Amid the freezing cold, tightly-packed crowds and cell phone outages, a number of Arizonans managed to post updates on Twitter this morning during President Barack Obama’s swearing in. The weave of perspectives and insight that came out of the vast crowd is incredible in its own right. Below is a sampling of the messages that Arizonans posted when they could. Visit each person’s Twitter page for a complete accounting of his or her individual experience.
@rgutel: http://twitpic.com/1578f
@rgutel: No words.
@rgutel: Jammed at the mall. Everyone is shivering and jumping up and down to keep warm. #inaug09
@rgutel: Traffic is shoulder to shoulder at 7th and independence. Entrance blocked. #inaug09
@melissa12news: We just heard the National Mall is at capacity and is being closed. People are still waiting for buses to get there from RFK stadium.
@terimorris: president obama! need i say more!!!
@jenindc: the trek to the capitol was chilly and dangerous. i was prepared for the cold but not the literal crush of the crowd. #inaug09
@jenindc: memorable moment #inaug09: the woman next to me looked up at a man passing and said, “we did it.” he nodded and whispered back, “we did it.”
@jenindc: memorable moment: crowd roaring “na na na na , goodbye” when bush came out. #inaug09. people still singing it in the food hall.
@samuelisaac: People are booing Bush. Not too classy. Got to be a rough day for him and Laura… #inaug09
@samuelisaac: Motorcade approaching. Bush, Biden, or Obama? All three still haven’t showed up to the #inaug09 yet
@samuelisaac: Marine band playing Stars and Stripes Forever. So many people here! The jumbotrons just showed a picture of the Mall. Awestruck.
@potentiate: I got tears at one point during Obama speech. We were all silent except when cheering.
@potentiate: Coolest part of whole ceremony was seeing 100s of thousands of flags waving in unison. Awe-inspiring.
@potentiate: We’re counting down the minutes to the end of Bush
@potentiate: All the stars and dignitaries out. Waiting for Obama. Loud cheers at his car.