My experience at the Debate on Wednesday

[limequat]

First, I had a great time. It was an experience without parallel to stand in a mob of hundreds - all like-minded liberty lovers. Kudos to the official campaign for herding us cats

Aside from a few RP signs, you might not have known that the debate was even happening. The debate was hosted on a local college campus and the kids still had classes. Students studied in the library and walked to and fro carrying backpacks. There were no Mitt Romney signs, Cain signs, or signage for anything really. The largest organization was a few kids representing Occupy Detroit. A number of about 8 chanting something about what democracy looks like

The police had walled off a "free speech zone" where a few RP people and the aforementioned Occupy Detroit kids milled about.

This is the view from the "Free speech zone" where the VIPs entered the debate and the media gathered.

Pretty exciting right? Well, I figured there had to be more RP people there. So I followed a couple that seemed to be walking purposefully, and this is what I found. I line of yelling hollering RP people waving signs in 45 mph winds and 40 deg weather. The line stretched 1/4 mile about as far as you can see in this picture:

I walked the line and took video. Its boring to watch because the line of people is SO LONG!




Occupy the TRUTH!

 

[limequat]

RP pulled up in a Suburban waving and saying "hi" to everyone. Later we found out that Mitt Romney also had do drive past the line He wondered where his supporters were? :huh:




After this video finishes, the ground starts shaking, because the entire line of people are now running to follow the RP Suburban. The Suburban stops by a back entrance to the debate and is immediately surrounded by -I'm guessing- 200 people. All chanting "Ron Paul", "End the Fed" or whatever else seems appropriate. Eventually, a man steps out and addresses the crowd, "Make way for the candidates!" Someone shouts back, "We just did!". Funny, but the crowd disperses and starts marching through campus to the parking lot. Past the media, past the cops, and past a lot of bewildered OWS types.

Since nobody has tickets to the actual debate, we all go back to a local bar to watch the debate on TV. There's easily twice as many people at the bar as there were standing in line. The debate ends at 10:00PM and -I shit you not- by 10:10 RP is AT the bar. This means that he gave up hob-nobbing with other candidates, the media, or other VIP to be with us -the grassroots. When RP shows up, it's like a beatles concert. Girls are screaming people are packed shoulder to shoulder. Fists are raised, people smile and shout things like, "We love you Ron Paul!"

RP talked, signed autographs, and took pictures for about 5 minutes. It took him easily twice as long just to make it back to his SUV which was parked about 42 inches from the entrance. It's now under 40 degrees outside, wind still blowing, and now it's raining. There's a guy yelling, "I touched Ron Paul! I touched Ron Paul!"

Unfortunately, I did not get to touch Ron Paul, but I was close enough to take the above picture. It was a wonderful time, and completely re-energized me.

 

[thomas-in-ky]

Thanks for posting!

 

[freeforall]

 

[anewvoice]

This is the view from the "Free speech zone" where the VIPs entered the debate and the media gathered.

You weren't by chance the lady my wife and I were chatting with, with the 2 children? We must've been right next to each other, remember the guy with the wrestling mask.

It was funny, we ended up over in this corner too wondering where the Ron Paul were, maybe 30 around here, and then this massive line of Ron Paul supporters appeared from around the corner. "Ah, that's more like it!"

 

[ninepointfive]

He's catchin' on, I'm tellin ya!

 

[anewvoice]

The funniest part was a person standing with a "Fair Trade" sign, chanting "4 more years" and yelling "where are the jobs". I couldn't help myself and yelled back "they all went to Mexico with NAFTA!". Blank stares were my reward unsurprisingly. Lot's of police for the 99'ers, not really any presence for Ron Paul supporters.

It would be cool if we could coordinate massive Ron Paul sit-ins at the OWS events around the country, counter culture style.

 

[cero]

I DONT SEE THE PICS AHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

ps: yes I want to see the vid

 

[speciallyblend]

The funniest part was a person standing with a "Fair Trade" sign, chanting "4 more years" and yelling "where are the jobs". I couldn't help myself and yelled back "they all went to Mexico with NAFTA!". Blank stares were my reward unsurprisingly. Lot's of police for the 99'ers, not really any presence for Ron Paul supporters.

It would be cool if we could coordinate massive Ron Paul sit-ins at the OWS events around the country, counter culture style.

first none of the links or pics in op work crying

2nd if we could plan sit-ins at the ows. I can bring some drums in denver

 

[speciallyblend]

I DONT SEE THE PICS AHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

ps: yes I want to see the vid

same here nothing

 

[speciallyblend]

ok pics working now

 

[Eric21ND]

please post pictures and that video!

 

[limequat]

You weren't by chance the lady my wife and I were chatting with, with the 2 children? We must've been right next to each other, remember the guy with the wrestling mask.

It was funny, we ended up over in this corner too wondering where the Ron Paul were, maybe 30 around here, and then this massive line of Ron Paul supporters appeared from around the corner. "Ah, that's more like it!"

Nope, I'm a 33 y/o dude, was wearing a gray p-coat. I probably walked past you at one point

 

[limequat]

Can everyone see the pics and vids now?

 

[asurfaholic]

Pics work. You did get close to the dr... looks fun

 

[Revolution9]

First, I had a great time. I was an experience without parallel to stand in a mob of hundreds - all like-minded liberty lovers. Kudos to the official campaign for herding us cats <snipped awesomeness for brevity>

He deserves this so much. I have tears in my eyes for this. Thanks for posting.

Rev9

 

[Son of Detroit]

I want to see that video, you probably ran past me!

EDIT: Pics work!

 

[IterTemporis]

The videos are there. They just look like pictures. Here they are:





You have to click on them to view them.

 

[anewvoice]

Nope, I'm a 33 y/o dude, was wearing a gray p-coat. I probably walked past you at one point

Ah. I'm in the Ron Paul hat on the right, was awesome, got to shake Ron Paul's hand as he came in. What a crowd that was!

 

[TCE]

Really cool, thanks for posting. Glad to see Paulers are innovative with fun signs.