Republicans are already mocking the stage set of tonight's Invesco Field coronation. It looks like the Parthenon, home to the Greek gods atop Mount Olympus, and the opposition spinners are calling it the "Temple of Obama." They even sent around a memo to the media on the proper way to wrap a toga that showed the different styles of the garments for different classes and occasions, a kind of "what not to wear" for the Classical set.
Obama will give his acceptance speech before up to 80,000 worshipful fans, following performances by actual rock stars and fireworks, according to reports. But is all this wise, some Democrats are asking, considering that the Republican counter-narrative for Obama is that he is a narcissistic celebrity with little substance - and a man who may have a dangerous messiah complex. There has been plenty of snickering here in Denver through the week: Will Obama be lowered onto stage from a helicopter? Will he rise from the ground? Maybe they'll flood the football field and he'll walk across it to the stage. And these jokes are coming from people who support Obama.
"We already know he is a rock star, we already know he can bring 85,000 people together in a stadium. He has done it multiple times. He needs to talk to people who haven't made up their minds yet," Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen said, according to The Politico website.
Weigh in. Be the pundit. What do you think?
We need to raise the minimum age to be president, from 35, to 55. Perhaps that would prevent the spectacle about to unfold tonight.— Talking Point Slueth- He is an empty suit and it is only a matter of time before all of his hidden militant stuff surfaces...... He and his wife are racist, anti-American idiots!!!! And if you keep buying his change rhetoric, about the only thing that will happen if he get the WH, is you will be standing on the corner asking for "CHANGE", as you won't be able to pay for his liberalist/socialist agenda and the new taxes that will come along with it.— Mike S.
- This is what will happen. Obama will stand at one end of the stadium. The crowd gets real quiet then all of the suddenly Obama spreads open his arms and the crowd splits right in front of him so he has direct access to the stage. And it's not the crowd who are actually moving. The Dems aligned two giant sized ground-covering plates where the audience sits and moves them apart silently in the background. Wow, Charlton Heston would be proud of the stunt. In his hands are two plaques with the dems political agenda etched in stone. Then in pairs, two members (man and female, except for Mass where it's two guys) of each state (even Michigan and Florida) will follow him in.— palmyra21
- for the republican campaign they should have mccain lowered onto the platform in a bamboo cage— gare44
- colored is definitely a change lol— mariomick
- Some Democrats are asking if this is wise? Which Democrats? Would these be the same Democrats that are still bitter that they ran a crappy campaign and lost to Obama? And only the Republicans would push the meme that it's a bad thing for a candidate to be more popular. "See, no one wants to come see McCain speak. He's going to be the next President!"— Ed G
The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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