AMERICANA
Barack Obama Is For Sale: Check Out These Websites
VEN CRABBY, A JADED FADING POLITICAL JUNKIE, IS SWEPT UP in the good vibe of the impending Obama Inauguration.
I watched C-Span's coverage of the Whistle Stop Train Tour to Washington, D.C., whispered a "Happy Birthday'' to my astrological sister Michelle, and prayed that the goodwill inspired by Obama will last beyond the first 100 days.
He'll be our Rock Star President, a political celebrity engendering slavish support from adoring fans. He's sleek and smart and even hipper than President Elvis. Of course, everyone wants a piece of him.
Alas, not everybody's lucky enough to get a golden ticket to the Inaugural Ball. So we'll have to buy our piece of history.
Fortunately, souvenirs of the inauguration of America's first black president and 44th president are in ample supply. So here for your shopping ease are some websites from which you can purchase commemorative stamps, plates, coins -- anything to let you own a little bit of "Our Rock, Barack."
Crabby has discriminating taste, so for me the only choice is the HOPE poster created by Shepard Fairey, and now part of the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery. Amazon has numerous available from private sellers ranging in price from $1.99 to $14.95.
QVC is offering a variety of items to commemorate President Obama's taking office. Opt for the Commemorative Cover w/3 Stamps and 1/20/09 D.C. Postmark, yours for just $24.99, plus $3.97 shipping and handling.
There's also the Barack Obama Framed Ltd. Edition Inauguration Speech With Photo, with the introductory price of $75.48 (or yours for just $83 on QVC).
And my favorite --- the Commemorative Barack Obama 50" x 60" Cotton Throw, an essential for those who want to feel the safety of Barack's warm embrace. QVC's Price: $41.00.
The nation's most valuable network C-Span is selling video hightlights of inaugural events. It's a steal at $12.95; order your copy now! Or for just $19.95 you can order a two-disc CD set that includes inaugural highlights along with Obama's greatest speeches.
The U.S.P.S is offering the Official Inauguration Commemorative Souvenir which is a "stamped envelope with silk portraits of the newly elected President Barack Obama and Vice President-Elect Joseph Biden," biographical information, and the presidential oath. Available for $14.95.
Walgreens is selling an 8-inch Historic Victory Commemorative Plate' for a mere $19.99. "This limited-edition fine porcelain heirloom from the American Historic Society commemorates the night that America found hope and welcomed change." Trimmed in 22-karat gold, "[T]his plate is limited to only 65 firing days - order yours today!"
There's the ever popular Bradford Exchange plates, offering two different designs for a mere $34.95 each!
For the more modest spenders, Rand McNally is selling the Obama Inaugural fabMap which "portrays on one side a full-color portrait of President-elect Barack Obama against the Capitol building...[and]a map in stunning detail of the Mall area of our Nation’s capital.."
Our friends at Zazzle are selling mugs with the, um, mug of President Obama on them. There's also T-shirts, keychains, pins -- all must-haves for the Obamamaniac in your life.
And let's not forget www.obamaplate.com's commemorative plates. Purportedly "finely crafted," and trimmed in 23 K gold!
Congratulations Mr. President! Congratulations America!
And let's enjoy these early days of consensus and unity.
Because we all know that it's only a matter of time before the New York Times's shrink-cum-political diarist Maureen Dowd deconstructs Obama's need for unity as a symptom of his conflicted biracial upbringing.
Posted January 19, 2009
Home
