Opinion: The Obama inaugural public (cable) celebration begins on the Mall

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You don’t need HBO to read The Ticket. And here we are.

The Show just ended, another piece of history completed at the Lincoln Memorial. (Despite an over-eager TelePrompter outfoxing Jamie Foxx.)

Not everyone could see it because the Obama Inaugural Committee sold exclusive broadcast rights to HBO, which raised some eyebrows over a new administration professing openness and transparency. An Obama advisor was asked about all that over on the Swamp.

Our pal Michelle Maltais, who took these on-the-scene photos, was there all bundled up with, at last report, four shirts and a coat and gloves that make her hit several iPhone keys at once. It’s so tough to be a Californian in the East in January.

The National Mall is a very noisy place, she reports, but very happy with thousands of runny noses and ruddy cheeks and mittens that muffle the applause, even for the equally bundled Beyonce who sang a stirring rendition of ‘America the Beautiful.’ Geese flying overhead on cue. Giant screens carrying the stage images to the crowd way in the back.

Also more Obamamania memorabilia on sale than anyone could imagine.

His baby pictures. His face on earrings. His abs on T-shirts.

The president-elect is gonna be a hard act to follow himself once he actually takes the inaugural oath.

See more exclusive MM photos below (Scroll down or click on the ‘Read more’ line below).

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credits: Michelle Maltais / The Los Angeles Times

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All photos by Michelle Maltais / The Los Angeles Times