I had a great time. While this article will lack much of the newsworthiness you’ve come to expect here, there’s something about being there. That’s the flavor I will try to convey in this story about my experiences at the Kitzhaber/Obama Rally here in Portland yesterday.
From my place to the Convention Center is only there stops on the MAX, Portland’s transit train, but I left at 2:00 PM for the 6:00 PM event.
When I got off the train, I immediately encountered a bunch of Teabaggers carrying “Resist the Nanny State” and “Vote for Dudley” signs. I decided to talk to them. A guy stepped forward, as I approached them, and I said, “So you’re for privatizing Social Security and letting people take care of their own, instead of depending on big government? He agreed. And I said, and you’re for privatizing Medicare and letting people taking care of their own, instead of depending on big government? Again he agreed. Next I said, “Any you’re for extending the Bush Tax Cuts for the rich? He agreed again. “And with you want more programs to encourage free trade? He said yes. Heh heh. I said, “Then what you have told me is that you don’t want the nanny state to provide the benefits and services for which people have paid, but you do want the nanny state to continue benefits and services for the very rich and criminal corporations. That’s not freedom. That’s Teabuggery! He yammered and stammered a bit, but had nothing more to say. They objected to me taking their picture.
I headed for the line, and a volunteer grabbed me, because of my oxygen tank, and took me and my friend to a disabled waiting area. I felt very uncomfortable being taken to the front, buy the truth is, I would have never made it had they not done so. Just standing for an hour plus waiting for the doors to open set off my bad leg, and I was in excruciating pain when they opened the doors.
Here’s the line:
And here I am with my friend, Sandi.
Sadly, those are the only good pictures I have. The ceiling lights in the disabled seating area were so bright that it washed out the pictures I took, and it took a couple hours of tweaking in Paint Shop just to make them visible. I apologize. They stink.
I waited about 2 1/2 hours for the speaking to begin. There were around 8,000 of us there.
After a couple warm up speeches, Jeff Merkley, introduced John Kitzhaber. Ron Wyden, David Wu, and Earl Blumenauer were also there.
Here’s Kitz:
Lousy picture, I know.
He stressed some of the key differences between himself and Chris Dudley, aka Dudley Do-Wrong. Kitz supports minimum wage. Dudley wants it cut. Kitz believes climate change is a result of human activity. Dudley doesn’t. Kitz opposes drilling for oil off Oregon’s coast. Dudley favors it. Next came the star of the show.
Here’s a lousy pic:
And another:
Obama has not lost his touch. I was thoroughly fired up!! Fortunately another attendee posted a video of his speech. People in the front didn’t have the lighting issues I did.
Magnificent!
I waited for most of the crowd to get out the door before I tried. When I returned home after 9:00 PM, I felt like something I should bury in the deepest part of my kitty box.
Was it worth it? Yes! Would I do it again? Hell yes!!
Vote!
33 Responses to “I Saw Obama in Portland – 10/20”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Was it worth it? Yes! Would I do it again? Hell yes!!
Damn straight, just take care of yourself dude!
Thanks Beach. I try.
Good for you TC that you made that effort. Feel good about yourself!
Good on you, TC!
I thoroughly enjoyed your pictures. And if you want to see what the media took for pictures, you can always count on DayLife to have a slew of them – just click around to view them:
http://www.daylife.com/search?q=obama+portland
Thanks So – you always have the greatest links!!! 😉
Your very kind words are much appreciated.
I second what Lisa said. Thanks Nameless!
Way to go, TomCat! I remember the excitement of seeing Jimmy Carter on the campaign trail when he was coming on like gangbusters during the bicentennial summer of 1976, and I have previously seen Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, Paul Wellstone, and Al Gore speak live, too. It’s a real thrill!
Thanks Jack. It is. Somehow, though, Gore on the stunp doesn’t sound as exciting. 😉
Great questions and comment to the bagger. Way to go. I wish I had been there to see his face. 😆
Thanks, Jerry. Let’s say he was a RED voter.
Sounds like a great event and I’m so glad you were there to witness it firsthand. I would love to see President Obama speak in person sometime too. I hope more people listen to his speeches and get fired up for election day. It is imperative we don’t let the forces of ignorance, a.k.a. Teabaggers, take over our government.
Thanks Mimi, and I agree. If you ever het the chance, jump at it.
I’m really excited that you got to go – I know you were very determined! What great pic and the video was excellent too – I always love to hear Obama speak. How is Kitzhauer (it was hard to see the signs) doing in the polls? Oregon is a pretty progressive state, so I hope he’s doing well.
Great on you for the questions for the teabagger! You really had him confused. 😈 Not that that is hard with those people. 🙄
I’m glad they pulled you out of line, but I wish they would have put you in the front. I talked to Otis about it – he said “Well, what if they didn’t feel good and had to leave?” Good point; that husband of mine, always thinking. Well, most of the time. 🙄
Thanks Lisa. Kits is running well ahead, but Dudly Do-Wrong just keeps spending that secret corporate cash. 🙁
Confusing a Teabagger is like flushing a toilet. Just push the lever and the crap drops.
All the seating was in the back 1/10 of the area. The front 90% was all SRO, except for the press seating and the celebrity insider seating.
Tom if you and I weren’t on the same side you would be the last peron i would want asking me questions where I had to state my unequivocal beliefs. Although the ill informed and they are easy targets there is no shame in making them think probably for the first time since they had a low draft number in the 60-70’s. So far I have commitments from everyone one my street for three blocks who is registered to carry their ass to the polls.
You better rest up some more old hoss, We’re going to need you in 2016.
Mark, for goodness sake I was up against a Teabagger. Since I know their talking points as werll as they do, and since I have actually thought about their talking points, and they haven’t, it was no contest. About a dozen other people listening in had a good laugh, though.
Thank you for the kind sentiments.
I am deeply jealous of your experience. I’d only learned of the rally by the time news outlets were saying that they were all out of free tickets. As a fellow Pacific Northwesterner, I think we should combine forces to make Lisa G. and MathMan join us out here. I’ve already tempted her with tales of Powell’s. With stories like yours of the great political events, we should be irresistible! 😀
Welcome Forrest. 🙂
I wish you could have been there. I am happy to join that coalition, but there is a danger here. If Lisa ever descends into the bowels of Powell’s, we may never see her face again. As many times as she has threatened to come here and perform vile acts of torture upon my person, we have a good shot. 😈
That’s it. I’m calling the moving company. Hmmm. I wonder if I could find a job out there. There sure as heck isn’t anything here in Georgia!
Dang!! I’d better clean my kitty box!! 🙄
I’m really happy for you Tom. Not only for getting to go, but also for surviving!
Nice confrontation with the teabaggers. 😀
Thanks Marva. It was a challence. 😀
Really glad you enjoyed yourself Tom. That must have been a marathon to you. Hope you are well! I close in saying this is as good as always.
Thanks Jim. It was like one of my all day voilunteer days in the prison with several extra hours standing time. Best to you and yours.
TC I’m so jealous!! But I will say I’m so glad you got to go and had a front row seat to see our president! I would have been fired up AND crying at the same time. Yes I’m a sap! LOL Those teabaggers are such dimwits, UGH, they make me puke they are so stupid!
Sue, had you been there, I do not doubt for a second that I would have had to peel you off of the ceiling. 😉
It looks like it was a great event. I had the opportunity to see Obama two years ago – I heard he was speaking in Downtown Orlando but by the time I heard about it it was rather late. Friends of my had gone though and endured the long lines.
I enjoyed your comments – especially your interactions with the teabaggers. I’ve noticed that whenever they are confronted, they never have the answers (much like their candidates!)
I occasionally encounter one who knows what they are talking about but they tend to be unwilling to accept other view points.
Keep up the good work.
Kevin, I wish you had gone. On the Teakaggers, they do not argue well because they are coming from a position of authority based belief rather than rational thought.
Good for you, Tom. No wonder you were exhausted by the time you got home. But I’m glad you made the effort and wish I could have been there with you. The one and only president I’ve ever heard in person – and that was when he was campaigning – was JFK. Flaunting my age again.
You get some rest and take care of yourself.
Leslie, I would have loved to have had you. 🙂
I never heard JFK live. I bet it was awesome.
Wonderful account. You give me hope. Thank you!
Welcome Danny. 🙂
And thank you!