Way Too Early

As I write this, I have been up for 15 hours. Today has been an amazing day and I'll try to present it as completely as possible so you can see just how awesome it's been.

My morning started at 3:10 when I somehow managed to wake up after missing my alarm at 2:30. My favorite MSNBC program, Morning Joe, sometimes travels to different cities where important political events are happening - such as an inauguration. Today and tomorrow, Morning Joe broadcasted from a pub called The Dubliner near Union Station. They go live with a half hour program called Way Too Early, a primer of sorts for the ensuing 3 hour morning political show. This all starts at 5:30am and goes through 9am. They let us in the door a little after 5. I got there around 3:45ish. I was twelfth in line at that point. Behind me, over the next 75 minutes, about 200 people formed up behind me. I got to sit at a table for 4 with three other great people. We didn't have a fantastic view of the show, but they like to move around a lot, so we ended up on Way Too Early a couple of times and on Morning Joe a time or two. I was looking at a monitor to see when, which was really weird. I got to see some of the heavy-weights of our day; Colin Powell, Tom Brokaw, Martin O'Malley, David Gregory, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Tim Kaine, etc...The show is hosted by former Florida Congressman Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski; contributing Time Editor Jon Meacham and analyst Mike Barnicle often serve as guest hosts and they were there this morning too. I was star struck, it was amazing. Here are some pictures:

Bill Karins...a meteorologist, hosting Way Too Early

Bill Karins and Lewis Burgdorf

Mika!

I was sitting right next to the action...the parents being interviewed were joined by their son - the bartender - on live tv

Doris Kearns Goodwin

David Axelrod

A blank teleprompter is always good

Martin O'Malley and David Axelrod...the backs of their heads

Sen. Tim Kaine

Joe Scarborough

Tom Brokaw

On my way out I stumbled on the Today Show's satellite set near the Capitol; this is Pete Williams

and this is Al Roker

This all happened pretty much before sunrise, I left at about 8:30ish, along with most of the rest of the restaurant so the people standing outside could be seated for the last half of the show. I soon made my way to the Inauguration party UConn in DC's mentor - Jasper Thomson was hosting at his office. This office is incredible, and it's right along the parade route. I had the opportunity to meet some great people, some incredibly smart people. Most of them were lobbyists, and former staffers from the Hill. It was interesting getting the scoop on some of the politicians I thought I knew about.

first of many SUV's

first of 3 "beasts" the POTUS could ride in

The Capitol from the roof of Jasper's office

Not the President's motorcade..but they were moving really fast

These are the kinds of guys you don't mess with

two ambulances, one for the President, one for the Vice President

A secret service agent trying to act casual

the glare of the sun was pretty bad, and I could only cut through so much, so for what it's worth, this limo is carrying the President of the United States

Secret Service ride-alongs, right behind the POTUS

Over all, this was an incredible day. I can't say that I ever envisioned it...even though I knew I was going to be in DC and all. All this has happened in less than 2 weeks; there is so much left to come.

"Our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it." —President Barack Obama, during his second inaugural address.

There were many quotes from his address. I think in the big scheme of things, it was a good speech that people will remember. Those who tell you otherwise are full of themselves; speeches are remembered by specific people in general. Many of the best speeches aren't remembered in part or in whole by most. Lincoln's second inaugural address was incredible, but I bet you can't recite a word of it. I can't. You probably remember bits and pieces of the Gettysburg Address. Most people remember "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" from JFK. You'll also remember "all we have to fear is fear itself" by FDR. Speechwriters - including aspiring ones such as myself - will remember the entirety of these speeches, and many more, including Teddy Kennedy's concession speech at the Democratic National Convention against Jimmy Carter in 1980, "For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." I think that's one of the best lines in speech writing, ever.

Stay Tuned....