Palin is coming to my area

[AppyLover2]

Wow I just heard that Gov Palin is coming to within 20 miles of me for a rally. Oh I'd love to go!!! Have to take my daughter to a Dr's appointment in another town this afternoon though so I'm trying to figure out if I can make it to the rally and back before I have to head for Dr's office. Decisions........decisions........Grrrrrr!!!!!

 

[Basketmiss]

Donna, go, go , go!! I wish i could but I cant get away even though it is 30 minutes from me...

Missy

 

[AppyLover2]

I know Missy. I want to go sooooooo bad. But my daughter's Dr appointment is in Columbia and I'm afraid if I tried to go to the rally then get to the Dr's office I'd mess things up. Kinda hoping she calls me (soon) to tell me they won't give her her shot since she hasn't been feeling well. I told her to be sure to call them about it then let me know; so I'm sitting here hoping for the phone will ring. I can't believe I'd have a prior commitment today of all days when I normally sit here for weeks on end with nothing planned.

 

[Bassett]

Oh Donna I hope you get to go. I would so love to see her at a rally.

 

[Jill]

She was in my area recently and I REALLY wanted to go, but couldn't (client meetings...). I hope you tget to go see her!!!

 

[AppyLover2]

I'M GOING....I'M GOING!!!!!!!!!!!! Gotta run. Talk later.

 

[Bassett]

I'm so glad. Can't wait to hear what you have to say when you get back.

 

[Basketmiss]

Yeah Donna, cant wait to hear how it went.

Republican minds want to know!!

 

[AppyLover2]

Oh gosh....where to start. It was soooooo awesome!!!

The Dr told daughter no shot since she's been sick for 4 days hence the "gotta run" note. And if she had still needed to go, I made the right decision to not try to make both the rally and the trip to Columbia because traffic was unbelievable.

Obviously with the late start I got all the parking lots were full and the line was really long. We have a large capitol building and the line went down the side and completely across the back. I was too late to get through the "gate" but, although I didn't have a great spot, I could get a glimpse of her now and then (I'm only 5'1" so I was on tip-toes a lot) and naturally the speaker system was very good. I was in such a rush to get there didn't think to take binoculars along but borrowed someone's for a quick "close up" and Sarah's just as pretty in person as on TV. Todd was with her but, darn it, didn't have the binoculars when she introduced him.

Backing up a little to before she got there. I had taken a small flag with me. Would you believe they wouldn't let me take it into the spectator area. OH! One of the officials said I couldn't take it with me; that I'd have to leave it there. I said "You've got to be kidding me!". His response was "No, I'm sorry, but if we let you take it in then some Nazi shows up with a flag we've got to let his flag in too." I was totally stunned!! It's pretty darned bad when you aren't allowed to take the American flag with you to a political rally!!

While we were waiting I started talking to a young man in the crowd and he said "I'm Joe the Framer". LOL He said "really, I am. My name's Joe and I'm in the framing business."

Anyway speakers were speaking music was playing, and the crowd was enthusiastic. One of the songs they played was North To Alaska - thought that was a neat idea. Hank Jr was there and he's changed the lyrics to one of his songs (can't tell you which one for the life of me) to a McCain/Palen theme. Good for some laughs and some cheering. He sang the National Anthem and people all through the crowd were singing along with him.

Then Sarah came walking down the capitol stairs and the crowd went wild. Her speach was pretty much what we've all heard on TV but just being there, the excitement and the atmosphere made all the difference in the world. She's as powerful a speaker as she appears to be....I thoroughly enjoyed the enthusiasm in her words. When she asked for people who were or had been in the military to raise their hands....I was one of them. Later, as the crowd was breaking up someone behind me said "excuse me, were you in the military?" When I said yes she said "thank you" and shook my hand. Man, I gotta tell ya I got a lump in my throat about the size of a grapefruit. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before, and it just felt soooooo good!!

It was an absolutely fantastic day. I'd do it again in a heartbeat but next time I'd go much earlier so I could get closer.

 

[Southern_Heart]

Donna, Wow! Thats great that you got to go. I am so excited for you.

They showed part of it on TV with Hank Jr singing the National Anthem and then some other song and then they went to other news!!

Yes I think it was really bad too that they wouldn't let you or anyone bring in the flags. Gosh we shouldn't have to hide it.

Oh well... But glad that you went.

Joyce

 

[Basketmiss]

Oh Donna, I got goose bumps just listening to your recap!! Thanks for sharing your experience-I call that History!! It does my heart good to hear them ask who was in the military to raise their hands to be recognized and you to be thanked by a stranger for your service...

Weird about the flag though

I would think they would like us to be patriotic...

Sounds like there are lots in good ole Missouri who are backing McCain/Palin!!

Yeah here is to tomorrow!!

I AM VOTING MCCAIN/PALIN!!

 

[AppyLover2]

Thanks guys. It was a totally amazing experience and one I doubt that I'll ever have again. I haven't heard an estimate of how many were in attendance....shoot I haven't seen any coverage on the local channels about her being here at all.

 

[Sonya]

Thanks for sharing your experience Donna, that was great! I'm glad you got to go. Hank Jr is one of my favorite singers...the song he sings is to the music of Family tradition...I think it's called "McCain, Palin tradition".

That's bullcrap that you can't take an American flag in there!

 

[FlatCreekFarm]

Thanks for that wonderful report! Almost felt like I was there!

I'm only 1 1/2 hour away from Jeff City... now I'm kicking myself for not going to the rally. Oh well....

here's to tomorrow -

 

[Bassett]

Donna, so glad you got to go. It must have been amazing. Now for tomorrow.

 

[CyndiM]

Generally they give out flags to the people who attend. One time when President Bush was in Cedar Rapids they wouldn't let you wear campaign buttons in. It was not too long after 9-11, 9-11 changed a lot of things.

Another time I got to see him he was here with Laura. They spent the night in Cedar Rapids. We did get to take a banner (paper) in wishing Mrs. Bush a Happy Birthday. In fact her birthday and their wedding anniversary is tomorrow I believe. They were here again just after my grandson got home from boot camp. I took him and the President saluted him then smiled at him. He was so excited and proud to have the President salute him.

I saw Sarah Palin and John McCain in Cedar Rapids about a month ago and could have gone twice since to see her but could not get away.

 

[AppyLover2]

This is the site for a video of the rally today for anyone interested in checking it out. The poor audio gets better about 10 minutes into ito. According to the article there were about 20,000 in attendance. http://krcg.com/news/video.aspx?id=216208