Reuters.com is syndicating a January 7 Hollywood Reporter story informing the world that "HBO lands rights to inaugural ceremony," but this raises the question; why are parts of the inauguration being auctioned to the highest bidder for exclusive coverage? Shouldn't all of the inaugural festivities be available to every American and not relegated just for the TV network that has the most cash? Why is this vaunted man of the people allowing exclusive coverage of his big day to go to a station not available to all Americans equally?
It makes one wonder if the Democrat's claims of being interested in equality and fairness is all but hot air when the money is hitting the table?
HBO is claiming that they will offer the program for free, not pay-per-view, and that it will be broadcast to folks without the HBO channel on their cable service. But it will still be just on cable. Naturally, for those without cable at all, well, these people are out of luck. So much for Obama's big day being for ALL the people. I guess it's only for those with cable.
The story informs us that in 1993, HBO paid out $1.5 million for the rights to the exclusive coverage of Bill Clinton's kickoff from the Lincoln Memorial. HBO did not disclose how much they are paying for the Obama inaugural, but the money will go to the Obama Inaugural Committee. Apparently, even though Barack Obama raised millions upon millions for his campaign and had millions left over, he has found he needs more for his big party day and HBO comes to the rescue.
His avarice for campaign contributions makes one fear for one's wallet re taxes, doesn't it?
The Hollywood Reporter story goes on to detail all the TV coverage that Obama will receive for his inauguration and it is definitely extensive. It seems every channel is planning all sorts of coverage of the parts of the inauguration that HBO is not freezing them out of.
I know you will all be shocked, but the TV folks haven't scheduled this much TV coverage for an inauguration since Clinton was Inaugurated in 1993. I know, shocking, isn't it? Imagine that? TV hasn't been this excited about a presidential inauguration since Bill Clinton!
In case you wondered, I am rolling my eyes as I type.
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Warner, who gets the HBO
January 7, 2009 - 11:26 ET by Hunter12Warner, who gets the HBO money? Is it going into the treasury or Obama's pocket?
edit: Nevermind, I see it now. How can the American people be excluded from a public event?
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Warner, who gets the HBO
January 7, 2009 - 11:28 ET by Dan The Man 2Warner, who gets the HBO money? Is it going into the treasury or Obama's pocket?
I ask is there a difference? Remember the ONE makes the rules and rules the people. We are not amused.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Good point, but treasury
January 7, 2009 - 12:02 ET by Hunter12Good point, but treasury money should have some sort of audit trail on it. The money coming out of his pocket will be harder to trace. I'm predicting Obama will be the first president with a personal PAC.
Another prediction, anyone remember the ex-President who wouldn't leave? Clinton couldn't seem to let go. He hung around Andrews for 3 or 4 hours before he left DC. I'm predicting President Bush will be gone in less than an hour, not that anyone will be covering it.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Right you are
January 7, 2009 - 12:08 ET by BlondeI'm recalling this from my many visits to the Truman Library.
When Truman left, there was no Secret Service escort...he and Bess went to the train station alone. There was no send-off at all.
There was a home-town welcoming committee in Independence, then Harry & Bess got in their car and drove home.
I've never been to any other presidential library....but the Truman Library is very cool....it has that 50's feel to it, what was amazing to me is that President Truman was a prolific writer, he wrote to Bess almost every day....a true love story, too.
The Truman home is also a wonderful visit, just the way the Truman's left it (holes in the linoleum in the kitchen and all).
Oh well I don't have cable
January 7, 2009 - 11:28 ET by taterOh well I don't have cable and I'm wouldn't be watching it if I did. I'm sure ABC, NBC, CBS will all tell me how to feel once Obama is swarn in and will have all the highlights on for the next few weeks.
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
Too bad. MSNBC has
January 7, 2009 - 13:38 ET by kgToo bad.
MSNBC has announced "All Day Coverage". And they aren't even paying Obama for it.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Typical Obama: show me the money
January 7, 2009 - 11:45 ET by SickofLibsA lot of prisons do not have cable TV, so we may be seeing some mini-Atticas uprisings.
(I saw where MSNBC's slobberfest coverage will be anchored by, surprise!, the unholy triumvirate of Olbermann, Maddow and Matthews. That should be mandatory watching.)
That should be mandatory watching
January 7, 2009 - 13:10 ET by Prester JohnCan I shoot myself instead?
Highest bidder?
January 7, 2009 - 11:49 ET by szampIt's funny when these marxists practice a little bit of capitalism. According to their theories, everything should be broadcasted for free.
Waiting for the federal HBO
January 7, 2009 - 11:51 ET by sublight68Waiting for the federal HBO subscription voucher program.
Free?
January 7, 2009 - 12:35 ET by DragonsbreathI see some people are still under the illusion this is a free country run for the people...
And on that topic I saw this also..
https://donate.pic20...
The compliance is the real kicker to it..
“We Americans were d@mn tired of being thought of as dumb, by the rest of the world. So we went to
the polls in November and removed all doubt.”
As if "Ears" didn't have enough money...
January 7, 2009 - 12:08 ET by Mary Louise TurnerIt's bad enough that "Ears" had a $750 million war chest for last year's campaign (by the way, what happened to that money?). Now his pockets will be lined again, this time by another fawning media outlet, Time Warner. And this guy thinks he's for the "little guy"? Ha ha ha!
Question
January 7, 2009 - 12:50 ET by UtherpendHow does an elected offical have the right to make money off a public event that is funded by the federal government? If you state what federal funding, then count the number of security personel and equipement PEBO will be using at this shindig.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you."
1993
January 7, 2009 - 13:32 ET by MichelleCI remember the day of Clinton's inauguration we had one of the nastiest wind storms in Pacific Northwest history. Our power went out and I was spared the torture (not that I want that happening this time!) I think I'll be watching a DVD or two during all this and depend on my favorite Newsbusters to fill me in later.
Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July. Democrats believe every day is April 15th ~ Ronald Reagan
I remember that
January 7, 2009 - 17:35 ET by UndercoverConservativeI watched seagulls grounded in that park on the south end of Lake Washington. One got out of the lee of a stone they were behind to try to move up to another group-got blown backwards and had to walk back to his starting place. I drove around Lake Washington that night, pitch darkness everywhere. I went down one street, there was a tree across it-reversed course and there was a tree across that...and there were no intersections in between...must've mistaken someone's driveway as an intersection or something, so had to use someone's yard to get out:P
On the plus side, tho sadly it was my day off, the Radio Shack i worked at made a killing in batteries and flashlights..:)
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same"
Marxists make up
January 7, 2009 - 13:36 ET by Delsareasons for taking money and capitalism has nothing to do with it.
Capitalism would have something to do with anything but government and the political class.
WE are the worker bees and serve our political masters.The Master will have everything we the worker bees are not allowed to have.
SUV's, $, nice homes with air-conditioning and heat provided by OIL or NATURAL GAS!
We will not be able to afford the things the political class and MSM have but we will die working to provide it for them.
F'em all
Prisons don't have cable?
January 7, 2009 - 13:46 ET by DelsaOh yes they do.
Every channel will have the party and the event.
I am renting boxes of movies and will NOT watch this event.
One woman I spoke with yesterday was gushing to her child and me about what an historical event this was. I responded, Historical in more ways than one.
She was referring to Color, first black pres.
I suggested that was nice but I had no intention of jumping for joy for the FIRST MARXIST PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
She looked shocked. Duh, she voted for him and had no idea what I was talking about.
Watch this tragdy? Not on your life!
The immaculate inauguration----
January 7, 2009 - 15:58 ET by Roscoe MendagoWho's watching the Messiah's inauguration, not me!! Usually when you watch something like that is to get a warm, fuzzy feeling of [hope and change], but that's not gonna happen. Things are only going to get worse but it will be hopefully a lesson well learned.
Did anyone ask Obama a tough question???Could be if any tough questions were asked the next 4yrs would have been averted.
The guy is gonna get us all killed!!!!
liberal frugality
January 7, 2009 - 16:03 ET by katainkentnever pay for anything if you can get someone else to do it for you.
and no. I would sooner drop my computer/television off the deck into the lake than watch the coronation.
"part of what I'm hoping to introduce as the next president is a new ethic of [government enforced] responsibility" - B. Obama
So what's different" the Presidency went to the highest bidder
January 7, 2009 - 17:36 ET by UndercoverConservativeso why should the Inauguration Ceremonies be any different?
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same"