Do I need to lower the bar a bit with this Administration??

Not the administration Ron, just the people who attended and now think the world, and the National Park, are their oyster/garbage can. It is, as I mentioned on another blog, the mind set of today's people. Throw away society and it doesn't matter where you throw it. It should be a common sense issue, bring it in..........haul it out.

Hubby and I are the same as you, when we went camping for a week, we hauled out what we hauled in. After we left the area, you would never know anyone had ever been there. We even cleaned up messes left behind by others - it's all in the raising.

Before I get on any kind of horse about this, I want to know: what did the place look like after Bush? Or Clinton?

Is this just sensationalist sour grapes from people who do not like Obama, or his supporters, or his proposed environmental policies? Or was the place left in much better condition by previous inauguration crowds? We know about the trash can issue, so that will be a different variable. But was this event, because of its historic significance, simply more scrutinized?

Personally, I would be sure to take with me whatever I brought, if I couldn't find a trash can. I was brought up that way. But that doesn't factor into comparing different events that I didn't attend.

Right on!  You pack it in, you pack it out!  To bad we can't remove the rest of the trash in Washington for four years.

We did, getalife.  That's what the inauguration was all about.  At least the beginnings of the cleanup job.

Is this just sensationalist sour grapes

Yep.

I think there was probably seven times the garbage left by the Obama crowd than the Bush 43 crowd in 2000. Why do I think so? Because there were seven times the number of people present - another record for Obama. (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwi...

I know this is going to be hard for the right to get used to, but this is what a truly popular government looks like. Democracy is, indeed, a messy business.

The nice thing about this post is that the right seems to have finally accepted the pro-environment values professed by the left for half a century now.

Congratulations on your move to the left, ronmexico.

this is what a truly popular government looks like.

YUP DS you are correct.................trash.

right seems to have finally accepted the pro-environment values professed by the left for half a century now.

If that nasty mess is "pro-environment values" then I'm glad to be an Independent.

Has absolutely nothing to do with right or left, it has to do with common sense and a sense of what is correct or incorrect behaviour.

Handwarmers, gloves, bottles, chicken bones,  blankets, Obama hats, Obama bags, Obama socks,  sleeping bags, tables, pop up tents, watermelon rinds, candy wrappers, protien bars, etc, etc.....

Seriously? I really doubt the existence of watermelon rinds in January in below freezing weather. 

 I think that was pretty tacky to say.

Those tickertape parades they used to hold generated a fair amount of garbage, too.

Has absolutely nothing to do with right or left, it has to do with common sense and a sense of what is correct or incorrect behaviour.

I'm proud to say I've never been to a NASCAR event, but I expect they look even worse afterwards.

jumping to conclusions too RF???  wow......

Extrapolating from the general Bakersfield crowd.  They seem the type.

crowds leave garbage, wp. you know that. I know that. trying to paint this as something like an anti-environmental lifestyle is a lie to history. If that's all you have left to make yourself comfortable with this transformative moment, that's really sad. I hope you find a more constructive  way to incorporate your core values into the emerging reality.

Well I guess you can say that we are keeping people working,

Why is it, DS, that when you don't actually have an answer to a comment you, and others, resort to personal comments that are not necessary?

There was/is no excuse for transforming a beautiful area into a trash can just because you can or because you know someone else will clean it up - NASCAR/football/baseball stadiums seem to be excluded (not by me, by others) but then they are not monuments are they. I find it equally disgusting for people to leave their trash under their seats in a movie theater. Just plain lazy arses. 

I must admit I get a kick out of the right getting back at all us Bush bashers. We talked about weapons of mass destruction, torture, and ignoring the Constitution, they talk about a post party mess. LOL

ANTI: my comments have absolutely nothing to do with right/left or middle. It has to with common courtesy and pride for our country and the monuments. No such pride was shown.

"Because most trash cans had been removed for security reasons and a record-breaking crowd gathered downtown, the mountain of rubbish left behind was of historic proportions." 

I guess Ron doesn't read beyond the headlines.

I did get a big laugh from the "executive paperwork" and Obama toilet paper. Liberals I know have always used the closest Bush in the woods.

As always, Ron, thanks for the laughs.

"People left behind a lot of trash. A lot of it was the vendors along the parade route, too."

"People left so many of their personal effects. Blankets, sleeping bags," Lyons said. "Then the places where the vendors were, some of them just left their tables behind."

The detritus included handwarmer packets, bottles, food, newspapers, blankets, gloves, coolers and a table or two, in addition to items bought from street vendors. (odd that the article didn't mention the intentionally racist items that were edited into the post by ronmexico. On second thought, no it's not that odd.)

detritus - Now there's a word you'd never see in the Bakersfield Californian.

Oh I'm not pointing the finger at you Witters. I get just as pissed when I see people throwing crap out of their cars, or leaving baby diapers in the parking lot.

But I think there were some pretty natural reasons for the mess. One, we're talking about MILLIONS of people. Two, I don't believe there were any trash cans for security reasons. And three, once a mess starts, a mob mentality begins and people start thinking "Hey, it's already a mess". I think the cleanup crew knew what was coming.

 OK.  Ron, I like your question. 

But I just want to see if I have this straight here.  Garbage cans were removed because of security considerations.  I can certainly understand that.  Some kook could throw a bomb or grenade in (or near) a garbage can and really do some damage.  And we certainly would not want any such tragedy on the day of inauguration.  Or any other day, actually.  Be that as it may ......

Here's where my question comes in:  How many portable potties were there?  If a bomb can be left in a garbage can, could it ......  no, no, I don't suppose anybody would ever dream of putting a bomb in a ........ oh, mercy, can you imagine the trash they'd have to clean up then!

At least all those people didn't have to traipse all the way to a national park to do whatever it was they were doing in a portable potty.  Thank goodness for that!

But I think there were some pretty natural reasons for the mess. (True.. Take a look at the demographics of the attendees.) One, we're talking about MILLIONS of people. Two, I don't believe there were any trash cans for security reasons.  (Wrong, there were trash cans.  Plus there were the millions of people who brought the stuff in with them that could have packed it out)   And three, once a mess starts, a mob mentality begins and people start thinking "Hey, it's already a mess".   (Hmmm.  Well hey, this country is already a mess, so I'll just mess it up more.  Is this the mentality of Obamabots?)

"We must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America".  BHO

FAIL!!!!!!!!

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility."

Fail!!!!!!!

Just think if each person who attended BHO's accendance to the throne had simply picked up one article of garbage and taken it home?  Isn't that what BO means when he is talking about a new era of responsibility?? Or is he talking to someone else?

And to those that have been excusing this behavior..

EPIC FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Hey, Ron, I'm on your side.  Really I am.  I agree with you that some people there must have been absolute pigs.  The mental picture I had made it worthwhile to comment the way I did, though.  And I had understood that garbage cans had been removed.  So I'm wrong about that, which makes the pigs that left the place looking like a pigsty even bigger pigs. 

When I was a very little girl, my mother taught me that a gum wrapper went inside a pocket or her purse.  Gum wrappers were NOT under any circumstances to be thrown on the ground  -- any more than I would throw the thing on the floor at home.  I remember being out shopping with her once (and remember, I was very small), I dropped some paper on the ground, and she made me go back and pick it up.  So that's the mentality that's lacking in the mob of pigs that apparently created so much rubbish in the nation's capital.  And not all the rubbish was just rubbish, either. 

ALICEN:   I remember being out shopping with her once (and remember, I was very small), I dropped some paper on the ground, and she made me go back and pick it up. 

WOW! that is almost the exact same sentance I posted on another blog!! way cool :-)  even my chewing gum went in a kleenex and into my moms purse if there was no trash can nearby!!

See people.................some kids are just raised right!!!!

witters:  you're exactly right.  And I brought my daughter up the same way.  "Garbage" and rubbish and trash were simply disposed of properly.  We would no more leave trash around on the ground any more than we would on the floor at home.  It's a matter of courtesy and good manners and -- something that's just SO tacky today -- good breeding.  (Younger people probably think that has something to do with farm animals!  I guess in some cases it does!)

This was a Presidential Inauguration, not Lollapalooza. I'm surprised that there wasn't a more concerted effort to manage the litter. If receptacles were removed for security concerns, then large dumpsters manned by officials should have been available. After all, isn't it true that any possible threat to the ceremonies could happen with or without a trash can? Please.

Maybe those in charge of the events should have studied up on protocol at Disneyland for a few days. They could have learned a thing or two about crowd and litter control.

wouldnt help vanity..consider the source

Vanity...

Why are people throwing away gloves, hats, blankets, sleeping bags??  I can understand to some extent paper items, but why clothing??

ronmexico, what are you talking about? I never wrote anything about clothing. 

(edited ... took out wth)

This wasn't your normal Lollapolluza in a National Park.  I can see a few wrappers here, a few scraps of food here.  But hats, gloves, jackets, blankets, sleeping bags, chevy novas, collard greens.  Come on.  Did you look at the picture?  This was blatant disregard for the environment.

Ling.

Is it too much to ask for yall to clean up after you have a party and not dump 130 tons of garbage in my National Park? Is is too much to ask you neighbor, in this new era of responsibility to pick up that bucket of KFC and take it home and throw it in the trash or your front yard, whichever meathod of disposal you use at home?

I thought this was the era of responsibility??  Is it too much to ask Timmy Turbotax to pay his fuching taxes???  Is it too much to ask the Democratic front runner for the Senate in NY to pay her fuching taxes, and quit hiring illegals?   Thats all I'm asking.  Or is this era of shared responsibility just for the Republicans?? I don't think it was 3 million republicans that Barry was talking to on Tuesday. 

I think we are doomed if the ones who voted for Obama don't pick themselves of the ground, dust themselves off, and make this country better.  I think this country is doomed if the ones who voted for Obama don't think they have any responsibility towards this country, like cleaning it up and paying their fair share of taxes.  Huh??

Ron:  Clean-up, like charity, I guess, begins at home. 

Off-topic now:  But how far should charity go?  When the government decides how much you should distribute -- oh, I meant contribute -- towards the welfare (a/k/a nanny) state, that, to me, is too far. 

And just so I can say this is not completely off-topic, let's remind ourselves whose taxes were used for the clean-up.  It wouldn't have cost as much if there were not so many pigs in attendance, pigs being described here as persons who could not pick up after themselves. 

I gotta admit..That was ALOT of garbage...

Alice, that's a good point about the portapotties.

You were right Ron, there were trashcans, just not enough.  http://www.youtube.com/watc...

And not everyone was a pig       &nbs p;http://www.youtube.com/watc...    

Ron....demographics? Are you trying to say black folks are all litterers? That's pretty harsh for a guy whose tag name was taken from a black QB who is in jail for fighting dogs. LOL

I gotta admit..That was ALOT of garbage...

Yep.  An average of almost  1.4 ounces per person. 

Well then, 1.4 ounce per person shouldn't have been a problem to tuck in a pocket.

In fact, I keep just such pockets handy for carrying tables around.

This discussion is incredibly inane. I would love to point out how the chest-thumping, new-found love of "my National Park" is just a foil to get some Obama supporters upset, but I'm sure it's quite obvious to everyone by now. The Obama detractors who are backing ronmexico's racist bait should be ashamed. That they seem not to be, that they are ready to follow this tripe just as they are ready to support the tripe posted by others (cough jazman cough) is evidence only that they have run out of things to talk about. I take this as a good sign.

Obama and his supporters, in the meantime, are engaging once again in real bipartisan politics even as I write this - see this for example http://www.foxnews.com/poli... That's right! Fox News has even got on board. Bill O'Reilly is defending Obama on his show and Republicans in both houses today praised the new president for his efforts to include them in the construction of a stimulus plan.

And what are we doing here on bako.com? Inventing arguments over garbage and doing our best to make it a race bait issue.

Again, let me say it: thank God Conservatives have finally seen the value of environmentalism and feminism (remember the 'defense' of Palin). 

Please keep watching as the Liberals of this country continue to educate our Conservative brothers and sisters, who will clearly be kicking and screaming every step of the way. Thank God also that the outcome, at this point, seems clear: the best ideas and 'our better angels' will, in the end, win the day.

Oh DS, I can't thank you enough for educating poor lil ole me along with all the other ignernt conservatives.  It's so good of you to take the time out of your day to better us all.

In case you hadn't noticed, probably 3/4ths of the discussions on blogs are inane but again, so kind of you to point out how inane we are to discuss inane topics.

Other than pointing out the error of our ways, what are YOU doing on them?

You're welcome, NancyII.

I'm here trying to raise the level of the discussion. That's part of education.

Remember, the teacher in a classroom of children is not him or herself a child.

Not sure why you opened this door, but there it is. Easy response. Now shall we try to discuss something of importance?

RF, you're the one who broke it down to tiny ounces..not me.  :-)

(to no one in particular)  Just as a curious (inane) question.  Any idea how many of those millions on the mall were conservatives?

DS, now why would we do that?

RF, you're the one who broke it down to tiny ounces..not me.

To show that if one person tossed something weighing two pounds (like a kid who left a jacket behind) it "implicates" what, twenty people or so?   I tried to find information on the trash pickup at the 2004 inaugural but didn't see much.  (For what it's worth, I can't seem to find attendance figures either.)  I suspect that pound-for-person the two are roughly equivalent, just as the overall costs of the two inaugurations themselves (accounting for a bit of inflation) were about the same.

How many of the people who leave such a mess every year at College Park on July 4 are conservatives?  I used to live right next door.  My parents raised me to be a liberal *AND* to pick up the litter.

RF, you're the one who broke it down to tiny ounces..not me.

To show that if one person tossed something weighing two pounds (like a kid who left a jacket behind) it "implicates" what, twenty people or so?   I tried to find information on the trash pickup at the 2004 inaugural but didn't see much.  (For what it's worth, I can't seem to find attendance figures either.)  I suspect that pound-for-person the two are roughly equivalent, just as the overall costs of the two inaugurations themselves (accounting for a bit of inflation) were about the same.

How many of the people who leave such a mess every year at College Park on July 4 are conservatives?  I used to live right next door.  My parents raised me to be a liberal *AND* to pick up the litter.

DS said: Please keep watching as the Liberals of this country continue to educate our Conservative brothers and sisters, who will clearly be kicking and screaming every step of the way. Thank God also that the outcome, at this point, seems clear: the best ideas and 'our better angels' will, in the end, win the day.

The kind of education you are speaking to will bring this country to its collective knees. Kicking and screaming? You bet Mr. All the way to hell if you and your liberal cohorts have their way. You are right in one respect DS, the outcome is very clear............total government control over our personal lives.  Your 'dark' angels will, in the end, NOT win as those of us who truly love this country will fight to the death (if need be) to keep this country free. NOT government controlled.

I've been to an international outdoor and stadium motocross supercross (actually more than a few) a buncha fairs, a goat ropin', hundreds of rodeos, and other events.  I am VERY aware that there is litter left behind and that cleanup crews  have a huge job.  People, when not at home, know there are  cleanup crews and develop a what the hell attitude.  Personally I never expected people to leave a clean area behind after such a huge event and people ARE going to bring it up.

The fact that it was primarily a Democrat event (not to say solely but primarily) what would you like to hear..conservatives left a mess?

Jesus, if you people don't want to hear other peoples opinions why do you bother with blogs?  Why don't you start your own blog and talk to yourself?

WP: I'm glad you have been able to outline your fears. It will be easy, from here out, to help you realize that these reactionary nightmares will not, in fact, take place. I think you've made great progress in identifying the problem.

NancyII: primarily, in my case, because of the racist bait found throughout ronmexico's posts. You had noticed them, hadn't you?

btw, you are using several of the most popular Conservative responses here. You had noticed that as well, hadn't you? If not, I'll be glad to help here as well.

What I would like to hear is that the country has bigger problems to be concerned about than the fact that 3 million people at an outdoor event left behind 1.4 ounces of trash each. 

Just wondering--if the event organizers had decided to provide more trash cans despite the apparent security risk, and every single piece of litter was deposited in said trash cans, would *LESS* trash have been left behind, or more?   

And I'd like to know how much of the trash consisted of straws that conservatives have firmly grasped at in order to find something--anything--to complain about.

But RF, the conservatives weren't there in droves.

I'll repeat what I've said before.  Not everyone wants to discuss the same thing every single time they log on.  Some people use blogs for entertainment, to vent, to spread news and to share thoughts.    If massive amounts of trash bother some folks then they have a right to say so.  If you think it's pointless or, like DS, inane, then my suggestion is to just pass that blog by.  That way you won't be annoyed.   Just click on the blog topic you feel are important.

Not a difficult thing to do.

Why insult people because they don't think as you do or want to talk about all the heavy pressing things some do?

NancyII: that was a variant of Conservative Response Number 3: "I can't believe you're still arguing! I'm just having so much fun watching you still arguing!"

Earlier we had Number 6: "bait, bait, bait", Number 8: "That is so offensive! (for reasons historically argued by Liberals).", Number 9: "HIstory in my opinion says...", Number 1: "They're all like that..." all from ronmexico, who is having a heck of a time keeping his tongue in his mouth this morning.

From you we have the earlier-mentioned Number 3, and also Number 2: "Because of a Judeo-Christian, Patriotic, red-blooded 'real' American, spoken with a down-home flavor...", and Number 4: "You're an idiot/fool/moron/outsider/predictable/group-think ing/naive... (a.k.a. 'hate, hate, hate')", Number 10 "I knew a guy...".

All in all, the only thing our Conservative brothers and sisters have failed to unsheath this morning is Number 7: "(ignore the data) I'm rubber, you're glue."

But if we can get just one drill, drill, drill comment from someone, we will have a perfect storm here.

Any takers?

DS, I 'm so very sorry, your listing and jibberish made no sense to me so I shined it on.  I'm glad to know you're still keeping track of your list even though no one else has a clue what you're talking about.

There's been a few movies made about people with disorders like yours....check netflix.

Not fears DS..............reality check.