One million expected at Obama victory rally.

[Drunken Irishman]

Jesus!

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/obama.election.night.2.850668.html

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Wow! That should be quite a party!!

My son lives in Chicago. I wonder if he would go there...It is going to be like New Year's Eve in Times Square, and more.

There is a poster here at DU who lives in Ireland who was trying to decide if he should make the trip to Chicago for the celebration, since it really will be a once in a lifetime kind of event.

I wouldn't mind being close enough to see it, but not sure I could handle being in a crowd like that....

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

2. I believe the Duer from Ireland WILL be there.

That would be an incredible night. But I will be watching from North Carolina in the warmth of my home. I can't wait but we still have 7 days of work to do.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Right. As Michelle Obama said.."He is the underdog until he is sitting in the Oval Office".

[frazzled]

4. Dilemma: freeze outside for hours with 1M people, or sit home watching returns?

I thought I had it figured out: stay home and watch the returns for a while, channel hopping, as usual ... and then hop the el or a cab (10-20 minutes in normal conditions, either way) over to Grant Park to see Obama speak. I figured he won't go on until the polls close in California, 9 or 10 pm Chicago time.

But then I realized, hey ... you just can't pop on over, because there will be a million peeps to shuttle through security. And the traffic! (You think the Fourth of July or Venetian night is bad!). You probably have to get there at 5 pm latest. And it will be cold. And there probably won't be any TVs.

I'm really torn. I live downtown, just a few minutes away from Grant Park. Should I face the crowds and the cold because it will be historic, or should I watch it on TV?

What to do?

[Drunken Irishman]

6. Tape the returns and go to it. It's historical.

No moment in your life will ever compare, at least in terms of history.

Then you could say for the rest of your life, "I was there when President Elect Barack Obama gave his first speech!"

[bunnies]

7. Are you kidding?!

GO WITNESS HISTORY!!!! If I had a chance to be there that night, nothing would keep me away!

[frazzled]

12. I'm not kidding

Here are my reasons:

(1) I'm an election-night-returns junkie. I've been glued to my set on every election since 1972.

(2) I'm not all that young (as you can tell from my election-night viewing dates).

(3) I have a minor case of agorophobia: I get a bit freaked out in crowds.

(4) It will be just as historic on TV.

(5) I probably won't get anywhere near the front: may not even be able to see.

(6) It will take an hour and a half just to WALK home from it (forget a cab: that would take 2 hours).

(7) I've witnessed plenty of history.

(8) I turned down a pair of tickets to Game 7 of the World Series in 1991. between the Twins and the Braves, because I never thought there would be a Game 7. Felt kind of bad (and stupid) when there was. But sitting at home watching it in my cozy PJs, I wasn't so sorry after all--it was still the greatest game in World Series history--evah!

[RevolutionStartsNow]

13. All good reasons; don't kick yourself about it

And you are absolutely right, it will be just as historic on TV. While physically being there will no doubt be ELECTRIC, the hassles involved may trump that experience. I expect to be plenty electrified watching it here from California on my TV.

Whatever your decision, have no regrets. We will all be witnessing history that night.

[zipplewrath]

14. Just trying to help

Dunno if you're looking for excuse to go, or to stay home.

Here are my reasons:

(1) I'm an election-night-returns junkie. I've been glued to my set on every election since 1972.

Get some hand held device like a portable TV or a video enabled phone. Maybe a radio.

(2) I'm not all that young (as you can tell from my election-night viewing dates).

So this really is one of your last chances at history.

(3) I have a minor case of agorophobia: I get a bit freaked out in crowds.

Free Therapy. Take a friend, have 'em hold your hand.

(4) It will be just as historic on TV.

Yeah, that was my excuse for not taking that plane to Berlin when the wall was
coming down. No, it ain't the same. Not at all. Few regrets in life, that was one of them.

(5) I probably won't get anywhere near the front: may not even be able to see.

You'll be able to hear. There will be big screens to magnify what you'll be seeing at a distance.

(6) It will take an hour and a half just to WALK home from it (forget a cab: that would take 2 hours).

You almost assuredly need the exercise. It will be a new beginning, start with a new attitude towards exercise.

(7) I've witnessed plenty of history.

Yeah, right. What comes the closest to this?

(8) I turned down a pair of tickets to Game 7 of the World Series in 1991. between the Twins and the Braves, because I never thought there would be a Game 7. Felt kind of bad (and stupid) when there was. But sitting at home watching it in my cozy PJs, I wasn't so sorry after all--it was still the greatest game in World Series history--evah!

I'll point out that you don't actually know, since you weren't actually there. You know the expression; "You have no idea what you missed".

[Cha]

15. Bundle up and

Enjoy for us!

[Jersey Devil]

5. There better be a lot of Port-O-Potties!

because I expect a few folks might have imbibed a bit before arriving, if you know what I mean. :bounce: :toast:

[Mme. Defarge]

8. Call me an old fashioned romantic

but wouldn't it be fantastic to hear and see fireworks displays, and hear the sound of church bells pealing throughout every city and town in the world? :grouphug:

[scheming daemons]

9. God Speed, Secret Service.... God Speed

[Parker CA]

11. Seriously. May they have their best out in enormous numbers. This will be a huge test.

I cannot even fathom how you protect one man in a crowd that large.

[darkism]

10. Get your tickets here:

http://www.democrats.org/page/s/electionnight