Here comes Bush.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Todays announcement;

"To be clear, the President's visit is a campaign event. This means that the President's campaign organization is paying for all of the activities supporting his visit. Boeing is strictly adhering to PRO-43, the policy governing our company's involvement in political activity. The President is here to recognize the achievements of our people and our products; however, the timing of his visit requires that this be treated as a campaign activity. Therefore, all Boeing personnel are subject to company rules governing limitations on political activity at the site.
To permit and encourage as many employees and family members as possible to participate in this historic event, normal operations at Boeing Philadelphia will be suspended for Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004.

OK, Bush is campaigning, but everyone else must adhere to Boeing policy that prohibits even wearing a political button, on site. Hmmmm.

The event will be held outdoors on the campus' south side, in the parking lot between Buildings 3-57, 3-60 and 3-61 ("inside the U"). The south side main gate will open at 10 a.m. and close at 1:15 p.m. The President is scheduled to arrive by motorcade at about 1:30 p.m. After a brief tour of the Chinook line, he will address the audience. The entire visit is expected to last 90 minutes to two hours. Please remember that all times are subject to change.

Bush goes inside to look at the new paint, shiny floors and a shitload of flags they hung up while EVERYONE else sits out in the sun. Uh- huh.

The logistics of this event, astound me. One of the engineering buildings was recently painted and has a colorful mural across the top. Two helicopters will sit in front of that building, a low stage and podium in front of them. Facing the stage is multi level platforms with huge spotlights(3 pm?) and cameras with what appears to be huge audio/video control boards, all from PDA, Charleston, SC..

The sound system has 28 KF750F, and 8 SB1000E speakers by EAW, with an amp for each. I asked the tech how many watts? “A lot.” Wonder if they’ll play the soundtrack from Top Gun?
Power is from an Aggreko, shipping container sized generator and everything is fed to a New England Satellite Systems truck with a 2.4 meter reflector. Verizon had an army of techs running wires inside the building today.
There’s a row of standard Porta-pottys, two 8’x8’x8’ fancy Porta-pottys, and a bunch of drink vending trailers. Also it looks like they have a VIP food tent.
Everything had to be in place today so the Secret Service could come in tonight, with the dogs, to check everything out.

Boeing big shots are flying in from all over the world and the county politicians are scrambling for tickets.Keep in mind this is for a less than 2 hour visit.

[Griff]

Now we've all got a ticket!

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Griff

Now we've all got a ticket!

Yeah but it won't do you any good, because the address is wrong.

[xoxoxoBruce]

After the dogs discovered two guys had firecrackers in their toolboxes, the plant was declared safe.
5000 employees @ 3 tickets each plus a bunch of local, politically connected people, should be between 15k and 16k. Boeing says around 7800 but the guards tell me closer to 6000, showed up.
Among the conspicuously absent was Boeing's CEO.
Well, at least Bush hires the handicapped. All the young fellows with him wear hearing aids.

[cowhead]

I was wondering something, when bush spoke in Topeka... they made people who were showing up sign 'loyalty' oaths (or something to that effect) to promise not to cause trouble during the 'festivities' I was wondering if you had to or anything like it? (the people I mention are more in the die-hard repub camp.. and were a bit taken aback by this)

[xoxoxoBruce]

Cowhead, any employee doing anything "political" (at a campaign speech????) could be fired, per Boeing policy. I could be fired for wearing a campaign button on Monday, although they would probably just tell me to get rid of it or go home. Everyone else was screened pretty closely but I don't know if they had to sign anything. I felt it was best for me just to avoid the situation. I haven't made up my mind yet, and probably won't until the election, but I dislike being forced into anything and this was definately a love him or leave rally.

[LabRat]

Well Brucie, the big man is coming to my neck of the woods, so it's my turn to whine about what a pain it's going to be to get home from work today. http://www.kcrg.com/article.aspx?art...391&cat_id=123 I was surprised that the road going around the park wasn't already closed this morning when i went by at 6:30. Needless to say I'll be taking the LONG way home tonight, like 20 miles out of my way to totally bypass this area of town.