Inside Politics Weekend

Comedic relief

Prepare thyself. The press is going to get lofty indeed as we approach Inauguration Day. So just for old times’ sake, let us consider the goof factor which at least made the endless 2008 presidential campaign bearable.

Consider that the candidates made 110 guest appearances on late-night comedy TV — four times more than they did in 2004, according to the Center for Media and Public Affairs.

“Talk show hosts have replaced editorial boards in vetting candidates for voters. David Letterman wasn’t kidding when he said, ‘The road to the White House runs through me,’” notes Robert Lichter, president of the research group.

Sen. John McCain was the biggest ham in the entire field, with 17 appearances in the well-upholstered guest chair. In second place was Mike Huckabee with 16, and President-elect Barack Obama with 15.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was next on the late-night political roster (seven appearances), followed by Sen. Joe Biden (six), John Edwards (five), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (four) and Fred Thompson and Sen. Chris Dodd with three each.

Among assorted late-night hosts, Jay Leno offered the most frequent forum for the candidates (22 appearances), edging out Jon Stewart (21), David Letterman (19), Stephen Colbert (15), Bill Maher (12), NBC’s Saturday Night Live (eight), Jimmy Kimmel (five), Conan O’Brien (four) and Craig Ferguson (three).

The “most notable no-show,” the research found, was Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who didn’t appear on any talk show during the campaign, although she made a gutsy appearance on Saturday Night Live opposite tiresome Palin imitator Tiny Fey.

Leave town?

The most recent official missive from the Congressional Inaugural Committee is terse indeed:

“Getting to the swearing-in ceremonies will be very difficult because of the large crowds. In addition to the 240,000 ticketed guests, a million or more people are expected to view the inauguration from the National Mall between 4th Street and the Lincoln Memorial, along with hundreds of thousands of others who plan on watching the Inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.”

“A security perimeter will be established around the U.S. Capitol and the parade route on or before January 20. Subway stations, bus stops, and streets within that perimeter will be closed. Street closures throughout Washington, D.C., will make traveling by car or taxi very difficult. Bridges from Virginia crossing the Potomac River into Washington, as well as major roadways from Maryland into Washington, may be closed to all but bus traffic.”

“D.C.’s subway system will be running ‘rush-hour’ service all day, but is expecting ‘crush-level’ crowds. Be prepared to wait for space on a train for long periods of time, during which you will have to stand in close proximity to several thousand people.”

Oh, and outdoor waits could last six hours, no umbrellas are allowed and many Metro escalators will be closed, the committee notes.

Quotes of note

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