I was there as a volunteer for the Presidential Inaugural Team and I'm really surprised that you missed the BIG story about how huge the crowds really were. They shut the gates bout 45 minutes before the start of the show and there were thousands of people still pouring onto the Mall expecting to get into the Opening Ceremony. The National Guard had to come take over my position of directing foot traffic because the crowds were so large. It was insane on Constitution Avenue when the concert started.

The other thing you missed that was really, really important...everyone was happy, filled with JOY and in a great mood - even when they found out the gates were shut, there was no ugliness - as a volunteer I lost count of how many strangers just came up to Thank me and hug me. The feeling of "Unity" was like nothing I have experienced in Washington, DC.