I Saw The President Of The United States Of America Today.

[rsmith6621]

President Obama came to Seattle today for a 5 hour campaign stop which included BRUNCH with BILLIONAIRES. I was there to get some picture of Air Force One not expecting that I would actually get the opportunity to actually see him. His motorcade passed within 75 ft of where I was standing and from inside POTUS turned and looked at the line of people through the glass and waved and headed off to Bellevue for a snack.

Secret service sent a county police officer though to escort myself and 6 others out of another parking lot so I went to the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field..

Here is an image of the big blue bird...Obamas AF1 flew through a rainbow on final approach to Seattle

[provis99]

1. that's one heck of a plane.

Too bad they don't give tours of Air Force One like they do with the White House.

It's nice that he thought to wave at the peasants before meeting with his corporate bosses.

[Itchinjim]

6. 224

[Blue_Tires]

35. I thought if (big IF) you know the right people at Andrews you might get a peek

Don't remember where I heard that from, though...

[JoePhilly]

2. Obama Bad Obama Bad Obama Bad

:sarcasm:

[FrenchieCat]

13. Since Small donors can't afford to give,

and others simply don't want to....
I guess we should just hand the Presidency to the Republicans.... :sarcasm:

[JoePhilly]

40. Seems to be the plan. I'll be donating.

[MerryBlooms]

3. Fab pic, thanks! Some politicians stir emotion and I think Obama

has that gift.

I remember when I was just a little bit and my dad held me on his shoulders to see Bobby Kennedy at the Medford courthouse. That day changed my life. I recall thinking even as young as I was, almost 5, this was something I would never forget. My dad said, 'This man is our next president... pay attention, kitten'. *sigh

[classof56]

4. When Bobby was in Seattle in 1968, my spouse's coworker shook his hand.

Swore he was never going to wash it again! <smile> A few nights later I was watching Bobby's speech in LA (spouse was at work) and cheered when he gave the peace sign and said "And now it's on to Chicago". Next to him was Rosie Greer and I thought, no one's going to get close to him with Rosie standing by. Within minutes...oh, damn, it's a painful memory. Don't think my spouse's coworker ever quite got over it. Didn't realize Bobby had stopped in Medford. What a lovely moment for you and how great that it proved to be life-changing. I agree Obama has the gift to inspire and lift the human spirit. Helps me keep the faith!

Tired Old Cynic

[formercia]

8. I pissed off Poppy Bush several times.

..but my niece shook his hand at a parade. My mother kept a picture of it on her sideboard just to piss me off. It's amazing what holding a Green Card and the fear of deportation will do to someone.

[MerryBlooms]

11. My sister was in a photo once with Governor Tom McCall

A Republican who was well respected by both sides of the aisle. Gosh, I can't believe how things have changed.

[classof56]

36. Oh, Tom was my hero!

Definitely one of a kind, whose love for Oregon resulted in amazing benefits to our wonderful state. When he left us, I went to see him lying in state in the Capitol Building and yes, I cried. Truly a man to match our mountains! He is buried close to where I live, and I feel honored to know he is resting in peace so nearby!

I have a photo of me and Gov. Vic Atiyeh, who was not bad for a Republican, but certainly no Tom McCall! Or Mark Hatfield, for all that.

Yes, sadly, things have changed. But I still love my state and am proud to call myself an Oregonian!

[MerryBlooms]

41. ~cheers~

I love Illinois, but I miss my Oregon something fierce. I grew up in the hills above J'ville - gosh I miss the smell of that red clay soil, but I don't miss the rattlesnakes. I won't make it back until next Spring - hold the fort for me!

[classof56]

42. My mom and I used to attend the Peter Britt Festival every summer.

Love J'Ville, beautiful historic town and absolutely gorgeous area. Glad you can look forward to coming home e'er long. Meanwhile, I'll definitely hold the fort from over here East of the Cascades.

Blessings!

[classof56]

12. Good for you for pissin' off Poppy!

I have a long-time acquaintance who while visiting WA DC saw Barbara Bush drive by in a limo and--gasp!--she waved at him. He shared the joy with everyone on his extensive e-mail list, and he had a photo to document that highlight of his life. Keep wondering if he keeps a picture on display, like your mother, and if maybe he's built a shrine. He's like a son to me, but I guess I raised him wrong for him to turn out so...Republicon!

[formercia]

15. For a while, I was camped out right down the street

from the Kennebunkport compound. Whenever I drove by, I would shoot them the Bird.

I have family in Kennebunk.

That deadbeat claims Texas residency so they won't have to pay State Tax. After all the State has spent, protecting his slimy ass, he's too cheap to pay his fair share. Predator Class to the Max.

[MerryBlooms]

9. I remember crying and us holding hands

Rosie Greer - yes, I totally remember. What an awesome presence he was.

[treasure]

5. Great picture

JFK was about 10 feet away from me going down University Avenue in his motorcade. He was coming from a meeting at UC Berkeley. That was a life changing event for me.

[classof56]

7. Thank you for posting such a great photo.

And congrats on seeing him--and how neat that he waved! I drove through Seattle a couple months ago and as we were passing Boeing Field, the 787 was coming in for a landing. Not as cool as seeing the POTUS, but an interesting moment for an old Seattle gal now living in Oregon!

[gateley]

22. I saw it fly over work a several months ago and this woman and I

just stared at this plane heading toward us because it was going so slow, and it was so quiet! After it passed overhead and we turned to watch it go out over the Sound we saw those swoopy wings and realized it was the 787. We were so excited!

I even posted about it on DU complete with a big pic!

[CakeGrrl]

10. I was at Boeing field this morning and just saw the motorcade in downtown Seattle

We were right om the corner of 7th and Pike and could've touched The Beast as it rounded the corner. Had about a 50-motorcycle escort. Cool stuff.

[gateley]

23. I'm getting chills just reading about this! Was he on his way to the

Paramount then? (Must have been - it's on 9th and Pine I think.)

[CakeGrrl]

26. Yes. There were a fair number of us on 7th, but quite a crowd the next block up.

They were louder with a variety of signs - both in support and protest.

While we waited, we chatted with one of the police blocking off the street. He gave us updates as the motorcade came across SR-520 from the Eastside so we could get ready, and he even gave us a little crowd encouragement. :)

Since the Paramount appearance was a fairly brief, we went back to the airfield to wait for the motorcade to return. We chatted with a couple of freelance photographers, a male and female, and found out the man's daughter was at the Paramount fundraiser. She raved about it and gave him a heads-up when it ended.

I managed to get some decent video of the motorcade arriving to the airport and of AF1 taking off. We spotted Reggie in the first limo and POTUS in the second waving and leaning toward the window so we could see him. It was a fun day even just following the group around town!

[gateley]

28. Thanks for letting me "be there" with you! And I didn't even

have to stand in the wind!! :hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

14. That is so cool! What a great pic!

I saw President Clinton and heard him speak back in 2006 and saw his plane, too, all of which was damn impressive, but have never seen a sitting president... :patriot: :hi:

[bigwillq]

16. Nice pic.

K and R

[lunatica]

17. I like your photo!

Crop out the chain link fence and you've got a great shot.

[rsmith6621]

25. The secret service would not allow anyone near the fence.

especially with my 5 ft ladder. They weren't letting people stand on the beds of pickup trucks or the roofs of cars and we were a mile away from where the POTUS was getting off the plane. So that was the best place to get a photograph.

[lunatica]

31. Well you certainly did an excellent job of taking that photograph

Congratulations again on the good shot.

[whistler162]

18. Last year I was in DC on one of those double decker

bus tours and it was held up in traffic for a presidential motorcade, from the White House to points south. A high point in the trip and the year, yeah it was that bad a year what with the back surgery.

[rury]

19. President Obama is coming to Dallas on October 4

I live in the area and I'm going to see him!!!!!!!!
This will be the third time I have seen him in person.
I shook his hand the first time I saw him in 2005 before he was a candidate.
The second time was at a rally during the campaign for the Texas primary....I wasn't able to get close that time.
I hope I get close on October 4!!!!!!!
I am soooo excited!!!!!!
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[gateley]

24. We're so excited FOR you!! nt

[otohara]

38. Denver Tomorrow

At Lincoln High School. It's in one of the poorer neighborhoods and very diverse.

[Honeycombe8]

43. I'm in Dallas, too. I think he's coming for an expensive fundraising dinner...

He won't be giving a speech to a crowd, I think.

But if he does, I probably won't be able to see him, like I couldn't see him the last time he came, although I worked just a few blocks from where he was and could easily have gone down there. The reason I didn't/couldn't was....the crowds were ENORMOUS, and the line was so long to get in that people had to wait in line for hours. I'm middle aged and #1...can't stand up that long without a sit down even briefly; and #2...I can't go that long w/o going to the bathroom!

I blame it on my age, and I suppose it is. But I couldn't have gone that long w/o going to the bathroom even when I was 20. When you gotta go, you gotta go.

[gateley]

20. I was wondering how his flight was -- it's so windy today! The guy and

his wife hosting it in Medina (I think it was $38,000 a plate - seriously!)sound like good Dems (probably because they mirror what I feel. :)) The man, Jon Shirley (former Microsoft, natch) said he was disappointed that Obama didn't deliver on some things we all really wanted, but the Republican offerings were embarrassing.

The thing at the Paramount had cheap seats -- beginning at $100. :7 No WONDER I wasn't on any of the invite lists!

Great shot - I bet it was exciting seeing it in person!

[MadMaddie]

21. Awesome! I would have loved to have been there

I am on the Eastside and avoided getting on the highways due to high traffic volumes.

Pretty cool that he came here.

[txlibdem]

27. I thought you said you saw The President of the United States of America.

But then you started writing about The President of, by and for Corporate America Obama.

I was sure this OP was about James Earl Carter, the last President to actually care about the bottom 98%. He is the President that the MSM and Fox news never fail to call "the worst President" so that tells you he was on the CORRECT track for the American People... and NOT for the corporations.

[gateley]

29. Feel better? nt

[txlibdem]

33. A little bit, thanks.

I take it you disagree?

[gateley]

34. Not entirely, but this thread really wasn't to discuss the

merits or betrayals of any particular president, and it was enjoyable to feel that American! :patriot: sense while reading through the posts. The real-life posts are plentiful and I just don't see any need to get a jab in every single opportunity that presents itself. We know how everybody feels. What you're saying isn't new and we've heard it before and agree to varying degrees, but just don't think this was the right place. Accomplished nothing except to, as I noted, make you feel better.

[txlibdem]

39. Thanks for understanding

I guess I was feeling particularly betrayed when I wrote that post. If you'd like to know why then scroll down a bit, if not then I'll leave sufficient line breaks that you won't have to see the cause of that particular meltdown.

Peace.

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It may have been caused by hearing The President once again using as fact the false terminology of the GOP, "Job Creators."

Another thing I noticed in the speech: Obama used the term 'job creators' several times. So in effect, he's legitimize­d that repugnant phrase in our political discourse.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Stoutboy/obama-jobs-speech_n_954904_107071675.html

My google search: http://www.google.com/#q=obama+used+the+term+%22job+creators%22&hl=en&prmd=imvns&ei=IOSATuKRIKKksQLw1rBE&start=30&sa=N&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=b083820506f29980&biw=1013&bih=405

[Hart2008]

30. So you got a rainbow but no pony? Brunch with billionares, but no ponies for the rest of us...

Does the brunch with billionaires club and their contributions to him explain why Obama didn't veto their tax cut extensions?

The billionaires get their ponies from Obama, but the rest of us don't get much.

[ellisonz]

32. I will forever regret not calling in sick to see his 1 public campaign appearance in Hawaii in 2008.

Silly me for not just saying forget bagging groceries and pulling carts for a day:banghead:

[LuckyLib]

37. I took my daughter to see Obama very early in the campaign. Never imagining

he could get elected, I wanted her to see (up close and personal) an African American running for President. It was electric then -- his connection to the audience was amazing.