The Event

  To vociferous screams, cheers and shouts, the collected political Washington contingent tries very hard not to lap it up, not to acknowledge the adulation, but rather to indicate by their expressions the solemnity of the event.
  Okay, I can't comment while this is going on. I'm too biased where MEMORIAL SERVICES are concerned. Solemn is what the traditional view is of a memorial service.
  The cheering is horrible. The hooting is horrible. It's Wellstone all over again.
  This does not look like the Washington contingent is happy about this. And I don't blame them.
  It's seems all political fans have attended.
  Maybe it'll get better.
  But right now,blech.
T-shirts. They're giving out t-shirts. And the concession stands are open.
Picture available here:
  This is a nightmare. 

  I almost feel sorry for The One, who's been trying really hard to look solemn and doesn't look happy with the raucous campaign crowd there. He's blinking really hard and looking sad and the mouth actually quivered (practiced, no doubt, in front of the mirror) but they keep on cheering and clapping and screaming things out. 

  OMG. I just heard a vuvuzela.

  Summing up: The speech was too long but most moving at the end. He did the best he could, I suppose, with what he had, considering some bright fellow decide to have a MEMORIAL SERVICE at a college gym. The One made comments about getting along and not judging people, which is absolutely necessary and timely. (snark: guess he read the polls: snark off)

  Still, one couldn't quite get away from the feeling that this was a campaign event and that the people who were there were all self-serving. Someone should have prepared those young people to behave properly. The college president? It was unseemly.

  Hot dog, anyone?