Our afternoon with George...(It was NOT a campaign stop)

My trip to see the President in Ardmore today ^ | 3/15/04 | abner

[abner]

Our afternoon with George...(It was NOT a campaign stop)

VOC and I were unexpectedly invited to see George W. this afternoon in Ardmore, Pa. The press hailed his visit as a campaign stop. It was not. In fact, we were told on the shuttle bus to the YMCA that we were not supposed to wave Bush/Cheney and campaign 2004 items even if we were supporters. Security even made sure my elephant pendant didn't proclaim Bush 2004. They said that they are following the rules. So, when I keep hearing in the media that this was a campaign stop, I'm beginning to get a bit irked.

We arrived at the parking lot to go to the venue at about 12:00 PM. There was security there to make sure that only people that were on the 'list' or had tickets got on the shuttle. We were really surprised when the SS guy told us that he had seen the flag balloon. When VOC told him we had another balloon, he said "Yea, it's a space shuttle, I bet you thought I was lying about seeing the flag". We laughed and got on the shuttle to the Y.

When we arrived at the YMCA we could see that there were some protesters there to protest the President. We stood in line to go through security again. When we finally got to the beginning of the line VOC noticed that he had his pocket knife. He figured it was gone forever. More on that later.

Across the street from the line there were some people showing their support of President Bush. They had a couple of nice signs.

We went into the YMCA and found a couple of seats. There were about 300 or so in attendance and it got crowded pretty quickly. We waited for the VIP's to start talking and introducing one another as seems to be customary at these types of things. That never happened. Shortly after the announcement to turn off all cell phones and pagers, they just blurted out: "Please welcome the President of the United States." And out comes President Bush to thunderous applause. He sat down with a panel of 5 other people and talked a little bit about the main issues and then went on to talk about low income housing opportunities in the cities and for today, in the Philadelphia area.

The nice lady that he visited today is a new home owner with 6 children. President Bush came to visit her house and then she was part of the panel of guests. She didn't look really happy to be there but after about 10 minutes President Bush had everyone on the panel at ease and laughing at his funny jokes.

When they were done speaking about the low income housing opportunities President Bush got up, said his goodbyes and then to my shock, he went into the crowd and shook hands and said hello to as many people as he could.

VOC and I got a few more photos as we were going to leave and on our way out the nice Secret Service man that took VOC's knife stopped me and told me where I could get it back. Too cool.

We decided to walk back to our car instead of taking the shuttle bus back. On our way back to the car, we ran across the protesters. One guy was screaming, "***K Bush!" We continued on, about 25 feet later, there was someone screaming, "STOP THE HATE!"

I didn't stop, but I did explain that I did not understand why the guy just a few seconds seemed to have things messed up.

Love him or hate him, President Bush is a genuine, sincere and decent man. I will be voting for him, and probably campaigning for him too.

Family across the street showing their support of President Bush.

Really relaxed venue for President Bush's talk today.

After a few minutes, President Bush had everyone in the room laughing. Including the ladies on the panel who originally looked like they were not happy to be there at all. They were probably just nervous. He made them all feel very comfortable.

 

President Bush works the crowd.

[abner]

Ping!

[mountaineer]

What a great report, thanks!

[MEG33]

Great report and pictures.I can see he broke the ice nicely.

[Fiddlstix]

C

[diotima]

Nice story! Did he give us that check to pass along to Jim? LOL.

[abner]

I'm still working on that ...

[diotima]

Hurry, 'cause the Network needs a new pair of shoes....

[HungarianGypsy]

Do you think the Secret Service has yet gotten used to the President Bush likes to interact with us. It's wonderful to see a president who acts like a servant of the people, rather than a king who expects to be worshipped from afar.

[abner]

That's all? Just shoes? Heck, I've got 2 pairs from CPAC I can give the Network.

[abner]

They didn't look panicked or anything. So, I would say that they have gotten used to it.

He is so good in person. It is too bad that the media has turned him into a dumb demon of sorts.

[Naspino]

John Kerry and the Democrats are running the most vicious campaign I have ever seen. For TWO years they have been attacking George Bush with no real message of their own. Whatever Bush does, even if its one of their ideas, they claim he did so criminally.

They started far left and we expected them to come back to the center but they have gone even farther left. Look at the spirit that they are spreading through America. ***K BUSH? Then Kerry has the nerve to say Bush is a divider not a uniter!

Kerry's version of uniting is subjugation to France and the United Nations. When he shouted down a Republican recently -- demanding to know if the man voted for Gore or Bush before he would answer his question -- was that in the spirit of unity?

I won't stomache a Bush loss this time. Kerry is the worst candidate in the history of our country.

[DrDeb]

WOW -- thank you for sharing your 'first person' account of the Ardmore event.

Your assessment of the President is the same as mine (after I attended a similar event) -- "President Bush is a genuine, sincere and decent man."

And I DEFINITELY plan to campaign for him!!!

[abner]

Yes, the protesters were something to be talked about. Scary really.

[diotima]

The Network needs some Manolos.

[abner]

He is a man with great 'charisma' and charm. This is my second event. He impressed me the first time. This second time around he has impressed me even more. The women on the panel looked terrified or like they didn't like him at all. By the time it was over, he had them all in the palm of his hand.

[abner]

KIK!

[abner]

Ping!

[abner]

Ping!

[dixie sass]

Great narrative and super pictures! I'm surprised you didn't invite him to come home and have dinner with y'all.