Thread: The concert at the Lincoln Memorial today. Isn't it great!

I am going to start this by saying I was having real hopes that Obama was going to be the start of "change" in America. The concert is to be broadcast on HBO which was sold exclusive rights to the event.

Let's see the American Taxpayers......

1. Own the land that it is being held and is not charging the promoters
2. Are paying for all the police and secret service overtime and wages
3. The president elect can not be view by anyone without HBO

I really only see another politician who promised an administration that would be open and they can't even get public land issues straight in their heads. Amazing! And everyone knows in their hearts that this is not right. I hope he does better in the future, our arses are riding on it!

Later,
Richard

I don't know man– not like Obama probably has ANY say over the schematics of this concert. It is free and open to the public. Whether or not HBO broadcasts it or another station has nothing to do with public land use IMO. Would it be fair for people living without a TV if the concert were on NBC?

"The event will be free and open to the public, kicking off the most open and accessible Inauguration in history. It will be presented exclusively by HBO 7:00-9:00 p.m. ET on an open signal so that Americans across the country with access to cable, telcos or satellite television will be able to join in the Opening Celebration for free."

Obama isn't even President YET lol.

The point is that no other broadcasters are allowed to broadcast it. It is a minor point but I personally do not like the idea that any broadcaster on public land has exclusive rights to transmit. There are other things that are way more important but this right is right.


R

what's wrong with exclusive rights? they pay for it don't they?
perhaps this exclusivity brings more money than letting any broadcaster do it.
i just don't see how you can generalize from such a minutae to 'the new administration is really not for change'.
in reality, things don't change magically and the fact that you don't like a particular thing doesn't mean it needs to change, or even if it does, it probably won't happen on your timetable anyways.
just my opinion on the matter.

Originally Posted by Philadelph

I don't know man– not like Obama probably has ANY say over the schematics of this concert.

True, he's only the President. But maybe he'll have better luck changing the world

I think any president has to pick the right fights? I'd want a world leader to focus on world, political and economic matters (Afghanistan, Iraq, Gitmo, Middle East, the economy, and environmental issues for starters?). If an incoming leader's first act was to have got personally involved with something this minor, I'd be very worried about what that augers for the future.

Let's face it, those who don't like the result of a vote will always be able to cite 'mistakes' from day 1. This ain't peculiar to the US -- this is a universal truth.

I watched and recorded the concert. It was absolutely wonderful. It was shown on HBO free and repeated many times. I thought the program was a great tribute to our new president. The celebrities who spoke were brilliant. The musical performances were rousing at some points actually had me teary eyed. It was great and for people who want to whine about it, well, I guess if you aren't happy with this new administration and the hopes of change then I guess you can find fault somehow or another.
I doubt you can really complain about Stevie Wonder singing Higher Ground, or Mary J. Blige singing Lean On Me, or how Garth Brooks and a wonderful youth choir had Obama singing American Pie or Beyonce's powerful rendition of America. I hope no one can find fault with Pete Seeger, his grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seege, Bruce Springsteen and the youth choir getting the entire audience singing This Land is Your Land. Here's a picture I shot of Pete Seeger holding his very famous banjo last October:

He was at a baptist church today leading a group of kids through a few songs to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. My girlfiend and I were lucky enough to have gotten an invitation from him. Here's a shot of Pete and Scarlett together:

I had a minute to talk with him about the We Are One celebration. It seems that the performances were all arranged by Bruce Springsteen. No one got paid for appearing. Everyone was very excited to be a part of this fantastic moment in history. I know I am happy just to see these things on television. I can only imagine what an exhilerating and emotional experience it would be to play even a tiny roll in the events.

I was hoping I could at least see part if it. I do not have HBO, I do not have internet that can support streaming video. I get the 3 main stations and an independent, that is it! How come it is that the everyone talks about helping the small guy yet don't want to hear from the peanut gallery. The reason I brought this up is that if people would not have allowed the big guys come in buy the thing up and then restrict access I would have been able to see it. The big guys should not be allowed to come in and buy things up that belong to, and are paid for, by all the people even a small guy like me, someone who does not HBO and does not have streaming video! Get it!

The insensitivity of the big city elitists continues. This is a historic event in American history and it is a good thing that a least the swearing in and the inaugural address is not bought and paid for and will be covered by all the media. Your condescending attitude is duly noted and, as it has been brought to my attention, should be appreciated!

Thank you and God Bless,
Richard

Dude, that is so awesome. I sure wish it was on broadcast TV though. Which I think was the point of the thread. My work has HBO. We watched Bono do a couple of songs. It was pretty cool. It was weird seeing a concert there. I remember standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with an Iraq War buddy talking about freedom with a Vietnam vet, here's a pic.

This guy was so hard core, he couldn't let me go home from visiting DC without taking me around town. It was February, and we went every where with his Farking jaw piece freezing. He never complained a bit. Then he shared his visit with the President with us because we were the only people from the unit to come see him. We sent an email to the FRG after that, telling them they suck for not taking care of soldiers. They told us we owed them an apology. What a bunch of attention whores. They only wanted people to see "how much they care" at funerals. Fark them. When I got hit. NO ONE came to see me. Sorry for venting. The Lincoln memorial does that to me. Oh, yeah,m FARK HBO.