Slog - Comments on Pike and Broadway After the Obama Speech

Comment by Jason

Jason — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:11:49 -0800

On the roof of the QFC looking out over Pike and Broadway drinking the cheapest champagne QFC sold.

Comment by i have a medium penis

i have a medium penis — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:14:31 -0800

right next to the cop car

Comment by zephsright

zephsright — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:21:09 -0800

Olive & Broadway

Is there video of the drag queen leading the crowd in the national anthem? I pissed myself when I heard about that.

Comment by Hannah

Hannah — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:21:32 -0800

I was in my Minneapolis apartment, chanting YES WE CAN off my balcony - alongside the rest of my building. I heard cheers coming from blocks away.

I like to think that THIS, not 9/11, will be our generation's moment.

Comment by Carollani

Carollani — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:22:03 -0800

I was out with a group on Broadway before the giant crowds had formed, we were cheering, chanting, hugging and high-fiving strangers, screaming along to the honks of passing cars, waving signs and posters, dancing, bouncing, floating on air. After a trek from Republican and Broadway to the Baltic Room and back, we joined up with the group at Broadway and John and after an hour or two I joined up with the massive gathering at Broadway and Pike. I've never been more proud of my country. We did it!!!

Comment by violet_dagrinder

violet_dagrinder — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:22:44 -0800

LOVE IT.

Started at the Showbox, joined the parade on Pike, went up to the Hill for a bit, then cruised the city for bit via convertible. It was magical.

Comment by Eden

Eden — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:23:07 -0800

soooo there! best night EVER!!!!

Comment by e-person

e-person — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:23:51 -0800

In an Irish pub in Wellington, NZ. They flashed downtown Seattle on CNN on the big screen and my buddies all shouted "look, it's your people!" It was Guy Fawkes Day here so there were lots of fireworks, too... and a few people running through the street shouting "Obama won!".

Comment by madamecrow

madamecrow — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:26:57 -0800

My friends and I are somewhere in that happy throng of people. I must have left right before "Don't Stop Believin'" DARN!

Comment by seattleeco

seattleeco — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:27:07 -0800

Screaming my throat raw inside Neumos with who knows how many other ecstatic people. The crowd went BERSERK. It was the best thing ever: people were crying, hugging, laughing, crying again...We stuck around until after Obama's speech and then headed home, pausing to dance with other people and exchanging honks/yells with every passing car.

Comment by Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:27:16 -0800

Going to bed. 9am classes wait for nobody.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:37:09 -0800

They celebrate Guy Fawkes Day in New Zealand? Weird.

I watched on TV, though I did step out into the quiet streets and wave my flag a bit.

Comment by samuel

samuel — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:38:04 -0800

I marched from 1st ave to broadway and pike with the hundreds of people. then i partied it up with thousands. it was one of, if not the greatest moment of my life. it was pure unadulterated happiness

Comment by Madashell

Madashell — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:39:32 -0800

At 8pm, when the West Coast polls closed and the networks called states for Obama which put him over 270 and thereby declaring him the WINNER, I went outside with a saucepan and a heavy steel spoon and clanged and hollered. I heard shouts and fireworks from the direction of Phinney Ridge. There was a buzz in the air. My little boy was a bit confused and started to cry so I had to tone down my jubilation. Wouldn't change being with my son and husband during such a historic moment but part of my heart was out in the streets with the crowds. What a fucking awesome time - so incredible!

Comment by SamB

SamB — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:42:59 -0800

i met up with the crowd down on 1st ave and marched with them up to the block party on the hill. i danced and drank in the street with thousands. i have never seen anything like last night before. the sheer joy of it all. it was pure, unadulterated happiness. Probably one of, if not the greatest moment of my life.

Comment by mint chocolate chip

mint chocolate chip — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:46:32 -0800

Turned the TV off. Put the kids to bed after letting them watch the speech. Went to bed. Woke up and got back to work.

The differences between 40 and 20 . . .

Comment by kelly

kelly — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:46:54 -0800

I was running around my quiet neighborhood on the hill behind Columbia City, yelling, "Obama!!" and then back inside for Obama cupcakes, tears, and cheers.

Comment by scharrera

scharrera — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:48:15 -0800

I was there, right by the shell station. That was the most amazing thing. So freaking awesome.

Comment by stilldrunk

stilldrunk — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:52:12 -0800

@11 : you are so lame! 9 am class waits FOREVER because HISTORY WAS MADE LAST NIGHT! I was at work by 8. hungover/still drunk, yes. Not trying to diss your academic integrity, but shit.

Comment by Reverse Polarity

Reverse Polarity — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:55:59 -0800

I was in the middle of that crowd. It was the happiest fucking scene I've seen in years! I stayed out there till about 2:00am. I still haven't come down from the rush (or maybe the contact high). This video captures the feeling much better than the photos last night did. It was 100 kinds of awesome!!

The drag queen leading the national anthem off the roof of Neighbors was hilarious.

Comment by Matt Fuckin' Hickey

Matt Fuckin' Hickey — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:58:38 -0800

When's the last time you saw dozens of liberals celebrating our country? When's the last time you saw pro-choice, pro-gay-rights, secular Americans waving flags and singing the national anthem for fun? When's the last time we were able to feel like this is our country?

For me, it was last night, and it had been too long before that.

Comment by axm

axm — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:06:04 -0800

I was in Vancouver, B.C. at the Democrats Abroad party where I'd organized all my American friends to meet. From there, we went back to my apartment so that I could hear the most amazing speech by Obama.

Comment by Catalina Vel-DuRay

Catalina Vel-DuRay — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:14:11 -0800

The Colonel and I were entertaining guests with an election night lap supper in The Lodge at Chez Vel-DuRay.

When victory was declared, we stepped out onto the lanai adjacent to the sala grande, and observed the celebrations. From our Lanai, we can see from the Promenade to Mount Baker and over to the eastside. It was quite a site.

Back in the Sala Grande, Champagne was served, and weaving figures were seen offering toasts.

Comment by stilldrunk

stilldrunk — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:23:24 -0800

@11 : you are so lame! 9 am class waits FOREVER because HISTORY WAS MADE LAST NIGHT! I was at work by 8. hungover/still drunk, yes. Not trying to diss your academic integrity, but shit.

Comment by violet_dagrinder

violet_dagrinder — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:23:46 -0800

@11, 19:

Yeah, fuck school. Taking the day off. Reveling in this moment is more important to who I am than whatever I'd learn in organic chemistry today.

Comment by genevieve

genevieve — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:25:48 -0800

In the Wildrose, counting down the seconds until the west coast polls closed and then the place just went batshit. After Obama's speech we went out, walked down Pike almost to downtown, came back and found the best party rockin the intersection of Pike/10th. It felt like Gay Pride, only, you know, more fun and more unified.

Comment by happy renter

happy renter — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:34:17 -0800

oh hey I was in that video. Started at Broadway & Olive when it was just a dozen people or so cheering and waving at honking cars. I can't believe how big the crowd got. I'm so happy to have been part of it

Comment by There

There — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:34:44 -0800

I was at the Showbox party and then joined the march down first avenue. Then I eventually went home and watched things vicariously through the Slog. :D

Comment by Brie

Brie — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:36:49 -0800

I was standing at the rally with 200,000 of my neighbors and friends!

It was amazing - I've never seen the city work so well and its residents have so much fun together.

Comment by Kalakalot

Kalakalot — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:36:58 -0800

At our regular bar on the Hill -- where a number of us spent a very different night four years ago -- hugging strangers and kissing friends.

Mr. Kalakalot led the crowd in lusty renditions of America The Beautiful and the Star Spangled Banner. We cheered at EVERYTHING: honking cars, people getting off the bus, the words "President-Elect Obama" on the TV screen.

Holy shit. President-motherfucking-elect Obama. I'd cheer right now if I weren't at work.

Comment by Dod

Dod — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:39:13 -0800

I was underneath the Shell sign on Pike. With a HUGE smile on my face. One of the best nights of my life. Hands down.

Comment by Kalakalot

Kalakalot — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:42:02 -0800

At our regular bar on the Hill -- where a number of us spent a very different night four years ago -- hugging strangers and kissing friends.

Holy shit. President-motherfucking-elect Obama. I'd cheer right now if I weren't at work.

Comment by lar

lar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:57:00 -0800

Cap Hill Barack Party

Comment by avatar

avatar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:12:10 -0800

Broadway and Pike, remembering the last time I was there in a huge crowd with police cars around and a helicopter overhead: it was WTO, the police were in riot gear, a dumpster was burning and I got tear gassed. That memory made the joy of last night all the more awesome!

Comment by Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:54:35 -0800

@19: Actually, when the race was called, I was sitting on the bus going home. I got off and someone on 19th was playing the trumpet on their front porch. I walked home, then went to a conservative friend's place who had a TV and then watched everyone on Fox news grit their teeth through saying President Obama. It's the little joys that make it up.

And seriously, I did first try to get into the Showbox at 5:15 when I got off work.

Comment by lars

lars — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:14:35 -0800

With my fellow Americans on Cap Hill.

Young and old, black and white, the power and exuberance of people hungry for change.

In all my 41 years, I haven't seen anything like it here in the states.

Comment by Queen_of_Sleaze

Queen_of_Sleaze — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:16:53 -0800

I was sitting in my best friend's living room watching her daughter and our other friend's son running around yelling Obama! It made me stop and recognize that not only did we just do an amazing thing for ourselves, but we gave them a chance at a good future too. That felt fucking amazing.

Comment by rachel

rachel — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:45:52 -0800

i was there on the sidelines at pike and broadway pounding warm PBR, jumping up and down, and screaming my heart out. my friends back at home in DC called to say they'd stormed the White House; i have never been happier than i felt right where i was last night.

Comment by april

april — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:51:52 -0800

In a conga line chanting with the crowd, drinking in front of cops smiling(wierd) and singing at the top of my lungs!

Comment by rachel

rachel — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:52:45 -0800

i was there on the sidelines at pike and broadway, pounding warm PBR, jumping up and down, and screaming my heart out. my friends back at home in dc called to tell me they'd stormed the white house; i have never been happier than i felt right where i was last night, amid the throngs of revelers in my newly adopted city.

Comment by april

april — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:54:38 -0800

In a conga line chanting with the crowd, drinking in front of cops smiling(wierd) and singing at the top of my lungs!

Comment by april

april — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:55:43 -0800

In a conga line chanting with the crowd, drinking in front of cops smiling(wierd) and singing at the top of my lungs!

Comment by litlnemo

litlnemo — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:59:58 -0800

In a friend's living room in Greenwood. Almost unable to believe it could be true. I wish I could have been out at Pike and Broadway, though!

Comment by Mullet

Mullet — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:10:44 -0800

Celebrating a messiah, are ya? Let's see if you are dancing a year from now when you realize he cannot deliver on these promises and some of you are unemployed. The rest of you will be bitching about paying higher taxes to cover the freeloaders who are cashing in on his welfare state. But hey, let's all spread our wealth, right?

Poor silly liberals.

No wait, I think morons fits better.