Posted on 08/18/2004 7:45:09 PM PDT by ejdrapes
Wow! My first political rally. It was incredible. The place was full, the crowd was VERY enthusiastic. The coolest part was right as Bush was entering. His campaign bus drove right inside the arena! Norm Coleman, Mark Kennedy, Gil Gutineck and John Kline spoke, as well as St. Paul mayor Randy Kelly. No Jim Ramstad though...not sure if he's on the outs with the campaign or what. Of course he is a more moderate Republican. A few protesters outside the arena. The typical 60's hippy/commie retreads. I really think W has a chance to carry Minnesota this time around!
You lucky dog. There is NO chance we will get to see him because we live in Texas. If he doesn't win here, it will be a 50 state sweep for Kerry. Perish the thought!
I was there also. The rally rocked! I believe we had like 18,000 people. It was huge, and the cheering did not end as the President entered the arena, it lasted over 5 minutes. It was awesome.
He was interrupted by applause like 30 times, and the crowd was loud. I was on the floor, and I was on the floor for RNC 2000. I think we had more applause today, and it was definitely louder today.
It was awesome, and everyone I talked too as I left had an awesome time.
I LOVE reading the first hand accounts of what we see on tv, in tiny snippets. So glad you were there....something you will never forget!
is this the event Laura Ingraham was mc'ing ?
I love it,glad you had a great time with our President too.
We won't see him either in Alabama. It's such a W lock here that he just doesn't need to come. What a loss for us.
When I was in kindergarten, while living in Berkley California, the teachers marched us children to the main road where the President of the United States would by passing by.
Although the car with President John F. Kennedy drove past us rather rapidly, that moment is still stuck in my mind.
You have been lucky enough tonight to see one of the greatest Presidents in the history of the United States.
Remember it for the rest of your life!
God Bless Randy Kelly for being a real man and standing up for what he believes!
St. Paulites are calling for his recall because he has endorsed 'W'. Randy decided that it isn't about party lines, it's about who the best man for the job is. He maintains that he will remain a Democrat. He just knows that this is not the time for a change at the top.
Shame on you, St. Paul!!!
Yes, Laura Ingraham mc'd the program. Ricky Scagges played a couple of songs.
heard a 1st hand account on the radio from a VFW commander
from Madison,WI at the Cinci VFW meeting. He said even though Kerry is a life-long VFW member and Bush isn't,2/3
of them left as soon as Kerry was done talking,some even before he was done. When Bush was done, people hung out to meet and greet for a long time.He also said many people didn't even stand for Jf'nK's
entrance, but all did for Bush.
good for you!
Right you are! I was a young radio newsman in Illinois in '76 and got to chat with President Ford during a campaign stop. I wish I had brought a camera.
IIRC, Norm Coleman was re-elected mayor of St. Paul with about 58 percent of the vote after switching from Rat to Republican before his Senate run.
As others on this thread have said, it's great to get first-hand accounts. Many thanks, and I'm delighted to hear that the crowd was large and enthusiastic.
I expect you'll have the opportunity to see the President another time or two, or more, before Election Day, because the Upper Mississippi Valley (specifically Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa) is increasingly looking like Ground Zero for the Presidential campaign (as opposed to Ground Zero for the Senatorial campaigns, which would be my neck of the woods). Obviously the Bush/Cheney team needs to defend Ohio and Florida at all costs, but MN/WI/IA is perhaps the #1 target of opportunity.
Correct. They thought that he was stiil a DFL'er at heart. They're half right. He's a RINO, as is Ramstad. Norm voted against 'W' when it came to drilling in ANWAR.
This week, after what he said about VP Dick Cheney, I would have punched him out.
I will consider myself lucky for not being in jail. My, what a difference of two weeks can make.
Be ever vigilant.
Of course he is a more moderate Republican
Understatement of the day alert!
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