ABQ, 10/25/2008: Two Candidates; Two Rallies

I just got back to Santa Fe from the second of two political rallies by major-party Presidential candidates in Albuquerque today.

This morning, Albuquerque was honored with a visit by John McCain, with spouse Cindy in tow. According to the Albuquerque Journal, "McCain's Albuquerque stop is an attempt to blunt Obama in the voter-rich metropolitan area where the Democrat was backed by 51 percent of voters, according to a poll commissioned by the Albuquerque Journal."

Also according to that organ, plenty of Joe-the-Plumber clones showed up to holler "drill, baby, drill," "USA, USA" and other GOPpie-type slogans.

There were (apparently) somewhere between 900 and 1500 of them.

Nice blunting.

Some DUers may remember I'm a little crowd-phobic-- a lasting regret is that I just couldn't handle the 80,000 or so people in Denver for the nomination acceptance speech, after three days of intense schlepping-and-blogging activity at the Convention.

So yesterday, when a friend whose daughter works for the Obama campaign offered "VIP tickets" for me and The World's Most Wonderful Human Being to attend tonight's Early Vote Rally, I was intensely tempted. "What's a 'VIP ticket?'" I asked.

Probably not that much, she allowed. Not even a place to sit, probably, since the rally was at a big open athletic field (not even a stadium, just a playing field-- no bleachers, no stands--) on the U of NM campus. But closer to the podium, probably corralled into a slightly less packed standing area.

Will I ever get a better chance to see the next President up (comparatively) close?

Not likely. So we went. We met up with my friend and other "VIPs" at 6:00 PM. The gate was originally scheduled to open at 7:00 but by the time we got into the "ticket holder" line they were already processing people through security.

As with the Convention, the logistics were impressively well-handled. The lines moved quickly. Volunteers moved up and down the lines explaining how to get through security with minimum time and hassle-- have all electronic devices in your hand, turned on, have metal items ready to pass along the inspection table while you go through the metal detector, etc. Traffic corridors were well arranged, huge banks of porta-potties were readily available, big tables of water and candy bar/snack vendors were convenient.

Others have reported on the "Obama crowd" phenomenon. It was in evidence tonight in Albuquerque, too. Happy people. Enjoying themselves. Turning to each other to exchange comments, admire home-made buttons and signs and t-shirts, share favorite campaign anecdotes and candidate quotes, etc. Patient with lines and delays, courteous with security, volunteers, police, etc.

Once we got through security, I realized that most of the tickets in line were blue; ours were yellow. We didn't know what it meant so I glanced around for someone to help. There were three fairly motivated-looking folks NOT dressed like New Mexicans (you can tell, here, really.) Two men and a woman. They had that clean-cut, well-scrubbed look, but they weren't like the Men In Black from the convention. Still, I noticed when I approached them that one of the guys had a little curly cord behind the ear. They smiled and directed me to "the people in the blue t-shirts with the clipboards" to find out what the yellow tickets meant.

I risked a question. Gesturing to the earpiece, I said "Are you one of the folks charged with keeping him safe?" He smiled even bigger and nodded. "We all are," he glanced at his companions. Then I noticed the little tack-type pins they were wearing with an official looking seal. So I thanked them for doing their job and we moved on.

The folks in the blue t-shirts handed us an Obama/Biden sign and directed us to a traffic corridor, "Just follow along there."

We wound around the porta-potties and the snack tables and past some roped-off areas around awnings with tables and generators for various types of press accommodation, and in front of a big scaffold with lights and sound equipment, and we were there!

Boy, were we EVER there. Right in front of the riser and podium where Obama was going to speak. I mean RIGHT in front of it. Maybe seven or eight layers of people between us and the podium.

It was about six-thirty and we'd been told that Obama's plane was scheduled to land at 8:45. The field is maybe ten minutes from the airport-- a little less, if you're in a fast-moving motorcade with police escort, probably. Even so, we didn't expect to actually see Obama for maybe three hours.

More people were arriving and hemming us in a little, so we moved to the back of the cordoned-off area in front of the podium. Maybe fifteen yards back? No more than that. We were right in front of the sound booth and the "traveling press" pavilion. We put our coats on the grass and sat down with our backs to the portable barriers and made ourselves comfy. We had cookies in our pockets, and we watched the people.

The people were worth watching. As noted on another thread, the crowd was a gloriously diverse one. We had First Americans, Sikhs, folks holding Hebrew-alphabet Obama signs, college students of every ethnic background dressed in every style from hardcore goth to neo-hippie to post-modern existentialist self-expressionist, young moms with kids, "Veterans for Obama" ranging in age from twenties to eighties, a large contingent of Fire Fighters for Obama in yellow-and-black t-shirts, whole Hispanic families from great-grandparents to babies, and of course dozens of Obama campaign volunteers working the crowd, distributing early voting info, volunteer sign-ups, etc.

Music was blaring from huge speakers. My only criticism of the organization is that tape loop--too short. The selections were great (Aretha, the Boss,) but they repeated way too often for a three-hour wait. Oh, well. Could have been worse. Imagine if we'd been waiting at a McCain rally! Or don't. ::shudder::

The area we were in was pretty roomy and although there was a solid scrum right around the podium the back part, where we were, was loose and people were walking around, kids were playing, and whenever Aretha came on the tape loop, there was plenty of booty-shaking. I chatted with a Veteran for Obama, ex-Army who'd served in Vietnam. And a woman just behind the barrier, in the press area, who was in a scooter and who'd been to an earlier Obama event and told me about meeting him. A guy from the local paper came up and asked if he could ask me a few questions-- sure, why not?

He wanted to know why I was there, why I thought "the wind was behind the Obama campaign now" so strongly. Hey, y'all know me... never miss a chance to bloviate about my opinions, right?

Every once in a while someone came up on the podium and said stuff. We heard from Senator Bingaman. Yaaaay Jeff!! He introduced the folks who led us off in the National Anthem, an acoustic-type bar band from Santa Fe. They followed up the Star-Spangled Banner with a few songs. We were left to our own devices for a bit, then some local pols. Yaaaay, local pols! Eventually the "headliner" arrived, George Lopez. He made a bunch of jokes ("Hey, we Latinos invented saving gas, right? Weren't we the first ones to get twenty people into a Monte Carlo?" "I expected to hear from Obama when it came time to pick a Vice-President, you know. I can see Mexico from my house! I know all about foreign policy!") YAAAAAY, George!!

A little more tape loop, then our Goob came on and did a little cheerleading. "We gonna give Obama a BLUE New Mexico? Si, se puede! Si, se puede!" He asked us how many had early-voted, then estimated the crowd at 350,000. Dimples. "Hey, it's my opinion, right? I can give my estimate, too!" Yaaaaay, Bill! Back to the tape loop. We ate our cookies. I checked the time on my cell phone. Ten to nine. Maybe Obama's plane was landing. Maybe it wasn't, yet. No one seemed particularly impatient. It wasn't too cold.

Soon there was a stir, behind us. Then a stir, in front of us. It was a little after nine. The tape loop stopped, and the announcer boomed, "Please welcome the next President of the United States!"

And there he was. Maybe forty feet from me. Grinning as the cheers rolled up from the crowd. We couldn't really see how many, but the noise was pretty amazing, considering we were in a wide-open, dead-flat venue, nothing to hold or reflect the sound.

He launched into his stump speech. Good speech. He stuck in plenty of local references, plus plenty of jabs at McCain's current 'strategies' (or are they tactics...?) The best laugh came when he delivered, with just the right amount of incredulity, the news that McCain was now comparing HIM, Obama, to BUSH! Saying that HE, Obama, would continue Bush's policies?! He carefully refrained from references to what Johnny's smoking these days, or what color the sky is when seen from the Straight Talk express, but the implication was clear.

Every now and then the crowd would start the chant: "O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!" I think they did it just to see that big grin spread across his face, but he never let it go on for long.

He said all the right things --to me, at any rate. Tax credits to businesses for creating good jobs, here in America. A ninety-day moratorium on mortgage foreclosures. Aid to State and local governments to cushion the economic blows. Investment in building a modern, 21st-century infrastructure to create jobs and rekindle economic growth. Pay for it? Get out of Iraq. Tax cuts for the middle class. Roll taxes for the wealthy back to what they were in Clinton's day. Rich people were rich then, weren't they? They'll still be rich. Make college accessible to all kids with talent and ability who are willing to swap a commitment to public service for tuition help. Immigration reform without silly hyperbole about deporting twelve million people-- reconcile a nation of immigrants with a nation of laws. Health care.

He finished up with some old-fashioned stemwinding: Hope. Unity. A future for our kids. Shared aspirations, shared sacrifices. Bringing us together. Opportunity.

Yes, we can.

Thought the stars were gonna bounce from the volume of the cheers.

People surged toward the platform as he finished, making for the handshake area, rope line, whatever. Too much crowd for me. Besides, there were people who needed to see him up close way more than I do. People he needed to see, too. We inserted ourselves in the flow of people heading back up the traffic corridor to Central Avenue.

Honking cars. Cheers and whistles, people waving signs. Police stopping traffic for the crowds to cross the street, and more honks, more waving. It was all cheerful and friendly. People chatted as they waited at the crosswalks, nodded and waved in the parking lots.

Yep. Nice blunting, John. We're SO discouraged, here.

Blue New Mexico. Count on it.

affirmatively,
Bright

I've never been to an Obama rally but I feel like I was right beside you.

I can't wait to see New Mexico go blue!

Thanks again, Bright.

I almost felt like I was there with you..

You were really fortunate to have been able to be there and experience the electricity that must have been going around that rally!!

Thanks again..
:thumbsup: :hi:

:hug:

I wish he would have had more entertainment. It was the first tome I had been to a political rally.

I think I was expecting a concert with all the people and encores and bic lighters.

It is an amazing experience though. It's pure and good. It's Democracy.

K&R

Even tho I couldnt be there it was great to read about your wonderful adventure

I particularly loved, "Thought the stars were gonna bounce from the volume of the cheers." Great description. You build the evening in a fantastic way and bring me back to earth and out of the field as if I was there, walking back to my car or bike or home, filled with absolute exuberance and hope after having heard our next president speak.

Thanks, so very much, for this read.

:yourock:

You really brought it to life with your vivid, detailed descriptions. Just like being there myself!

Kick!!!

What a great feeling ....

You know ? .... For decades: Conservatives used their hate rhetoric to stuff Liberals into a box ....

This last week or two: They have been revealed for what they are : Foolish Bullies ....

The secret is out; They are liars and fools ... They have lost the power to keep the box closed ...

Slowly but surely ... Liberals will emerge from that box .... and feel free again ...

EVERYTHING he spoke of that you wanted to hear ... I wanted to hear too ...

It is beautiful music to my ears ...

If this keeps up : I might have to start feeling optimistic about my kids futures .. for once ...

My oh my ... what an extraordinary day .... In so many ways ....

You can feel it in the air ....


THANKS for this Tygr Bright .... Thanks ...

(Oops... replied to the wrong message in the thread.)

(December 2007 feels like a long, long time ago, doesn't it?) I got to see Obama here in Nashua. The contrast between then and now for an Obama campaign event is amazing. By showing up just a little early, and putting up with standing out in the 20-something degree cold for about 45 minutes, I got a front row seat in a high school auditorium, standing maybe 20-25 feet from Obama -- no special VIP tickets required. :)

Before we got to go inside a few of the Obama campaign workers were trying to get the people who were waiting worked up with chants like, "Obama! '08! Be a part of something great!" and "Fired up! Ready to go!", but with very tepid results from a chilly crowd of New Englanders who were friendly enough and moderately excited to be there, but who weren't ready to chant much until after they'd met this new guy and decided if they liked him, and whose main concern was wishing the organizers would open the doors and let them inside so they could do their waiting where it was warmer.

I don't know exactly how big the crowd was. We easily filled the auditorium and then some, but it wasn't a huge auditorium. Maybe 1000-1500 people were there, at a very rough guess. Obama's star was definitely rising, but he was still in some ways just another candidate in a crowded field of candidates, making one appearance of which we knew there had been and would be many more before primary voting. (We citizens of NH are a bit spoiled by all the special attention we get by having the first primary.)

At the time I was leaning towards Clinton, and I was still leaning towards Clinton after hearing Obama speak, but Obama became a very close second choice for me. I was thinking when I left the event that it would be great to have eight years of Clinton and for Obama, as Clinton's VP, to be President in 2016. It wasn't until after the primary season wore on (and on, and on!), and I got to see both more depth in Obama over time, and to sour a little on the way Clinton ran her campaign, that I began to wish I'd voted for Obama instead of Clinton in the primary.

I got to see a Clinton campaign event too -- on a hot summer day well before I saw Obama. I met John Edwards among a small group crammed into someone's living room a couple of miles from my house. I'm not the kind of person to chase down a handshake -- yes, it's nice to be able to say you shook someone's hand, but too much effort makes it seem sort of fawning to me. Shaking Clinton's hand would have meant getting into a long line, so I didn't bother. I was so close to Edwards that a handshake was practically unavoidable. With a front row seat for Obama, all I had to do was linger a minute or so before leaving and Obama walked right by, shaking everyone's hand in the front row (Secret Service just a few steps ahead, making sure people's hands weren't hidden in pockets, but already out and empty).

I remember thinking to myself, "I may very well have just shaken the hand of the next President of the United States."

And you know, I think I did. :)

One of the things I talked about with the guy from the paper was the incredible momentum in this campaign. I think it's because thirty years ago, the GOP made a conscious decision to pin their success to stirring up fear and appealing to hate and creating division. People like Atwater and Gingrich and Rove and the hate radio talkers believed that the end --victory for the GOP-- justified those means.

Thirty years ago, they sowed the wind. Now they're reaping a hella whirlwind. Their chickens are coming home to roost in huge flocks, crapping copiously as they land.

The majority of Americans recognize that in times of real challenge, hate and fear and division just aren't going to work.

We knew it on September 12th, 2001. It was a huge opportunity. If Bush had said, "We have to put aside our partisan and ideological differences with other Americans and work together. We have to make real sacrifice so that our nation's economy never again depends on a critical resource that we don't control, like oil. We have to put aside our differences with others in the world who share our determination to end the fear of terrorism by fanatical ideologues. We have to make sacrifices to put real resources into that fight, side by side with our neighbors throughout the world," and if he had MEANT IT...

It's hard to imagine how different the world might look today, seven-plus years later.

Every few generations, History (usually aided by human folly) gives us a hellacious challenge, a testing challenge. And even more rarely Divine Providence (I believe) gives us exactly the leader who can help us meet and overcome that challenge and grow stronger because of it. And even MORE rarely, we're smart enough to recognize the match between that challenge and that leader.

An awesome moment of history.

Like you, I wasn't originally an Obama supporter. He was one of my strong second choices. And like you, after closer observation and the churning process of the primaries, I came to be glad that he was the one that pulled it out. But even more recently, as we've seen the speed and magnitude of the collapsing house of cards built by uncontrolled greed and indifference to human suffering and the consequences for our environment, I have become convinced that THIS candidate offers EXACTLY what we need to deal with the challenge.

He's rejected the politics of fear and hate and division all along. Not just talk, he's lived it. He wants to be President for ALL of us, and empower ALL of us to meet the test. He's prepared to make the hard choices to bring that about. That's always been his priority as a public servant and a leader. It's not that he is rising to the challenge of the times, it's that the times are coalescing around the need for his kind of leadership.

So I'm convinced that if we can keep them from stealing the vote by criminal means, I heard our next President.

And I think we're damn' lucky. Luckier than we deserve.

thankfully,
Bright

and people are just nicer to one another waiting in line and sharing their stories and learning about their neighbors in this America. Its a really nice experience. I guess with sooo many people coming together with hope and positive vibes, it really makes the atmosphere electric.