The Scene

Eastgate Holiday Inn, 4501 Eastgate Blvd., fundraiser for the schmidtster with "special guest" house speaker dennis hastert; 10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. was the VIP Reception costing $5,000 per person; 11:15 a.m. -12:30 p.m. was the luncheon for $1,200 for a table of ten or $150 per person.

I worked from home for a while this morning while a plumber attended to some minor issues. Everything worked out OK on that front, and the timing was good, so on my way in to work I stopped off in Eastgate to give a special welcome to some republican big spenders.

There was absolutely zero foot traffic, but I got an interesting array of negative comments, including the shaking heads, the thumbs down, and the flipped bird, but I also got a surprising amount of supporing waves, beeps, nods, and so on.

From my vantage point I was constantly observed by Union Township police, and I also saw State Police, Cincinnait police, and mall security. In fact, mall security asked me to move from my quiet spot by the entrance to the hotel lot to a busier spot nearer the highway, because "the mall doesn't take politial stands." I pointed out the many Schmidt signs on mall property, and the officer said not to worry, they were coming down too. Good as his word, he started taking them down. Apparently we were being observed from the hotel because a young staffer came out immediately and talked to the officer, and shortly thereafter took down the rest of the signs herself.

I waited until I was fairly sure all the attendees (not much of a crowd, I'd guess) had arrived, then I packed up my stuff. I went in and gave a "business" card to the woman at the sign-in table to give to speaker hastert for me, but she didn't give me any assurances he'd get it. You know how that goes.

Then I went to work and worked very hard all afternoon.

More fun later,

Ray

Written March 28, 2006