Obama Rally Plans: 65,000 People, No Booze, No Live Music

Barack Obama's camp says the election night celebration in Grant Park is for 65,000 spectators, plus 7,500 media members and campaign workers, according to the application filed with the Chicago Park District.

The official Nov. 4 event, in south Grant Park's Hutchison Field, will begin at 9 p.m. and end at 1 a.m., according to the application.

If people want to dance in joy, they may have to hum to themselves: The application says there will be no live or amplified music -- "spoken word only.''

Hot dogs, pizza and hot chocolate will be sold; alcohol will not, according to the campaign.

Read the entire article here.

Comments

[lovethesinner]

Who needs music or booze when the whole world will be drunk with joy and hearts will be singing.

(found this by accident, and they're from Chicago) http://www.jewishsong.com/ (not bad)

[TruthspeaksTruth]

Have they actually sent out any tickets? I received an e-mail saying I would be sent one before the event. The e-mail said nothing of a waiting list. Does this sound familiar to the accounts of the people who think they have their tickets locked in?

[DaDawg]

Tickets may not be needed. The Mayor came out today and invited everyone to the party. I think Obama is using tickets to make sure people from Wisc and Ind don't flock and forget to vote.

[coolmaiden]

You're right. WGN news this morning reported that the tickets are for preferred seating; Mayor Daley fully expects 1 million (!) people in Grant Park Tuesday night. Be sure to walk, ride your bike, or take public transportation. I have a funny feeling if you try to park your car anywhere nearby, you will be charged Soldier Field-type rates ($50 and up). The weather should be nice (50s) folks. PLEASE don't drive to the event!

[coolmaiden]

Those in Chicago w/o a ticket: There will be numerous parties all over the city that will eventually make their way to Grant Park if you don't feel like being outside all night, although the forecast for Tues. looks good. Check out barackobam­a.com/illi­nois for a list of parties. There's a large one at the House of Blues and one at the Metro, across the street from Wrigley Field.

[WFV]

I wish I could vote here in PA, then get to the parties at sweet home Chicago!

Raise one for me please!

[Bompa]

I put off an important business trip to N. Carolina ... I am in California... so I could be home on election night. I was out of town for the last presidential election and look what happened then!

The big question for next Tuesday is.....WHO IS THE FIRST PERSON YOU WILL HUG WHEN OBAMA WINS?

[WFV]

Easy. My son.

[LoveComesInSpurts]

I'm in the burbs of Chicago, and I can remember the (practically) annual Bulls championship celebrations in Grant Park -- if the O-Man pulls it off on Tuesday, it's going to be like the end of WWII. Dancing, hugging, laughing, and the sound of joy-filled weeping. Folks will be singing, and I guess that'll be better than any band could hope to be (but damn it sure would be nice if they'd invite Buddy Guy to jam a little bit).

Geez, I can hardly imagine it. If this really does happen, I'm seriously gonna lose my sheet. I'll be a blubbering wreck. After 8 years of the most inept president in my lifetime (and almost everyone else's), and having the media largely ignore Bush's failings, and having his minions defend every ill-advised move he made, no matter how disastrous, I can hardly imagine that things will turn around so drastically.

To all you people who think that "church people" can't be lefties, or that we're all red-state GOP nuts, go take a flyin leap -- I'll be prayin my ass off and thanking GOD if Barack wins this thing.

[RobChattaTN]

re: "prayin' my ass off:"
you, me and millions upon millions of other Christians around the world!!
not including even more millions of bahiis, buddhists, jews, taoists, pagans, hindus, etc, etc, etc.

God is speaking; let's listen!

Obama 08

[voltometer]

We've been contibuting in both time and money since Sen. Obama's official announcement in Sprinfield IL in February. My wife received an email about the rally from the campaign on Tuesday morning. She instantly send back our interest to attend and I got on line to book a room in a hotel for the night. We just got back from voting and the buzz around here is growing every day. Please get out and vote on Tuesday and WE can make OUR country back into the country we are all proud of.

To all of you who can't be here in Chicago we'll be cheering for you too!

[Marjorie07]

We'll be on Oahu, vacationing from Denver on Election Night. If things go well for Obama, it should be a pretty good celebration.

[minty68]

Oh, to be in Chicago on November 4th!

[Progress08]

HHhhhmmmmmmm Chicago Dog. Damn!t now I want a chicago dog and I don't live in Chicago.

[lejman]

i do live in chicago, but will probably be in indiana making sure the voting machines worked properly. i'll gladly miss the party for a resounding victory.

[WFV]

Rock on! I'm a Chicagoan in PA, and will be doing the same here. Definitely worth it!

[hollybork]

I am glad they will not sell booze at the rally as that would be a big mistake. I cannot wait to hear his acceptance speech, and his inaugural address. That will be intoxicating enough for everyone.

i also hope Barack does not go to the rally. I think he should just appear on a big screen from his home where he will be with his wife and children and be safe.

Barack will immediately get to work with his own "kitchen cabinet" because we have a lot of work to do to get ready for taking the country in a new direction.

[TallGrrl]

All it takes is 270. Once the scoreboard shows Obama: 270, the party will be on nationwide.
No Booze? So what. People will be on a Natural High.
No live music? Big deal. Someone's iPod will be hooked up to the PA and whatever's on the Playlist will be jamming. From Pop to Country to R&B. And people will be getting their boogie on.
I'm ready for the Coast-to-Coast Group Hug.

God Bless America!

[GoNitro]

You made my morning, TallGrrl. I've voted, I've donated, I've nagged my college-age son to return his absentee ballot. Now I'm visualizing that party on November 4 -- won't it be wonderful.

[JiminNC]

I bet flask sales in Chicagoland are off the charts!

[minty68]

No doubt!

[MsDebate]

The question was 'what happens if he loses?", the party will still go on. You don't plan a party wondering if you lose or win, you party on in spite of. Illinois will already have the money, might as well put it to good use.

[billofgoods]

That is why the Chicago Fire Dept and Police Dept are on riot duty that night

[amistad]

This bill of goods is bad.
Bad Bad Bad
True tr0ll.
Sad Sad Sad
tr0ll

[Truthmeter]

What happens when he loses? The polls are tightening and I never believe polls anyway.

[Bluejay00234]

When? lmao read you question again.

[minty68]

The party goes on! In the unlikely event he doesn't win, he still has a lot to be proud of. This has been one of the best-run campaigns I've ever seen.

[realistnotsocialist]

When????or did you mean IF which is a big IF.

[davidinaustin]

On this day in 2004 Bush was up by exactly one point in the Real Clear Politics average (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Presidential_04/chart3way.html). In this same poll average, Obama now leads by 6 points. Just so you know.

[DCato]

No booze, no music - what's the betting Republicans will claim this is proof of Obama's Taliban sympathies?

[pokemon]

I will be drinking in relief, I actually took the day off:)

[jimiffondu]

I'll be in London - and I'll be drinking, no doubt - either in celebration or desperation!