The Ball on the Mall
By Michael Turk, 11/07/2008 - 11:56am
Liza Sabater and I were trading lighthearted tweets about this the other day, but the more I think about it, the more I really think I'd like to see it.
One aspect of the transition of Presidential power that has always struck me as odd is the Inaugural Balls. Typically the tickets for these events are harder to come by than a leprechaun crapping four leaf clovers onto a pot of gold at the end of a double rainbow. The people who get to purchase tickets are those who are well connected to the party apparatus.
Two things suggest to me that the Obama campaign could change that tradition for the better.
First, there is this from Newsweek:
The Obama campaign had always prided itself in staying away from the Washington hothouse of party hacks and lobbyists. But the nominating conventions are traditionally giant celebrations of the party establishment. [...] Somewhat grudgingly, the Obama campaign agreed to have a single staffer devoted to each of these constituencies, but later decided the whole thing was a waste of manpower and dispersed the interest-group liaisons to go work in the field on get-out-the-vote operations.
Second, is a number I heard yesterday that if true is simply astounding. Someone suggested that the Obama campaign will still have $100 million cash on hand after all is said and done.
So what does all this have to do with the Ball on the Mall? Let me tell you.
I suggested to Liza that Obama should continue the out of the box thinking. Rather than having stuffy balls in ballrooms across DC, the campaign should cordon off the mall, and have one, massive, open to the public Inaugural ball.
It sounds like the money is there. It sounds like to desire to reward those who did the work of getting him elected is there. If that's the case, his Inauguration should be a celebration of the people.
I'm going to suggest the Hashtag #BallOnTheMall. If you'd like to see this happen. Help spread the word.
Liza Sabater and I were trading lighthearted tweets about this the other day, but the more I think about it, the more I really think I'd like to see it.
One aspect of the transition of Presidential power that has always struck me as odd is the Inaugural Balls. Typically the tickets for these events are harder to come by than a leprechaun crapping four leaf clovers onto a pot of gold at the end of a double rainbow. The people who get to purchase tickets are those who are well connected to the party apparatus.
Two things suggest to me that the Obama campaign could change that tradition for the better.
First, there is this from Newsweek:
The Obama campaign had always prided itself in staying away from the Washington hothouse of party hacks and lobbyists. But the nominating conventions are traditionally giant celebrations of the party establishment. [...] Somewhat grudgingly, the Obama campaign agreed to have a single staffer devoted to each of these constituencies, but later decided the whole thing was a waste of manpower and dispersed the interest-group liaisons to go work in the field on get-out-the-vote operations.
Second, is a number I heard yesterday that if true is simply astounding. Someone suggested that the Obama campaign will still have $100 million cash on hand after all is said and done.
So what does all this have to do with the Ball on the Mall? Let me tell you.
I suggested to Liza that Obama should continue the out of the box thinking. Rather than having stuffy balls in ballrooms across DC, the campaign should cordon off the mall, and have one, massive, open to the public Inaugural ball.
It sounds like the money is there. It sounds like to desire to reward those who did the work of getting him elected is there. If that's the case, his Inauguration should be a celebration of the people.
I'm going to suggest the Hashtag #BallOnTheMall. If you'd like to see this happen. Help spread the word.
Liza Sabater and I were trading lighthearted tweets about this the other day, but the more I think about it, the more I really think I'd like to see it.
One aspect of the transition of Presidential power that has always struck me as odd is the Inaugural Balls. Typically the tickets for these events are harder to come by than a leprechaun crapping four leaf clovers onto a pot of gold at the end of a double rainbow. The people who get to purchase tickets are those who are well connected to the party apparatus.
Two things suggest to me that the Obama campaign could change that tradition for the better.
First, there is this from Newsweek:
The Obama campaign had always prided itself in staying away from the Washington hothouse of party hacks and lobbyists. But the nominating conventions are traditionally giant celebrations of the party establishment. [...] Somewhat grudgingly, the Obama campaign agreed to have a single staffer devoted to each of these constituencies, but later decided the whole thing was a waste of manpower and dispersed the interest-group liaisons to go work in the field on get-out-the-vote operations.
Second, is a number I heard yesterday that if true is simply astounding. Someone suggested that the Obama campaign will still have $100 million cash on hand after all is said and done.
So what does all this have to do with the Ball on the Mall? Let me tell you.
I suggested to Liza that Obama should continue the out of the box thinking. Rather than having stuffy balls in ballrooms across DC, the campaign should cordon off the mall, and have one, massive, open to the public Inaugural ball.
It sounds like the money is there. It sounds like to desire to reward those who did the work of getting him elected is there. If that's the case, his Inauguration should be a celebration of the people.
I'm going to suggest the Hashtag #BallOnTheMall. If you'd like to see this happen. Help spread the word.
