On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, O.U.T.R.A.G.E. candidates were all over the map. A lime green bus seemed to appear in almost every major city in America, full of O.U.T.R.A.G.E. volunteers who were serving as administrative coordinators for each campaign. In Indianapolis, the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. presence was most notable. The AROB team of Jil Adams, Bob Ryan, Ron Oetting and Phil Baker showed up in downtown at the same time the Patrick-Patrick team arrived in their lime green bus. Two hours the Children's Party bus pulled up, bringing that party's issues to the forefront of the political rally - and emphasizing the need for children's rights. Ron Doctor's bus rumbled into the circle and came to an abrupt stop at the foot of the famous war memorial monument. Two other candidates showed up, one whose party's primary platform was that of tolerance toward homosexuals, bi-racial couples, and those of different faiths or cultures. The other party advocated a "national day of rest" where all businesses (except 'essential' services) were closed so that families had time to spend together and reflect on the values that originally made America strong. Each candidate was given time to present their respective views as a large audience (estimated at more than 15,000) listened intently.
The irony was dramatic: the AROB team was pretty much a 'party bus' whose original charter was to boost morale of overworked O.U.T.R.A.G.E. volunteers across the country. The Patrick-Patrick team had criss-crossed the nation in support of legalizing drugs. While many people were confused on this issue, Lynn Patrick and Patrick Hamilton made it crystal clear that they did not necessarily endorse the use of drugs; they simply believed that the laws that banned such drug use were archaic and ineffective. The 'war on drugs' had long been lost, and it had been an expensive battle; but, it was one of those highly emotional issues that politicians loved to stand up against. Too bad politicians were too cowardly to take such courageous stance toward the nation's corrupt political system, the evil corporate world of greed, or the degenerates who had contributed to the moral decay of America.
The Children's Party had gained startling acceptance, especially after the brutal kidnapping and murder of twin boys in November, 2007, at the hands of abusive parents who had kept the twelve-year-olds virtual prisoners for most of their lives. People were outraged by the demented, callous way in which two people who brought two adorable children into the world managed to be such cruel and abusive parents. It was time for the country to give high priority to America's children, and this newly-formed political party was giving children more power. Programs had been introduced in schools to show kids how to speak up if they were victims of abuse, or if they knew other class mates who were; children were being taught principles of politics, and - at an early age - were being instructed much more intensely on the way government should function.
Ron Doctor had traversed the country in favor of outlawing laws that outlawed gaming machines and smoking. If gambling and smoking were such terrible 'crimes', then why allow such activity at all? Doctor's theory was "what's good for the goose is good for the gander". If states could outlaw "Cherry Masters" in neighborhood taverns, then why were state lotteries legal? Why could multi-billion-dollar casinos have gaming devices, but their smaller competitors couldn't? Again, cowardly politicians had caved into the demands of big business, whose power and influence managed to distort laws to their own advantages. The same with smoking bans. Doctor reasoned, "If smoking's so bad for you, why not nip it in the bud at the source? Why not ban the manufacture, distribution and sale of cigarettes?" The answer was so transparent, even the most opaque politician knew the reason: no municipal, state or federal government wanted to give up the billions of dollars the tobacco industry shelled out every year in obscene taxes. So, cigarette manufacturers could still sell their 'cancer sticks' - but those who smoked, or who allowed smoking in their small businesses, were becoming victims of yet another political scam to collect more tax money in the form of fines and penalties.
After the rally, one lime green bus after another paraded through the streets of Indianapolis before finally returning to New Haven, Indiana, where the entourage would spend the night at Jilli's Pub, one of Adams' string of small neighborhood bars. By the time the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. parade arrived in New Haven, the AROB team's "party bus" was pretty well trashed - as were most of its occupants. Fortunately, they'd hired a designated bus driver, Dick Femeyer, who only sipped on Diet Coke all the way home. Celebrants partied until the wee hours of the morning before checking into the local Holiday Inn Express near I-469 and State Road 930E. The conglomerate of political activists had reserved the entire hotel; some more energetic members of the group sobered up by skinning-dipping in the motel's indoor pool until 5:30 a.m. Although the pool officially closed at 11 p.m., and didn't re-open until 7:00 a.m., the frazzled motel manager was helpless in trying to remove the revelers from the
pool. But, as long as it was harmless fun and excluded no one, the manager decided to let it go on.
While O.U.T.R.A.G.E. volunteers were serious about their political mission, that didn't conclude them from having fun - as long as it remained good old-fashion wholesome fun that was legal and above-board. No new political candidate wanted to be tainted by even the appearance of impropriety. This was a new era in American politics, where voters would expect their politicians to be men and women of good report. O.U.T.R.A.G.E. participants needed to demonstrate that even elected public servants could enjoy life without being sleazy about it. Pompous-ass, arrogant public officials were "out"; the average, 'common' man was "in". Those of status, power, and wealth were "out"; power would be returned to the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the disadvantaged, the underprivileged, the unemployed, the children, the exploited, the abused, and the decent, hard-working Americans who made their country strong in the first place. Corporate greedheads were gone; corrupt and evil politicians were dead; wealthy society snobs were diminished; Howard Stern and all the others who brought filth and public indecency to the public forum were muted; celebrities and athletes who squandered all their wealth and status on themselves weren't 'in the game' any longer; self-absorbed, ignominious industrialists and others who made millions from the sweat of others' brows were now part of the commodious commonplace. There was no longer room for anyone at the top of the ladders' rungs. Equality would be key to a brand new selfless society where all men worked together for the benefit of all men instead of for the gluttony of themselves and their own pleasures. The "mine's bigger than yours" syndrome was beginning to crumble in the perspective of this new American culture.