Republicans Flee DC Ahead of Inauguration

The Obama inauguration is looking like a good time for Republicans to abandon DC, reports Politico. Depressed by the reminder of their defeat, and often newly unemployed, they're renting their houses to visiting Democrats and heading to Vegas or Europe. Says a former John McCain flack, “I will also be witnessing an historic ceremony—it’ll just have beach weather, cocktails, and no gift ban.”

After Bill Clinton’s 1992 and 1996 victories, GOP feel-bad fests sprung up (“Mourning in America: A Thousand Pints of Lite”). Though no repeats are scheduled this year, some consider sticking around just good business. “I’ll be in town, going to events, taking care of clients,” says one Republican lobbyist. Says another, who's going skiing: "As a lobbyist, I thought a neutral country like Switzerland would be appropriate."
(More inauguration stories.)