Obama's Pennsylvania tour makes stop at Altoona bowling alley (pics)

[BeyondGeography]

Pat Buchanan challenged Obama to go talk to white Catholics in Altoona. Not only did he talk with them, Pat, he bowled with them. And he wore official white man bowling shoes.

[Cha]

1. Bowling for

Obama! Fearless..what's pat buchanan on about? Why shouldn't he talk to Catholics of any Color?

[malik flavors]

2. haha, dope pictures. thanks

[easy_b94]

3. Children love Obama

[Barack_America]

7. Children are the best judges of character...

Animals too.

[PetraPooh]

26. I'm all for Obama but that is a most ridiculous myth.

[Barack_America]

27. Really? I've found it's been true in my experiences.

Why though, I can't say.

[PetraPooh]

34. Clearly you've never seen a child respond to a child predator.

[Barack_America]

39. God I hope not.

:scared:

But, as a child, I did have a less serious experience with a predator-type. This person made me immediately uneasy. But almost lured me in because I was trying to be "polite". But I definitely knew something was wrong.

[PetraPooh]

44. Children of the age displayed in the picture, are not good judges of character, it is a myth.

I can tell that you must've been already old enough to have been warned and understand the idea of a car snatching. Just be careful spreading that myth, kids that hear it believe it, and then don't see what they should. K?

[EFerrari]

52. But those are very few instances.

Children are great little Geiger counters and pedophiles fool everyone.

[PetraPooh]

55. Oh my, I really hate it when people put children at risk by repeating this myth.

[PetraPooh]

56. Nonetheless, this is not the OP topic. So I just ask that you reconsider and I'm done interrupting

[EFerrari]

58. Really? And I think false dilemmas wrapped in drama are silly.

There you go.

[BlooInBloo]

63. Marinated in hyperbole! Stored in metaphor! Distributed in analogy!

:)

[EFerrari]

70. Manipulated in metonomy.

A shell game.

[BlooInBloo]

73. Or metonymy. ha!

[EFerrari]

74. Got me.

lol

[PetraPooh]

64. Then don't think about it, don't consider it, remain single minded. It surprises me from you.

[EFerrari]

76. You're very right insofar as pedophiles don't register on anyone's radar.

They survive by passing. That's very true, imo.

I think what I and the other poster meant was more that children haven't developed the "filters" that adults have. They just say their truth. They're not hampered by the social restrictions that adults have learned.

[MidwestTransplant]

77. I think dogs are good judges of character.

[shadowknows69]

104. Considering the number of friends I have that have been abused as a child

I have to agree.

[EFerrari]

112. Isn't that more about a power imbalance?

(Here I am hijacking, so I'll keep it short.) I had a couple of near misses as a kid. The adult in question was always creepy but I don't know why they felt "creepy". Most kids trust adults a bit more than they trust their own feelings? Is that it?

But, not acting on your radar is different from not having the radar?

[NJSecularist]

4. When you see photos like this, you see how skinny and lanky Obama really is.

He was already skinny, but with how long these primaries have lasted, it wouldn't surprise me if Barack lost a few pounds.

[roseBudd]

57. And he looks good without a shirt on too

[Tatiana]

5. K&R The photo of the little girl hi-fiving him is TOO CUTE FOR WORDS! n/t

[quiet.american]

115. Agreed. nt

[leeroysphitz]

6. Photo number four is a KEEPER. Too cute.

[tridim]

8. Does the WH still have a bowling alley?

I hope they have at least updated the wallpaper by now.

[RazBerryBeret]

9. Love those pictures...

and I want to know how he bowled...

[Kber]

107. He sucked.

But that's OK - I think people want to feel superior to their president is some way. We got to feel superior to Bush 'cause he's a moron. We get to feel superior to Obama 'cause the man can't bowl for shit.

And, much as I don't like to say it, rolling into Altoona and beating the local residents at bowling wouldn't score as many political points as losing did.

[RazBerryBeret]

108. good point,

funny, but a good point!

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. I always love seeing pics of the "O" man...but,

the ones with kids are the absolute best. Thanks for sharing.

[C_U_L8R]

11. Take that Joe Scarborough !!

Obama bowls !!!!!!
I love him even more !!

[goclark]

25. Yea! Take that Morning Joe!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

He is the coolest campaigner America has ever seen.

Three cheers for his staff too ~ so creative!

[Yael]

12. Adorable!!

[JVS]

13. Bowling. Sweet.

[Life Long Dem]

14. Fast food and bowling it's another day on the trail! n/t

[thereismore]

15. What's that black band on his right hand? nt

[BeyondGeography]

17. That's a fallen soldier's wristband

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/16/obama_wears_iraqi_soldiers_bracelet/

[Yael]

20. I are typing too slow.

Thanks for the link!

[thereismore]

24. Sweet. thanks. He's had it since Feb. 15. nt

[Yael]

19. I may be wrong, but I believe it was the bracelet from a soldier killed in Iraq

given to Barack by the soldier's mother after an event.

[msallied]

43. So much more meaningful than a flag lapel pin too.

[Yael]

65. Indeed.

:hi:

[Catherina]

88. What BeyondGeography said but you can buy a black or white Hope band

at the Obama store ($4.00)

I bout several as gifts. They're a big hit



http://store.barackobama.com/product_p/bz00011.htm Under accessories

[pnorman]

16. What was Buchanan's response to that?

Personally, I LOATHE what he stands for, and come close to loathing him too. But he seems to have a solid core of honesty/integrity. I can't imagine him weaseling out of any situation.

pnorman

[Barack_America]

21. Buchanan goes to sleep at 7:30.

He's old like that.

He probably won't see these pics 'til tomorrow morning.

Unless, of course, Obama called and woke him up, "Guess where I am, bitch!" ;)

[pnorman]

30. I just recently turned 78, which makes me 8 years OLDER than that old fart.

But I'm generally up through most of the night! And my computer (DSL connection) NEVER sleeps! I get most of my sleep with daytime naps.

Here's the Wiki on his American Conservative: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Conservative Despite being a "left libertarian" (aka: Chomsky-type anarchist), I find myself quoting many of the articles to my friends. Frequently, they are thrown for a loss when I cite the source.

pnorman

[Barack_America]

38. Oops!

:blush:

I was being sarcastic there, I hope you realized that. I wasn't trying to insult our more "experienced" DU members.

However, my grandfather has always gone to sleep at 7:30, but then again my grandmother never went to sleep before 12. She was a napper as well. Buchanan, however, reminds me more of my grandfather (yes, he's a life-long Republican...who might just vote for Obama!).

So I guess the American Conservative is almost a good example of the "so right it's left again" idea? Interesting.

[pnorman]

68. No, I didn't take that in any way other than as "humor".

I was actually afraid that my own response might have appeared too "snappish". My weird sleeping pattern, is probably due to having spent my entire working life aboard merchant ships. At work, I was deep below the waterline, and under artificial illumination (and hoping that the lights didn't suddenly go out!). And almost always being on the 12-4 watch (by choice), it wasn't much better when off-watch.

I generally shy away from that old cliche, about "being so far left, that ....." (or it's opposite). But what I've gradually come to value beyond finding "ideological soul-mates", is HONESTY & INTEGRITY. And to my surprise, I'm finding much of that in the authors found on that American Conservative webpage. When you have enough spare time, give them all a good looking over. I think you'll agree.

pnorman

[SoCalDem]

32. Someone needs to nail his coffin shut some night

:)

[Yael]

37. If that is the case, then who is going to answer the phone at

3am?

:P

[blonndee]

47. OMG

"Guess where I am, bitch!" :rofl:

[here_is_to_hope]

80. Oh geez...my sides ! My sides! LMAO! n/t

[loveangelc]

18. TOO. CUTE.

esp. the 1 with the little girl

[slinkerwink]

22. that one's my favorite!

[tishaLA]

23. LOL! These brought a smile to my face

The shoes are super hep, Barack!

[Georgie_92]

28. Love those pics!

[SunsetDreams]

29. lol love it

In your face Pat Buchanan

[RamboLiberal]

31. That's great because Altoona paper was lamenting today

that presidential candidates ignore Altoona.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama will visit Johnstown today and State College Sunday, but Altoona is not on his ‘‘Road to Change’’ campaign bus tour schedule.

Former President Bill Clinton stumped for his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, in Johnstown March 12 and State College Thursday. Altoona also was not on his latest campaign schedule.

Blair County Democratic chairman Frank Rosenhoover can’t recall a presidential candidate ever stopping in the county.

‘‘Some of their surrogates have come,’’ he said, mentioning Tom Delay and Newt Gingrich. ‘‘I traveled to Indiana and shook hands with John Kennedy back in those days.’’

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/505986.html?nav=742

Bet someone on campaign brought that to his attention along with Buchanan's comments and now they can no longer say that and this stop probably has the town buzzing.

I like this area of PA - beautiful part of the state - I usually get up there once a month in the summer.

[RamboLiberal]

33. Story on the visit

-----

Several bowlers, ready to bite into fries lathered with ketchup and cheese, stopped munching, put down their beers, and gazed in wonderment at the presidential candidate who had wandered into their midst. Secret Service agents scurried to keep gawking bowlers from mobbing Obama. The Miller Lite clock stood at nearly 7 p.m.

“I just want to point out the last time I bowled was 30 years ago, when I was 16,” Obama, an Illinois Democrat, warned a crowd of patrons that formed quickly to get his autograph and picture.

The rust on Obama’s bowling showed. Both senators rolled gutter balls on their first frame, Casey to the left and Obama to the right. Their game improved toward the sixth frame, when Casey, a Scranton Democrat, tossed a strike. The crowd cheered after Obama hit a spare in the seventh.

“I think it’s wonderful he came,” said Jean Montgomery, 57, who co-owns the 32-lane alley with her brother. “He’s very friendly. I’m not real political. Probably now that he came in I will support him.”

Lorrie Benson, 34, of Altoona, said she was thrilled to get Obama's autograph.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/blogs/primarycolors/show_comments.php?entry_id=2296

[BeyondGeography]

35. Great...thanks, Rambo

[Tarheel_Dem]

84. OMG...that gave me chills Rambo, thanks for posting (eom)

[milkyway]

36. Is Barack signaling he just got a strike or that he just converted a 7-10 split?

And those are not white man bowling shoes. They're black and white.:)

And who are the guys wearing jacket and ties for a Saturday night of bowling?

[BeyondGeography]

41. From the write-up, seems the best he did was a spare

[Yael]

67. Secret service agents

[RamboLiberal]

40. Stopped At Original Texas Hotdogs as well

This evening, Barack and Senator Bob Casey swung by the famous Altoona’s Original Texas Hot Dogs in Altoona, Pennsylvania to grab a bite to eat and shake hands with local residents.


Open since 1918, the restaurant is an Altoona landmark and has been owned by three generations.


Barack and Senator Casey enjoyed Texas Hot Dogs (hot dogs covered in mustard, diced onions, and chili sauce) before meeting with local residents to discuss issues that were important to them.



http://2008bluepixelstates.com/bluestatesblog/2008/03/30/pa-road-to-change-barack-visits-altoonas-original-texas-hot-dogs/

The bus does move after all. Even as we blog, Barack Obama is seeing the high points of Altoona. He's already been to Altoona's Original Texas Hotdogs and had some hot dogs. Now, he's bowling at the Pleasant Valley Recreation Center. We're reliably informed that if he's not too exhausted by all of this heavy-duty sightseeing that he plans to hit a sports bar in State College to watch the NCAA tournament.

On Sunday, for a change of pace, he's going to do the more usual Obama thing -- a mass rally attended by thousands of adoring fans. This will take place outside on the Penn State campus.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/politics/

[msallied]

46. I just get exhausted reading these campaign schedules...

I cannot even imagine what kind of toll it has to take on the candidates, especially the way they're doing politics now. This primary has been going on for over a year. Sheesh...

[msallied]

42. Obama: "Fuck it, Dude. Let's go bowlin'." ;)

[Alexander]

48. One of my favorite movies.

Now we need to see if Obama can avoid spilling his White Russian. Then he'll pass the Lebowski test. :-)

[msallied]

49. "Hey man! I've got a beverage here!"

LOL

Definitely one of the most quotable movies ever made.

[shadowknows69]

95. w00t!!!

Lebowski reference!!!

[Hamlette]

45. Obama is one of the few candidates who can pull off wearing a hat but he's got to lose the shoes.

exhibit 1

[EFerrari]

50. I don't understand why he's in politics when he had a great career in modeling.

Really. Very few people are that photogenic.

[roseBudd]

61. I love the black & white photos of him

[EFerrari]

66. The first photo posted in the OP is art.

The symmetry is amazing.

[TwilightGardener]

92. That photo is still totally hawt to me.

[bklyncowgirl]

101. He's wearing bowling alley shoes--you know the ugly ones they give you so you won't walk out in them

Apparently the Senator's not much of a bowler. I'll give him credit for being a good sport though. Sounds like a fun campaign spot.

[4_Legs_Good]

51. Awesome pictures!

Thanks!!

David

[theredpen]

53. I don't roll on Shabbos!

A bit off topic, but I had to do it.

[msallied]

54. "Is this your homework, Larry? Is this your homework, Larry?"

"Son, you're entering a world of pain."

[gort]

71. Do you have to use so many cuss words?

[shadowknows69]

96. OMG I have to have that jpeg, can I steal it?

[gort]

110. Please do

I stole it. Just google images for Dude Abides.

[KittyWampus]

59. The Obama Dude Abides!

[BlooInBloo]

60. I didn't realize they had white man bowling shoes and black man bowling shoes....

... Good to know tho - thanks!

[blogslut]

62. psst

Don't tell the other threads but your thread is my favorite thread. :)

[quakerboy]

69. Yeah, but

what was his score? Lets focus on whats important here... Could I beat Obama at the alley or no?

[woolldog]

72. LOL

Obama goes bowling wearing a tie? Who does that? :rofl:

[uponit7771]

75. O Gawd!!! The picture high fiving the little girl is sooooo cute....

[loyalsister]

78. I hope we get to see some of this on you tube!

He campaigns in populist traditions. I love it!

As far as this nice guy thing goes I think we've got the real thing. And no matter how much people want to disregard it's influence, it matters to people.

I'm glad we've got a candidate who oozes this kind of "nice guyness" to run against a guy who is unashamedly abrasive.

[sonias]

82. That would be cool

I'd go bowling with him.


Sonia

[kid a]

79. I WANNA BOWL WITH OBAMA!!!

[VADem11]

81. Some more pics

There are some more pictures on his website's blog and here: http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=80387291

I'm glad to see Barack doing some retail politics and he looks like he's having fun at the same time.

[Tarheel_Dem]

91. VADem...those were great. Thanks for sharing.

There's a couple of baby photos, but alas, I'm not technically gifted so I can't share them. But, they're well worth a look.

[davidpdx]

83. Nice pictures

I think the tie was getting his way though.

[madrchsod]

85. cool shoes

nice design for a magic marker

[Bigleaf]

86. All this time I never noticed that he is a Lefty.

[dkf]

87. Error: You've already recommended that thread. Whoops!

Love it!

[dkf]

89. Can anyone see Hillary doing this?

That would almost be funny!

[Catherina]

90. Great pics! Tks n/t

[TwilightGardener]

93. This alone will make my family in PA love him--

they are huuuge bowlers. They will have no alternative but to support him, once I email these.

[caseycoon]

94. K&R Great thread! :o) n/t

[shadowknows69]

97. Score?

How did he do?

[BeyondGeography]

98. He's sticking to the running for President thing

from RamboLiberal's link above:

==The rust on Obama’s bowling showed. Both senators rolled gutter balls on their first frame, Casey to the left and Obama to the right. Their game improved toward the sixth frame, when Casey, a Scranton Democrat, tossed a strike. The crowd cheered after Obama hit a spare in the seventh.==

[shadowknows69]

103. Ouch lol

Well, it speaks to a man's character, a man who can enjoy fun at his own expense. The reason I haven't bowled since I was like 16 is because I suck at it and my ego is fragile.B-)

[Guava Jelly]

99. I love the low High Five in picture 4

too cute

[BumRushDaShow]

100. Woot! Now THAT is a way to get some attention!

:woohoo:

Bowling seems to have gone through cycles in popularity (outside of the dedicated) and has been on the upswing again, with new, more modern alleys opening up - at least over here in the Phlly area. Another commensurate venue would be playing a round of Bingo.

Thank you SO much for posting these pictures!! It would be great if someone had video of this that could be used in an ad. Such would go over very well in the bowling circuit over here in Philly.

[babylonsister]

102. Or, Barack (can't) Bowl~

And who cares? This write-up amused me.


http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/barack-bowl/#more-4667

Barack Bowl

By Michael Powell

snip//

Mr. Obama picked up a ball, cued up all confident-like, and sent the thing into the gutter. “We’re just warming up,” Mr. Obama assured himself, maybe.

So it rolled, one desultory frame after another. Rox hit spare upon spare; Mr. Obama knocked a few pins here and there and announced that his goal was to beat Mr. Casey. “I can’t beat Roxanne,” he said.

Mr. Obama, it turns out, was a weak centrist. His balls rolled down the center of the lane, but much too slowly to knock over more than a half dozen or so pins. “You notice I’m getting better?” he asked.

The patrons kept taking cell phone and camera shots, and urging friends to drive to the bowling alley to catch this scene.

“Let me tell you something,” Obama said to the crowd. “My economic plan is better than my bowling.” A man standing at the next lane called out, “It has to be.”

Mr. Obama laughed and gave him a hug.

Finally, in the seventh frame, Obama made a spare, cleaning up one pin. “Yes I can!” he started chanting after a couple admirers at a nearby lane started it. “Yes I can!”

As to politics, maybe. As to bowling? No, he really can’t.

[Adelante]

105. Ah, BG, this is a terrific thread

Happy :)

[BeyondGeography]

106. Good times

Democratic Presidential hopeful US Senator Barack Obama (L) gives a hug to Roxanne Hart (C) after she bowled as Pennsylvania Democratic Senator Bob Carey (R) watches on March 29, 2008 at the Pleasant Valley Recreation Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania, during a stop on his six-day bus tour of Pennsylvania.

[RichardRay]

109. So a campaign staffer comes up to Barack Obama and says...

Let's stop at a bowling alley and you can wear funny shoes and a tie and try to do something you haven't done in 30 years in the full glare of national coverage of your campaign. You won't do very well at it, you'll get beaten by everybody else who plays and pictures will instantly circulate around the world.

To which Barack says, "Yeah! Let's do it, sounds like fun!"

And off they go.

Many years ago I learned a great and comforting truth:

It is only a matter of time until my next nerdly act.

That is, the chances that I will never again do anything to make myself look silly are slim to none, and Slim just left town. I think maybe Senator Obama knows that and is perfectly OK with it; I love him for it.

[Scurrilous]

111. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Diane R]

113. And, somewhere in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton is lacing up her bowling shoes as we speak.

[trashcanistanista]

114. I also

love this thread. K&R :hi: