Zorya sits on the porch and thinks

I don’t have the time to post extensive thoughts - too much work today.

I didn’t realize that Obama’s speech yesterday was billed as a major one on education. I thought it was going to be another townhall sort of thing.

I got to Stebbins about 8:15 am. No problems parking. There was a line to get in, but not really too bad. I was inside and in a seat by 9:15. While waiting to get in I spent my time talking to an interesting older woman who turned out to be Judge A J Wagner’s wife.

I was in an upper tier seat. Still close enough to get a good look at Obama, but not close enough to get a good picture with my cell phone camera (should have brought Tom’s camera). The floor seats were reserved for various VIPs, and I think reps of the teacher’s union and some others. I think DHL workers reps might have been there also, as I understand he had a closed door meeting afterwards with DHL workers reps.

After a bit someone came out and led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and then a young lady sang the Star Spangled Banner. Crowd applauded when she hit the high note and then went a few notes higher.

Then a spokesperson (my field rep, Andres) came out and made a plug for everyone getting involved in registering new voters and talking to their neighbors about Obama. Then nothing for a while - the union members filled the empty space by getting people to chant (”Yes we can”, “Eight is enough” stuff like that)

Then Gregory Tucker from Centerville came out to introduce Obama. He talked about his high school son and how he had coached the son’s team in a science build competition. Then he told everyone he was a lifelong Republican who was voting for Obama because he had a vision for the future.

Finally, Obama came out to speak on education issues. I wouldn’t be able to do the speech justice so here is a link to the text of his remarks (scroll down a bit):

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/amandascott/gG5pB4

And the video of the speech: