President Obama at Elmendorf Air Force Base
13 11 2009
Security was tight to say the least. I’d actually never been on Elmendorf Air Force Base before, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. ID, insurance and registration at the gate. “Please pop the hood, ma’am,” I was asked, after I pulled over as instructed. My car is fairly new. Well… new to me. So new, in fact, that I have never actually popped the hood myself. And so after looking around for a little while and not immediately seeing the little hood release thing, I started getting a little flustered. “Ma’am, please pop the hood,” I was asked again. Then I realized I’d been called “ma’am” which is always a little disconcerting for me anyway. I was “Miss” for most of my life, and then I hit that grey area where nobody knew quite what to call me. So, I’m still kind of a new “ma’am.” And I started thinking about that instead of my hood, and finally he said, “It’s that little lever right there.” And so it was. The one right in front of me, with the picture of the little car with the hood open. I smiled, a sort of “yes, I’m pathetic” smile and popped the hood. That would not be the only time today I felt like a total dork.
Then off we were shuffled, into a little heated hut with a couple other bloggers and media types, while mysterious things happened in and around “the vehicle” that we were not allowed to see. By the time the guy came back to tell us we were all good to go, we were having quite a fun time in the hut, chatting about this and that. “We want to stay in the hut!” we said, and he laughed. We were then escorted to a parking lot and driven to the hangar where the President would be arriving a couple hours later. Another security line, where bags were searched. My camera was examined and a picture was taken to make sure it was really a camera. At least that’s what I imagine. I don’t think it was for any kind of artistic purpose, because this is the shot he took.
It was after that that a perplexed security guy pulled a small vinyl moose out of my camera bag, set it on the table and looked at it, and then looked (with everyone else in line) at me. That would be the second time I felt like a dork, but this time it resulted in a prize at the end – a White House Press Pool badge! Nice. There were lots of people milling around already, most in uniform. The event was closed to the public. There was a media section and I worked my way in and got settled.
I saw Senator Mark Begich who had arrived early. He walked around shaking lots of hands. I don’t know how many pictures he was asked to pose for, but it seemed like every time I looked at him he was getting his picture taken with smiling people in uniform. He has been very supportive of Anchorage’s military community even in his days as Mayor, and has been doing lots of work on their behalf in the Senate, as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee.
I also ran in to gubernatorial candidate Ethan Berkowitz and his wife Mara. He got his VIP tickets courtesy of his former nemesis, and the man that defeated him in last year’s congressional race, Don Young. A nice gesture, I thought. There, I said it.
All of a sudden, it was like I had seen a rare exotic bird! Could it be? (flipping through my political field guide) Why, yes! A creature common to the state, yet strangely absent from this area today… a “Republican!” It’s Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom!
No Senator Lisa Murkowski (in Kotzebue), no Rep. Don Young (in D.C.), no Governor Sean Parnell (errr…. down the road 2 miles away speaking to a General Contractor’s luncheon he just couldn’t reschedule), and almost no Mayor Dan Sullivan, although he managed to worm his way in to the event after originally saying “thanks but no thanks on those tickets from the White House.”
I also ran into AFL-CIO President Vince Beltrami. I’d just seen him at the taping of Shannyn Moore’s new TV show Moore Up North the night before. He was quick to jokingly point out the sociological barrier that separated the sweaty media masses from the VIPs! I talked to Vince for a while across the blue ”Berlin Wall.”
And speaking of Shannyn Moore, there she was with cameraman extraordinaire Dave Turnbull.
The Air Force Band of the Pacific played to help us pass the time, and boy were they amazing.
And finally the moment arrived. There was a prayer, a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, and finally the Commander In Chief.
I was very focused on taking pictures, and it took a minute before it sank in that I was actually standing in the same room as the President. It was a strange feeling to be there with the actual person who I’ve heard speak so much, written so much about, and (like many) worked so hard to get elected. I had never been in the presence of a sitting President before, and I thought this was a great way to start. He said how pleased he was to be able to stop in Alaska, and how much he had appreciated speaking with those members of the military he’d just talked to behind the scenes.
He thanked Mark Begich, and I was reminded yet again how our Governor, Sean Parnell had snubbed the president and the troops and was a mere 2 miles down the road delivering a really “important” speech to the Association of General Contractors at a luncheon in the middle of a three-day conference. I was irritated to the extreme. Some day I’d like to have a governor who doesn’t embarrass me. This is my wish. But in the meantime, the President was gracious and appreciateive. He talked about all the reasons he is grateful to the military, and acknowledged their sacrifices. He named Alaskans who had been lost, including Marine Cpl. Greg Fleurry who was killed in Afghanistan just a couple weeks ago. And he talked about the tragedy of Ft. Hood.
He told the crowd that he would not hesitate to use military might when it was necessary (some cheering from the audience), but then he said that he promised also to never ask the men and women of the military to put their lives on the line unless it was absolutely necessary. That line got the biggest cheer of the speech. He also talked about specific things he had done to support members of the military, which met with more cheering and warm applause.
It was nice to see so many smiling faces who did look really pleased that the President had taken time out of his schedule to meet with them and talk with them. The speech was not long, but it was well-received, and when the President started shaking hands, he was just about mobbed.
I stood up on the risers to get a good angle for pictures, and even when my eye lost him in the crowd, all I had to do was look out over the sea of people and I was able to tell where he was. All arms were held out, holding cameras with glowing screens, pointed at him from every direction. The effect was almost like the tentacles of a sea urchin, or a great glowing starfish that moved slowly around the room, following his every move.
There were lots of smiles, and hand shaking, and the president looked genuinely happy to be there meeting people.
After he left, there was a lot of residual smiling and an air of excitement that lingered.
It was only when President Obama was over the Pacific Ocean winging his way to Japah, and as I drove through the gates on my way off base that I realized I forgot to get the coveted shot of Brian the Mudflats moose in the same frame as the President! I was really excited to be able to get that fun shot to add to the gallery, but I was so moved by what he was saying and the surreal feeling of being there, that it completely slipped my mind.
But, even though I didn’t end up with that particular souvenir of the event, I did get to keep my cool hexagonal White House Press Pool pass.
and got yet another unique and lasting memory of the day – the apparently indelible paw prints of a bomb-sniffing dog on the upholstery of my back seat! Hey, it’s something!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:44 PM
What a wonderful experience and a great souvenir! Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us. You are now officially a member of the WH Press Corps (at least for a time!)
My feelings on Parnell have pretty much been stated by many here. What a complete loser!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Re: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/going-rouge—an-american_b_357676.html
I thought one of the first reasons Palin had given for the firing of Monegan was because he took an ‘unauthorized’ trip to DC to secure funding for sexual assault programs, (though later it was proved he HAD gotten signed off to do so).
November 13th, 2009 at 6:54 PM
I’ve met Obama several times back in Illinois when he was campaigning for Senate in 2004 and president last year. What struck me is how thin and almost frail he seems in person. Obviously, he’s not frail, but that’s what I came away with each time.
He gives a great speech and his smile – grin – is magnetic. Lights up the room, even large cavernous areas.
I’ve also met Bill Clinton. Now, there is SEX ON A STICK!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:57 PM
got yet another unique and lasting memory of the day – the apparently indelible paw prints of a bomb-sniffing dog on the upholstery of my back seat!
Better not let Buff get a sniff of that! She’ll be upset her mommy had another doggy in the car without her there!
Also…if I were you, AKM, I’d play your press pass letter/numbers as a lottery set. The “L” could convert to a number (12 for example), then play anagrams with the numbers.
I did that letter to number conversion for a group MegaMillions lotto pool using license plates of the pool players. Letters got converted to numbers using the 1-26 for the first time thru the alphabet, then 27-53 for a second letter/number pass. Your “L” would be either a 12 or a 28.
Upshot – we won $10000 for that draw the first time the converted plates numbers were used, then consistently won $10 – 150 on 7 other occasions…
November 13th, 2009 at 7:07 PM
AKM wrote:
Canon digital Rebel XTi. I’m actually (gulp) thinking about upgrading. Some of the cameras that were there had me salivating… and the lenses! I had “lensvy”. If it isn’t a word, it is now.
You can possibly upgrade the camera, but keep using your current lenses. There are a number of Canon cameras that use the same type of mount. Bring info on your lenses (model, type) with you if you splurge for a newer camera body and maybe a new lens, one you don’t have.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Forgot to ask in my post above, but why did Obama stop in Alaska? Was it to refuel AF1? Or, was he there to visit the troops? I remember that for many years, planes going across the Pacific from the East Coast routinely stopped in Anchorage to refuel.
I was reading the posts that came before mine and it reminded me again what a great impression Obama has made on most of the country. I wish there was some way to counteract the idjit “Tea Baggers”. I have to laugh when I read about the “hundreds of thousands, even a million or more” who supposedly showed up in DC on 9/12.
I was at the Inauguration back in January with my three young adult children – standing in the infamous “Purple Zone” – on the lawn of the Capital. Now, THERE were a couple of million people, of all colors, standing together, jumping up and down to stay warm, talking, laughing and crying, while our great country welcomed our new President.
Where are all of us today? Why aren’t we writing the newspapers in support of Obama and his administration? Maybe we should take to the streets, too..
November 13th, 2009 at 7:13 PM
RE: meeting with/being at press conferences of top politicians…
When I lived in NYC/LI areas from birth thru late 80’s, it wasn’t unusual for the leetle people to get to meet some big wigs. Until storage unit damages destroyed old photo albums, I had pictures of me with Jackie O & Caroline Kennedy, Ed Koch, Mario Cuomo, Geraldine Ferraro (worked on the VP run campaign w/ Mondale) and Bella Abzug (also worked on many campaigns for her; politics definitely miss her – she’d take out SP at 5000 miles!!!!).
There were also pix of me/family with John Lindsey (another NYC mayor, before Koch) from picnics he visited at Central Park and Prospect Park while campaigning/drumming up votes. You didn’t have the major searches/hassles then that are out there now.
Dang! I hate those storage unit folks for my lost treasures…sigh.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Our president seems to be a really nice man. I’m glad you got to see him.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:45 PM
ohoebes-in-santa fe…
i was in the purple people eater tunnel during the inauguration!
we gotta talk.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:46 PM
ohoebes = phoebes
November 13th, 2009 at 8:59 PM
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November 13th, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Polly, thank you for posting this, I had not caught it. Jeez, he says he’d just sit and fill a seat, blame game bell ringing going off, yes, it sounds so much like Scarah’s lame duck defense for quitting, wow and eh? And he considered himself as civilian access, he played that card, that’s too, too rich. Like deeeeeep fertilizer.
Uncanny resemblance to Scarah’s leadership on his part? YEAH! Do they talk policy, yes, I think they do.
Polly said: This was Parnell’s response to the Fairbanks News-Miner:
“I saw your column this morning about me supposedly snubbing Obama. I did not do that to the president and you made an assumption about what my choices were. My choice was keep my commitment to the contractors or sit and fill a seat for the president’s events. We were not permitted any civilian interaction. We were told there would be no greeting of the president nor talking with the president, I’d be filling a seat.”
November 13th, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Thanks AKM for your lovely narrative. It made me feel closer to the event and I’m sure it was a thrill for many, even those of us who experienced it vicariously.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Ryan #108
As a representative of the people of Alaska the governor should have attended this very rare event. It was an opportunity to take part in rally/event for the troops. What could be more important than taking part in a special event with the people who risk their lives for our country?
As for paying money to war fighters, the more I learn about the unique difficulties in the war in Afghanistan the more I see the usefulness of these atypical strategies.
Couldn’t it be considered like giving them a job and paying them for it? If a carrot gets the results we need, isn’t it better than a stick? I think you should do some research about these different strategies that have already been in practice for years.
I was shocked when I first learned that under the Bush administration, we were giving the Pakistan government millions of dollars to build up their military resources to fight the Taliban coming into their country from Afghanistan. The only problem was they have been using that money to build up equipment & resources to fight India instead. Apparently, very different training and equipment is needed for each of these conflicts. So all of the millions we have given them has gone to help Pakistan prepare to fight India.
I think this kind of thing is much more common than you think.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:01 AM
I need to go out and look for my hood release.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:28 AM
Fawnskin-mudpuppy@8.45p – I hope you check back this morning to read this!
The ONLY reason we weren’t trapped in the tunnel with a whole lot of other “Purple people” was that my two sons have lived and worked in DC for a few years now and know the streets around the Capital pretty well. We were able to cut some corners and go down some alleyways to get to the entry of the Purple Zone.
We were staying in a hotel out in Arlington and left very early for the Metro to cross the river into DC. Just our good luck, one of my sons flagged down a DC bus that was in the area that was taking people – for free – over one of the bridges to the Mall. We got off there and began walking towards the Capital. There were many volunteers along the way, smiling, and trying to be helpful, but when were approached the Capital, NO ONE, not the DC police nor the volunteers, knew the best way to the Purple entrance. Finally, we got to the entrance and went through the security post (we had already been through several security posts along the way). We stood there for another two hours before the ceremony – I had brought along a cane with a chair attached because I was still recovering from a broken leg from the summer of 2008. I was shocked they let the cane/chair through security but I guess I looked so pathetic that no one cared!
We had no idea then that so many people from the Purple Section were trapped in that tunnel. I later found out that my niece from NYC and her then-fiance were among those down there. We did have a great time, talking to the crowd, but we really couldn’t see or hear much. Some trees blocked our view of the jumbo tron and we were too far away to see the Capital steps too well. In any case, we had tons of fun.
After the Inauguration, my one son and I walked (I limped) a couple of miles to a Metro stop that was fairly far away – “East something” – and caught the train back to Arlington. Because the stop was pretty far from the action, there were plenty of seats, but the cars filled up quickly after that. I talked to two ladies who were distraught because they had tickets but didn’t get into where they were supposed to be, so they didn’t see or hear the Inauguration. I told them that in a couple of years they wouldn’t remember the details, but only that they were in DC with the happy crowds and so they “experienced” the Inauguration. They liked that interpretation.
If we had it to do over – and hopefully we will in three years! – we would have just stayed with the unticketed crowds on the Mall. The Jumbo trons were much more visible from there and the crowds just as enthusiastic.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
What for?
For always writing President Obama.
Some people call him Obama probably thinking…whatever.
But you refer to him as President Obama.
Makes me sit up straight and feel proud he is Our President Obama.
Itty
…radiating an enormous smile
November 15th, 2009 at 3:52 AM
LOL Love the paw prints on your car seat! Keep on barking.
@phoebes-in-santa fe A counteract to the “idjit ‘Tea Baggers’”
http://www.dogwalkblog.com/2009/04/19/the-most-offensive-tea-party-sign-ever/ Pee Party, voters with dogs. Pit-bulls get in free