Victory 2004

Monday, September 13, 2004 Michigan welcomes President George W. Bush "and" Republican Candidates at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds.

It was the event to be at, so I was. Approximately 13,000 people and myself waited in anticipation for the first Presidential visit by "The Man" while in office since 40 years ago, when Kennedy was in the Great Lakes area. The doors would close at 1pm "to allow sufficient time for security", (we were there at 7:30 am), meaning lots of secret service, that I by the way got a few pictures of. You all will have to wait as well as me as they havn't been developed yet, oh but they will be and posted for all to see. Volunteering to make 50 phone calls to those with absentee ballots, my ticket got bumped up, front baracade, so I was right there at the baracade in front of the President, not in the stands I could almost touch the President of the United States, but only got a few pictures. From my position (on the shoulders), on top of a friends 6 ft 3in frame I had probably the best angles and view for the pics. Unknown to me at the moment but to another friends exitement I was being zoomed in on by three news cameras, so if any of you watched the local news in holland or go to ABCnews.com, video might be found of a guy in a white ATS Tshirt elevated above the crowd while takeing pictures. I say maybe because I was so focused on taking the pictures I didn't even notice the news cameras, though I was being yelled at to "LOOK LEFT!" I was in my own world up there.

The pictures that will be posted will be among the flood of others I have yet to post. However these ones have a very stunning secret service lady in plain clothes, then others of the sniper team and the guy who was behind us within arms reach the whole time. He made me nervous at first because he did ok, but I got used to his presence soon. Turns out it was a good thing he was near by, as a couple of us spotted a plane overhead and the airspace was supposed to be clear, he saw what we did, and soon told his wrist com what was going on and the roof top teams scanned the sky asap. A chopper was in the air up there really soon, then no aircraft could be seen.
It was a very eventful day, it was better when we left (despite the Kerry group protesting, who half of were not old enough to vote even), and still had our cameras. I have my ticket and will scan that also when the pics are ready. I just hope they all turn out as it was a roll that needed to be used up, that I did. So here ends a little adventure undertaken by a group of Michiganders in historical times. I am going to get the film developed today hopefully, so pics should be up this week. I cannot wait to share my day with you all and hope others have simular activities to share.

United we stand.
The rest is not an option.




[edit on 16-9-2004 by ADVISOR]

Took me long enough, but finally I picked up the developed film.

The man

The man2

From above

From above2

Viva Bush

Snipers

Looks that kill

Looks that kill2

W

So what do you all think, go ahead and let it out. God knows you may have been waiting long enough for an up date with pics...

Who's that girl? Did you sign the loyality oath?

EDIT: Oh, the SS girl. You're right, she does look stunning!

[edit on 15-9-2004 by curme]

She was beyond stunning, I very much wanted to get a front view picture. However I was unable to move any limbs while she looked at me....lets just say she makes Venus look like Medusa.

Last year, my wife and I, were invited to a gathering of about 200 with the VP.

That was really cool too!

Is that something you'd endorse?

How was the speech? Facial ticks? Eyes on the paper? Pregnant pauses for the applause lines?

Hrm, a few thoughts.

1. Damn you for not getting a front pic of that sexy bodyguard.

2. You are still using chemical film, dude! Digital!

3. Speaking as an Aussie, its always been somewhat bemusing to me to see how excited you all get about the president and so forth. I always can't help but wonder if you guys are just putting us all on.

Originally posted by Bout Time
Is that something you'd endorse?

Yes, if it is the alternative to "flip flop", a leader does not second guess himself. Perhaps over plan for the worse, but never second guess or change ones opinion. For crying out loud Kerry makes Gore look good!

Originally posted by Bout Time
How was the speech? Facial ticks? Eyes on the paper? Pregnant pauses for the applause lines?

The speech was pretty good, right up front he stated he wanted our votes, and the crowd answered "FOUR MORE YEARS!". He said patients and doctors should decide medicare, not the government. He only looked at his notes a few times that I noticed, and he had to wait for everyone to quiet down, he didn't pause unless the people got too loud, so no "pregnant pauses". Bush spoke for a little over an hour, and stayed long enough to shake many hands, he seemed to want to linger with the crowd.

It was found later, that he made a unscheduled stop, for ice cream.

[edit on 15-9-2004 by ADVISOR]

My parents saw Bush in Ohio last weekend or so. They said when he is speaking and the cameras are more so off of him, he is a much more skilled and personable speaker than what you see on TV. They really spoke highly of how well whe spoke because I brought up the same point that Bout Time did.

Originally posted by ADVISOR

Originally posted by Bout Time
Is that something you'd endorse?

Yes, if it is the alternative to "flip flop", a leader does not second guess himself.

Got ya! So why would you support Bush? I mean the flip flops are leagues long, from "No Nation building" "To Building Iraq & Afganistan", From "Rice won't testify" to "Rice will testify", from "No Intelligence Czar - no budget control" to "We need an Intelligence Czar with Budget Control", from "We need steel tarrifs" to "No Steel Tarrifs", from............you know, this could take all day!

And I thought you were for a strong America?

I am for a stronger America, I have seen what the last four years of Bush is like. I do not have a clue as to how Kerry is going to perform. I stand by the President for the leader he is, and more so with the people of my country. I have a beer cooler that might explain better;

"Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often and for the same reason!"

Now, this is truly scary.

Originally posted by ADVISOR
I am for a stronger America, I have seen what the last four years of Bush is like. I do not have a clue as to how Kerry is going to perform. I stand by the President for the leader he is, and more so with the people of my country. I have a beer cooler that might explain better;

"Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often and for the same reason!"

And those are the exact reasons I came to the conclusion of voting Kerry!
There is no leadership in being consistent, if you're consistently wrong. Having seen what issues flavor your perspective, I highly reccommend reading this article in this thread, by Pat Buchanan, I'm the first to admit my discomfort at his visible erection everytime he talks about 1940's Germany, but the man is brilliant and clearly for America & Americans in the old school Conservative veign.

Hot damn! I want some SS now

Seriously - the whole thing was a failure if you didn't get a pic of her face

Plus, I wonder what she was thinking of the creepy guy following her around taking pictures.....