I Just

returned from the Clinton rally at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. I was very worried there would be a huge line when I got there just about 1 p.m., and when I parked in the parking lot, I noticed there were already a bunch of cars at the place. I was a bit apprehensive, but I asked the parking attendant where the rally would be. She said it was going to be at F Hall. I looked around outside, but there were no people standing in line as there was when our dictator was in town in 2004. I figured there had to be a long line inside.

Well, I went inside, but there appeared to be some kind of event going on with quite a few people. It wasn't the rally. I walked and walked and walked and walked down the hall until I came to F Hall. I saw some woman, apparently a volunteer, talking to two men on a bench, and she was talking about the rally and the doors to it were just around the corner. I asked the trio if this was the line to go to it. They said yes. In other words, I was the THIRD person there. One man had been there since 10:30 this morning, while the other man arrived around 12:30. I was there a little bit after one.

A woman arrived shortly thereafter, and we spent the next couple of hours talking about different things, including Elvis and Michael Jackson. Gradually more of the volunteers came, and a few more regular people came, but for a while it seemed there would be more volunteers showing up than the general public. However, as it got closer to 5:00, the line starting getting huge. People were getting off work, and they started to pour in. The local paper has a tiny report so far about the visit, but no figures. I'd say a couple of thousand at least. It's hard to estimate when one is near the front of the line.

The doors opened a little bit after 5, and I beelined it to the stage. While we were told earlier to stand by the roped off area, actually being right in front or nearly directly in front of the podium was best. That's where I was, and that's where I remained when I recorded and photographed the former president when he arrived. I did not get his autograph because I was too late handing it to the Secret Service for Clinton to sign after he finished shaking hands with people. I did get to shake hands with him, and I can say he looked the best he has looked in years. He needs to look good just in case his wife wins the election next fall and he can get back in the White House and run the country again after years of being bored with retirement. I know: It's sexist to suggest such a thing, but this isn't Hillary's idea to run. It's Bill's. He can't stand being away from the presidency, and I can tell you that despite his many compliments about his wife's obvious abilities, he was campaigning on behalf of himself. He's a salesman in the best sense of the word, with the ability to look directly at you as if nobody else existed.

Anyway, I haven't played the speech again to record for here, but I'll download a few pictures for readers. I have some good ones, as well I should for being almost right in front of him.