{"id":3161,"date":"2010-10-21T05:15:07","date_gmt":"2010-10-21T12:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=3161"},"modified":"2013-10-22T08:45:04","modified_gmt":"2013-10-22T15:45:04","slug":"i-saw-obama-in-portland-1020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2010\/10\/21\/i-saw-obama-in-portland-1020\/","title":{"rendered":"I Saw Obama in Portland – 10\/20"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"button\" 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.<\/font><\/p>\n

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.<\/font><\/p>\n

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.<\/font><\/p>\n

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.<\/font><\/p>\n

Here’s the line:<\/font><\/p>\n

\"TheLine\" <\/font><\/p>\n

And here I am with my friend, Sandi.<\/font><\/p>\n

\"WaitingWithSandi\" <\/font><\/p>\n

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.<\/font><\/p>\n

I waited about 2 1\/2 hours for the speaking to begin.  There were around 8,000 of us there.<\/font><\/p>\n

After a couple warm up speeches, Jeff Merkley, introduced John Kitzhaber.  Ron Wyden, David Wu, and Earl Blumenauer were also there.<\/font><\/p>\n

Here’s Kitz:<\/font><\/p>\n

\"Kitz\" <\/font><\/p>\n

Lousy picture, I know.<\/font><\/p>\n

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.<\/font><\/p>\n

Here’s a lousy pic:<\/font><\/p>\n

\"Obama\" <\/font><\/p>\n

And another:<\/font><\/p>\n

\"Obama2\" <\/font><\/p>\n

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.<\/font><\/p>\n