would get tickets. There were about 650 tickets distributed, 2 per person, so I'm glad I didn't leave one minute later. There were about 40 people after me who got tickets.This morning, Jim and I left Big Sky at 8 am headed to Gallatin Field for the town hall. The town hall was held in the Yellowstone Jetcenter, a private hangar adjacent to the commercial air terminal. We were allowed to bring cameras and cellphones into the hangar, so I am thrilled with the pictures I got! Also, I was able to post some shots to Facebook as the day progressed.
We got in at about 10:30 am
and secured our seats on the fourth row centered in front of the podium. Everyone was very well-behaved. Of course, when you have secret service all around, who's going to get out of hand!! Those guys are big and look rather intimidating.
and secured our seats on the fourth row centered in front of the podium. Everyone was very well-behaved. Of course, when you have secret service all around, who's going to get out of hand!! Those guys are big and look rather intimidating.As we waited, more and more familiar faces began to show up. Governor Brian Schweitzer always draws a crowd. You may have heard him speak at the Democratic National Convention last summer in Denver. He is so charismatic and approachable and very popular in Montana. Known for being a straight shooter, he told about a meetin
g with the Rotary Club this morning in Bozeman. Someone asked him "What was the rush" on health care reform. His answer was, "There's no rush - we've been talking about this for 60 years!"
g with the Rotary Club this morning in Bozeman. Someone asked him "What was the rush" on health care reform. His answer was, "There's no rush - we've been talking about this for 60 years!" Schweitzer also had some thoughts on Canadian health care, our "neighbors" to the north. "Did you know that, just 300 miles north of here, did you know they offered universal health care 62 years ago?" Schweitzer also noted that former Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas, considered the father of the Canadian health system, was recently voted in a nationwide poll as Canada's most popular person in history. He said that Montanans know "big ones" when they hear them and that a lot of outright lies are going around about health care reform, including the fact that Canadians don't like their health care. Quoting a Canadian journalist, Schweitzer said "there's more likelihood of a person in Canada being struck by lightning, then there is a likelihood of a Canadian going to the United States for their health care." Like I said, straight shooter and always entertaining!
The health care horror stories were all around. I talked with a woman from Helena who had come to the town hall with a letter from her 10-year old daughter, also a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with Wilms' tumor at age 6. She had one recurrence at age 8 and is now cancer free - BUT uninsurable because her treatments exceeded the lifetime limit of $1 million. Her mother was at the 
town hall to ask how health care reform would help people like her daughter who might have to live the rest of her life without health insurance.
town hall to ask how health care reform would help people like her daughter who might have to live the rest of her life without health insurance.Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar was also there. He's pretty well known to Montanans since he was a senator in Colorado. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Testor were there on the stage with President Obama. The Bozeman Chronicle this morning reported that communication between Senator Baucus and the President had been strained and that he might not be at t
he town hall, or at least not on the stage. Wrong - he was on the stage and made his own remarks prior to the town hall. Guess their sources were either wrong or they mended fences!!
he town hall, or at least not on the stage. Wrong - he was on the stage and made his own remarks prior to the town hall. Guess their sources were either wrong or they mended fences!!President Obama later described Jon Testor as 
one of his favorite people in Washington. "For one thing," he said, he hasn't 'gone Washington', and he still wears the same haircut!"
one of his favorite people in Washington. "For one thing," he said, he hasn't 'gone Washington', and he still wears the same haircut!"Shortly after noon, the minister from Holy Rosary Church offered an invocation. A young Native American girl led the Pledge of Allegience followed by the National Anthem, led by a woman with a beautiful soprano voice and a younger girl who sang harmony with her - beautiful!
A series of speakers then followed: Senator Testor, Governor Schweitzer and Senator Baucus. A Bozeman resident, Katie Gibson, a cancer survivor whose insurance was cancelled 
after she was told she had less than a year to live. She was able to get coverage by working through the Montana Insurance Commissioner's office and said she was supporting health care reform so that no one else had to deal with what she dealt with.
after she was told she had less than a year to live. She was able to get coverage by working through the Montana Insurance Commissioner's office and said she was supporting health care reform so that no one else had to deal with what she dealt with.She then, without very much fanfare, introduced President Obama. 
He seemed very energized. If this job is wearing on him, it wasn't evident today. He practically ran up on to the stage and shouted, "Hello, Montana!" He started off telling us that Michelle and the girls were off on a whitewater rafting trip. We knew immediately that they were on the Gallatin River - the only whitewater venue near by. We were hoping to catch a look at them on our way back up the canyon toward Big Sky.
President Obama made opening remarks explaining his health care reform agenda and then took off his sport coat, rolled up his sleeves and started asking questions. I had asked one of the town hall organizers about how people were selected to ask questons. The plan was simply to ask us to raise our hands and let the President pick out the person.
He announced that he was going to go "boy, girl, boy, girl" and that's exactly what he did. There were some questions from people who had lost their coverage and were genuinely supportive of meaningful reform. There were some tough questions about how to pay for reform and one man who was a health insurance sales agent asserted that President Obama was "villifying" the insurance industry.
He seemed very energized. If this job is wearing on him, it wasn't evident today. He practically ran up on to the stage and shouted, "Hello, Montana!" He started off telling us that Michelle and the girls were off on a whitewater rafting trip. We knew immediately that they were on the Gallatin River - the only whitewater venue near by. We were hoping to catch a look at them on our way back up the canyon toward Big Sky.President Obama made opening remarks explaining his health care reform agenda and then took off his sport coat, rolled up his sleeves and started asking questions. I had asked one of the town hall organizers about how people were selected to ask questons. The plan was simply to ask us to raise our hands and let the President pick out the person.
He announced that he was going to go "boy, girl, boy, girl" and that's exactly what he did. There were some questions from people who had lost their coverage and were genuinely supportive of meaningful reform. There were some tough questions about how to pay for reform and one man who was a health insurance sales agent asserted that President Obama was "villifying" the insurance industry.After the questions, he went down to the floor level
and started meeting and greeting. This is where the Secret Service gets their workout. I can't imagine the kind of stress they must feel. All went well as he worked his way around the room for the next 30 minutes.
and started meeting and greeting. This is where the Secret Service gets their workout. I can't imagine the kind of stress they must feel. All went well as he worked his way around the room for the next 30 minutes.After some traffic delays, we were able to get back on the road home
and decided to stop in Four Corners for a late lunch - they have great pizza! When we walked in, Secretary Salazar was just finishing his lunch. We learned that this restaurant is a favorite of the Montana 
State Patrol and they had pointed him in that direction. We waved at him and welcomed him to Montana and he came by our table on the way out and talked for a minute. He was on his way to Yellowstone where President Obama was fly fishing.
and decided to stop in Four Corners for a late lunch - they have great pizza! When we walked in, Secretary Salazar was just finishing his lunch. We learned that this restaurant is a favorite of the Montana 
State Patrol and they had pointed him in that direction. We waved at him and welcomed him to Montana and he came by our table on the way out and talked for a minute. He was on his way to Yellowstone where President Obama was fly fishing.Just as we had hoped, on th
e way back up the canyon, we spotted Michelle and the girls on the Gallatin River. There were 3 rafts, and it was hard to pick them out specifically, but I think I figured out. Here are the pictures... see what you think.
e way back up the canyon, we spotted Michelle and the girls on the Gallatin River. There were 3 rafts, and it was hard to pick them out specifically, but I think I figured out. Here are the pictures... see what you think.
We are sitting on our deck and we've had a mixture
of rain and hail since we got back. The temperature is sitting at 50 degrees right now, and we just saw the Marine One helicopters arrive. We think they will be taking the Obamas to Yellowstone tomorrow and then on 
to Colorado for another town hall. I will be up early just in case I catch one one more photo op - but I think I have enough memories now to las a lifetime!!
of rain and hail since we got back. The temperature is sitting at 50 degrees right now, and we just saw the Marine One helicopters arrive. We think they will be taking the Obamas to Yellowstone tomorrow and then on 
to Colorado for another town hall. I will be up early just in case I catch one one more photo op - but I think I have enough memories now to las a lifetime!!
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