The Fourth of July, Burien-Style
Jul. 5th, 2012 08:19 pmWell, we went to the 2012 Burien July 4th Parade, as we do every year. There were a lot of politicians this year (no, really?). I got photographs of most of them, although I missed the main event, the very first group, which was for the Republican candidate for Governor. I'm not impressed with him; he's been a bit of a grandstander so I'm not unhappy that I missed getting any pictures of his group. He did great as attorney general with consumer rights in our state, but then got it into his head that his popularity would protect him when he went after the ACA. He's running for Governor. He may yet win.
Larouchites! The craziest group were these people, the followers of Lyndon Larouche. He's a one-man cult of political crazy, with ideas like using nukes to create better waterways in Africa; create nuclear desalinazation plants off the California coast; Obama and Queen Elizabeth belong to a Satanic cult that rules the world; the World Wildlife Foundation controls the drug trade; and that annually the economy is about to collapse and Americans will soon learn what it means to kill each other over a loaf of bread. These had that glazed, clutic look as they sang "America the Beautiful" in the kind of high-pitched falsetto reserved for Looney Toons.
There were the usual high school bands, mostly from the larger religious private schools, including the Catholics, the Lutherans, and Methodists. I walked the route twice, once backwards to photograph everything, once forwards with the politicians in the back. I didn't learn a whole lot, I'm afraid, but it was fun. The crowd was cheerful and respectful, even the ones holding up "Impeach Obama" signs.
Afterward we went to the Democrat's annual campaign barbecue, where one of the legislators spilled beer on Storm's pants, making her reek of Moose Drool. Still, we had fun, even if one of the neighbors lit off about $300 of firecrackers in a three-minute orgy of snapping, popping explosions.
We went to the fireworks show at Des Moines, as usual. We arrived early, played rounds of Boggle! before it grew too dark, and ooh'd and aah'd as expected at the show. It was pretty. I can see how it's an artform, although this was clearly a small community effort.
Larouchites!
There were the usual high school bands, mostly from the larger religious private schools, including the Catholics, the Lutherans, and Methodists. I walked the route twice, once backwards to photograph everything, once forwards with the politicians in the back. I didn't learn a whole lot, I'm afraid, but it was fun. The crowd was cheerful and respectful, even the ones holding up "Impeach Obama" signs.
Afterward we went to the Democrat's annual campaign barbecue, where one of the legislators spilled beer on Storm's pants, making her reek of Moose Drool. Still, we had fun, even if one of the neighbors lit off about $300 of firecrackers in a three-minute orgy of snapping, popping explosions.
We went to the fireworks show at Des Moines, as usual. We arrived early, played rounds of Boggle! before it grew too dark, and ooh'd and aah'd as expected at the show. It was pretty. I can see how it's an artform, although this was clearly a small community effort.
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