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Friday, August 29, 2008

Obama’s Speech at Moe Bar, the Twilight

posted by on August 29 at 9:12 AM

Outside of Capitol Hill’s liberal/hipster/(insert pejorative here) bubble, there are sports bars and suburbs and racists and rednecks, but last night at Moe Bar, practically the nucleus of the bubble, there were only enthusiastic young people and professionals (I can tell I’m getting old becaue I’m shocked at how young some legal drinkers look), neighborhood workers grabbing a drink, and excited politicos with buttons and stickers and mailing lists. The place was already almost standing room only at 5:30. Spare chairs quickly became a precious commodity, as well as a conversation starter—at the table next to me a Washington Bus volunteer shared a seat and reacquainted with a Microsoft employee she’d met at some previous rally.

The volume is too low to hear clearly for Stevie Wonder. A woman at a nearby table says that she read on Slog that Moe Bar would have ample sound running through their PA system tonight. Steven Severin, no doubt still touchy about noise complaints from the neighbors, wondered how high to crank the sound. As Gore appeared, the same woman shouted, “Turn it up.” They turned it up, people hushed, and Gore killed it.

Gore’s recycling joke got some hearty laughs. I was especially please that in his litany of alternative fuels he didn’t mention “clean coal,” which sounds like a huge fucking Kentucky hoax to me (later, there was a clean coal advertisement, and Obama made his usual shout out to the dubious substance). But after the first major thrust of his energy-minded speech, the chatter in the bar rose a bit. A regular grabs a seat at the table next to me, asking his friend, “What the fuck is this?” “Democratic National Convention,” his friend replies.

In what kind of an unjust world does Michael McDonald headline over Stevie Wonder? Possibly in the kind of world where Obama still has to play down the whole race thing. And McDonald is about as white as it gets, from that voice straight up to his blinding white hair. There is no love (ie, volume) in Moe Bar for this performance. Dick Durbin says we’re going to hear from “A teacher, a firefighter, etc,” to which I crack to my new buddy at the next table, “and a priest, and a rabbi…” There are dutiful and heartfelt boos for Rossi, that weaselly fucker, whose ad seems to be attempting to coattail on Obama.

Moe is way crowded, and I’ve heard rumors of an Obama themed drinking game (words suggested for taking shots: hope, change, america; word not suggested: god) down at the Twilight, so I catch a ride there, only to find Matt Hickey and no drinking game. Still, it’s a hell of a speech, and the Twilight is mostly empty and relaxed. The TV is clearly audible, but so too is the intermittently dinging cook’s bell and the Tetris machine’s vaguely Russian 8-bit demo music. Everybody laughs when the camera cuts to Biden and he does that stupid “shooter” point—total “cool” dad move; Hickey: “I love this guy!” Someone I assume is a regular walks in, wearing a straw hat, ambles towards the TV, raises a black power fist, and proclaims, OBAMA!” before heading to the bar for the rest of the speech. I really hope this guy (not the one in the straw hat, the one on TV) is our next president.

RSS icon Comments

1

The MOE bar was pretty good natured for the speech, the room was quiet for the video introduction, and the bar went pretty wild during the speech itself. Highlights include the barmaid whooping when Barack mentioned waitresses working for tips, and a barman shouting at fools in the corner to be quiet halfway through the speech. It was crowded but loud and fun!

Posted by Barky | August 29, 2008 9:19 AM
2

dude, this post is like 15 minutes too late. it's all Palin now. get it?

Posted by slacker | August 29, 2008 9:45 AM
3

Several Dino Rossi billboards in Spokane say "Don't let Seattle _steal_ this election!"

Posted by Brucie | August 29, 2008 9:49 AM
4

When you are assigned to go out and do a writeup or slog, try posting it when it is still relevant.


old news, NEXT --->

Posted by Non | August 29, 2008 10:24 AM
5

Boy, are you guys gonna be bummed when Lindy and Christopher and everyone else get their posts up.

Posted by Eric Grandy | August 29, 2008 10:56 AM
6

What the crap are you talking about in the first paragraph? It sorta sounds like you're making the claim that only in our quickly-losing-relevance neighborhood are there liberal democrats?

Wha?

Posted by what the | August 29, 2008 11:11 AM
7

Dom went to a sports bar, Lindy went to the suburbs but hasn't had a chance to post her wrap up yet. I shot this one off in a pre-coffee haste.

Posted by Eric Grandy | August 29, 2008 12:32 PM
8

Michael McDonald is a legend. From the Doobie Brothers to Steely Dan to his early solo career.

Posted by pete | August 29, 2008 1:15 PM
9

I was an attendee at Spitfire for Obama's speech. The bar was packed and every TV including the huge projector screen was tuned to C-Span. It was amazing to see the variety of supporters! Democrats and Repulicans, young and old gathered in support!! Its wonderful to see seattlites come together!!! Spitfire does an amazing job hosting Sports & Politics!!! I will be back!!!!

Posted by Montana | August 29, 2008 1:53 PM

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