SWAMP AMA - I Went to a Trump Rally, Ask Me Anything!

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:21 am

I attended a Trump rally last evening for work. So I figured, why not let the Swamp inside. Ask me anything!

rass · Post by **rass** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:24 am

Can you explain in more detail what "for work" means in this context? Thanks!

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:28 am

The rally was put on as an individual by my company's CEO and his wife. But I work for the Communications department of said company and my boss is the head of governmental relations. So I was there to take pictures of our people at the event. These people have made contributions to the campaign, which is something I have decidedly NOT done (not because of political stance, but because I don't think I'd give anyone $1,000 and not know exactly what it was being spent on unless it was $10-20 at a time to my brood).

And to be clear, this was a rally at which Trump appeared, people paid for photos ops and he spoke (twice actually). Not just a rally of Trump supporters.

rass · Post by **rass** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:34 am

Can I start referring to you as "Jimmy Coalsen"?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:35 am

rass wrote:Can I start referring to you as "Jimmy Coalsen"?

I can't see why not.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:38 am

Did you get a chance to ask Trump what he will do to end the scourge of neighbors dictating whether people can put up sheds in their own backyards?

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:39 am

What was the best song they played?

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:41 am

What is Trump's position on having cars towed?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:42 am

tennbengal wrote:Did you get a chance to ask Trump what he will do to end the scourge of neighbors dictating whether people can put up sheds in their own backyards?

He only took about five questions and unfortunately I was next up when they pulled him.

In all honesty I was along the periphery most of the night. I traveled with just one camera and a medium-zoom lens so I couldn't get terribly close and my pictures suffered for it.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:44 am

Ryan wrote:What was the best song they played?

Well, his plane landed to " You can't always get what you want," which was...odd. The plane is pretty imposing. I guess I'm not used to being that close to planes that size.

Since I've already expressed my love for the song, "Sweet Emotion" was my favorite. That was pretty early in the evening, before he arrived.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:44 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:What is Trump's position on having cars towed?

It didn't come up per se, but I got the impression that if you were a member of ISIS your car wouldn't fare well.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:49 am

How many NASCAR t-shirts in the crowd?

Anyone have window sticker of calvin urinating on something?

Were people drinking? If so what?

Any ethnic minorities at the event? Working it?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:59 am

wlu_lax6 wrote:How many NASCAR t-shirts in the crowd?

It was a private event. Probably 200-220 people maximum. Dress code was business casual or better, so no NASCAR t-shirts visible

wlu_lax6 wrote:Anyone have window sticker of calvin urinating on something?

Company employees had access to the private lot. I didn't see any, though I will say the 2003 Honda Accord I bought two weeks ago stood out for it's not luxury-ness.

wlu_lax6 wrote:Were people drinking? If so what?

There was a bar, but it was limited. No hard alcohol. Two wine selections, and the VIP area had domestic beers available. All the regular suspects. I had water and lemonade.

wlu_lax6 wrote:Any ethnic minorities at the event? Working it?

The catering company had a pretty even distribution between white and black with a couple of hispanics. They were all very friendly.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 8:10 am

What percentage of your soul did you enter the night with? What percentage remained at the end?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 8:14 am

mister d wrote:What percentage of your soul did you enter the night with? What percentage remained at the end?

I feel like I stayed constant. That percentage is probably around 50% at the moment. I am not a huge fan of either of the major party candidates. And honestly I was surprised at how in charge Trump was. He definitely commanded the room. I think with a lot of the TV time he gets it's just the highlights, but he definitely got people's attention and held it.

Oh, FWIW, Chris Christie was with him. I probably should have mentioned that earlier.

Post by **Sabo** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 8:28 am

Did any bald eagles attack Trump? Because that would've been pretty cool.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 8:33 am

Sabo wrote:Did any bald eagles attack Trump? Because that would've been pretty cool.

No, but one of my pictures is him in the VIP area speaking to the people who paif for photo ops, and there are about 5 guys with matching bald heads looking at his toupee longingly.

Post by **Sabo** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 8:41 am

A_B wrote:
Sabo wrote:Did any bald eagles attack Trump? Because that would've been pretty cool.
No, but one of my pictures is him in the VIP area speaking to the people who paif for photo ops, and there are about 5 guys with matching bald heads looking at his toupee longingly.

That's scary as F.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 9:18 am

I'm fascinated by his speaking style. Was it all just off the cuff?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 9:26 am

Pruitt wrote:I'm fascinated by his speaking style. Was it all just off the cuff?

He had a few talking points that he said in both sessions (one for the VIPs and one for the larger gathering) that focused on some Kentucky-based issues, largely coal. But he opened both sessions up for questions pretty quickly and was 1)respectful to the askers, 2) at least versed in talking points on all the isses and 3) pretty well in control.

He was probably at his best when answering questions off the cuff to be honest. While I think he is still in process of really formulating his platform, he answered most questions pretty straightforwardly. A few equivocations that he was still gathering info, which I think was probably good. He did at one point remark that he is "very smart" but that was the only really braggadocios thing he said.

All told he probably spoke about 10 minutes to the VIPs and another 15-20 to all.

Post by **brian** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 9:33 am

Charlie's Uncle Frank wants to know if you saw his hands.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 9:36 am

Did he go for a cheap pop of referencing Kentucky basketball in any way?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 9:37 am

brian wrote:Charlie's Uncle Frank wants to know if you saw his hands.

I didn't get close enough to notice anything out of the ordinary, so I can neither confirm nor deny. I guess I can parse some of these photos I got and see if there is anything for reference.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 9:37 am

DSafetyGuy wrote:Did he go for a cheap pop of referencing Kentucky basketball in any way?

Only insomuch as he said that he knows our state likes winners. Did not mention UK at all.

Post by **brian** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 9:42 am

"I'm happy to be here campaigning in West Virginia. A state that loves coal but HATES winners!"

howard · Post by **howard** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 11:36 am

A_B wrote:There was a bar, but it was limited. No hard alcohol.

And he really expects to be elected president. Laughable.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 1:50 pm

2003?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:08 pm

HaulCitgo wrote:2003?

I have a daughter about to turn 16. That said, it's a great car. We got rear-ended almost two weeks ago and the vehicle I typically drive is in the shop for FOUR WEEKS.

Post by **brian** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:13 pm

A_B wrote:
HaulCitgo wrote:2003?
I have a daughter about to turn 16. That said, it's a great car. We got rear-ended almost two weeks ago and the vehicle I typically drive is in the shop for FOUR WEEKS.

Yeah, body shops are a huge scam. No other business could get away with taking a month to do its fucking job. You can build a house in that time.

duff · Post by **duff** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:52 pm

brian wrote:
A_B wrote:
HaulCitgo wrote:2003?
I have a daughter about to turn 16. That said, it's a great car. We got rear-ended almost two weeks ago and the vehicle I typically drive is in the shop for FOUR WEEKS.
Yeah, body shops are a huge scam. No other business could get away with taking a month to do its fucking job. You can build a house in that time.

Or at least put together a plastic shed.

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 6:44 am

So, I guess the fundraiser was a success?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 6:46 am

rass wrote:So, I guess the fundraiser was a success?

WHOOO!

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 6:54 am

Shit. Is it too late for a "Pocket Full of Anthracite" joke?

Post by **brian** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 10:15 am

The new GOP platform says coal is "clean" energy, as opposed to the not insane/batshit crazy argument which would be that coal should be an ongoing part of American's energy dependence.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 10:36 am

brian wrote:The new GOP platform says coal is "clean" energy, as opposed to the not insane/batshit crazy argument which would be that coal should be an ongoing part of American's energy dependence.

Yup. Weird time to go to that wording for sure.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 12:46 pm

brian wrote:The new GOP platform says coal is "clean" energy, as opposed to the not insane/batshit crazy argument which would be that coal should be an ongoing part of American's energy dependence.

And Evangelical nutter David Barton added the word clean. Didn't realize he was that tied into the GOP that he could write their platform. Barton is the guy who claims to be the ultimate Constitutional scholar and expert on the intentions of the Founding Fathers, making asinine arguments that the FF intended to create the Rightwing Christian's wet dream society. He is also hardcore anti-gay, and still argues that AIDS is God's punishment to homosexuality; it's in the Bible, "and the Bible is right every time."

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 2:22 pm

Did anyone ask Trump if he is able to drive to the hoop with his left hand?

Post by **Shirley** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 3:56 pm

If coal is clean energy, then what energy source is NOT clean?

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 4:49 pm

Shirley wrote:If coal is clean energy, then what energy source is NOT clean?

Obviously you didn't read the article, "we have technology now."

howard · Post by **howard** » Wed Jul 13, 2016 5:28 pm

The Sybian wrote:Did anyone ask Trump if he is able to drive to the hoop with his left hand?

Or if he can shoot a layup with either of those tiny hands