He will be speaking here today. Mostly about tuition hikes. But I am sure there will be other topics addressed. Got a free ticket on Sunday. I have never seen a CIC in person. Has anybody else?

Lucky!

Where's he speaking? The best I can say is that I saw Jessie Jackson speak about the "Paralysis of Analysis," back in the late 80's at the UMC fountains.

Barry spoke on the waterfront in Portland back before his election. It was the largest gathering, ever, in downtown Portland, Oregon.

SkiNose wrote:


At the Foam Dome. Aka, Coors Event Center.

SkiNose wrote:



I was at the former.

Obama is well-travelled right now. I kid you not, he is speaking at UNC Chapel Hill right now and I just saw his motorcade roll on by during lunch with spotters on every overpass and cops all over the place. Saw multiple limos with the flags on the front - pretty cool.

I have actually met a former president of the United States - for real though! Ronald Freaking Regan! I met him in 1984 along with the governor of Michigan at the time James Blanchard. There was some type of benefit at Greenfield Villiage that my father had helped organize and I got to meet Ron-Ron. He said something like, "Weelllll, it's very nice to meet you young man." I was just a teenager at the time but I was struck by how he created an almost calming effect wherever he went - wierd huh.

I am ashamed to admit it but I have also met (on multiple occasions) the scumbag we all know as Don Rumsfeld. Believe it or not, he was the best man in my dad's wedding in 1954. They were both in the Navy and went through flight training together in Copus Christi Texas. They kept in touch and I got to meet him a few times when the families got together. Politics notwithstanding, he was an asshole then and he an even bigger asshole now. My dad disagrees - I still love him though

Sorry to hijack the thread > it just took me back to a different time.

No apology necessary. Interesting story.

I was at the "Heath Care Companies reform" rally that started his tour a few years back. I didn't actually meet him....funny story:

So I get there at 4:00 AM (not a fanatic wearing a Barack T Shirt) I really was there as a interested historian. I was literally the 24 person in line....I was behind some real intellects let me tell you ( ) Either way shared my doughnuts and made small talk while sitting on the sidewalk as the doors to the target center didn't open up until 10:00AM.

Had the lady save spot for me while I "went to the bathroom" walked a block and found a nice dark ally and started to burn. Forgot it was a sucured area and had SS pull up with 2 SUV in front of the ally. I played it cool and walked away with no troubles. Found my spot in line waited for doors to open. In front of the door were those metal gates that corral people into like 30 lines and with in mins there was a large crowd in front of the place and in front of me in line ....made some jokes about "that Socialism" for the people around me and had a laugh

Speech was inspiring and seemed authentic, left happy ...bough 5 dollar "Hope" poster from guy outside and went home

Did meet Al Franken again, he was walking around shaking hands with people camped in line at 7:00AM-he really is a good guy. I say go and enjoy, may not be as entertaining as the GOP debates, but there should be a laugh or two wrote into the script

In '08, Obama did a whistle stop at the train station two blocks from where I live. Didn't know anything about it till his voice filled the air around my house. So I trotted over and caught most of the speech. He's a very compelling speaker and he seems like a pretty decent guy. Didn't get to meet him though. This was strictly a hit and run.

teafortexas wrote:

OMG, I can't believe Rumsfled was your Dad's best man!!! Wow, that would make for some very, very interesting dinner conversation. I truly think he is evil incarnate, and I mean that without any hyperbole. I'm sure your Dad is great though, I had very Republican parents, too.

I got to hear Gerald Ford, and he exited out our row, so Mom got to shake his hand, though I just got a nod and smile. Still, when he wasn't tripping over stuff he was a good guy at a tough time, and at least didn't screw anything up too badly. And he played football. Saw George McGovern speak when he was running, along with Ted Kennedy; not very exciting at the time.

Obama should be interesting, he was sounding good at UNC this morning. Right now, MSNBC has a reporter stationed in front of a big Buffalo statue.

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