Ahrcanum

As part of the transparency in government, Obama is demanding free prime time TV space.  Monday he’s holding a press conference that is expected to last an hour and then the following Monday, a stimulus push right down our throats.  Last but not least, the State of the Union Address is on Tuesday, February 24.

Having spent the better part of the week watching the Senate battle for my stimulus dollars on Fox, CNN and C-SPAN, I am hardly excited at the prospects of looking forward to seeing President Obama the next 3 three weeks in a row during prime time TV. The news cycle is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Prime time is America’s time to be entertained, to watch House, American Idol, or some other mindless show to not have to think about the economy or news.   To sit on the couch with the family, crack a smile, veg, and relax after dinner. 

The networks must be pissed at the amount of advertising revenue that will be lost.  Can’t anyone just say no to O?  I imagine the wrath of deciding not to air Obamavision might include an avoidance of reporters questions.  ABC is probably on the shit list anyways based on the bantering over a tough question recently with Robert Gibbs, the White House communications director.  ABC was also apparently thrown for a loop at the request for free TV time, and still can’t decide what shows to put on after, saying “to be announced.” http://www.tvguide.com/Listings/Default.aspx .

What could Obama tell me that I don’t already know?  This isn’t the campaign trail, and the trail of the House and Senate Stimulus Bills stinks to hell.  The last time Obama was on TV this for this long, he actually paid for the TV time  in a half-hour commercial and sort of mini-documentary. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtREqAmLsoA 

Imagine that stimulus to the economy- paying for the TV Time; not demanding it and costing the networks millions.  The McCain campaign response from spokesman Tucker Bounds: “As anyone who has bought anything from an infomercial knows, the sales-job is always better than the product. Buyer beware.”

Is he going to remind me that money was removed that was earmarked for the water parks?  Is he going to tell me why a ruling dismissing without prejudice all charges against Saudi national Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri was issued, potentially freeing the U.S.S. Cole mastermind bomber from Guantanamo?  What, so we can find him and try him again later?  What could President Obama possibly tell me that demands Prime Time TV? 

Obama is not The Great Communicator.   All physical differences aside, Reagan, even when delivering bad news found the words to sooth and projected light at the end of the tunnel.  Obama on the other hand, seems to like hearing himself talk and can’t seem to do that well unless the TelePrompter is rolling.  Reagan said, “Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation.  You will have opportunities beyond anything we’ve ever known.”  

Just weeks into his Presidency, Obama most memorable statement, “I screwed up.”  In the coming weeks of prime time TV, I hope he has something better to say.