Ticket Notice: Sunday shows--Obama, Summers, Axelrod, Emanuel

ABC's "This Week": David Axelrod, a senior adviser to President-elect Obama; a round-table with PBS' Gwen Ifill, ABC News' Donna Brazile, Matthew Dowd and George Will, and E.J. Dionne of Brookings. Moderator: George Stephanopoulos.

CBS' "Face the Nation": National Economic Council director-designate Lawrence Summers, Georgetown University's Michael Eric Dyson and Slate's John Dickerson. Moderator: Bob Schieffer.

CNN's "State of the Union" with host John King (new program replacing "Late Edition"): Topics include the economy; national security, the media; the historic nature of the inauguration. President-elect Barack Obama; David Axelrod, senior Obama adviser; Ed Gillespie, Bush White House counselor; Howard Kurtz with Dana Perino, Bush White House press secretary, and Dee Dee Myers, former Clinton press secretary; diversity in the press with Dan Lothian, CNN White House correspondent, and April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks.

"Fox News Sunday": Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and White House Press Secretary-designate Robert Gibbs. A panel with Brit Hume, "Fox News" senior political analyst; Mara Liasson, NPR & "Fox News"; Bill Kristol, Weekly Standard & "Fox News"; and Juan Williams, NPR. Moderator: Chris Wallace.

NBC's "Meet the Press": Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff-designate; Tom Brokaw, NBC News; David Brooks, New York Times; Doris Kearns Goodwin, historian; Tavis Smiley of PBS; and Chuck Todd, NBC political director.

-- Andrew Malcolm

We'll have loads of free coverage of the real Obama inauguration and the new administration on The Ticket. Register here for cellphone alerts on each new item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're now on Amazon's Kindle as well.

Photo: Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press

Why wait? Compton school honors President Obama already

In honor of everything that Barack Obama has accomplished as the 44th president of the United States, an elementary school in Compton, California has renamed itself Barack Obama Charter School.

The former Qued Charter Elementary School is probably the first to be caught up in Obamalation and make the switch in California, according to the L.A. Now blog. Although some other schools in New York and Missouri have already honored the 47-year-old ex-senator who takes the inaugural oath of office next Tuesday morning.

The Compton move was launched by parents of pupils and approved unanimously by the board this week. "Nobody really liked the Qued name," explained Glenn Noreen, executive director of the group that runs the school.

Actually, it's a fitting change. Obama isn't quite the president yet and Qued/Obama isn't quite a school yet either. But it will be come fall when the first 316 children show up. Everyone is excited.

-- Andrew Malcolm

In honor of the Compton school name change, we're offering free blog coverage of the Obama inauguration and the new Obama administration. Register here for cellphone alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're now on Amazon's Kindle as well.

Official Obama inaugural schedule for Saturday, Jan. 17

Early each morning starting today through Wednesday, Jan. 21, The Ticket will publish that day's schedule of pre-inaugural and inaugural events as released by the Obama Inaugural Committee. So bookmark us and check back several dozen times a day.

-- Andrew Malcolm

We'll have loads of free coverage of the real Obama inauguration and the new administration. Register here for cellphone alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're now on Amazon's Kindle as well.

SATURDAY, Jan. 17

Whistle-Stop Train Tour: President-elect Barack Obama, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and their families will travel — via railroad — to Washington on Saturday, Jan. 17, hosting events along the way in Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore.

In keeping with the theme of the 2009 inauguration, “Renewing America’s Promise,” Obama and Biden will hold events in some of the cities instrumental to that promise: Philadelphia, where that promise was realized; Baltimore, where that promise was defended, then immortalized in our national anthem; and Washington, where Americans of all backgrounds will gather over four days, united in common purpose and resolved to renew that promise once more.

Throughout the trip, the Obamas and the Bidens will be joined by Americans from across the country chosen to participate in the historic journey.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia 30th Street Station, North Waiting Room

Program begins –- 10:05 a.m.

Who:
Obama, Mrs. Michelle Obama and Malia and Sasha Obama; Mark Dowell, Crestwood, Ky.; Matt Kuntz, Helena, Mont.; Jim and Alicia Girardeau, Kansas City, Mo.; Juliana Sanchez, Albuquerque; Rosa Mendoza, Las Vegas; Lisa Hazirjian, Cleveland; Kirsten Meehan, Dover, N.H.; Roy Gross, Taylor, Mich.; Shandra Jackson, Arlington, Texas; Quincy Lucas, Dover, Del.; Patricia Stiles, Parker, Colo.; Gregg Weaver, Fairless Hills, Pa.; Tony Fischer, Cinncinati; Lilly Ledbetter, Jacksonville, Ala.; Mike and Cheryl Fisher, Beech Grove, Ind.; and Randy Wehrman, LeClair, Iowa.

Closed: Ticketed Invited Guests only     Attire: Business Casual

Wilmington, Del.

Where: Back of Wilmington Train Station, 100 S. French Street

When: Doors open -– 9:30 a.m.  Program begins –- 1 p.m. 

Who:
Obama, Biden and their families; Mark Dowell, Crestwood, Ky.; Matt Kuntz, Helena, Mont.; Jim and Alicia Girardeau, Kansas City, Mo.; Juliana Sanchez, Albuquerque; Rosa Mendoza, Las Vegas; Lisa Hazirjian, Cleveland; Kirsten Meehan, Dover, N.H.; Roy Gross, Taylor, Mich.; Shandra Jackson, Arlington, Texas; Quincy Lucas, Dover, Del.; Patricia Stiles, Parker, Colo.; Gregg Weaver, Fairless Hills, Pa.; Tony Fischer, Cinncinati; Lilly Ledbetter, Jacksonville, Ala.; Mike and Cheryl Fisher, Beech Grove, Ind.; and Randy Wehrman, LeClair, Iowa.

Open to Public     Attire: Casual

Baltimore

Where: War Memorial Plaza, 101 N. Gay St., Baltimore, Md.

When: Doors open -– 1 p.m. Program begins –- 4:15 p.m.

Who:
Obama, Biden and their families; Mark Dowell, Crestwood, Kj.; Matt Kuntz, Helena, Mont.; Jim and Alicia Girardeau, Kansas City, Mo.; Juliana Sanchez, Albuquerque; Rosa Mendoza, Las Vegas; Lisa Hazirjian, Cleveland; Kirsten Meehan, Dover, N.H.; Roy Gross, Taylor, Mich.; Shandra Jackson, Arlington, Texas; Quincy Lucas, Dover, Del.; Patricia Stiles, Parker, Colo.; Gregg Weaver, Fairless Hills, Pa.; Tony Fischer, Cinncinati; Lilly Ledbetter, Jacksonville, Ala.; Mike and Cheryl Fisher, Beech Grove, Ind.; and Randy Wehrman, LeClair, Iowa.

Open to Public     Attire: Casual    

Photo: Democratic National Committee

First plastic African American President Obama sworn in

Don't know how we missed a story this little earlier today. But it seems Barack Obama has already been sworn into office -- in Legoland.

According to our brash pal Brady McDonald over at the Daily Travel & Deal blog, the toymaker-turned-theme park in Carlsbad, Calif., had a small-scale swearing-in ceremony today. And everything fit together quite well in that parallel plastic universe.

It was, however, very colorful (or for our Canadian, U.K. and Aussie readers, very colourful). And the very first time Americans have elected a plastic African American president.

Our other friend, Jimmy Orr over on the fun Vote blog, has his usually clever take on this blockhead ceremony here.

However, both bloggers had trouble getting the little plastic Joe Biden to stop talking. (Did you notice, btw, the new vice president doesn't get an inaugural address? One, we'd be there till dark Inauguration Day and, two, by Tuesday night, Biden should be en route to his first foreign funeral for the new president.)

Maybe you too are surprised at how American businesses are commercializing something as trivial as an historic presidential inauguration after a mere, what, 233 years of history. Next thing you know blogs will put Barack Obama's name online to attract readers and newspapers will sell special Obama edition memorabilia and front pages.

Oh, wait. Our employer already did that.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Speaking of selling Obama stuff, we'll have loads of free coverage of the real Obama inauguration and the new administration. Register here for cellphone alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're now on Amazon's Kindle as well.

Photo: Legoland

Hillary Clinton enlists Mom to help with this campaign debt thing

Not to squelch any of the nation's intoxicating inauguration Obamalation, but there's this small item of several millions of dollars that Hillary Clinton still owes folks for prolonging her Democratic primary campaign efforts to bash the fellow Democrat who's now become her new presidential boss.

On the last weekend before the Democratic primary victor who beat her takes office as No. 44 president, the primary loser is still trying to wrap up campaign finances from last June.

But the Great Changer says he likes strong people around him -- witness Bill Richardson and Tim Geithner -- so it's A.O.K.

Anyway, after enlisting her husband and Joe Biden and her pal Terry McAuliffe and the president-elect himself and her daughter Chelsea in fundraising appeals in recent months to whittle the $6 million or so down some more, the ex-senator from New York has now recruited her mother to plead for more money.

In an e-mail today with the promisory headline "One last request," Dorothy Rodham says, "This is our last chance to help Hillary pay down the debt from her history-making campaign."

She knows how much this would mean to Hillary "to help my Hillary in honor of all she's done to help our country throughout her life."

Clinton has a lot of competition for giveaway money out there, including the new president, who the other day dispatched his first money-plea-free e-mail in months.

There's a new national economic ailment spreading across the country called "donor fatigue." Who would have thought after how many billions given to candidates the last two years?

But Clinton's made progress in recent months. She ate about $13 million of her own loans to herself. And of what's left, about $5 million is owed to Mark Penn, her fired political strategist who had the problem/opportunity of working for two bosses until they found out.

Anyway, as soon as the ex-First Lady takes the oath as secretary of State any day now, political fundraising becomes illegal. Hence, Mom's one last plea.

So you better hurry up.

--Andrew Malcolm

We're just getting started here with coverage of the inauguration and the new administration. Register here for cellphone alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're now on Amazon's Kindle as well.

Photo credit: Jim Bourg / Reuters

Beyonce reveals Obamas' first dance song as First Couple

You knew it wouldn't stay a secret until Tuesday night's inaugural balls in Washington.

But yesterday there President-elect Barack Obama told reporters he had involved himself in only one inauguration activity.

Now we know what that was: He ordered up the first song that the new first couple will dance to at the big day's Top 10 biggest balls.

Today Beyonce, who will sing the Etta James classic that night, announced it'll be "At Last." Video below in case you don't remember.

Now if only we can keep Michelle from finding out for four days.

-- Andrew Malcolm

We're just getting started here with coverage of the inauguration and the new administration. Register here for cellphone alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're now on Amazon's Kindle as well.

Photo credit: Bryan Bedder / Getty Images

Some Obama inauguration-viewing events in SoCal...

There's a host of inauguration-viewing events and parties scheduled Tuesday around Southern California. Elina Shatkin of The Guide lists 10 of them.

In addition to her picks, there's one more:

Hundreds of members of unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO are expected to gather in Burbank to watch it on TV. Four days before the election, hundreds of local workers participated in a get-out-the-vote "Obamathon" to encourage voters in seven battleground states to support their candidate, union leaders said. Festivities begin at 8 a.m. at IATSE Local 80 headquarters, 2520 W. Olive Ave.

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An Obama D.C. inaugural ball with Rihanna and tickets on eBay

As everybody who's anybody in politics knows, Rihanna is the first Barbadan to officially win a Grammy Award.

So it's been announced that she's performing at the RIAOAAFA Presidential Inauguration Ball. That's at Washington's Ibiza Night Club Tuesday night.

That stands for the Recording Industry Assn. of America and Feeding America. Not one of the top 10 Obama balls where the Great Changer and his wife Michelle will dance Tuesday. But still a big deal. And they promise "Gala." Even in Washington. Co-hosts are Courtney Cox Arquette and David Arquette.

So anyway, tickets cost a mere $2,500. But if you go on eBay right now you can bid on 250 tickets startingat 75 bucks and some for immediate purchase. Feeding America is over here.

According to rumors, some of your "Friends" like Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry are going to be there too.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Speaking of balls, we're just getting started here with coverage of the inauguration and the new administration. Register here for cellphone alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're now on Amazon's Kindle as well.

Photo credit: WireImage (Rihanna).

Hotels aren't really full for the Obama inauguration, but they are pricey

Less than a week before the inauguration, Tom Botts scored a hotel room at a Hilton hotel in the D.C. area  without shelling out  a dime. "I used my Hilton Honors Points," said Botts, a member of the hotel chain's frequent-guest program and partner in a New York-based travel strategic advisory firm called Hudson Crossing.

He chalks up his reservation not to luck but to the loosening of "length of stay controls" that hotels use to beef up profits. Basically, when it comes to high-demand one-day events like the Super Bowl and certainly the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration, hotels will charge something like $900 per night with a five-night minimum stay and then drop that requirement as the big day nears.

So for those looking for last-minute digs, Botts says there are still rooms to be had in D.C.--and today they might start dropping the minimum stays and maybe even their rates. Some may even allow you to use member rewards, as Botts did.

So what's out there? He notes that on Thursday, a Four Points by Sheraton started selling single-night stays for the 20th (they've since sold out). And the Park Hyatt Washington and Grand Hyatt Washington still had rooms with a minimum stay "if you are willing to spend a fair amount of money."

I called the Destination DC toll-free number (800) 422-8644 on Thursday and was offered a three-day minimum at Hotel Washington at 515 15th St. NW for $729 a night--pricey, but proof that there's still room at the inn. Other hotels in the downtown area that I called were all in the $750-plus range, and at least one had only a two-night minimum.

If you want to go the home rental route, you might try Viscape, which doesn't vet properties but does allow residents to post their homes and apartments for a price. The site puts you directly in e-touch with the homeowner, but don't expect prices to be cheap.

Rentalo.com mixes it up, showing listings of rental homes, hotels and B&Bs. Good luck -- and don't spend too much.

-- Mary Forgione

We're just getting started here with coverage of the inauguration and the new administration. Register here for cellphone alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're now on Amazon's Kindle as well.

Photo: Mark Ralston / AFP

An Indian Shepard Fairey for an iconic Barack Obama?

Avan Bathena and Shepard Fairey have something in common: Both have created portraits of Barack Obama that figure prominently in next week's inaugural events in Washington.

In Fairey's case, a collage version of his iconic "Hope" image (right) will go on display at the National Portrait Gallery on Inauguration Day.

As for Bathena, an Indian American who lives in Houston, her image (left) figures prominently in the 2009 Sikh Inaugural Ball. (A signed copy comes with the $250 Maharajah Package, which gets you VIP treatment at the party at a restaurant called I, The Indian Experience/Ascot at 1708 L St. NW.)

Fairey's image makes a bold and powerful statement. I think Bathena's does too, but in a different way. The portrait doesn't spell out "hope" but shows a hopeful, open Obama -- with a smile that reminds me of JFK.

Check out more under-the-radar images of Obama in "Beyond Shepard Fairey: The many, many faces of Barack Obama."

-- Mary Forgione

We're just getting started with coverage of the inauguration and the new administration here on The Ticket. Register here for cellphone alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are also available here. And we're now on Amazon's Kindle as well.