Over 3.5 hours in line and I couldn't get in to the Obama Rally in Detroit today

[Motown_Johnny]

I don't have the words to express my disappointment, so I won't try. I will instead try to forward what I think could have improved the experience for myself and hundreds, if not thousands of other supporters today.



It should go without saying that the venue was far to small. This is Detroit, he could have filled a football stadium easily. Hart Plaza was a mistake.



Besides that the crowd control was nonexistent. Instead of having 20 people wandering aimlessly with clipboards trying to register people to vote, Have 4-5 people with a big sign that says "The Line Starts Here" and funnel people to them (these people would then move as needed to the end of the line). This way you can instruct everyone about the security measures that are in place and people would have the chance to take things back to their car in a timely manner. Also they can be asked about registering to vote as they get in line in a face to face discussion instead of people "hawking" registration as they walk throughout the crowd.

This would also allow the organizers to dictate where the line is and where it goes. The line I was in today was not organized at all. Clearly it just went which ever way the next person in line felt like standing. It was over 80 degrees at 8:00 am today so the line tended to hug buildings that had shade and went around corners, and around an entire block that made no sense to me.

The largest advantage this would provide would be to stop people from cutting in line due to frustration of not even being able to find the end of the line. Hundreds of people near me in line today were very unhappy with their experience. I can only assume that thousands of others feel the same way.

They could also estimate how many people would be allowed into the venue and warn people that they might not get in once the people in line exceed that estimate. There was a big screen set up for people who could not get in but the people who were close to getting in and didn't make it (such as myself) were in a bad position to see it. Most of us just decided to beat the traffic and we headed for our cars. All the talk in the parking structure as I walked to my car was focused on frustration and disappointment.


I am still an enthusiastic Obama supporter, and I know my attitude will improve soon but others may not be as Pro 'Bama as I am and I hate to see us lose vote due to poor organization. Please make no mistake, this was very poor organization.

[lonestarnot]

1. Well why did you just stand there? Why didn't you pitch in and get it organized!

[Motown_Johnny]

3. they had dozens of volunteers, I was just one of the thousands in line... and I had no idea I would

not be able to get in to the plaza


By the time I saw how FUBAR the situation was it was far to late to do anything about it

[radfringe]

2. my partner came out with a good one this morning regarding McCain

I was watching the Obama acceptance speech on-line. My partner asked if McCain would be able to top it. I said that I doubted he could

she nodded and said "yeah, he couldn't fill a stadium like that. Shit, he would have trouble filling a drinking glass at a water convention"

[Motown_Johnny]

4. Obama could have filled a football stadium today.. and for only a 20 minute speech. We all would

have been ecstatic.

It isn't the 3.5 hours in line that I wasted, or the 30 minutes of drive time added to that. I would have gladly spent 6 hours getting into and out of a stadium to see him. The problem is that my expectations were not met.

[susanna]

10. LOL. Good one. All the more satisfying because it's true. :-) n/t

[Romulox]

5. The "speech" was 5 minutes long, if that.

And some of that was a "moment of silence" for any potential victims of Gustav. You didn't miss anything.

Apparently, discussing Detroit's economy would have been "too political" on a day like today. :wtf:

[Motown_Johnny]

6. I missed seeing him in person.. that is all I wanted.. He could have shot a basketball for 5 minutes

and I would have been joyful beyond words

[Romulox]

7. Don't you think it would've been nice if he had talked about the problems of Detroit a bit?

Detroit is the poorest city in the country, and Michigan has the highest unemployment, as I'm sure you're aware. :hi:

[Motown_Johnny]

8. I'm aware of the problems here. I live in Detroit.. not the suburbs...

Sure he could have addressed the economic problems here. If he choose not to then so be it.

I watch so many speeches of his on cable that I don't need to hear any of that. I know what his general plans are and I trust him to do his best for us.

I just wanted to actually see him in person.

He could have been driven up and down the street in fucking Pope-mobile and I would have been happy.

[Romulox]

11. And it doesn't gall you that labor issues are "too political" to discuss on LABOR DAY???

"I watch so many speeches of his on cable that I don't need to hear any of that. I know what his general plans are and I trust him to do his best for us."

Could you outline the basic differences on trade policy between John McCain, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama? Not so easy?

We in Michigan need to know that Obama isn't completely in the thrall of Chicago school free traders. That is why what he said in Detroit matters. And what he said is that labor issues and Detroit's economy is "too political" to discuss on labor day.

[Motown_Johnny]

12. I agree with you and no it does not gail me.. I went there to see him in person. not for some wonk

If I wanted wonk I would be on his web site reading exactly what his stance on his trade issues are.


Honestly I do not fully agree with his trade policy. I learned that during the debates, but I am not him and he is not me. I still support him even though he does not go far enough for me on this.


If you want to get into this we can talk health care. Because Detroit is so close to Canada, and Canada provides heath care for their citizens it is cheaper to build cars/car parts (and anything else for that matter) across the river. The last number I heard was $6,500 a year per employee once you consider that health care benefits continue into retirement. Don't ask me to back that up, it is a distant memory now.

I know without any doubt that Obama will be better than McCain for the entire world, for our nation, for Michigan and for Detroit. That is enough for me right now.

[Romulox]

18. I'm sorry. I'm am still stunned about this, and I don't want to be overly negative.

But I took this as yet another attempt to avoid answering any hard questions about Detroit's economy.

Remember this exchange?

Reporter: How are you going to help the American auto workers?
Obama: Hold on one second there sweetie.

We are still waiting for the answer to this question, Senator Obama...

[Motown_Johnny]

19. He introduced a plan to help auto companies to retool plants away from SUVs and to more fuel

efficent models

This will help keep jobs in America

Also the health care issue is huge...

[knitter4democracy]

9. I heard similar accounts here in Battle Creek.

While I was in the ER for my asthma (instead of at the rally), one nurse said her brother told her to walk home, that his best friend had driven over to the rally (lives in town), starting out at five, and still wasn't near the stadium by 8:30.

People were passing out from the heat, and there were several in the ER who either were from the rally or had tried to go and had some health problem. People were talking about it in the waiting room and in the exam rooms.

I think the entire city tried to go as well as much of Kalamazoo and Jackson, though David said the traffic getting to 94 was wall-to-wall stopped as he drove up to the ER to be with me. It was over by then, and he said people must've come from all over.

Ours was in the biggest venue in the area, and it still wasn't big enough. Crazy. I was sad to miss it.

[Motown_Johnny]

13. I sincerely hope you feel better.... Some people here were passing out from the heat too, I saw 3

ambulances take people away.


I am now glad that I did not drive to Battle Creek last night. I seriously considered going to Dublin yesterday (I lived in Columbus for about 10 months long long ago) then going to Battle Creek (my father was born there and I still have cousins in the area) and then going to the Detroit rally (which is only about 10 miles from my home)



I don't know if I will ever try to go to another rally again. Not unless I get there 6-7 hours early or it is such a huge venue I know I can get in.

[knitter4democracy]

14. Battle Creek's rally was insane from all reports.

Good thing you didn't try to come over. You'd never have gotten near the place.

[Eric J in MN]

15. When Obama spoke at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN

...a few months ago, admission was free and twice as many people showed up as they had space for.

I think it would have been better to charge $20 for admission so that people with greater interest would have been able to get in.

Was the Detroit event free?

[Romulox]

16. It was *5 minutes long*. There'd be a riot in Detroit if you tried to charge for a 5 minute speech.

[Eric J in MN]

17. Were there other speakers? Or a band? NT

NT

[Motown_Johnny]

20. From what I saw they just warmed up the crowd for him.. and I left while he was on stage