Meeting Politicians

[QueenAdrock]

Anyone go out of there way to do this? I was able to meet John Kerry in 2004, was close to meeting Edwards a few days before the election but just barely missed him. This past weekend, I went to meet Mayor O'Malley of Baltimore (running for governor of MD) and got to talk to him and get a picture with him.

Plus, Senate and Congress hopefuls often go to the DC Metro just to meet people on their way to work and get their name out there. I stopped and met Ben Cardin today, who's running for Senate in Maryland. I'd still like to meet Allen Lichtman, though.

Anyone else? I'd really like to think I'm not the only really political active one here in real life, I know that some of you have to go to rallies and stuff, right? Right? ...Bueller?

[valvano]

i met sonny bono at Union Station in DC right after he got elected to the house of rep. spoke to him about Hairspray. mailed a 8x10 of the picture to his office and he signed it to me...then he died like 2 months after i got it back :(

i have it framed in my office at home

[abcdefz]

I met Mayor Gavin Newsom (San Francisco), but it was purely by accident. He was at the Asian Art Musuem for the anniversary a few years back and spoke. A friend of mine got pretty excited and wanted to say hi, so he and another friend and I wound up shaking hands.

[Rock]

Jim Moran and Steve Allen were at my cousins wedding. They had a belly dancer do a performance and she kept trying to rub up on Moran and Allen. They kept pushing her off. It was pretty funny. Other than that...none.

oh..and the ex governor of Falls Church was my lawyer and got me out of a illegal possesion of alcohol charge when i was 18. He was actually a really cool guy.

[enree erzweglle]

My son and I waited to meet Al Gore when he was in town for the 2000 election campaign. First, I had only one ticket to the event and my kid was <18, so I had to be with him for him to get in so I couldn't just give him my ticket. I posted about that on a local board and someone gave up their ticket so that my kid could go. Which was so, so sweet.

We waited where we thought we'd see AG walking to the stands and we did--he walked right past us. I seem to remember that either I called out to him or my son did, I think it was my son. I seem to remember that whoever called out, called out "Al Gore!" and even though there was so much noise, he heard that and he turned around and my son was smiling this enormous smile--I have that photo in my head--and AG came right over to him and stooped down and shook his probably-sticky hand and asked him some questions and thanked him for his help. :)

[SobaViolence]

while my father, brother and I were doing a three city baseball tour of Baltimore, Cleveland and Detroit, we stopped in Washington and while at the Mall (that was swarmed by thousands of Canadian geese) my dad swears he saw John Kerry doing a TV spot...back in 98' or so.

Dad told a joke and got Kerry to laugh, and the director/cameraman thanked my dad because he had been trying to lighten Kerry up for an hour.

and then he got re-elected.
you're welcome John.

[DroppinScience]

I've met and interviewed Raj Pannu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raj_Pannu) (he's the New Democratic Party MLA here in Alberta) and he was an awesome fellow. We were speaking about tuition for the college radio station. I literally said "Hi, how are you Raj?" and he started talking a mile-a-minute and going off about tuition hikes this, tuition hikes that. I didn't have to ask him any questions, he was practically interviewing himself.

But he was an awesome dude! (y)

I also met Robert Noce (he ran for mayor of Edmonton in 2001 and 2004, and lost both times). A lot of Edmontonians didn't know what to make of him, but he was nice as a person.

I've seen (but not spoken to) various other politicians on a municipal, provincial and federal level as well.

[yeahwho]

I actually do go to a few political fundraisers, listen to the rhetoric and watch the smoke being blown up peoples bums.

It's sort of a sad statement in how to get things done but political action funds and lobbying are a way of life here in Washington State.

I'm on a political action commitee this year organizing fellow employees to hit various fundraisers and political events in their districts. It's like pulling teeth to break the apathy that runs throughout the voters consciousness.

Just decided to become pro-active, this forum had an influence on my stance.

Thanks to you all for that.

[Drederick Tatum]

I shouted at Condelezza Rice when I saw her on a canal in Berlin in 2003. "There's blood on your hands, Rice!" fucking bitch just smiled and waved. it wasn't the reaction I was after.

[SobaViolence]

those idiots live in a fucking bubble...
good try though.

when bush came up to Canada almost 2 yrs ago, most of the city showed up as he drove to the parliament and what did he say afterwards?

i'd like to thank all the Canadians who waved with their whole hand...

[QueenAdrock]

Haha, I remember that. Thanks to everyone who didn't try to tell me that I should fuck off, that was real nice-like. :rolleyes:

[steve-onpoint]

I've called my senators' offices to voice my concerns on various issues in congress. It can take as little as two minutes to put in my two cents on what I'd like to see my senators do.

[Documad]

I meet politicians. That's different from being politically active.

I never seek out a political speech on purpose, but if it gets people whipped up to do something else, that's terrific.

There is very little time left, there is more at stake than in 2004, and there are many important local races. I beg everyone to quit watching CT and races in other parts of the country and pick up the phone and volunteer to help a local candidate.

[Documad]

I've called my senators' offices to voice my concerns on various issues in congress. It can take as little as two minutes to put in my two cents on what I'd like to see my senators do.
It is amazing how much impact that can have. An old-fashioned letter or a phone call has more impact than an email. If you send a letter or call a politician at a more local level it will have even more impact.


I'm on a political action commitee this year organizing fellow employees to hit various fundraisers and political events in their districts. It's like pulling teeth to break the apathy that runs throughout the voters consciousness.

I don't know if you're in a union but what you said reminded me of something I've been saying over and over lately: I've never been in a labor union, and I haven't known many people who were in a labor union, but I have to say that people in labor unions totally and completely kick ass when you work on a big project with them.

I'll stop being a nag and I'll run away now because I shouldn't even be in here.