Back in this comment, Dave noted that the inaugural ceremony looked sparsely attended in my little teaser video.
That’s very perceptive on his part, because that particular little clip showed the most crowded part of the assembly — the choice seats up front.
Here’s what it looked like from the back. (And no, this is not from before or after the event — I shot this 12 minutes and 42 seconds after the even had begun, according to my camera, which means this is probably the peak of attendance.) I have never been to an event on the Statehouse grounds — certainly not an inauguration — that had this many empty seats. It was a very subdued event (relatively speaking), as was the barbecue that night.
In fairness, I must say that I didn’t get to the barbecue until late — after 8 or so — but the fact that the crowd was thin at that point in the evening is telling.
It wasn’t anything like that four years ago. There was an air of excited anticipation. I mean, it was considerably more sedate than the SERIOUS party that Samuel Tenenbaum had thrown for Jim Hodges four years earlier (Democrats were SO thrilled to be back in power that night), but it was upbeat, and pretty much everybody was there.
Last night was a letdown by comparison.
By the way, here’s the closest I can come to a picture from the 2002 inaugural to compare to what I have above. It’s not the same angle, but it conveys pretty much what I remember: Standing room only:
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Brad, as I implied earlier, Sanford’s constituents cannot take time off and keep their jobs. However, government employees, labor bosses, and welfare recipients have all the time off they want, so if a Democrat had won the governorship, the ceremony would have been packed with the taxpayers like me paying the cost. But Sanford related some nice comments, about how he has learned and matured, but still maintains his idealism and principles.
Soooooo, Dave. Did Sanford rent the crowd in the pic above from the “Dem bosses?”
You’re a laugh and a half. You’re so lost in your own fantasy universe.
Oh, wait. I forgot the “second marriage ceremony” spin. Of course. I bet that’s why Reagan’s and Clinton’s second inaugurations had tumbleweed blowin’ through the streets.
ROTFLMAO.
Even the lobbyists didn’t turn out for the “mature and experienced” version of Sanford. Yep, this rich twit who doesn’t even deign to send his kids to public school is a man of the working people, alright.
Hurl, I’m glad we both agree Sanford is a man of the working people. Get used to it though, Tom Ravenel will be the next governor. So have a nice laugh on that.
I’m not one of Mark Sanfords’ greatest cheerleaders…I don’t think he’s accomplished much, largely because he’s made himself such a lightning rod. While his motives have been good, his methods have angered nearly everyone on the planet that he would have needed to work with him to do the things he wanted to do. So, apart from some tax relief, Sanfords’ been pretty much a bust. However, I cannot imagine that Tom Ravenel will ever be governor. I don’t trust this man any further than…well, you know. Even his campaign ads were full of lies…nearly every ad I ever saw from Ravenel hooted about his being a “business man” and contained the bogus claim that he had created “thousands” of jobs. Puh-LEEZ! If we can’t have honesty Tom, could we at least just get a little less hyperbole and foam? Ed
Sanford’s little more than a puppet for the likes of other rich ideologues like Howard Rich and Mallory Factor.
Dave, weren’t you telling us all about how Karen Floyd would beat Jim Rex, too? If Ravenel bids to succeed the Rich Twit then he better be prepared for more competition than an 80-year-old.
Given the gullibility of SC voters for people with “R” after their name, though, you might be right. SC voters seem right at home with a third world economy and a bannana republic political status.
Floyd could have won if she wanted to spend $2 million in SC taxpayer dollars. As close as that election was, and the typical fraud that can be found of felons voting, illegals voting, etc. enough votes would have been rejected for her to win. She showed a lot of class and concern for this state by forgoing the recounts. But T-Rav will roll in 2010, bet on it.
He’s an empty suit, and if he rolls, it will be without me. Ed