Obama Wrap-Up
I can't get myself to call him Barry, as we saw Citizen Stringer do the other day for the Political Play of the Week, but I am interested hearing about the speech and if any reader went to Oprah's or at least played paparazzi at Earl Warren Showgrounds. Any news?
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 9/09/2007 12:07:00 AM
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I attended the SBCC rally. Obama spoke for about 20 minutes, emphasizing his politics of hope. He touched on the war, health care, the minimum wage, and energy policy. He emphasized his vision of a new way of operating our government. It was a strong and inspiring speech, and with nearly 3000 in attendance he appeared to get a good response. I took some photos which you can find here.
Sara---despite Citizen Stringers attempt to shut off discussion of the 3rd District and Firestone's announcement, I think many of us would rather talk about that. Obama is old news. and, not too local.
I don't think CS was trying to shut off discussion -- he was acknowledging that there was a post on the issue directly below.
I was disappointed that Obama didn't discuss the need for more affordable housing.
If there were 3000 people there - then there are 300,000 living in Santa Barbara.
It was a 1000 tops.
There were WAY more than 1000 people there.
As far as I'm concerned, Brooks Firestone is old news in every sense.
Edhat has the story on the paparazzi at Earl Warren Showgrounds (or lack thereof).
http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=1910
9:26- Since when is the next election old news? and not something locally relevant?
According to the sherrif's department as quoted by KSBY, the crowd was estimated as 6,000.
I was there, and that figure seems about right.
I was there also and 5-6,000 does sound right. I was really impressed with the response of the college age students and younger --- I think it is time to leave the cynacism behind and let them believe in possibilities. I was also VERY happy that Barack Obama didn't waste his (and my) time Bush-bashing...there was very little negativity and a lot of forward-looking ideas. It was free, it was fun, he has brain power to spare -- WAY different that the man and style we have going on now! He made me hopeful that some day soon I can be proud of my country again and feel a part of something positive and progressive and HELPFUL to the citizens of America!
Yes Sarah there were many stories including the speech and the potential for paparazzi opportunities.
If you "played paprazzi" to get a glimpse of stars you were disappointed. By happenstance I found myself as non-cover at the Showgrounds. My observation was that there was a lack of "Stars" to paparazzts and that suggests that the Stars boarded a different bus and also boarded from another location other than the Showgrounds. The Showgrounds apparently was for the "masses" who could contribute the $2300.00 admission/donation.
There were several high-powered shutterbugs camped out and hanging over the white fence on Las Positas Rd and at least one swirling "eye in the sky " copter with the dangling feet and camera hanging off a face. This copter was noticeably in the flightpath of the usual air traffic. I considered for a moment that an aerial mishap would occur in a futile effort to get Halle Berry's stiletto heeled photo while clutching for an ADA compliant handle while boarding the steps of a NADA bus.
The lack of actual paparazzi photos (other than file photos) in the local and national press is an indication that the Stars were kept away from the masses at least until at Oprah's estate. The confiscation of any photographic device was well documented in the "media."
So the story not reported was that there was this clever star/fan segregation and understandbly so. To be on O's "A list" meant you would have "preferred" transportation arrangements and perhpas you could actually drive your Bentley right up "Tara II's" driveway and park onsite just through the Porte Cochere.
Other stories not reported was the hugh traffic problem as the Showgrounds has no direct exit or entrance and instead relies on the kindness of strangers, in this case negroes, mexicans and poor white trash who live Calle Real and Las Positas adjacent.
The event's organizers valiantly dispatched their own tan and black clad valets in the wrong direction and into the precarious center of Calle Real at Las Positas in a heroic and futile effort to direct traffic that obviously started behind them at the Showgrounds Kiosk. The Police made a late show to releive the Valets however that was just about in time for the traffic to subside "naturally."
Lastly after the last bus left the Showgrounds, the return side occured, with what I counted were 15 busses arriving back from the Estate Tara II to illegally idle, spewing toxic diesel fumes and vibrations compacting the soils, lungs and bowels of the residents in the nearby homes. After nearly a full hour of observing this smoke stack industry illegal activities I took off my mask dragged my bicycle out of the bushes and rode back home to the Westside where I can relay to you that no one I know attended the event at Tara II.
Of course the SBSO estimated 6,000 that's how they justify the overtime...Wonder if they had tear gas and rubber bullets at the ready...Us old peacenik hippies can turn into the Wild Bunch on orange sunshine flashbacks alone...
"Free the Chicago Seven!!"
(Where's Abbie Hoffman when we need him?)
Wine Guy, I was there, too. I can't estimate crowds' sizes but this one was very slosely packed. L.A. Times said 5,000. It was a good event.
The Obama campaign is working very hard to convince us that they had a huge crowd.
So then...ok, we believe you. The crowd was was huge....honestly.
In other news he has nothing to say other than "change" and "hope" while still lacking the experience to deliver either of these things.
At least he was "present" at the rally...
8:40 PM- Why would you admit to being there? How embarrassing for you. No wonder you post anonymously.
As quoted in a Daily Sound article, the Santa Barbara city Police Chief estimated the crowd size as 5000.
Not clear why Leana Orsua of KSBY would quote the Sheriff for a crowd estimate wholly within the City purview for crowd management. Like some of her early work for the News-Press-Less-Mess, she confuses her law enforcement agencies, such as not knowing the difference between City and University police.
CS @ 11:23
Purview for Law Enforcement is confusing.
City College= City of SB Police+private Security
Cliff Dr. (State Hwy)=Sherriff.
Showgrounds= Sherriff
Traffic=City of SB Police.
Oprah's Estate=Sherriff
To further confuse things as I'm apt to do...
SB Airport=Federal police (don't ever mess around at the airport!)
Highway Patrol
Coast Guard
Fish and Game Wardens
FBI, Secret Service, CIA, NSA, Military Police...Oh my god, how many ways are there to get busted?
Not to mention all the private security in town.
Good thing we don't live in a police state..or..do..we?
sa1 - you forgot the Dream Police, they live inside of your head, oh no!
Of course I forgot my favorites:
Homeland Security, TSA and BORDER PATROL...I wonder if I can get them to deport me to Cabo for a couple of weeks...
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