Inaugurals are a time for celebration for all Americans. We celebrate the peaceful transition between executives and the ability of ordinary citizens to choose our leader, even when our choice doesn’t win. While it is no longer unique, our tradition of citizen governance goes back over 200 years and remains vital and strong, and Americans take pride in it. Events such as inaugurals allow us to do so publicly.
That being said, inaugurals are as to presidencies as weddings are to marriages. Ultimately, outside of the symbolic transfer of power, it’s nothing but a big party — and some parties go on waaaaaaaaaaay too long and get taken waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too seriously. Unfortunately, there’s been no escape, and I for one will be very, very happy when it’s over.
Or will it ever be over? I was watching the AFC Championship game on CBS on Sunday, and noticed that they have a new theme for all of their new show promos. Matt Lewis took a screencap:
Notice the Obama logo for the CBS Eye? Notice the “Yes We Can Monday”? If the entire network plans its success around Obama, what does that have to say about its news division? Unfortunately, nothing we don’t already know.
And I thought Super Bowl hype was bad! I’m actually looking forward to the commercial overkill about something other than Obama. Or … maybe not:
Yet another reason to root for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I’m inauguraled out. HBO had at least one channel of constant coverage all weekend long, and some cable broadcasters matched them minute for minute. ESPN, which one might think would be a haven from politics, kept offering “perspectives” on Obama’s victory. I’ll be doing my best to avoid any more of the fawning and flatulence of today’s events. Maybe by next week, people will have gotten a king-sized grip on themselves and all of this nonsense will have disappeared.
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