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After-freep report: John F. Kerry visits Wheeling, W.Va.
Wheeing News-Register and personal account ^ | April 26, 2004 | mountaineer

Posted on 04/26/2004 12:06:37 PM PDT by mountaineer

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Okay, that's one account. Here's mine. I arrived at Wheeling Park's White Palace around 8:30 a.m. and stood near the main driveway with my signs. One had photos of waffles and said, "Where do you stand today, John?" The other said, "John Kerry said, 'Our Democracy is a Farce,' Nov. 2, 1971 at Bethany College. Maybe he should run for president of China - or France?" I also had an old pair of flipflops, which I smacked together for effect.

Shortly after I set up, fellow freeper sonsofliberty2000 showed up with a fine sign with a drawing of flipflops and a related message. We stood in the cool, damp weather for a while before deciding to to closer to the building. We received a few rude remarks and middle digits (Democrat IQ readings).

After a little while, a woman approached and asked whether we'd seen the kids from the local Catholic high school, as they were going to bring pro-life signs. We said we hadn't, but it wasn't long before about two dozen fine young people arrived. Also joining us were some Bush campaign people, including one young man dressed as the dolphin Flipper (get it? Flip flop? Flipper?) Some moms with small children also joined us a little later, and they made pro-life signs.

One of the guys had a bullhorn, and we regaled the assembled Dems (mostly union) with various chants. Kerry was at least 45 minutes late (emulating Bill Clinton), and we couldn't see him sneak in the back way. At our peak, we had about 40 on our side.

The event was supposed to last from 10:30 a.m. - noon, but it was well after noon before the attendees started leaving. Kerry was taking his time, even though he already was late for his next appearance in Washington, Pa. Our GOP operatives told us that he's really getting upset at the protesters greeting him wherever he goes, so keep up the good work, freepers and others!

Finally, we saw that one of the three or four full-sized buses (gobs of diesel fuel burning!) was about to get going, so we resumed chanting with vigor. Finally, he snuck out again - I think I may have caught a glimpse before he boarded one of the buses - and drove right by us at about 1:45 p.m. as we yelled and showed our signs, and we know he saw us.

More to follow ...

1 posted on 04/26/2004 12:06:38 PM PDT by mountaineer
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Before coming to Wheeling's White Palace, Effin' visited a coal mine in Marshall County, just south of Wheeling. Here's an excerpt of the newspaper account:

MOUNDSVILLE - Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Kerry began his campaign stop in the Wheeling area early this morning by going 900 feet below ground in the McElroy Mine No. 10 of Consolidation Coal in Moundsville.

Kerry met with officials of the United Mine Workers of America and spoke with miners during a 30-minute trip down into the mine to get a view of what miners on the job encounter. The mine visit was an opportunity for Kerry to showcase his proposals to utilize technology to burn coal in a cleaner way that is safe on the environment while helping to promote the use of coal as a source of energy.

"We've got to get scrubbers on some of those companies (that burn coal) to help them burn clean," Kerry said to a coal miner.

The coal policy of Kerry involves investing in technology to make coal burn cleaner as one way to help keep coal mining jobs in America.

Before going down into the mine, Cecil Roberts, international president of the UMW, met with Kerry to officially present him with his union's endorsement. Roberts said that last week the various UMW Coal Miner Political Action Committees from around the country as well as the UMW executive committee voted unanimously to endorse Kerry.

A prepared statement by Roberts said one of the primary reasons for the UMW endorsement of Kerry's campaign is because, "they want someone in office who can end what they say has been a recent systematic rollback of health and safety protection for working coal miners by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration."

Roberts also gave Kerry a gift of a replica of a miner's lamp used in earlier times. When Roberts told Kerry that today was the beginning of turkey season Kerry said, "If you would have told me today was turkey season I'd be out (hunting) with you." rest of story

2 posted on 04/26/2004 12:09:09 PM PDT by mountaineer
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Lest anyone think the Wheeling newspaper was giving Teresa's boytoy a break, here's an editorial which ran today:

John Kerry was in Wheeling today, promising to bring new jobs to West Virginia. But that's the problem with Kerry, the Democratic Party's candidate for president. Like so many liberals, promises come easy to him. Keeping them, particularly to residents of the Ohio Valley, is a different story.

Northern Panhandle and East Ohio residents remember all too well the promises made by Kerry's ideological soulmates, ex-President Bill Clinton and ex-Vice President Al Gore. They, too, assured area voters - most particularly, steelworkers - that they could feel our pain and would do something about it.

What they did was to watch even more pain inflicted on the steel industry, in the form of laid-off workers by the thousands during the eight years of Clinton-Gore.

President Bush, while running for election four years ago, pledged that he would help steelworkers. Many of them voted for him.

But Bush kept his promise. He imposed stiff tariffs on certain imported steel products to give American workers breathing room. Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel recovered from bankruptcy on Bush's watch.

It's true that, a few months ago, Bush was forced to rescind the tariffs. Kerry has criticized him for that and promised that, if elected, he'll help.

How? Kerry has admitted that, if elected, he would not reimpose tariffs. He has put forth no realistic plan to aid the domestic steel industry. He has merely promised that he will do so.

Promises, promises. We've heard them before. Kerry can't expect to win votes in this area with more of them. link

3 posted on 04/26/2004 12:10:44 PM PDT by mountaineer
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To: mountaineer
Good freepin' job, guys! Kerry gets rattled REAL easily!
4 posted on 04/26/2004 12:10:51 PM PDT by Norb2569
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To: mountaineer
Good job and thanks for the report
5 posted on 04/26/2004 12:11:17 PM PDT by not-alone
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To: mountaineer
Our GOP operatives told us that he's really getting upset at the protesters greeting him wherever he goes, so keep up the good work, freepers and others!

What a wimp he is. Can't take the heat!! AWWWW Poor baby!! Bush has liberal protestors following him where ever he goes and he just admires our freedom of speech he doesn't get upset. Great Job!

6 posted on 04/26/2004 12:11:35 PM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
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To: mountaineer
Nice work at the "Jobs First (No Second, No First, No Second, No First) Bus Tour,"!
7 posted on 04/26/2004 12:11:39 PM PDT by ride the whirlwind (We can't let Kerry win - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.)
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Kerry arrived in Wheeling last night, and was greeted at his downtown hotel by both supporters and detractors:

Supporters and protesters braved heavy rain and wind while they lined Market Street in Wheeling Sunday night waiting for Sen. John F. Kerry, who brought his campaign to the Ohio Valley.

Kerry was scheduled to speak to an audience of about 800 people today at Wheeling Park's White Palace, as well as to tour the McElroy Mine in Marshall County. The Wheeling stop is part of a three-day trip by Kerry to discuss with voters and local community leaders his plan to create new and better jobs in America. On the tour, Kerry will unveil new proposals designed to create and keep jobs in America and make the country more competitive in the world.

Kerry also plans to stop in southwestern Pennsylvania as part of the day's schedule, and he will spend Tuesday traveling in Ohio, visiting both Youngstown and Cleveland. Wednesday will take Kerry from Toledo to Michigan. All four states - West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan - are viewed by most political analysts as key states in deciding the outcome of the November presidential election.

In Wheeling, while pro-Kerry demonstrators holding signs printed with "Jobs First" and "Steelworkers for Kerry" heavily outnumbered protesters, a group of about 25 supporters of President George W. Bush made their voices heard, chanting "four more years" and holding their own signs while they waited.

One Bush supporter dressed in a dolphin costume and held a homemade sign printed with, "John Kerry, I'm a flipper too," a reference to an accusation made by opponents of Kerry who have said he "flip-flops" on issues. While the two groups waited for Kerry to arrive, they exchanged taunts from opposite sides of the street.

Even as rain began to fall, soaking many of those who attended the outdoor event, both sides managed to keep their spirits, and political convictions up, by taunting each other.

For the Kerry supporters, a "jobs first" chant and "out source Bush" were favorite chants, while the Bush supports yelled "flip-flop," as well as "four more years." rest of story

8 posted on 04/26/2004 12:14:01 PM PDT by mountaineer
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To: mountaineer
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel recovered from bankruptcy on Bush's watch.

Game-set-match in Wheeling-Pittsburgh.
9 posted on 04/26/2004 12:14:53 PM PDT by stylin19a (it's only called golf because all the other 4 letter words were taken)
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To: sonsofliberty2000; Darlan; MadelineZapeezda
ping!
10 posted on 04/26/2004 12:15:34 PM PDT by mountaineer
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To: areafiftyone
Of course, Kerry's supporters (who didn't seem particularly enthusiastic, but they have to support the team) didn't disappoint. They were as crude and vulgar as ever. Many middle fingers, a bunch of rich private school kids with bumper stickers that said "Buck Fush" and the Brooke County Democratic Party chair, who gave us the bird with both hands, then turned around and patted his tush at us. This is a man in his 70s. You'd think he'd know better. Ah, the lovely hatefulness of the Dems!
11 posted on 04/26/2004 12:18:36 PM PDT by mountaineer
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To: mountaineer
Great FReep! You are my hero (heroine...you know what I mean)!!! Send good vibes across the border tomorrow for Pat Toomey, neighbor!
12 posted on 04/26/2004 12:20:39 PM PDT by PennsylvaniaMom (FreeMartha)
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To: mountaineer
Excellent report and Freep.

"Kerry was at least 45 minutes late"

Contrast that to the three visits we have had in our area (Hershey/Harrisburg) from President Bush. He was spot on time each time.

13 posted on 04/26/2004 12:21:24 PM PDT by AGreatPer (Take my advise, I ain't using it.)
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To: mountaineer
Thank you! Freepers need to keep the pressure up! This guy will implode as bad as Howeird Dean - - bet on it!

the Duck
14 posted on 04/26/2004 12:22:58 PM PDT by duckbutt ("The weapon of destruction was embedded in Saddam's brain." Bassim Al Fadhly)
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To: mountaineer
Great Report. I am awaiting word from the Iowa GOP as to the exact day and time GWB will be arriving in Iowa. Early this morning they said it won't be this week, as had earlier been indicated. Apparently it will be next week.

I'm going to make a "Proud to be a Bush Babe" sign. Maybe a "Grannys for Bush" sign,, or simply: "God Bless you Mr. President"
15 posted on 04/26/2004 12:23:54 PM PDT by Iowa Granny (Impersonating June Cleaver since 1967)
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To: PennsylvaniaMom
Thanks. My mother's working the polls in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, and she'll have some tales to tell about the primary, I'm sure.
16 posted on 04/26/2004 12:24:51 PM PDT by mountaineer
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To: mountaineer
bttt
17 posted on 04/26/2004 12:25:33 PM PDT by lodwick
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To: lodwick
Bump for a job well done.
18 posted on 04/26/2004 12:35:54 PM PDT by AGreatPer (Take my advise, I ain't using it.)
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To: AGreatPer
I had the same thought - the two times I've seen Dubya in person, he was right on time. Maybe Kerry was feeling discombobulated from his horrendous Good Morning America interview this morning!
19 posted on 04/26/2004 12:37:38 PM PDT by mountaineer
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To: mountaineer
Good job freeping the male Cinderella. Did you wear Mr. M's marathon medals?
20 posted on 04/26/2004 12:40:50 PM PDT by daisyscarlett
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