Sure, if you go to the Inaugural Ball you get to watch Jennifer Hudson sing "Let's Stay Together" while the Obamas dance. But based on the dispatches from intrepid reporters at Obama's Inaugural Ball, those of us who were stuck at home should consider ourselves lucky; the conditions there sound atrocious — squalid, even. For starters, the food: the available snacks include "Cheez-Its crackers and stale pretzels." The horror.
And what if you get thirsty after consuming such mediocre snacks? Tough shit – the lines for drinks are practically miles long. The same Buzzfeed post notes "the lines for drinks in the cavernous main space go dozens deep," a report which the New York Observer's Hunter Walker confirms.
I have been in line for drink tickets for about five minutes and I'm not even halfway through. They better be doing seriously stiff pouts
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) January 22, 2013
It took a total of 13 minutes to get a drink in my hand at the Inaugural Ball. This administration is failing me.
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) January 22, 2013
And if you're not waiting in line for your drink, then you're busy having a drink spilled on you.
. @katienotopoulos just spilled wine all over me. This inaugural ball is getting out of hand.
— McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) January 22, 2013
On top of all that, there have been reports of near stampedes. Of course, as Buzzfeed notes, this is all standard fare for Inaugural Balls:
The paltry food and drink offerings are in line with previous inaugurals, and are seen by many attendees as a small price to pay for a glimpse of the President and First Lady.
But really, is a glimpse of anyone worth such terrible conditions? Even the first lady, in her Jason Wu dress?
[images via @mateagold, AP]