Of course, after about five minutes I forgot her explanation, so I'm standing there with my Gividen sign hollering "SHAVE THE ANIMALS" at the passing buses. Tori then had to carefully correct me. "SAVE the animals, not shave." Oh, right.
I had a good hour of joy tormenting Tori about shaving the animals. I'd go along saving them for a few minutes, waiting for her to drop her guard. Then I'm back trying to shave the animals. Good times.
Eventually, the hippies all got done talking up on the steps, and handed it off to Kenn. Now, besides the fact that Kenn's one of my favorite cool guys, he's also obviously a much better public speaker than any of the rambling hippy speak, and also mercifully shorter.
Kenn got to his main point within a minute or so, using his background as a Baptist minister to set up a simple call and response to make and amplify the point. The core of his maybe six or eight minutes was a series of (admittedly loaded) questions, the answer to all of which was "BOONDOGGLE!"
Finishing up with that speechifying, the hippies marched off down the block to the governor's office. The Libertarians followed the cue of our state chair, Mark Rutherford who correctly suggested that it probably would behoove us to hang back. It might not have been perceived as entirely right for Kenn and supporters bearing his signs to march into the office of the governor he's running against.
My best estimate is that we were there for three hours. By way then of finishing up, I was privileged (along with Rutherford and several others) to lunch with Kenn and the reporter from his local Columbus paper at an Indian restaraunt. Besides anything else, it's a pleasure watching Kenn work. He's good.
All in all, then, it was a pitch perfect day to get out and shave the animals.
Article comments
1 - Claire
It's always the 'hooks' that getcha'!
Al a wonderfully written and informative piece about the I-69 situation, the rally, and I felt as though I was there your description was so well done.
But it was the "story within the story" that made it superb! Tori sounds like quite an astute young lady, and the picture of you standing there helping her cause gave me the warm fuzzies, something one doesn't often get from politicians :) Thank you for the enjoyable read!
Claire
2 - Al Barger
Thank you so much for your kind words, Miss Claire.
There are all kinds of different reasons and motivations for being involved in politics, and we're not always aware of them ourselves. Certainly I'm concerned about government policies and budget deficits and such what.
A lot of it though certainly is social. A significant part of the reason for being involved in Libertarian politics is that I like hanging around with Libertarians.
Also, nothing makes me feel more like I'm part of the community than campaigning. Cracking jokes with constituents at county fairs really does it for me. Helping Miss Tori shave the animals may be the most fun I've had all season.
Indeed, I'll probably be out this weekend doing a little door to door, largely just for the personal gratification of it. We're probably looking at something close to 2 million votes to be cast in this race. No couple of hundred doors I can knock on is going to make a difference in that.
Still, I might well buzz up to Liberty or good ol' Muncie to spend a couple of hours meeting some voters.
Good times.
3 - RJ
Great story.
I'm expecting you to pull 5-7 percent, Al.
Don't disappoint a donor! ;)
4 - Al Barger
That would be in line with polling. We'll see.