The Straight Talk Express rolled into Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio last night--literally. It was a stark contrast to Bush's appearance in the same venue in 2004, which was filled to capacity (~20,000) with adoring fans, many of them fundies, mobilized by Bush's born-again persona and the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative. This time, half the arena was blocked off by a curtain, and only about half the seats in the other half were filled. Maybe 6,000 in attendance tops.
What people were there were very uninspired. Cheerleaders tried in vain to get the crowd to chant "Country First"--it would go for a couple of rounds among very few people and then die out. Same with "USA USA." Even "O-H-I-O" was a non-starter. What I saw was a lot of bored people.
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Fresh Ohio produce surrounded the stage, making it look somewhat like a Hee Haw set. Hank Williams, Jr. brought music to the redneck tone of the McCain campaign with idiotic songs about "liberal left wing media" and the like.
Languid cheerleaders kept time with their pom poms:
The crates of apples serving as props--perfectly placed to be thrown at the speakers?
The Straight Talk Express literally rolls into the arena:
The crowd goes wild:
OMG, it's Arnold:
Huzzah!
Arnold kept hitting the "socialism" meme. He made a joke that Halloween, where kids go door-to-door getting candy for free--is socialist. The assembled Republicans nervously laughed. Their kids thought, WTF?
Here's Johnny!
A room divided cannot stand:
He's not going to win Ohio, but, see, he's got this sign:
Doesn't say whose victory, does it?
Breaking on through to the other side:
Just an old farm boy:
He dreamed he saw Joe the Plumber in the crowd.
Nope, not back here:
Well, we have these buttons, see:
And Democrats too--we have this van, see:
All in all, the most pathetic, lackluster rally I've ever seen. Bush rocked the place in '04 and the fundies carried him over the top in Ohio by a couple percent.
Contrast McCain's rally with the scene in 2004 for Pres. Bush:
That production totally outclasses McCain's in every respect. He has neither the enthusiasm from supporters or the funds to come anywhere close. I.e., pretty much dead in the water.