2008.2.7. Hillary Clinton finally decided to come to Seattle to rally, after Super Tuesday's result. Her husband was original expected. 8pm Pier 30. Regardless of the late notice, bad venue, a few thousand showed up against the wind and cold. Many of these walked.
Gary Locke showed up at 9:20, gave a short energetic speech. Then Ron Sims. And then a congressman, whom I forgot the name. At 9:33pm, Hillary showed up, well prepared. A very good speaker. She started with the names of those WA companies in reducing energy consumption, and went on to promote government investment in green energy. Then calling tax reform, giving middle class tax breaks. Followed by universal health care (which she "sadly" mentioned that Obama has given up). Then education, calling low interest government loans to all college students, more apprentice programs, free universal kindergarten care. Then on to bringing the troops back from Iraq and giving veterans a new GI bill just like after WWII. Last her ability to work across the party lines. Totally about 40 min. No mention about how to solve the budget deficit and where the money is going to come from for all her proposed programs.
Badly organized. Pier 30 is a cruise ship terminal, barely furnished. My back was sore after standing for such long time. There was no explanation, no update as when or if Hillary would come. Only silly music. Quite some people gave up. The rest got to move up a little bit. Crowds were yapping among themselves. A silly crowd. Easily aroused and manipulated. Applauded constantly.

Overall, an interesting experience. My first attendance of a political rally. Planned to go see Barack Obama the next day at noon at Key Arena. According to Seattle Times, the police locked the door at 11am, when it reached its capacity of 20000. Now I have no one to compare Hillary to.