Free Republic

Ah, the masses. How they loved President Obama's inaugural speech. And how Andrea Mitchell, being "up there," loved looking out over them. She was "very moved." Yes, on Morning Joe today, NBC correspondent Mitchell not only said that she was "very moved, being up there . . . looking out over the masses," but that she found the speech "uplifting," and that it was "a bigger moment that a lot of people originally gave it credit for." View the video here.

Hotel rooms remain unbooked ahead of January 21 inauguration ceremony Organizers expecting much lower turnout than 2009 ceremony, when nearly 2 million people flocked to the National Mall Crowds may have flocked to the National Mall to see President Obama make history in 2009, but the team behind the president's 2013 inauguration bash later this month are bracing themselves for a ton of empty seats. The ceremony that Washington will stage in a few weeks won't be the historic affair it was in 2009, when nearly 2 million people flocked to the Capitol to watch Obama take the oath of...

Only seven companies have offered corporate cash to help fund President Barack Obama’s upcoming inaugural festivities. In 2009, Obama banned corporate donors from paying for his inauguration, but he was still able to raise $53 million from private donors. However, this month’s inauguration is being held after the most expensive presidential campaign in history, and even with the corporate donations will be a scaled-down event. This year, fewer people are expected to attend the inauguration and there are only two official balls planned. … According to the Inauguration Committee’s website, more than 400 people have donated toward the events. So...

At least one segment of the economy is booming: the market in Obama kitsch. The dedicated supporter of the incoming President need not content himself with a T shirt or bumper sticker. Also available are Obama coasters, lava lamps, jigsaw puzzles, mugs, skateboards, toy trains, CDs, DVDs and, of course, commemorative dinner plates. Ben & Jerry's is introducing a Yes Pecan flavor in honor of Obama's campaign slogan, and Marvel Comics is running a special Inaugural issue of Spider-Man. Pepsi has created the Pepsi Optimism Project with a red, white and blue logo almost identical to Obama's sunrise button. And...

Most friends and associates of Barack Obama already have all but lost access to their pal and neighbor from the South Side. Now, their dreams of attending glamorous balls and dancing with the president and first lady will run up against the reality of inaugural festivities, which for perks and ease of access rank with a cold, crowded Times Square on New Year's Eve. As many as 4 million people will converge on the nation's capital for the president-elect's historic swearing-in on Jan. 20 and the hundreds of balls and parties beginning Saturday. But call the inaugural the great humbler...