shutdown

Tried to see Clinton last night, and Obama today, but could not get in both times. My hit and run timing tactics were no good, you really had to camp out like it was Hannah Montana. Obama filled Key Arena with 3000 outside still wanting to get in, one of which was me. I heard him speak, not 100 feet away, as when I walked up to see if I could get in last minute, he addressed those of us outside for a few minutes. Still, I could not see him. The crowd was in a frenzy. 21,000 total inside and out. People started arriving at 6am, and one likely had to get in line at 10ish to make it in, then wait 4 hours for Obama. Ouch.

Credit to Obama for choosing an arena, as Hillary was at a shipping pier which was SRO, with ambulances taking out some of the weary older crowd who could not stand the wait (no seats, concrete floor, hours long wait, double ouch). She spoke until 10:30 on a Thursday night. I had just picked up Tess at the airport, and thought we could swing by and check it out. We could not even find parking, so we drove off after some folks walking out clued us in to the difficulties. The traffic jam to leave the waterfront after she was done would have been epic.

I would have tried for McCain tonight too, but he was at the Westin, and I could only imagine that it was a pay-for-play event at such a small and expensive venue. Hopefully the final 2 (or 3 or 4?) candidates will swing through again, and use larger, more convenient forums for those of us who cannot camp out.

Always seems weird going to things like this and seeing people panhandling and picking through garbage, just a couple hundred feet away. The red ribbon was part of the queue to get in. -e