One person mentioned he'd seen Phil on TV that morning. One asked about Pinky and said she'd seen him at a forum. One asked why Phil's sign was so inexpensive and Phil said it's tough to get money for a Republican campaign in a Democratic state unless you're real slimy (i.e., spend all your time fundraising). One asked why they hadn't seen more about Phil in the media and Phil said it's tough to get second-party coverage in a one-party state. One woman said Phil's slogan was the only worthwhile one in the parade.
Over the course of the parade (Phil walked from back to front and back), Phil developed a chant - "Thirty hours work for forty hours pay - let's get some PROGRESS out of high tech TODAY!" And some additional yells - "...before we all die of overwork - or prison fever!" "Keep everyone employed! Save our markets!"
Phil shook hands with all the other 8th District candidates he overtook on the way to Oak Sq. or passed on the way back to Union Sq, most of whom seemed to have a designated place in the parade so they must have paid the $300 fee - Phil went undesignated for free.
Let's see, there was Tracy - who nearly hugged/kissed Phil - it was touching - if anything had been remotely in Phil's head besides a handshake it would have worked - Tracy's been lookin real good lately, especially on the Channel 2 debate Mon. eve - there was Gabrielli on the way back, and Clapprood, no Flynn but a small knot of Flynn supporters, Anti-Capuano (Greg Gebowsky of Somerville Community News handing out anti-Capuano flyers), Bachrach - doing the routine, Capuano himself - gracious but with some noisy types among his marchers, lots of Keyne signs but didn't see Keyne, and O'Connor who didn't see Phil and crossed the street to a more numerous crowd just before Phil came along despite the attempts of his campaign manager to alert him to the Lone Republican's imminent passage.
Phil was wearing an Indiana Jones hat so maybe O'Connor didn't recognize him. (Phil had a Gloucester fisherman's hat and Wellington's on for the Charlestown parade the weekend of the big rain, and Clapprood didn't recognize him at first.) Shades of Theatrix in Politix, the title of Phil's article for the Editorial Humor newspaper two weeks ago.
No sign of Yancey, didn't notice Rodriguez (Rodriguez really grooved at the Caribbean parade a couple of weeks ago - said he'd been behind a great band and had been dancing for an hour and a half), Schinella was out of town for the weekend, Morell not in evidence. Of course, Phil missed a parade in Boston yesterday, plus the Cambridge River Festival - it was attitude adjustment day.