How We Almost Got Into A Donald Trump Rally

The Donald came to Rochester, NY on Sunday, April 10, flying in for a rally at a private hangar across the tarmac from the airport.

Three of us braved the cold temperatures (it was in the high 30s, but not windy), had secured our tickets online and dutifully printed them out, so off we went in search of a new president.

The rally was supposed to begin at 3:00 pm, and people were instructed to park at the Rochester Technology Park on Elmgrove Road. People who've been around Rochester for a while would recognize this as the old Kodak Campus in Gates. Folks would then be shuttled to the location of the rally on school buses.

Upon arrival at the Tech Park around 2:15 pm, we were directed around the back of the parking lot and huge building. The line to get on any bus stretched from the front of the parking lot, snaked around the building to the back of the building, probably a distance of nearly a mile.

Seeing that, we (correctly, it turns out) figured we'd never get on a bus and into the event in time; further, none of us wanted to stand in line. I commented that I get upset when there are more than three people in the bank, sharing my hatred of being a follower.

A decision was made to drive back around and take some photos, then head over to Scottsville Road on our own, find a place to park and walk to the gate, thinking this was a superior strategy. While we were on the right track, it turned out that we would eventually be turned away, as would everybody else, including thousands standing in line for buses.

Following are some photos detailing our failed attempt at seeing and hearing Donald Trump.

This was the bus line, which actually stretched through the parking lot, probably another 1/4 mile.

Same line, at the corner of the building (note clock, we were on time)

Same line going towards back of building.

The line just kept going, around the back of another building.

The line going around the back of the second building.

Once we found a spot to park, off we went toward the event.

The cops and horses were friendly, but we could not get in.

A small, unruly group of protesters were across the street from the entrance.

Yes, I had brought my copy of Playboy, March 1990, hoping to get the Donald to autograph it.

Turned away, we went back to the car, and saw the Donald flying in (on time, BTW).

The Donald, heading for a landing.

 ...And that's how we almost got into a Donald Trump rally. Primary Day is April 19 in New York. Trump is polling at 54%, which, if it holds up statewide, would award him all 95 delegates.

Reading List: Playboy October 2004 Donald Trump Interview

Playboy October 2004

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year, you have heard of the tumultuous campaign of one Donald J. Trump, real estate developer, author (Art of the Deal, others), golf course operator, TV star (The Apprentice), and potential US president.

For the first installment of a series to be known as "Reading List" we present excepts from this interview with Playboy magazine.

For those interested in the magazine itself, here's our listing in the Price Guide

Downtown Magazine has a few copies, but we're holding onto them. They are not currently for sale, but, if you can locate a copy, it's sure to become a collector's item.

The Playboy interview - even though it's 12 years past - offers a unique glimpse into the man who may or may not become the next president, but certainly has had a dramatic impact on the political process.

On page 66 of the magazine, the topic turns to alcohol and drugs:

PLAYBOY: Is it true you've never had a glass of alcohol?

TRUMP: I've never had drugs and never had alcohol and never had a cup of coffee. I have had other things that perhaps other people wouldn't like. And I certainly love women in abundance. And I enjoy my work to the point that I don't even consider it work.

Page 68 offers some insight into Trump's politics and what the mainstream media found so hard to believe (that he was against the War in Iraq):

PLAYBOY: Let's talk about that. You were considering a run for the presidency in 2000. How would a Trump candidacy have been different in 2004?

TRUMP: First let me say that although I got ridiculously high poll numbers, ultimately I didn't want to run primarily because I would have had to do it on the Reform Party ticket, and I thought the Reform Party was a total disaster. You would go to a meeting, there would be fistfights, and it was ridiculous. So that wasn't for me. But things would be a lot different today, from what I've been witnessing. If I were president, I would call Saudi Arabia in right now and say, "You get those fuel prices down or you're going to pay a heavy price," because they're ripping us off left and right. Fuel is at an all-time high. I would get Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in line. We saved Kuwait. Those guys were sitting in London in the most beautiful hotels when Saddam Hussein took their country away from them. We put them back into power and now they're ripping us off for oil. I'll tell you one thing: If I were president, a whole different negotiation would be going on right now.

PLAYBOY: You've said the first Gulf War contributed to your financial problems in the 1990s. What will this war do?

TRUMP: The Persian Gulf war was a different thing. You couldn't get gasoline - that was a big difference - and interest rates got up to 21, 22 percent. But this war is a total catastrophe. We never should have gone there. You could have done spot hits instead of sending in the troops. In all fairness, it's horrible on both sides. I see beautiful Iraqi children being killed and maimed, walking around with no legs and no arms. Then I see soldiers coming home with one arm and one leg, and they're going to have to live that way - and for what? Say anything you want, but Iraq wasn't heavily into terrorism. Saddam didn't allow terrorists, because he didn't want people blowing the hell out of his country. And of course, it turns out there were no weapons of mass destruction.

PLAYBOY: What do you think should be done now?

TRUMP: It's a catastrophic situation because there's no way to get out without losing face. As soon as we leave, the country will be taken over by the next dictator and then the next one. If we leave Iraq with a wonderful new government in place, it will be overthrown in about 15 seconds, just as the Saudi government would be overthrown in about 15 seconds if we weren't protecting Saudi Arabia.

Well, that's it for the reading list, for now. If you want to read the whole interview, you'll just have to buy a copy, because we're holding onto ours... or, you can make us an offer.