Opinion : Showing my Bias

I admit it, I'm a political junkie. As much as I enjoy other interests, usually, politics is what I'm drawn to.

Getting to attend political rallies of the presidential candidates, is well, a pretty cool perk of the job. I guess I'm old school, but getting to see a former VP is well, I said, pretty cool.

I had to chuckle on the comments on the Vinton Today Facebook page.

"You're showing your bias!" said one. Another called me on the carpet for disrespecting the current VP Mike Pence by addressing Joe Biden as the VP, they were correct on my wording, I asked Google.

I just chuckled and moved on.

I find the back and forth, and the jabs at each other a bit entertaining when it comes to our politics. I think in general we're all friends and can take it.

Some of the comments were, unfounded and just creepy insinuations of Biden, and those, well, those cross the line.

I even don't have a problem with a bit of name-calling someone that might like the guy on the other side of the ticket. It reflects poorly on the person making the comment, but in general, after Hillary referred to those on the other side as deplorable, well, it's kind of expected I guess.

I don't have a problem with people pointing out dumb things a candidate has said or done, ok, can we just say, challenging and old guy to push-ups is not a smart move for a presidential candidate, neither is nibbling on your wife's finger while on stage. But hey, that stuff actually did happen with Biden.

I've gotten to see Elizabeth Warren and Amy (just a minute googling again) Klobuchar and found she had a great sense of humor, which I enjoyed. I also enjoyed listening to Jill Biden, have to admit, more than Joe, and had my picture taken with her.

I'd actually love to see President Trump come to town, but honestly, I don't think there's a place large enough to hold the crowd from what I'm seeing.

Someone said that the candidates like smaller groups of people, which makes me chuckle because I don't think they really do. Like a veteran reporter said, "Smaller room = standing room only" and I have to agree with that logic. For cameras in "press row," it's much better for the room to be crowded rather than to have a lot of empty space.

The more I look through a camera lens I realize it's not always what you see that is the complete picture.

With a camera, it really does look like a packed out crowd in a small room, but in reality, it's a small room.

I've found the press section to be a bit funny too.

I mean come on, it's just me, but now I have to get a "real" press pass and stand in the line to which I always hear, "What's that?" in reference to my tiny video camera. Or I hear, "That's a cute little camera." And then I watch as these tiny little gals from who knows where, lug in a couple of suitcases, camera, tripod and plop their stuff in the walkway because they are from the "big guys" ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN. One gal was having trouble getting her tripod out of her bag, and not even thinking I reached over and held one end of the bag so that she could more easily remove it. For some reason she appeared a bit surprised that I lent a hand, it was just normal.

I have to admit, being the local people, there wasn't a good spot that didn't include a pole obstructing the shot, because, well the big guys needed that.

But overall, it is interesting.

I learned that I'm not a fan of the skinny jeans on the guys from the east or west coasts, nope, that is so wrong and so gross. I learned that it's fun to listen to the old guys talk about "back when" and it's fun to hear a guy from California think that it was cold on Saturday. Saturday was sweater weather in the 30's.

It was also fun to spot faces that I knew in the crowd and watch as they waiting in anticipation.

I was waiting for Biden to say something funny, and he didn't disappoint, but no one seemed to pick up on it, so I didn't laugh too loud, but he might want to consult farmers before addressing what they should do in the midst of farm country, or he could ask a science teacher about his idea and I'm sure that they'd laugh too.

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed that there weren't any really crazy things happen during the stop. Biden stuck to the script, rats. I was hoping for at least one "malarky" I have no idea why but I think I just love the idea that a guy that's been in the White House uses the word.

I know the fun will be over until after the caucus, but for me, it's fun seeing everyone come through, and I'm almost disappointed that I didn't get to see more candidates.

So in a few weeks, enjoy your caucuses and have fun deciding who you're going to vote for if you are a democrat and on the Republican side, well, I bet I can guess who you'll vote for!

Have fun, watch the results and throw a party, it's finally...almost over.