Adventures of a Swing-State Voter - "I Go To Rallies and Take Pictures" edition

Ten things I will remember from the Obama rally.

1- Downtown businesses were closed, except Jimmy John's stayed open and was roped off. they could have made a killing, but I don't think they did. I suggested that we could order some subs and have them delivered ten feet away. Some people eventually got that idea.

2- When I get old, I can go to rallies and dress like Uncle Sam.

3. - This rally famously featured the president crying, but we couldn't see any of that

4- In line, my friend R told me a conversation he had lately with a 19-year old "If Obama gets elected. I'm moving to Canada. I hate Obamacare (socialized medicine)." Let that one sink in.

5. Like five years ago, Obama ended his speech with the story of Edith Childs, a supporter in South Carolina, who coined "Fired Up, ready to Go". So, maybe I didn't get a lot of original content, but then again, I knew Bruce was going to end his set with "Land of Hope and Dreams", so why shouldn't Obama play his greatest hits, too.

6. I can't capture the genius of Springsteen's "spontaneous" Adam Sandler-esque campaign rally song "Forward", but he did mention that its hard to come up with words that rhyme with Obama, and it ended with the lyric "Fox news thinks he smokes Marijuana".

7. Besides businesses, there are apartments in the area. There also were the expected 'secret service men on the roof'. I thought about taking a picture of that, but thought it might not be the best idea. The loft apartments meant some people (mostly young adults) were able to watch the rally from inside their house. It also meant when one college-age dude wanted to open his window, the secret service shined a light on him, and with a nod to the Texas Book Depository, made him shut it.

8. Local business made reference to the visit. One boutique advertised "25% off, Michele Obama only"

9. The crowd was fairly civil for 20,000, though for a moment I had a 6'4" guy in front of me. Additionally, not too many things would draw together a hipster in a Sonic Youth stocking cap and a 50-something blue-collar union worker.

10. I did get a political button to add to my collection. There was swag for sale, but the day before the election, it wasn't really moving. No signs were let in, but rallies are constructively created, so we all had Forward! signs in our hands by the end.

Not the greatest pics in the world, but they're mine.. oops, I mean, they are all website exclusives.

( Website exclusives )

2016 Election Starts Now: "Chris Christie" edition

I think it is customary to at least wait a month before discussing the next election.

Some didn't even wait until Election day.

After Hurricane Sandy, a Fox news reporter asked Chris Christie if he would have Mitt Romney tour the damage with him, and Chrisite answered "Meh."

Really.  Christie said ""I have no idea nor am I the least bit concerned or interested. I've got a job to do here in New Jersey that's much bigger than presidential politics and I could care less about any of that stuff"

Of course, there is a slight possibility that Chris Christie actually meant what he said, and actually cares about people's lives more than politics.

Still, Christie's comments that included praise to Obama's handling of the Storm (all while still endorsing Romney) is pure feed for the Right-Wing blowhards.

While, one could make the jump that Christie is interested in the seat for himself in four years (as opposed to waiting eight years with a Romney victory), and we all figured a Romney defeat meant a Christie Presidential bid- we actually ended up with a different prevailing theory-  the freeper sites have been embracing the theory that Christie is really a Democrat in disguise and only intention was to throw the election all the way along (Christie's offenses include turning down a Romney rally,  and turning down the Veep offer).

Besides, Gov. Christie phoned the victor and e-mailed the loser.  ZOMG!  He called Obama and e-mailed Romney. 

In any case, there's nothing Christie can do to redeem himself in front of these Conservatives.  Right-wing sites, one by one, blame Christie for costing the Republican's White House and there's no way Christie will ever get back in their good graces.

So, there you have it.  All the big names blaming Christie- Beck, Ingraham, Dobbs, Dick Morris, Murdoch, O'Reilly, The Washington Times- thus it looks like his 2016 chances may be doomed, but get this, many of those are calling for him to leave the Party.

The Right wing is notoriously short-memoried when it comes to such stuff.  A serious Gingrich Presidential campaign would have been highly unlikely ten years ago.  i am also fairly certain even Bill Cunningham came back around to McCain.

Still, this will make for some interesting viewing.

I thought Chris Christie might be our 45th President.  I still think it's possible.  The question might be is will he be a Republican or a Democrat.