Seeing President Bush - October 16, 2004
After watching the last of three Presidential debates last Wednesday, we heard that President Bush was going to be in Daytona Beach on Saturday for a rally. Naturally we wanted to try and attend if at all possible.
On Friday, as I was taking a package to the DHL office, I passed by a normally empty outdoor arena abuzz with activity. Semi trailers were lined up to form a wall between the narrow street and the arena stands. A stage had been set up and the sound system was being tested. More stands and tents were being erected around the property and a news van was parked at one of the front gates.
I knew this must be the place that the President was going to be. Later that evening we drove out and talked to some of the people involved in the setup to see how we could get in for the rally. We were told that tickets might be available through the GOP headquarters in Daytona Beach.
The next morning, Rick called their office to find out if tickets were available. After getting directions to the location, he went and got tickets for us. After taking care of the things we needed to attend to, we set off for the rally around 1:15 p.m.
About two miles from the location, we were greeted with a traffic jam of people trying to get into the rally. After inching out way to a parking area, which was an open field of grass, we walked about a half of a mile to the first gate.
A handful of Kerry supporters, less than a dozen in number, were on hand at the first gate with their signs watching thousands of Bush supporters file by chanting “Four more years” and “Flush the John’s.” Rick and I wondered which news stations would give more attention to the handful of protesters while overlooking the 5,000 to 6,000 people who showed up in the heat of the day to support the President.
After filing through checkpoints, showing our picture ID, presenting our tickets, and discarding our water bottles, we finally made it to the metal detectors. These 10’ tall portable detectors, about ten to twelve in number, were set up under a large tent with their carrying cases lying on their sides in a “V” shape to form aisles on either side.
To the side of the detectors, security personnel behind tables were inspecting purses, cameras, cases, and cell phones, followed by secret service on the other side of the detector with a wand in case someone failed to make it through without setting off the alert.
Once through security, we made our way toward the stage along with the growing number of attendees until we could move no closer to the stage for the density of the crowd. We were standing about 50 yards from the podium where various speakers came to garner the support of those who came for their individual races.
It had taken a little over an hour to arrive at this point and would be another hour and a half before the President would arrive, but we were packed in with about 5,000 enthusiastic supporters who, like us, were willing to endure the discomfort for an opportunity to be involved in history.
As the speakers and the entertainment filled the time, we observed the increasing presence of security as time drew near for the President’s arrival. First was a surveillance helicopter flying overhead scanning the forest and entry roads that the Presidential bus would use. Closer to time for his arrival, secret service dressed in black swat gear mounted the top of a van with high powered binoculars scanning the tree line and the growing crowd of people.
Eventually others dressed in suits and wearing the typical radio earpieces worked their way through the crowd and positioned themselves with backs toward the stage, scanning the crowd of people. Soon the helicopter quit flying around the perimeter and took up a stationary position hovering over a point where the motorcade must be arriving. It appeared that two helicopters were in use to set up an aerial perimeter of surveillance while the President was speaking.
Soon thereafter the President arrived along with brother/governor Jeb Bush. The crowd erupted with enthusiastic cheers and banner waiving, as “W” waved to the crowd. Only the cheering applause to comments he made or the chanting of “Four more years” interrupted his speech. Any mention of John Kerry’s name, of course, was met with a chorus of booing and derogatory comments from the crowd.
Everyone was standing so closely together that if one were to have dropped something on the ground, it would have been easier to leave it there than to attempt bending over to pick it up. After the President spoke, he waved, shook hands, exchanged pleasantries with those fortunate enough to be up front, and then left in company of personal security.
Slowly the mass of bodies made their way to the exit and, ultimately, to their vehicles. Those who had arrived early and obtained the closest parking were now at the mercy of thousands of bodies surrounding their vehicle, preventing a hasty exit. The logjam of cars in the streets slowly inched their way to their next destination, while those who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time sat lamenting their choice of route on this particular day.
Rick and I both were glad to have had the privilege to see in person one of the most historic figures of our day, even if from a distance.
