I am a northeast Pennsylvania resident who also happens to work up the road
from the stadium where Bush made his first post-convention appearance.
As expected, security was tight, traffic was a nightmare, and those of us
who had to work had to find ways to get around it. To make it possible I
left for work at 5 am this morning. Since we’re a bank operations center, I
just didn’t have the option of saying “another day, time to play hooky.”
Groggy and tired, I arrived at the location at 5:45 and was amazed to see
the traffic already backing up. The poor officers who arrived at 4:30 am to
handle a Presidential appearance at 9:15 were smiling and waving us on. The
organization as they tried to route those of us who had to get to work and
at the same time direct those who were determined to get to the stadium was
difficult, impossible at times, but well-done and determined.
And I found I was astonished. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area is a renowned
Democratic stronghold, run by a political machine that’s been in place for
decades. Where did all these Republicans come from? How did they fill
every one of the 18,000 seats they could? Why would 18,000 people (and more
if they could have) come out in the pre-dawn darkness to hear a speech? Why
did students from the University of Scranton arrive at the airport at 12:30
this morning to greet the President and First Lady and show their support?
Why did even more crowds see him off at the airport this morning – unable to
get to the stadium but needing to cheer him on?
Why did the total number of protestors at the stadium, in this Democratic
town, number 3 whole people? Even the newspapers seem incredulous.
And then it occurred to me. There’s a base of support that’s farther and
wider then realized. That people are quietly supporting Bush, keeping to
themselves because they’re unwilling to find themselves a part of the
vitriolic smear and attack debates launched by those who hate him. That
they walk away from political argument because you can’t talk to someone who
rants, but their silence doesn’t mean agreement.