My neighbor came over yesterday and suggested going down to Daytona for President Bush's visit. He said "You'll be able to get your Swiftee stickers distributed to folks from ALL over Florida if you go there".
Man, he was RIGHT!! I was able distribute all the Swiftee stickers I had left, except for those small ones at home that weren't peeled and ready to go yet! People were very excited to get them and show their support for the Swiftees! Many folks just gave me money to send to the swiftvets! I was able to raise over $700 yesterday for Swiftvets.com!
I parked right at the entrance to main parking area and hawked my Swiftee stickers to the crowd as they left the event. It was great fun! Many folks really loved the Swiftee stickers and I feel good that they will get more visibility across the state.
These two little ones were leaving with their mom and I just had to get a pic of them next to my sign. They were PROUD to wave their American flags and they were really cute!
McMuffin stopped by when he saw me trying to catch all the folks and get them thier stickers. He was a GREAT help - thanks,Dave! MyFavoriteHeadache also stopped by and got a Swiftee sticker. There were at least 2 other FReepers, but my brain must have got stressed from the sun, because I can't remember their FReeper names, my apologies.
I decided to use my Swiftee billboard for a yard sign when I got home. It looks great, doesn't it!
I arrived noon, approx. 3/4hr before the gates opened at 12:45 (the event started at 2pm). Already the line was snaking through the parking area, in my estimate between .25 and .5 mile long, and not single file, either.
On my way into the main parking area where the gate is, I stopped to talk to the boys holding anti-Bush signs (click to read the story in our local liberal rag of a newspaper - opens in a new window). One of the signs read "Theres blood on your hands". So I asked him if his sign referenced Osama killing thousands on September 11 in America. He stumbled to say "no". And I asked "who"? and he replied "Bush". I asked if he thought President Bush was responsible for 9-11 and he said "yes". I said "well thank God for President Bush fighting for your freedom to protest him" and walked on in. But there were about 8 or so people outside the parking entrance holding anti-America signs. Here is a shot of some:
(my camera was a movie camera that shoots stills but only at 1 megapixel so they aren't the best quality...sorry!)
One of them in the news article link above had a sign with a swastika on it. Now I thought that was odd since the Neo-Nazis, Communists and Socialist parties of America all back Kerry.
I visited with a Viet Nam vet while waiting. I don't recall his name, but told him about FR. As we chatted, we were pretty sure John Edwards' airplane flew overhead (he visited Daytona Sunday but flew in Saturday afternoon. Maybe someone can confirm if it was him; we think it was a 757. Blue/white. I wish I could have seen the registratoin numbers; I'd like to know if it was registered to George Soros...).
By the time the gates opened, the line had grown to well over a mile. And the line was several bodies wide. I met a few folks who said they were democrats changing their vote. That was encouraging. A very broad cross section of America was there Very broad. Bikers to yuppies; old, young, black, asian, white, pierced, tattoed, double-breasted (suits)...everything. Even a chihuahua (no picture. I wouldn't waste film on a genetically altered rat) :)
At one time it was said only 14,000 tickets would be handed out, but it looked like there was far more than 14,000 there by the time the music began. I don't know the names of the two entertainers (maybe someone who was there can help out with the names).
But the music was good, and the singer gave a good personal testimony as to why he is voting for Bush.
President Bush was scheduled to arrive at 3pm but was delayed, so people enjoyed the 50's-60's-70s music blaring over the sound system. Nice weather: no clouds, no hurricanes, about 80° and a slight breeze. Perfect for our President to rally the troops!
Lt. Governor Toni Jennings spoke first, and then introduced Pastor Roy Hargrave of Riverbend Church, Ormond Beach
who gave the invocation. He is very outspoken in his support of President Bush. You can catch his sermons live at the above link if you like. He's a ball of fire. Only drawback is he's an Arkansas Razorback fan. Oh well :)
Of course SWAT was there. The place was surrounded by woods. These guys were busy and deserve a big "thank you"
Below is a pic before the music began at 2pm, over an hour before the President was to be there and already the crowd was getting large.
(but people were streaming in thru the gates even after the President began speaking around 3:45pm)
I was almost straight away center but the majority of the crowd spread to the sides because of how the area was shaped. By the way, the security check points went smooth. Kudos to the security people.
Well, I will cut to the chase....
President Bush arrived with Laura (she is sooo classy), Florida's Governor Jeb Bush and a soldier (who unfortunately I missed his name when he was introduced). The place went wild. I have never witnessed such a surge of support for anyone, ever in my life. It's one thing to watch it on TV but another thing to actually be in it. I went hoarse yelling. It felt good. This soldier had been in Iraq and spoke strongly about the great things America is doing over there, not only to liberate Iraq but to dissolve the nest of terrorists (my paraphrase, those were not his exact words) there.
After the soldier spoke, Gov. Bush spoke briefly. You could tell he was excited at what is happening in Florida with the State throwing it's support for President Bush
Next PRESIDENT BUSH spoke! I will let the pictures do the talking:
He spoke clearly of his plans for America. And unlike his oopponent who says "I have a plan" but then fails to lay it out in any detail or description, President Bush hit on all topics in a short period of time on the areas affecting Floridians. (However, he failed to offer any ideas for the Miami Dolphins season, so I think I will sell them on eBay tomorrow to the lowest bidder).
When President Bush is asked a question, he answers it directly. Commercial interruption: I watched an interview with Kerry today on CNN and the interviewer asked him to give his plans for dealing with trade deficits. Kerry's reply was "I have a plan for the trade deficits, but lets deal with whats realy hurting America. lets deal with the health issues blah blah blah and he didn't even give direct ideas for the plans he jumped to as an avoidnace to answer the original question. But the interviewers response was priceless: She actually SCRATCHED HER HEAD!</soapbox rant end>
Okay, back to the President...sadly he had to leave us. I think we all could have stayed longer but we know he has many more stops to make before Nov 2nd.
I passed FReeper Chieftain on the way out (I didn't know it was him til I found out today). He was busy selling Swift vet material to people as they left, and he was doing a great job.
I apologize for the grainy pictures. A 1 megapixel camera at 100 yds just doesn't seem to cut it, I found out!