Matt's Chat
Let me start by clarifying the number: they were saying at the rally that the number of attendees was just under 50,000, but the law enforcement estimate was 55,000. That is a LOT of people no matter how you slice it.Any time you dealing with these kinds of numbers of people, the details will be the little things that annoy the most. More signage was needed directing folks to where they needed to go; or more volunteers were needed. The parking was quasi-organized chaos at best, but what do expect in the middle of nowhere.
Enough griping, let's get to the good stuff...
As Mark and I arrived, we saw a Marine One marked helicopter fly in. It is amazing just how quiet those choppers actually are. When I was in high school, we took a senior trip to Washington DC and actually got a chance to see President Bush 41 leave the White House in Marine One and it was MUCH noisier.
The trek from the parking area to the security sweep area was long. It was on this walk that I realized that I should have gone home and changed clothes before coming over. The sun was out and I burn pretty easy, so I bought a Bush/Cheney cap to help keep the sun off my face. Good thing too...because my ears did get pretty toasty.
The Uniformed Division of the Secret Service manned the metal detectors at the entrance and were as professional as always.
The place was crowded already but it would get much more crowded in the next two hours. Some country guy was performing (mark will have to tell you all about him, because...well, I'm a city boy and don't know too much about such things) as entertainment. That finally ended about 3:30 or so and the speeches began. Betty Montgomery, auditor for the State of Ohio, wasn't too bad. Lt. Gov. Janette Bradley was... Congressmen Steve Chabot and Rob Portman were both rather eloquent. Also in attendence was Congressman Mike Turner, Congressman John Boehner, Congressman Dave Hobson, and Senator Mike DeWine. Anthony Munoz was the emcee as head of Bush/Cheney for southwest Ohio.
I think the Bush/Cheney folks learned not to be so close to Gov. Bob Taft, who was not in attendence, after the booing the last time.
At about 4:30, it was announced that the President would be arriving by bus shortly. This would be the closest we would get to the President all day as we were in the back of the crowd and the bus was going to pass by near us.
The speech was fantastic. One of the things I like most about this President is his ability to be clear about his ideas and consistant with his principles. This speech was exactly what I was expecting. Here is one of my favorite spots from early in the speech:
I believe the most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. (Applause.) If America shows uncertainty and weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. (Applause.) I'm running for President with a clear and positive plan to build a safer world and a more hopeful America. I'm running with a compassionate conservative philosophy that government should help people improve their lives, not try to run their lives. (Applause.) I believe this nation wants steady, consistent, principled leadership, and that is why, with your help, we'll carry Ohio and win a great victory in November. (Applause.)The man has such charisma and presence.
The President devoted a good deal of his speech to the economy and jobs. He reminded us again what we've been through and how far we've come. The point is that you can't raise taxes now that the jobs are finally coming back. While I'm not wild about the spending, the likelihood of our taxes going up under John Kerry are too great. The President was right when he said:
THE PRESIDENT: I'm running against a fellow who has proposed $2.2 trillion in new federal spending, so far.The "tax the rich" scheme never works because they always find a loophole. Just ask John Kerry and his wife. I'm sure that's why they haven't released her tax records.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: Imagine what's going to happen when we get to October. (Laughter.) Two point two trillion, that's a lot of money, even for a Senator from Massachusetts. (Laughter.) So they asked him, how are you going to pay for it? He said, fine, we'll just tax the rich. You've heard that, haven't you? See, you can't raise enough money to pay -- by taxing the rich to pay off $2.2 trillion worth of new spending. There's a tax gap. You know who fills the tax gap? Yes, you do.
I'll tell you something else about that rhetoric, "tax the rich." The rich hire lawyers and accountants for a reason, to stick you with the bill. The good news is, he's not going to tax you, because we're going to win in November. (Applause.)
The foreign policy section of the speech was fantastic; exactly what I have come to expect and admire from the President. (I'll leave some tasty bits for Mark...)
After the speech, the music starts back up and eventually the helicopters engines start up. The President boards Marine One and takes off; does an orbit of the park and then heads off with four other choppers as escort.
And then the waiting begins.
The crowd starts to leave but we decide to wait until the crowd thins out a bit.
We finally complete the journey back to the van, but the traffic isn't going anywhere. So we turn on Hugh Hewitt on the radio and hang out for an hour or so.
We finally got back to my place at about 8:00PM...an amazing day, for sure. But what day that invoves the President of the United States isn't an amazing day?
3:00 PM Update
Here is the Cincinnati Enquirer write-up and one of the commenters at Blogs for Bush says he was involved in ticket distribution and claims that the actual recorded attendance was 58,000. (Personally, I think that means they ended up printing 58,000 tickets...)Mark's Remarks
Well, this was an AWESOME!!!!! day. However, some sacrifices had to be made. Earlier in the day, I participated in a security drill with local police outside the VOA Park. You see, I was hit by another vehicle at the entrance, smashing in the passenger side of my dear, faithful, loving 1995 Thunderbird. The things I do to see my President!!!!! Needless to say, it was a rocky start, but after doing the report/insurance exchange/car switch with family thing, I was back in the area.
Picked up Matt and got to the rally. Holy smokes! What a traffic jam! This event is in my lexicon referred to as BUSHSTOCK!!!! 58,000 people coming together to root on the President. There were about 12 protestors, including a group of teens with an upside down American flag with an X through it. I was ashamed for the teacher who had taught them so little love of country.
Back to the event. Awesome speakers, even if the accomodations were a bit, uh....sparse. Between my back and Matt's legs, there was plenty of aspirin to be accounted for after standing for 5 hours.
The President gave an awesome speech, talking about the need for clarity and steadfast vision in the war on Terror; the need for an ownership society, and the changing dynamics of the economic/social strata when it comes to men and women and families.
Matt gave you some of the gems above, so I will not reiterate them. The President seemed jazzed and really into the event.
Getting the pic of the Marine 1 crew and watching those choppers take off is something I will never forget.
Bushstock--five hours of joy, patriotism and buttkicking of the Left.
