Portland, OR: 300+ at Health Care Rally, not 1 teabagger. With Pics

[ClearPresentDanger]

American Gothic, 2009

Barak and Marge Simpson

Crowd from the back, looking down into the forum

Curbside lady

Wyden Wake up!

Not a single teabagger in sight, and I looked. Very upbeat crowd, I'm sure state attorney's generals don't get applause like that every often. Nurses union well represented. No bad vibes. I left about 10:30, didn't see it all.

Get out there, get active. September 15th is getting closer.

[MobyD]

1. More pics from Portland health care rally 08-29-09

I got to the rally at about 10:20. I didn't see any teabaggers either, and I went around the area looking for them. Here's some pics I've uploaded to Flickr from the rally, including pics of Wendell Potter, the former CIGNA PR exec turned health care reform advocate.

MobyD's Health Care Rally Photos

I didn't realize Potter was going to be there until I heard him introduced. I got a chance to shake his hand and thank him after he spoke. I didn't want to keep him from interviews I was sure he'd be doing after his speech, but it turns out I probably could've told him this:

In my own very small way I know a little something of the decision Potter made when he decided to leave his job and support health care reform. Back in 1980, I was working for a local utility in New England. It had investments in every nuclear power plant that was under construction or planned in New England at that time. Part of my job was sending out the checks to the companies planning or constructing the plants. I decided I should read up on nukes. I did, and my position was just the opposite of what the company's was. Eventually it led to the company suspending me for a b.s. reason. At the end of the 3-day suspension I went back, cleaned out my desk and left. It was on a far smaller scale than Potter's decision. I never got to ride on corporate jets and eat off of gold-gilded plates and certainly never had anywhere near the salary that goes with such perks.

[ClearPresentDanger]

2. Good on you...

I have a freepish friend who keeps pusing nukes, besides them never having turned a profit in any country anywhere (AFAIK..I've looked and can't find any proof)...

[ClearPresentDanger]

3. That's a great set of pics, I found

4 that had pieces of my friends in them. I'm afraid to ask what kind of camera you have. I took mine with a Fuji Finepix A205, a whopping 2 megapixel, 16MB flash. I paid either $100 or $150 (can't remember) many, many moons ago. But the thing won't die, what can I say.

I actually find my American Gothic 2009 'shop quite poignant. I caught the look of concern on her face.

[MobyD]

4. The Camera

The camera's a Canon Powershot S3 IS I've had for a couple of years now. Canon puts good lenses on its cameras, and I think it's around 6 megapixels. It cost me a bit more than I'd intended to spend, but it's been very much worth it.

Having good equipment is one thing. Releasing the shutter at the right time is something else altogether.

I'd love to have a better camera, but being among the uninsured (and really hoping I make it to Medicare eligibility without anything drastic cropping up) I'm really glad I got the camera back when I had a job and money for such things. The nice thing about digital cameras is the investment is almost all up front. The rest is batteries, especially if you don't print out much and just enjoy the results on the computer.

[ClearPresentDanger]

5. I hear that

I've been uninsured over 10 years, but haven't had a single thing I had to go to the doctor for. That string of luck can't last forever.

cheers

[classof56]

7. Great Photos, Moby D. Thanks and welcome to DU!

Thanks too for sharing your story. You have my deepest admiration for your courage!

Blessings.

[classof56]

6. Great photos and thanks for sharing.

Glad there was such a good turnout and especially glad no teabaggers chose to show up. A tribute to Portland! I heard Wendell Potter interviewed by Carl Wolfson on KPOJ the other day. (Seems they were classmates?) Anyway, good publicity and good attendance. Thanks again for sharing and a belated welcome to DU!

[no bad days]

8. I am glad ..

That somebody showed up but only 300 in Portland? I would not want it to get out but, the tea bagger pukes have had well over that in most of the town hall meetings across the southern half of the state. We need to do better.

[Haaji_Abubakr]

9. cool

that was nice I arrived right at the tail end of the rally.