Interactions with Politicans ?

[Dr. MB]

I met Bud Pierce (Republican candidate for governor) at a football game. He came up and shook my hand and said "hi I'm Bud Pierce and I'm running for governor" and then he did the same to everyone else standing nearby. And that's like my only story there.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Ugh, that's a long list.

I briefly worked in the senate so I've run into a lot of politicians on Capitol Hill--plus I got to know my boss rather well. Highlights include sharing an elevator with Bernie Sanders, going to some Pelosi press conferences, running into Bob Menendez and a much younger woman in the Capitol basement, and seeing then-VP Biden on the hill a couple of times.

In my work today, I've interacted with most LA-area politicians. I suppose I also met basically every statewide elected official as an obnoxiously overachieving high schooler growing up in Oregon.

Some other random encounters:
1. Barack Obama was getting into a motorcade from his beach house in Lanikai, HI right when I pulled up.
2. I met and chatted with Kamala Harris when she was shopping in a Whole Foods
3. Theresa May's motorcade pulled up next to me once when I was walking down a sidewalk. An officer shoved me out of the way.
4. I briefly met all three Clintons during a book signing.
5. I saw Barack and Hillary campaigning in my town during the '08 primary.
6. I attended the impeachment trial so I technically saw every senator+John Roberts. Loeffler's hair made her the most noticeable person in the room and Rand Paul was doodling.

[brucejoel99]

snip

Didn't think to include it initially but if just seeing politicians/famous political figures counts too, then I've seen Obama at 2 of his rallies (one in 2007 at UM, at which I also saw then-University President Donna Shalala; the other at a local high school the day before the 2012 election) without ever actually meeting him.

Not technically a politician but I also walked directly behind Andrea Mitchell as my parents & I were leaving that 1st Hillary/Kaine joint event in 2016.

And I also realize I forgot to include another instance of actually meeting a politician: former interim FL Senator George LeMieux (appointed by Crist when Mel Martinez left, served 'til Rubio took office) spoke at my debate camp during the summer of 2016. I asked him what he thought about the Senate majority (of which he would've been a member had he chosen to seek re-election) & their refusal to consider the Garland nomination even though it had been duly made by a sitting President who had himself been elected by the American people to (among other duties) make such nominations through the election of his successor, & he dodged & said that a Senate majority is allowed to do whatever it wants, even ignore a Supreme Court nomination which has been duly made by a sitting President. I figured such a blatantly political answer meant he might be interested in making a comeback sooner-or-later so he's just hedging his bets, but he's remained relatively off the face of the Earth since then, so that makes me a little happy

Also got to watch the Senate proceedings from the gallery with my family when we visited in 2007, so I saw a lot of incumbents from that time on the floor: Ted Kennedy, Hillary, Nelson, Martinez, Dick Durbin, Robert Byrd, Harry Reid, Joe Lieberman, Chris Dodd, Dianne Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, John Kerry, Olympia Snowe, Claire McCaskill, Pat Leahy, Bernie, Liz Dole, & Frank Lautenberg are the ones whom I can remember seeing. Let me tell you, anything that's ever been said about Kennedy's booming voice & personality & presence is 1000% true; even from the gallery, you could tell he was a force of nature just from his walking around & talking to another Senators. Utter shame we didn't get the chance to see him deliver remarks on the floor that day. I also remember being told by a Senate attendant that then-Sen. Obama had just left the floor for the day; even though I was a Hillary supporter & was happy to see her on the floor, that was still a bit of a bummer given his candidacy & all (this was before we got to see him at a rally of his back home).

Oh, & one of my best friends is cousins with one of Peru's recent PM's. Technically no interaction, just moreso a cool 6-degrees situation than anything else

[Former President tack50]

For some reason at one point in high school I attended a meeting that then- Minister of Industry Jose Manuel Soria did with students, and we managed to get a chance at asking him questions.

My question was something along the lines of "Are you worried about the increasind devaluing of politicians after all the recent corruption scandals?". His answer was that yes, he was worried and that politics needed to be cleaned up.

Literally only 1 month later; Minister Soria resigned in disgrace after the Panama Papers scandal where he had an offshore tax account.

[Zinneke]

Charles Michel is a thoroughly weird guy.

[Amanda Huggenkiss]

When I was 19, I interned at the office of a federal minister. During that time, she celebrated her 50th birthday and I was also invited. Spontaneously, the office decided to invite Chancellor Merkel and we argued whether we should address her with the formal or the informal you. She did not come, at the end, but I saw many other important characters. And got drunk with them. Here are some stories:

A very important MP of the LEFT party (opposition) was very very drunk and barely moved away from the bar.

I had a nice talk with Andrea Nahles, former minister of labor and social affairs and then leader of the SPD. I'm not a fan of her politically, but she is a very proud mother and a very sweet person. We talked about her children and that there were lice going around in their elementary school and that she is 100 percent certain from which family they come from.

Kevin Kühnert, former then-leader of the SPD youth and a known radical in the party, was very shy and distanced from everybody.

Hubertus Heil, minister of labor and social affairs, is a heavy smoker.

I also had a discussion with a group of MPs about the question of whether parliamentary committee sessions should be filmed and made public.

[KoopaDaQuick 🇵🇸]

A benefit of living in Iowa is that you get a chance to meet some of the biggest political celebrities in America every four years. I tried to take advantage of this earlier this year, and while I didn't go to as many rallies as I hoped, I managed to see a small Bernie Sanders event in Waterloo and a larger Amy Klobuchar event in Cedar Falls just a day or two before caucus night, where I also caught a glimpse of her husband as well as Lt. Gov of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

The wife of a former minister of justice was my lawyer in a child custody case. I had the phone number of the current minister of justice (and my former mayor) for directly reporting severe weather / storm warnings. I however made no use of it because of my developing depression, and "real political awakening" in 2015. But he was the reason i voted liberal on the federal level in 2014.

I have a lot of politicians as facebook friends, even elected ones. I even had the honour to spend the night at home with a ecosocialist politician, who was the main communist candidate of the district.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I met Senator Joe Manchin at a WV social event weekend.  I didn't know he was going to be there and he just popped in for an evening.  It's easy to tell why they love him so much.  He's a schmoozer. 

[fhtagn]

I was hugged by Rand Paul a few years back when I went to DC with a Women for Kavanaugh group. I passed by a few other Senators that same trip but their entourage was quickly moving them to another location so we didn't get to meet.

Corey Stewart went up to me to introduce himself at a campaign event once. He was actually a lot friendlier than people give him credit for.

The times I met Mark Warner and Tim Kaine they weren't particularly friendly. My mom thought Mark Warner was a massive dick, and still hates him to this day.

I matched with Lee Carter on bumble one time. I only swiped right because I knew who he was.

I've met Danica Roem many times (mostly because she represents my district), I'll give her credit that she was friendly, and did listen to what I had to say.

I met Rob Wittman at a debate and he was genuinely one of the nicest guys I've met.

I'm personally friends with a couple other people that have been elected to various offices, and met a couple other local politicians through those friendships.

[The Right Honourable Martin Brian Mulroney PC CC GOQ]

I live in Ottawa and interned on Parliament Hill (her majesty's capitol hill) for a year, so I've had quite a few interactions with federal MPs. Met Trudeau a couple times at events, and saw Ontario premier Doug Ford in Toronto traffic (this was before he was premier, but he was still famous as the late crackhead mayor's loyal lil bro). None of these are particularly interesting though. Canadian politics are a less dangerous job than down south, so it's not that hard to get close to a high-level politician if you're involved in politics, particularly in the nation's capital.

During the 2019 campaign though I met then-trade minister (now foreign affairs minister) Francois-Philippe Champagne at a campaign event in Montreal. It was a brief interaction, just small talk, but I remember it being kinda awkward because I was so distracted by...just how short he was. I had just never really noticed that before, and now I notice it every time I see him on TV. I'm above average myself (6'1), but at that height you don't usually tower over people, especially not men, and especially not politicians. Champagne was like 5'3 or 5'4 I think. I just didn't expect that. Well, he's one of the most powerful politicians in Canada now, and we stan our short king.

[thumb21]

Never been very close to a politician but I've seen some politicians with my own eyes from a distance. In 2014, Nick Clegg was giving an interview in a local park and I was walking past by chance; and last year, Labour held its manifesto launch at my uni and the balconies above were open to students for free so I saw some of the event. Jeremy Corbyn and all or most of his shadow cabinet, and I assume some other MPs were there too.

[Left Wing]

There was a program launched by Indiana public schools called "Lemonade Day" to promote young entrepeneurship. Students would create Lemonade stands in small groups and sell the Lemonade to tother students. Governor Pence wanted to make a video for Lemonade Day and have some kids who took part in it stand behind him on a local TV network. My class was chosen so I stood next to Mike Pence on local TV.

I also went to  a John Williams orchestra at Connor Prarie and when the conductor announced before the show that Governor Mike Pence was in the audience, everyone booed.

[brucejoel99]

There was a program launched by Indiana public schools called "Lemonade Day" to promote young entrepeneurship. Students would create Lemonade stands in small groups and sell the Lemonade to tother students. Governor Pence wanted to make a video for Lemonade Day and have some kids who took part in it stand behind him on a local TV network. My class was chosen so I stood next to Mike Pence on local TV.

I'm so sorry you had to experience such a horrible thing.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

I made small talk with then-future, now-former Massachusetts State Senate President Stan Rosenberg at a UMass College Democrats watch party for some part of the 2012 primary process.

[afleitch]

My husband was formally introduced to the Queen at a garden party last summer.

[muon2]

Another one involving my wife: when we first moved to Springfield, she didn’t have a job yet and was bored, so she decided to check out the Illinois State Capitol. She didn’t realize that was the day of the State of the State address, and I guess she didn’t realize the place was not open and managed to get in the building right behind Bruce Rauner. She saw the doors to the House chamber open and everyone get up and clap and then realized she probably shouldn’t be there.

She was probably fine. The House gallery is open to the public with some seats available on a first-come basis. There are usually lobbyists around even for the State of the State, so it isn't officials only. Depending on where she was standing I might have been not too far away.

[muon2]

I met Senator Roland Burris (LOL) and Dick Durbin in DC years ago at the capitol.  Roland was a sweet old man who seemed to have no clue what he was doing.  I passed shoulders with John McCain after that meeting but didnt realize it was him until he had passed me.  He’s a shorty.  Ive been in Judy Biggert’s office in DC but did not meet the Queen herself.  Biggest regret!

And then Ive met local State Reps a couple of times.  Theyre all good people.  Ald Michelle Smith is pretty bad tho.

I'm curious as to which State Reps you met.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Another one involving my wife: when we first moved to Springfield, she didn’t have a job yet and was bored, so she decided to check out the Illinois State Capitol. She didn’t realize that was the day of the State of the State address, and I guess she didn’t realize the place was not open and managed to get in the building right behind Bruce Rauner. She saw the doors to the House chamber open and everyone get up and clap and then realized she probably shouldn’t be there.

She was probably fine. The House gallery is open to the public with some seats available on a first-come basis. There are usually lobbyists around even for the State of the State, so it isn't officials only. Depending on where she was standing I might have been not too far away.

She was right behind Bruce, just outside the door where he entered the House chamber. She says the press was gathered in the same area where she was. This was 2015, by the way.

[Sopranos Republican]

Back in the summer of 07’ I was eating at an Italian restaurant in the North End of Boston with my mom, when suddenly Deval Patrick burst through the doors. Deval yelled, “There you go!” Our waiter gave a look of pleasant surprise. Ted Kennedy belted from the bar, “We got a f***ing squad now.” And before Kennedy hit the men’s room, NBA star Kevin Garnett, who had just weeks before, arrived in Boston to play for the Celtics, hugged them both & said, “Y’all look so different!”

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Back in the summer of 07’ I was eating at an Italian restaurant in the North End of Boston with my mom, when suddenly Deval Patrick burst through the doors. Deval yelled, “There you go!” Our waiter gave a look of pleasant surprise. Ted Kennedy belted from the bar, “We got a f***ing squad now.” And before Kennedy hit the men’s room, NBA star Kevin Garnett, who had just weeks before, arrived in Boston to play for the Celtics, hugged them both & said, “Y’all look so different!”

Me and Sully and Fitzie and Sean had the same experience ten years later. Kennedy appeared via Sith holocron.

[muon2]

Another one involving my wife: when we first moved to Springfield, she didn’t have a job yet and was bored, so she decided to check out the Illinois State Capitol. She didn’t realize that was the day of the State of the State address, and I guess she didn’t realize the place was not open and managed to get in the building right behind Bruce Rauner. She saw the doors to the House chamber open and everyone get up and clap and then realized she probably shouldn’t be there.

She was probably fine. The House gallery is open to the public with some seats available on a first-come basis. There are usually lobbyists around even for the State of the State, so it isn't officials only. Depending on where she was standing I might have been not too far away.

She was right behind Bruce, just outside the door where he entered the House chamber. She says the press was gathered in the same area where she was. This was 2015, by the way.

Cool. That was Rauner's first State of the State, before the budget impasse began. I was there to listen to it.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

Back in the summer of 07’ I was eating at an Italian restaurant in the North End of Boston with my mom, when suddenly Deval Patrick burst through the doors. Deval yelled, “There you go!” Our waiter gave a look of pleasant surprise. Ted Kennedy belted from the bar, “We got a f***ing squad now.” And before Kennedy hit the men’s room, NBA star Kevin Garnett, who had just weeks before, arrived in Boston to play for the Celtics, hugged them both & said, “Y’all look so different!”

A guy came to my school to talk about his story with political addiction (don't watch CSPAN) and he mentioned that he worked with high up politicians. In the end where we were allowed to ask questions someone asked who he worked with. He said he worked with Patrick, Ed Markey, and Jim McGovern. I asked what Patrick was like and he described Patrick as a leader that is straightforward and is pretty quiet. He also said they went on campaign twice.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

My grandmother’s sister once saw JFK in a phone booth in Charleston WV, 1960. He was itching himself , and had his hand down his pants.

[WD]

My grandmother’s sister once saw JFK in a phone booth in Charleston WV, 1960. He was itching himself , and had his hand down his pants.

bruh