Wake Me Up When the Coronation is Over

Related: http://bellalu0.wordpress.com/2009/01/17/media-slants-and-manipulates/


© Janet Crain

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A Fist Full of Dollars Guarantees TV Access to President Elect Obama

I really don't see how this is legal. But I guess enough lawyers can make anything legal. JC

Inaugural Panel Sells Exclusive TV Rights
$5 Million From Deals Questioned

Barack Obama's inaugural organizing committee has struck deals with three television networks to the tune of more than $5 million, giving the networks exclusive access to inaugural events. But the arrangement is prompting questions about the president-elect's efforts to raise money by turning his inauguration into made-for-TV productions.
All told, Obama's licensing of inaugural events to TV is the most ambitious and expensive in presidential history. Bill Clinton's committee licensed events to HBO and CBS during his first inauguration in 1993, but other presidential committees have generally shied away from selling exclusive rights to official events.
For $2.5 million, HBO purchased the rights to air Sunday's all-star kickoff concert at the Lincoln Memorial, which Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will attend. The concert, featuring the musical stylings of Beyoncé, U2, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder, among others, will be available on television only to those who receive HBO and to households that receive digital cable. In the Washington area, between 60 and 75 percent of cable subscribers will be able to see the concert on cable systems owned by Comcast and Cox Communications.
Walt Disney Co. has paid $2 million to the committee for two programs that will air on its Disney Channel and on its ABC network. The Disney Channel will televise a children's concert Monday night at Verizon Center. Hosted by Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the event will feature singers Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovoto, all of whom are Disney Channel stars. Disney will be the only network permitted to carry the concert live.
ABC will carry the "Neighborhood Inaugural Ball," the first of 10 official balls, next Tuesday. The highlight of the program at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center is likely to be Obama's first official speech of the evening and the Obamas' first dance as president and first lady. The ABC program will carry commercial breaks, meaning the network may be able to turn a profit on the event.



© Janet Crain

Click here to view all recent Sarah Palin in 2012 posts

Ladies and Gentlemen; May I present Mr. and Mrs. Barack Obama

Oddly Enough

News, but not the serious kind

January 12th, 2009

Where’s Obama’s Obama outfit?

Blog Guy, I’m very worried about security for Inauguration Day. With those huge crowds, how will they keep track of the Obamas?

All the Obamas are wearing super-sophisticated computer laser holographic microchip high-security credentials from now through Inauguration Day, as you can see in these photos.

Super-sophisticated? I could print out those signs on my Hewlett Packard!

Is that right? Then you can expect a Secret Service visit, Mr. Smarty-Pants!

Whatever. Is it just me, or do those folks not look much like the Obamas I remember?

Well, they’re not still wearing the fancy Hollywood make-up they wore during the campaign, of course. You think they’re gonna keep spending two hours every day getting made up?

So, we’ll never see that ultra-glamorous Obama couple again?

Sure you will. Come back in 2012.

Cont.

http://blogs.reuters.com/oddly-enough/2009/01/12/wheres-obamas-make-up-guy/


© Janet Crain

Click here to view all recent Sarah Palin in 2012 posts

Help Obama Write His Speech or Just Have Fun Messing Around with This

A Message to Slate Readers

If you've ever wanted to be a presidential speechwriter, now's your chance: Go to the address below to collaborate with Washington, Lincoln, JFK—as well as other Slate readers—to write this year’s Inaugural Address.

http://www.mixedink.com/Slate/InauguralAddress/

Created in partnership with MixedInk, here's how this feature works: When you click on the link, you will be taken to a site where, once you register, you can start writing your own speech. But you won't be writing alone. As you compose, MixedInk's technology will search for similar words and turns of phrase from all 55 previous inaugural addresses, as well as contributions from other users, and tell you if anyone has had similar thoughts. You can then incorporate these into your own speech
(or decide to stick with your own words). You'll also be able to search for useful snippets of text yourself. The technology keeps track of authorship, and when you're done, you can share your speech with others, who can then borrow (or ignore) your handiwork as they see fit. They can also rate your speech and comment on it.

At the end of this process, which will last about two weeks, Slate will publish the speech with the highest rating. (We may publish a few interim versions as well.) Maybe it will be the one you wrote—with a little help from Jefferson, Madison, and FDR. And maybe President-elect Obama will decide to borrow from your speech—at least that part where you quote Lincoln—when he delivers his Inaugural Address on Jan. 20.

http://www.mixedink.com/Slate/InauguralAddress/





© Janet Crain

Click here to view all recent Sarah Palin in 2012 posts

Media Will Just Have to Suck it Up and Wait

Angst on PBS Over Too-Long Wait for Obama's Inauguration
In the midst of a discussion about President-elect Barack Obama's national security team, Washington Week host Gwen Ifill on Friday night's program sought confirmation for her theory that "what people are beginning to say is that this President-elect should be President now" as "people are saying why isn't Barack Obama leading the fight about the auto-makers?" New York Times reporter Peter Baker agreed: "That's right, exactly." He proceeded to fret over how "people voted for change and this strange, odd 77-day waiting period that we impose...between our election and our inauguration" just isn't compatible with the "hyperactive 24/7 fast-moving culture that we have today." Baker admired how "Obama is trying to find some balance between respecting President Bush," whom Baker conceded is "still in charge," and "finding a way to assert leadership."

Rather: Biggest Crisis Since Pearl Harbor, So Inaugurate Sooner
Appearing on Friday's Morning Joe on MSNBC, former CBS anchor Dan Rather chided President Bush for not doing enough during his lame duck period and argued for moving Inauguration Day up to December 1. And although Rather didn't explain specifically what Bush wasn't doing enough about (The financial crisis? The terrorist incident in India?), he did hyperbolically fret: "But, we're in possibly, possibly the biggest crisis we've been in since December 7, 1941 and maybe since the time of the Civil War." Addressing the past practice of inaugurating presidents in March, Rather lobbied: "Thank heaven, we now swear them in, new Presidents, in January. I'd be in favor of moving it up to December 1st."

Click here to view all recent Sarah Palin in 2012 posts