Obama Inaugural Celebration on HBO - Page 2

Elspode · 01-18-2009, 05:46 PM

If the event had been paid for with public money, then yes, everyone should have had free access to it. But it *wasn't* public money that produced the event. It was a celebration put on by Obama's team and supporters. Was it significant to everyone in this country? Absolutely. If one of the major free networks was interested in picking up the tab, I hadn't heard about it, but at least HBO gave permission for the event to be shown to anyone who had access to cable/dish.

I would say that it would have been a stroke of genius for Obama's people to have granted the rights to it with the codicil that it be distributed to everyone with a TV, but that might have made it impossible to have the event happen at all in the current economic climate.

I think we can argue that at least two free networks weren't interested...its the AFC/NFC Championships today!

classicman · 01-18-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

If the event had been paid for with public money, then yes, everyone should have had free access to it. But it *wasn't* public money that produced the event.

Oh, so there were no taxpayer dollars involved? in that case nevermind. I still find that very difficult to believe, but ok then. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Elspode · 01-18-2009, 05:54 PM

I'm sure there was much security paid for, yes. However, that would be true no matter *who* got elected or *what* event of such magnitude was being held on The Mall.

I suppose we could all just stay indoors and not do anything. Then we could just shoot anyone seen outside, and we could cut way back on police and such.

classicman · 01-18-2009, 05:56 PM

C'mon Pat - you know thats not what I'm saying!

Trilby · 01-18-2009, 06:18 PM

I think someone is stirring the shit.

Elspode · 01-18-2009, 06:35 PM

Hey...I'm just trying to make the point that it was nice to see people grooving on America and Her prospects for the future. I don't really give a fig *why* they were in that mood.

I'm sure it will come out later that someone did something illegal in all of this in order to make a buck, and there will be a scandal. I'm further certain that the Other Side is trying to find something right now to taint This Side. Hell, there are probably people whose full time jobs are to find dirt on the Other Side. On Both Sides.

In the words sung by Mr Mellencamp this afternoon, "Ain't that America"?

TheMercenary · 01-18-2009, 06:40 PM

Right on splode. Right on.

classicman · 01-18-2009, 06:56 PM

Got ya Pat - I'm sorry that I shit on yer parade. That wasn't my intention.

glatt · 01-18-2009, 07:02 PM

You know classic, I don't have HBO either, but NPR was broadcasting it for free, and you could watch it on HBO's website for free too. I watched it, and have no cable.

capnhowdy · 01-18-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

I suppose we could all just stay indoors and not do anything. Then we could just shoot anyone seen outside, and we could cut way back on police and such.

Got a big belly shaker outa that one, dude!

classicman · 01-18-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

You know classic, I don't have HBO either, but NPR was broadcasting it for free, and you could watch it on HBO's website for free too. I watched it, and have no cable.

Now you tell me - I was watching the Eagles game and wanted to record it.

Undertoad · 01-18-2009, 10:06 PM

I never thought of Mellencamp's "Pink Houses" to be celebratory about America. I always took it like that dumb song "Little Boxes" (you know, "made of ticky-tacky") which Tom Lehrer described as "the most sanctimonious song ever written".

(sanctimonious definition)

Elspode · 01-18-2009, 10:25 PM

It *isn't* celebrating America. It is a tongue in cheek song about the excesses and day to day humdrum of life. Isn't it amazing that, even in a celebration, we are still asked to look at ourselves as the imperfect human beings we are.

That's why I said that he hit it out of the park. I also thought it interesting that Bono extolled freedom for everyone everywhere, ending with exhortations for freedom for Israel...long pause...and for Palestine.

America has warts, and even in a celebration, we are asked to examine them.

TheMercenary · 01-19-2009, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

America has warts, and even in a celebration, we are asked to examine them.

Nothing wrong with that. But I refuse to make a big deal out of an exam of those warts when those telling us to look at ours have tumors growing out of their foreheads that they ignore.

Griff · 01-19-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

You know classic, I don't have HBO either, but NPR was broadcasting it for free, and you could watch it on HBO's website for free too. I watched it, and have no cable.

Shoot, wish I knew that. Although I probably would have opted for many hours of football.

01-18-2009, 05:46 PM	#16
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	If the event had been paid for with public money, then yes, everyone should have had free access to it. But it wasn't public money that produced the event. It was a celebration put on by Obama's team and supporters. Was it significant to everyone in this country? Absolutely. If one of the major free networks was interested in picking up the tab, I hadn't heard about it, but at least HBO gave permission for the event to be shown to anyone who had access to cable/dish. I would say that it would have been a stroke of genius for Obama's people to have granted the rights to it with the codicil that it be distributed to everyone with a TV, but that might have made it impossible to have the event happen at all in the current economic climate. I think we can argue that at least two free networks weren't interested...its the AFC/NFC Championships today! __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

01-18-2009, 05:54 PM	#18
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	I'm sure there was much security paid for, yes. However, that would be true no matter who got elected or what event of such magnitude was being held on The Mall. I suppose we could all just stay indoors and not do anything. Then we could just shoot anyone seen outside, and we could cut way back on police and such. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

01-18-2009, 05:56 PM	#19
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	C'mon Pat - you know thats not what I'm saying! __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

01-18-2009, 06:18 PM	#20
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I think someone is stirring the shit. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

01-18-2009, 06:35 PM	#21
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Hey...I'm just trying to make the point that it was nice to see people grooving on America and Her prospects for the future. I don't really give a fig why they were in that mood. I'm sure it will come out later that someone did something illegal in all of this in order to make a buck, and there will be a scandal. I'm further certain that the Other Side is trying to find something right now to taint This Side. Hell, there are probably people whose full time jobs are to find dirt on the Other Side. On Both Sides. In the words sung by Mr Mellencamp this afternoon, "Ain't that America"? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

01-18-2009, 06:40 PM	#22
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Right on splode. Right on. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

01-18-2009, 06:56 PM	#23
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Got ya Pat - I'm sorry that I shit on yer parade. That wasn't my intention. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

01-18-2009, 07:02 PM	#24
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	You know classic, I don't have HBO either, but NPR was broadcasting it for free, and you could watch it on HBO's website for free too. I watched it, and have no cable.

01-18-2009, 10:06 PM	#27
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I never thought of Mellencamp's "Pink Houses" to be celebratory about America. I always took it like that dumb song "Little Boxes" (you know, "made of ticky-tacky") which Tom Lehrer described as "the most sanctimonious song ever written". (sanctimonious definition)

01-18-2009, 10:25 PM	#28
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	It isn't celebrating America. It is a tongue in cheek song about the excesses and day to day humdrum of life. Isn't it amazing that, even in a celebration, we are still asked to look at ourselves as the imperfect human beings we are. That's why I said that he hit it out of the park. I also thought it interesting that Bono extolled freedom for everyone everywhere, ending with exhortations for freedom for Israel...long pause...and for Palestine. America has warts, and even in a celebration, we are asked to examine them. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

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