[retrokitten]

Hi! I posted this on The Guild, but FReeper Lorena thought that the Daily Dosers would get a kick out of it, too. My parents live in Rapid City, SD and were fortunate enough to attend the Presidents speech today. Here's a 2nd hand account for ya!

Okay, so I finally got a hold of my mom and dad to hear about thier day at Mt. Rushmore. Everyone got a bottle of water and a little American flag to wave. There were about 3000 people on hand and some were in bleacher types seats and others stood.

South Dakota Sen.'s Daschle and Johnson were there and when they were introduced they only got a smattering of polite applause except for one woman who was just spazzing out hooting and hollering for them. This is the best part though, I think they may have invited themselves, because there were no seats on the bleachers for them. They were just standing on the outside of the crowd. Rep. John Thune who is running for Johnsons senate seat and who introduced the President, had a seat on the bleachers with Tom Ridge, Gayle Norton, and the South Dakota Governer.

The President, as usual, made a great speech. My parents got there super early and ended up being about 50 feet from the stage. My mom said she thinks she got some great pictures and she's going to e-mail me them when she gets them back, so I will be sure to post the highlights when I get them! Gotta love that one hour photo developing!

They had to close this one main road near where Marine One was parked until it took off. Well, 3000 people were trying to get out of Mt. Rushmore and had to use that one road that was blocked so my parents decided to go back and have lunch (Mt. Rushmore has a great dining room!). So as they are sitting there having lunch, Tom Daschle comes into the dining room. Does he come in to press the flesh with the people of South Dakota who he is supposed to represent? Hhhhmmmmmm.......Let me think about that one....NO!!! He came in and headed straight for the area that was roped off where several journalists were having lunch, then he left. Rep. Thune was mobbed by people out on the main concourse. He was signing autographs, taking pictures with people, and shaking hands. In contrast, when Daschle and Johnson walked in the dining room, it was just like anyone else walked in. People hardly looked up.

They had a great time and said that even though they had to get up early and stand in the sun for a couple hours it was worth it and would do it again in a heartbeat!

[kayak]

What a fantastic report!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for sharing it here! And, Lorena, thanks for the suggestion!

If you get good pics, please post them here too ...... or give us a link so we can see them on the Guild thread.

[Miss Marple]

How wonderful of you to take the time to let us know about your folks' experience! Thank you so much!

Bumping so that everyone goes back and reads your reply #96! Thanks again!

[justshe]

WONDERFUL Second-hand reporting!!!!!

And I LOVE the crowds apparent disinterest in Daschle and Johnson.......and the fact that they had no seats! You KNOW that couldn't have been an accident. Not when these events are planned to the 'nth' degree!

[Lorena]

Good job, rk ... I liked it even better reading it the second time! Thanks so much for sharing that terrific report. And hurray for your conservative parents! God bless them and President Bush.

[maica]

Thanks for the great report. Another example of the value of FreeRepublic, and of the failure of our press to share these observations with the general public.

[Freee-dame]

South Dakota Sen.'s Daschle and Johnson were there and when they were introduced they only got a smattering of polite applause except for one woman who was just spazzing out hooting and hollering for them. This is the best part though, I think they may have invited themselves, because there were no seats on the bleachers for them. They were just standing on the outside of the crowd.

LOL Thanks for the report.