Change We Can All Believe In

For the majority of the morning and afternoon, I was prevented from leaving my home.

Why?

Because the president of the “free” world, Barack Obama visited Seattle today, and lucky me … I live behind one of his stops, the Paramount Theatre.

Early in the afternoon, I made my way down to Pike Street, at which point I was immediately scolded by a Seattle Police Officer to go back inside or leave the area. If I chose the latter, however, I may not be allowed back into my building. Myself and my neighbors were literally being occupied. At least for a day.

Of course, such an indignity is a small price to pay for freedom. It’s a small sacrifice to make for the betterment of our country; our nation; our world. The President is an important man in town on important business. As a loyal American, staying inside on a Sunday is the very least I could do to help assure the safety of a man working on my behalf. At least that was the insinuation.

The reason I feel less than positive about my occupation, however, is that President Obama was in town solely to raise money for his re-election campaign.

First, the President attended a fundraising event at a private residence in Medina. The cost to attend?

$35,000 per couple.

Yes, thirty five thousand dollars.

Power to the people, right Mr. President?

After collecting his money from these working stiffs, Big O made his way across the 520 bridge to attend a fundraising event at the Paramount Theatre, which happens to be a stone’s throw away from my home.

In between, the streets of Downtown Seattle were flooded with scores of police officers working overtime on my nickel. My paid employees were keeping me away from my paid employee while he was on a vacation paid for by me — solely because I didn’t have an extra $35,000 to give them.

That, my friends, is change we can all believe in.

Hey guys, remember this:

That was the scene on Capitol Hill on election night in 2008. It was the night that I told everyone around me that nothing would change, and it was the night that I got shouted down for being a cynic. A skeptical, cranky, son of a bitch.

Well, I don’t want to say I told you so folks, but the fact of that matter is … I told you so.

Barack Obama came back today, not more than a half mile from where the above scene played out, and all we had to show for it were massive street closures, nightmare traffic congestion, and huge taxpayer expenditures as the powers that be and those who do their bidding treated us like little more than cattle on a railroad track.

And for what?

So the President could collect a fistful of cash from some Eastside rich folks.

Still feel like dancing?

Yeah, me neither.

Eventually, I made my way a block east and waited it all out from a friend’s balcony, where I got this lame video of the motorcade:

Thanks, Mr. President.