conservatives, who may not have voted for Obama, like myself, but we appreciate the historical significance of the moment and we wish him well. I hope for our country he succeeds."



Kathernine Ward, 4, of Charlotte, N.C., plays on the backside of the Capitol as she and her family await the inauguration of Barack Obama. The Ward family all donned matching, black Obama toboggans on Monday. David Ward, 38, Katherine's father, said he didn't want his two daughters, ages 3 and 4, to miss the historic moment. His wife, who he called the family's biggest Obama supporter, is a nurse mid-wife and was unable to take off work to attend the festivities.



Johnnie Delk, 65, of Meridian, smiles as she looks at the stage where Barack Obama will be sworn in as the country's 44th president on Tuesday. Delk, who lived through the civil rights movement in Meridian and was close to James Chaney, one of the civil rights workers killed in 1964 in Neshoba County. Her son, Robert Lanier, Jr., who now resides in Alexandria, Va., walked with her as she took in the crowds near the capitol on Monday.



Geralyn Stephens Gunn, 51, of Detriot, Mich., couldn't stop smiling as she took photos in the front lawn of the U.S. Captiol � the place Barack Obama will be sworn in as the nation's 44th president on Tuesday. Gunn and her family members drove through the snow to get to Washington, D.C., to attend the historic inauguration.

E-mail me at editor@themeridianstar.com if you know of some local folks who are in the D.C. area.





11 a.m.:

The crowds have found their way to Washington, D.C. ... and so has the snow. A light snow fell this morning and flurries continue to scatter across the steps of the capitol every once in a while as people from all over the world flock to see Barack Obama sworn in as president tomorrow.

I just waited in line for about an hour to get my press credentials. I'm posting this blog on a park bench outside of the Senate office building. I have interviewed and met some folks from Michigan, North Carolina, and Meridian. I will be posting those stories and photos as soon as I can find a warm spot.

OK, my hands are going numb ...

I'll check back in an hour or so with photos.







12 a.m.(EST):

Washington, D.C., is a quiet place tonight.

The streets are not that crowded and few are roaming the streets (of course it is midnight).

After a long, two-hour walk, I made it to my hotel, the Fairmont on M Street. Nice place indeed ... and with great wireless.

That's the good news. The bad news: I have to leave in the morning and find my way to a house near the Capitol, where I will be sleeping on a couch. But hey, I'm quite fortunate to have such a spot. I plan to pick up my press credentials, meet up with some Meridian folks, and work my way around town for some photos and video.

After I got checked in, I took the Metro to the Smithsonian station, which lets out smack dab in the middle of the National Mall, and found ... well, not much. There were lots of news crews and lots of porta-potties (5,000 to be exact) but few people.

The photos are to the right.

Also, here's a link to some ink we got today:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003931673



Again, thanks to Mobile Solutions. Thanks to them, we'll have around-the-clock internet access with the 3G Wireless Card. Call them at (601) 553-8205 or visit their new location on Highway 39 North.







6:54 p.m.:

Well I finally arrived ... finally, after an hour flight delay.

I am here, filing this from the Reagan Airport in D.C. It looks like I'll have to take the Metro to my hotel � the Fairmont at 2401 M Street. I've been told a cab ride is two hours (and I'm only going about 5 miles). We'll see what the best option is.

I did want to share this photo with you, to the right, of Ceatrice and Richard Kelly of Meridian. I caught up with them as we both awaited our flight out of Jackson, Miss., this morning. They were flying to Baltimore, however, so I'll try to catch up with them tomorrow.

Richard Kelly is a longtime member of First Union Baptist Church on 38th Avenue in Meridian, a staple in the civil rights movement.

In fact, he told me a story in the airport about how James Chaney and Michael Schwerner hid out from the Klan in the attic of First Union in the summer of 1964. When asked why it was important for them to travel to Washington for the inauguration of Barack Obama, Ceatrice said, "I just want to be there, to be a part of history."

Look for more about that in tomorrow's paper.

I'm off to try and get to my hotel and, hopefully, get some shots of the crowd before I call it a night.





10 a.m.:

I am headed to Jackson to depart for Charlotte, N.C., my connecting flight to D.C.

The plan is to hop off the plane, check into my hotel and then walk to the Lincoln Memorial for the kick-off event. Thanks to the folks at Mobile Solutions, AT&T;, I will be bringing you up-to-date information (as time allows between travel) with my 3G Wireless Card. Call them at (601) 553-8205 or visit their new location on Highway 39 North.

Keep looking back here for up-to-date information as I head to Washington to watch the historic inauguration of Barack Obama.