In line, waiting for change!
By: Rob
Published On: 2/8/2008 6:46:49 PM
Barack Obama will be in Alexandria on Sunday at a town hall at T.C. Williams high school. And tickets became available at the Falls Church offices at 5 pm. I got here at 5:15 and the line was already down the block. Right now, the line has doubled again - even though it's moving, the line is still the same length because more and more people are arriving.
They've put us to good use - this has turned into an impromptu visibility event. We're waving sign and getting a great reaction (honking cars, fist pumps, etc.) Also, they're getting a good number of volunteers out of this line too.
So, hopefully I'll be at the town hall tomorrow! And, if so, I'll give you all a full report afterwards!
UPDATE: Got 2 tickets! Check back here Sunday evening for a report on the event....
Comments
Please, if you are there... (BrianDStraw - 2/8/2008 7:04:23 PM)
Come into the office, make some calls! We need your help!
Clever Choice of Location.. (VaNative - 2/8/2008 7:18:04 PM)
Given the history of the school.
McCain's high school is down the street (pvogel - 2/8/2008 7:43:15 PM)
That would be Episcopal High School in Alexandria. Alexandria is one of the most historic cities in the entire country.
Alexandria High Schools (VaNative - 2/8/2008 7:45:25 PM)
And Elizabeth Edwards graduated from high school about a mile away from TC and Episcopal.
that would be George washington on commenweath? (pvogel - 2/8/2008 8:26:04 PM)
Such a lot of history for a medium sized city.
I think its the perfect size..
No, not GW (VaNative - 2/8/2008 8:45:17 PM)
George Washington High School is on Mt. Vernon Avenue, and while Elizabeth Edwards didn't go there, Mama Cass and Johnny Phillips from the Mamas and Papas did, as well as Williard Scott and Jim Morrison of the Doors (and many of my relatives, lesser known :)
Elizabeth Edwards graduated from Francis C. Hammond High School on Seminary Road. Both GW and Hammond ceased being high schools when they merged into TCW in 1971.
Alexandria is a wonderful city - I'm not only a VaNative, but an AlexandriaNative
So VaNative (spotter - 2/9/2008 8:31:28 AM)
did you have Mr. "we played football without a helmet" Kapriva?
Kapriva (VaNative - 2/9/2008 8:45:36 AM)
I didn't go to GW
When I was in 10th grade at GW (dcBill - 2/9/2008 9:29:59 AM)
just after the consolidation which was recounted in the movie, our honors english teacher, Ducalion Gregory, had us read through the class period because he was being interviewed about a former student. We asked who and he said "James Morrison, some sort of rock star." My son is in 7th grade at GW now as it's currently a middle school. He'll be a TCW grad just like I was. The new school, by the way, is beautiful, and the Jazz Ensemble swings as hard as ever.
We went to the field office near Bailey's X-roads and got our tickets last night. I'm jealous of many of you because I can't volunteer to phone bank or canvass because I'm subject to higher restrictions under the Hatch Act than most because my gig is adjudicative in nature. Can't mess with my 1st Amendment rights, though, so I'm loud and proud for Barack!!
And, yes we have a wonderful city. I may have been born in DC, but my folks brought me home from the hospital to Alexandria. We've chose to make our family's home here too, just 2 blocks outside the original DC line.
Alexandria (VaNative - 2/9/2008 10:27:08 AM)
I am older than you (born in the old Alexandria Hospital, long gone) and graduated from FCHHS - both GW and FCHHS are middle schools now. While I've seen the new school, I haven't been inside. And don't be jealous of me - I am loud and proud for Hillary, a rarity now for this blog!
I love my mom! (legacyofmarshall - 2/8/2008 8:31:09 PM)
I live in Williamsburg, and while I'm seeing Senator Obama tomorrow at the JJ, my roommate (who is probably a bigger Obama fan than I am), is not. So my mom showed up at the Falls Church office at 4:30, was #7 in line, and while she waited for them to get the physical tickets, she made phone calls for Obama! And she's not even attending, she's giving the tickets to me and my roommate. I'm going to the event on Sunday! Fired up and ready to go!
Bigger Venue (phillip123 - 2/8/2008 9:01:26 PM)
I have tried to see Barack Obama 3 times every time I go to see him I end up in the overflow room. Maybe the Obama crowd should find a bigger venue. There are probably tens of thousands of people who would like to see him. Many of whom have volunteered and who couldn't get off work in time to get tickets.
Obama is at (spotter - 2/9/2008 8:34:22 AM)
the Virginia Beach Convention Center on
Sunday at 7:30 p.m. No tickets necessary.
just got an email (pvogel - 2/8/2008 9:05:13 PM)
Over in maryland, the college park rally on Monday has moved from the old, dilapedated cole field house, to the new ish Comcast center!!!
After tc williams (pvogel - 2/8/2008 9:09:35 PM)
The Alexandria Dems are having a "West end Presidential Primary extravagenza"
Here is the info:
The Alexandria Democratic commitee is neutral in this primary, but personally, I am 100% obama-ized!
West End Presidential Primary Extravaganza
2:00- 4:00 pm, West End Presidential Primary Extravaganza at Cameron Station Community Center, 200 Cameron Station Blvd, Alexandria. On the Sunday before the February 12th Primary, join your Alexandria neighbors for a show of unity and to celebrate the Democratic Presidential Primary-complimentary food, live music, children's activities, elected officials, and more. Volunteers are needed to set up at 12:30 pm, then for two shifts during the event to serve as greeters and servers, and then to clean up. If you can't volunteer, come and have fun at the event. For information about the event and to volunteer, contact Charniele Herring cherringlaw(at)yahoo.com or Diana Bedoya dbedoya67(at)yahoo.com or call the ADC office at 703-549-3367.
Monday's event at U Maryland has been moved (teacherken - 2/8/2008 10:28:06 PM)
it was scheduled for Cole Field House, which I believe has a capacity of 17,000. My wife just received an email from a friend who had signed up for it who forwarded a message from the campaign that it has now been moved to Comcast Center. Sounds like they are going to go over 20,000 there Monday.
Amazing. (Lowell - 2/8/2008 10:31:18 PM)
Hillary only had a few hundred people, maybe 1,000, at Washington and Lee in Arlington yesterday. Obama draws 20,000 or more on a regular basis. What a contrast.
Hillary Crowd (VaNative - 2/8/2008 10:56:06 PM)
Really? I heard it was an overflow crowd...
Really what? (Lowell - 2/8/2008 10:59:04 PM)
The news articles all said it was a few hundred people, maybe 1,000. For instance, see
here.
Really, More than you indicate (VaNative - 2/8/2008 11:55:28 PM)
The crowd inside was capacity - as I recall inside capacity is close to 2,000 and a substantial crowd outside unable to get in. It was primarily for the students. It's one thing to turn this into the Obama site - after all, it's your site. However, as a Hillary supporter, I'm not feeling quite as comfortable here.
I'm not sure I understand your point (Lowell - 2/9/2008 8:43:21 AM)
The news articles all said a few hundred people, maybe 1,000. I wasn't there. What are you arguing about?
Arguing (VaNative - 2/9/2008 8:50:03 AM)
I'm not - I'm correcting your misrepresentation of how many people were there. Several thousand inside. An undetermined number outside. Again, this event was primarily for the students and teachers at Washington and Lee. It is the reason I didn't go over to W&L.
Again, it's not my "misinterpretation" (Lowell - 2/9/2008 8:51:31 AM)
The several hundred, possibly 1,000, estimate is what every news article I read estimated. If you could link me to an article which cited a higher number, that would be most appreciated.
OK, so there are different numbers floating around (Lowell - 2/9/2008 10:29:06 AM)
Let's say 1,000-2,000. Obama just drew 20,000 in Seattle, a number he achieves regularly by the way. Now, what's your point again?
My Point -- (VaNative - 2/9/2008 10:39:22 AM)
He had a venue that supported 20,000. That's great. W&L was primarily for the teachers and students. It supported perhaps 2200-2700. There were lines outside unable to get in. Apples and oranges. You cannot contrast the two. If you want to contrast crowds when the supporting venues are equal, it might be more appropriate.
Obama's been drawing incredible crowds (Lowell - 2/9/2008 10:40:51 AM)
all over the country. Clinton's been drawing decent crowds, but nothing like Obama.
Did you see (Lowell - 2/10/2008 8:49:20 AM)
Marc Fisher's article on this rally?
...all around me, the bleachers in the Washington-Lee High School gym shook with shouts of "Obama!"
"Oh, no," said Linda Cooper, a Chantilly homemaker and Hillary fan who was sitting next to me. "I guess she doesn't have the young people."
No, she doesn't. Teachers gave Washington-Lee students the option of attending the Clinton rally as a civics lesson, and more than a thousand kids grabbed the chance to see democracy in action. But as much as they appreciated a glance inside the machinery of retail politics and contemporary celebrity, most students seemed far more taken with Barack Obama or John McCain than with the former first lady.
"We're mostly for Obama or apathetic," said Patrick O'Malley, a senior at Yorktown High who considers Clinton "manipulative and underhanded."
"Hillary is so establishment," said Morgan Henry, a junior at Wakefield High who will cast his first vote for Obama. "And I don't want two presidents." He quoted his stepfather's comment that he's for Obama but would switch to McCain if Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, "because even though he doesn't agree with McCain on issues, he respects his honesty and integrity."
If there was a certain lack of spirit and cheer for Clinton in the gym throughout the afternoon, it came from two sources: those who really preferred Obama, and those who deeply admire Clinton but recognize that she faces a tough road lined with lots of folks who just don't like her.
No comment.
I mean, "overflow" doesn't (Lowell - 2/8/2008 11:02:56 PM)
say anything about the total size. It tells you the size of the crowd relative to the size of the room, that's all.
I think that's low (teacherken - 2/8/2008 11:18:16 PM)
I believe the total was closer to 2,000, although some may have left before she arrived, because she ran more than 2 hours late.
I showed up there at 4:30 (Doug in Mount Vernon - 2/9/2008 12:01:15 AM)
to cut turf for walk packets this weekend in mount vernon and couldn't believe how MOBBED the place was!
There was no space for me to even sit down and work on the computers....the place was packed with people making calls and tons of folks. So I signed up for two tickets also and GOT THEM!!! YAY!!
I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I WENT DOWNSTAIRS!!!
In the 25 minutes I was there, easily 500 people had lined up in the place--it was INSANE!
Anybody who doesn't know that this is not just a campaign, but a MOVEMENT forming, obviously doesn't have a clue!
I was AMAZED at the spontaneous appearance of all those people.
Change is in the air, folks.
YES WE CAN!
FIRED UP! READY TO GO!
we need to stomp hillary flat (pvogel - 2/9/2008 12:22:26 AM)
In the next few primaries. I believe she will try to cheat her way into seating florida and michigan,
and the super delegates need to be reminded that they have to respond to their constituencies.
If Obama has too big a lead, this wont happen
Time is on Obamas side.
Does anyone know (martha - 2/9/2008 8:50:48 AM)
where and when Obama will appear in Roanoke? I can't go because I will be in Richmond baby-sitting my grandson but I want to let our YD's know!
Thanks,
Martha
Here you go! (Lowell - 2/9/2008 8:53:40 AM)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Roanoke, VA
STAND FOR CHANGE" TOWN HALL MEETING
Location TBA
Doors Open: 7 AM
Media Coverage: This event is open to the press. For credentials please visit www.barackobama.com/mediarsvp
The event will be free and open to the public, but tickets will be required. Ticketing information will be released soon.
***For security reasons, no bags will be allowed and please limit personal belongings. No signs or banners permitted. Parking is limited, so please car pool or take public transportation. ***
thanks (martha - 2/9/2008 2:40:19 PM)
I had that info but the place is TBA...
Old Jefferson High? Fire Station...anyone from Roanoke Co. Dems know???
Steve McGraw??? Anyone ??!!