Give me a O-B-A-M-A!

Where I work, on the edge of downtown Portland, has many advantages. I get to work quickly as my bus doesn't have to go through all the downtown traffic and the restaurants are cheaper that in the center. Another advanatage is that the Benson Hotel, the place where the elite rest their weary bones when the visit Stumptown, is about 100 feet away. Bush, Cheney and the other two horseman have all stayed there. Whoopie.

But on Friday the office was buzzing with the rumor that his Obamaness was close by and would soon be leaving the building. Since potential future democratic presidential nominees outweigh brick details we all trooped out and waited in the equinoctal chill for Barack to show up. And, 20 minutes later, he did.

As a man of the people he moved straight toward the area I was standing and started pressing the flesh. I was a few rows back and didn't want to mow anyone down so I contented myself by shouting, "Fix our healthcare system." The picture was taken by a coworker standing next to me.

The visitation was over very quickly as Barack was whisked away to accept Gov. Bill Richardson's endorsement at the Portland Rose Garden. We went back to work, doing our best to ignore the economy unravelling around us.