Wow! I wasn't going to go to the Obama Rally tonight. The logistics of finding a sitter and knowing what the rest of the week and weekend will bring discouraged me from going. But then my mom e-mailed me this morning and asked if I wanted them to watch Anna so I could go. I jumped on it! Thanks Mom and Dad!If you recall some of my older posts you know that I have been an Obama supporter from the beginning. It was so incredible to see him in person and especially on this historic night! I am actually finding it hard to describe or explain.
I got to St. Paul an
d in line around 4 pm. I couldn't believe how many people were there! The doors weren't supposed to open until 7 pm! I questioned whether or not I would get in. I guess I am a little off on my estimate of numbers because we got in and ended up on the main level no more than 50 feet from the podium! Thanks to Jill for sharing in this experience with me! And for scoping out the great seats!There was a lot of buzz in the air the whole night but the energy felt when Barack Obama took the stage along with his wife, Michelle was amazing. And then he speaks!
I think one of the most amazing things about tonight was that it is part of history! I can say I was there when President Obama announced that he was the nominee for the DFL party. I was there as history is being made. I was there to hear his words that inspire, unite, and lead us to the future.
The second most amazing thing is that he looked at Jill and I in the eyes, he waved to us, he started at us intently. And then we realized that the teleprompter was in between us and he must be looking at that and not us. But I think I would rather think he had zoned in on us instead! :)
But really, I just kept thinking the whole time that I can't imagine him NOT being our president. I want to see what he can do - what is his potential - where could he lead this country! I hope that the American people give him the chance to show us because I really do believe that he could do great things for us. That he could do great things for Washington. That he could do great things for the world!
Here is the link to the entire speech text if you are interested but here is my favorite part of it:
And so it must be for us. America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.
The journey will be difficult. The road will be long. I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people. Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on earth. This was the moment -- this was the time -- when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves and our highest ideals.
Tell me that those words do not inspire you to look with hope to the future of our country! I will leave you with some pictures from tonight. I took SO many pictures but think I can narrow down to the best of the best.
Such an incredible speaker!
Jill and I with Barack Obama in the background! Look closely, I am there! Not a great self shot!
This is what it is all about - CHANGE!
Isn't Michelle Obama the cutest and classiest possible First Lady? Much more than than Bill Clinton! :)
5 comments:
Hi Tina, I wondered if you would go to the event when I heard he was going to be in the Cities. I made another donation to his campaign today and sent email asking/pleading with him not to select Hillary Clinton as his running mate!! I really can't vote for him if she is his VP.
Have a good time camping this weekend.
Ellen
What's wrong with the Obama/Hillary ticket? That it doesn't have a catchy Hollywood couple combination name? (Barillary? sounds like an adjective form of a pasta.)
Personally, I'm not a fan of either of them (or McCain for that matter), but I thought that a Barillary ticket would, as Hillary's people are saying, "unite the party." But then again, would any Democrats, when faced with a Obama v. McCain decision really choose McCain? I don't know the answer, but I'm curious...
Nice pics, Tina -- it must've been an amazing experience!
I liked our attempt at the self portrait with Obama. :)
Oh, looks like SO much fun - I'm envious! I went to a lot of Clinton events back in the early 90s, since I was at Georgetown University from 92-96, so there was lots of opportunity. He and Al were always on campus, it seemed.
I personally would love an Obama/Clinton ticket, but my worry is that the people would be turned off by that outweigh the people who would vote for it. I guess we'll see!
Looks VERY cool!! Last night David and I saw a MSNBC 1 hour report thing on his life. It was SUPER interesting. I had no idea where he came from, etc. He is certainly inspirational. You were part of history that night! :)
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