Comments on: Some Final Thoughts on Philly

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:09:05 +0000

Yeah, I was that blond guy. Come say hi next time you see me.

By: dwight

dwight — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:09:34 +0000

I was at the rally, and I can actually pick myself out in the crowd in that picture at the top of the page. I’m the guy in the blue jacket and Ron Paul cap just behind the last row of chairs, toward the center. The four people standing to my left are Democrats from Fort Wayne, Indiana, who heard about RP about two months ago and are now (obviously!) huge fans. They went back to Fort Wayne to run the meetup there. There were also Ohioans there (based on the sign they carried), not to mention the Polish Immigrants. My favorite sign said this: “I just saved a bundle by switching to Ron Paul”. Everyone got a chuckle out of that one. I was chilled to the bone, and standing in one spot for two hours can really stiffen you up. But it was SOOO worth it!

I saw the tent to the left of the stage (from where I stood), but didn’t think till after the rally that it was for bloggers. Were you the blond guy at the end away from the stage? Whoever that was reminded me of Jay Mohr.

Unfortunately, now comes the political work (for those of us who despise politics). But it was clear from what a number of people said, not least of which was the very emotional appeal from the stage by the woman from RP’s staff, that we need to ensure that there are RP delegates at the convention. For me there is a huge ick factor involved. But it’s got to be done or we don’t get our freedom back. She was right about the consequences.

By: David M

David M — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:05:38 +0000

Great story Brad.

I met Ron when he came to Seattle and had a short conversation with him about the nature of democracy and the Founders’ thoughts on it, the inconsistency of our foreign policy, etc. It lasted just a few minutes, but I tell you it was like chatting with an old friend. It was instantly comfortable and genuinely about the moment. Ron’s eyes were lit up and he was talking about ideas like a sports fan talks about his favorite team in the playoffs. His passion and realness is something to behold.

I went to Iowa back in August to help out at the straw poll and I couldn’t believe how many other people had traveled there at their own expense from all across the country. Everywhere I turned I was meeting someone from another state. Some had driven several hundred miles! That simply doesn’t happen for any other politician. Maybe there was something like that for RFK, but I’ve never seen it.

At the rallies I’ve been to I’ve been struck by just what you said about the diversity. At the one in Seattle I kept nudging my wife and pointing out impossible scenes: a group of “alt” rocker types sitting next to a clean cut middle-class family that looked as if any minute they were going to start serving apple pie; elderly vets and shaggy college kids; cruise ship wealth and Bohemian granola; and on and on. A cross section of America is exactly right. I remember thinking to myself, “Oh yeah, so this is how it’s supposed to be.”

Many thanks for relating your experience at the Philly event! You just made my night.