Rob
09-24-2007, 12:09 PM
I am Rob Johnson, one of the head coordinators for the Ron Paul campaign at the University of Michigan and I just got back from the conference. There is much to say but let me begin by saying it was an unprecedented success!
We all had the opportunity to meet Ron Paul and hear him speak several times. He was eloquent, rational, and moving as always. We began with a demonstration at Shelpler's Ferry docks before Paul arrived, and then we all boarded the ferry with Dr. Paul. He sat with us the entire way over. When we entered the island, we all marched with him to the Grand Hotel, where he took interviews and gave a speech thanking us. Later that night we were treated to another speech in Mary's Bistro with photo opportunities and handshaking afterwards.
Perhaps, the most amazing event the entire weekend happened next and it was completely unplanned. After Paul's speech we were taking the last regularly scheduled ferry off the island, which is normally not very crowded. However, that night we would have a special guest riding with us. Former NYC major Rudy Giuliani thought he could sneak off the island without much fanfare. He cut in front of the regular admission line with his personal body guard and police officers. He seemed to think this was just a normal group of tourists, but about halfway past our line, someone shouted Ron Paul to which we all responded with a BOOMING Ron Paul chant! Giuliani looked just a tad shocked; this ferry ride to the mainland would be a bit more than he bargained for. Once he boarded the ferry, he cowardly hid inside the captain's cabin, sitting in the captain's chair surrounded by his bodyguard and police officers. (Ron Paul traveled with no guard or police escort and sat in the normal seats next to us earlier.)
During the entire 15 min ride back to the mainland, were chanted Ron Paul cheers at the top of our lungs. We were respectful but LOUD! I could only imagine what was going through Giuliani's mind at this point. One would imagine that he was having some harsh words with who ever scheduled this for him. As luck would have it there was a TV crew there from what I believe was CBS. The reporter talked about the unlikely event for several minutes, and the camera crew recorded us yelling for Ron Paul.
When we pulled into the mainland docks, the captain positioned the ferry so that Giuliani could exit through the special front exit so he wouldn't have to walk past us to the regular exit in the rear. While he was exiting, we again made it very clear who we were and who we were supporting. He quickly scurried of the ferry and jumped into his car with his entourage of vehicles in front and behind making a rapid exit with him.
It was an incredible event, and probably the most fun we had all weekend. I was able to take pictures of Giuliani entering the ferry, hiding in the forward cabin, us yelling for Ron Paul the entire way back, and Giuliani making a quick exit. They will be posted on "Michigan4RonPaul . com/umich" shortly as will more information about the conference.
We all had the opportunity to meet Ron Paul and hear him speak several times. He was eloquent, rational, and moving as always. We began with a demonstration at Shelpler's Ferry docks before Paul arrived, and then we all boarded the ferry with Dr. Paul. He sat with us the entire way over. When we entered the island, we all marched with him to the Grand Hotel, where he took interviews and gave a speech thanking us. Later that night we were treated to another speech in Mary's Bistro with photo opportunities and handshaking afterwards.
Perhaps, the most amazing event the entire weekend happened next and it was completely unplanned. After Paul's speech we were taking the last regularly scheduled ferry off the island, which is normally not very crowded. However, that night we would have a special guest riding with us. Former NYC major Rudy Giuliani thought he could sneak off the island without much fanfare. He cut in front of the regular admission line with his personal body guard and police officers. He seemed to think this was just a normal group of tourists, but about halfway past our line, someone shouted Ron Paul to which we all responded with a BOOMING Ron Paul chant! Giuliani looked just a tad shocked; this ferry ride to the mainland would be a bit more than he bargained for. Once he boarded the ferry, he cowardly hid inside the captain's cabin, sitting in the captain's chair surrounded by his bodyguard and police officers. (Ron Paul traveled with no guard or police escort and sat in the normal seats next to us earlier.)
During the entire 15 min ride back to the mainland, were chanted Ron Paul cheers at the top of our lungs. We were respectful but LOUD! I could only imagine what was going through Giuliani's mind at this point. One would imagine that he was having some harsh words with who ever scheduled this for him. As luck would have it there was a TV crew there from what I believe was CBS. The reporter talked about the unlikely event for several minutes, and the camera crew recorded us yelling for Ron Paul.
When we pulled into the mainland docks, the captain positioned the ferry so that Giuliani could exit through the special front exit so he wouldn't have to walk past us to the regular exit in the rear. While he was exiting, we again made it very clear who we were and who we were supporting. He quickly scurried of the ferry and jumped into his car with his entourage of vehicles in front and behind making a rapid exit with him.
It was an incredible event, and probably the most fun we had all weekend. I was able to take pictures of Giuliani entering the ferry, hiding in the forward cabin, us yelling for Ron Paul the entire way back, and Giuliani making a quick exit. They will be posted on "Michigan4RonPaul . com/umich" shortly as will more information about the conference.