Dearest DUers - a report from the field: L.A. is HOT for Kerry:

[calimary]

I had to go to physical therapy this morning, then to the podiatrist's office, then to various errand-running. Amazing what I noticed:

This IS West L.A., mind you, so we're already in the Good Guy column anyway, but this should cheer you.

Physical therapy: all the therapists and the receptionist are talking about the election, all extremely interested, all Kerryites. Receptionist, African-American, voices tremendous concern about what's been done to disenfranchise black voters, and vows she'd go to jail to hide her near-draft-age son if bush gets elected. Concerned about whether her voter registration was in effect because she'd registered online and hadn't received the expected verification. We talked, I gave her the phone number for the local Dem HQ in Santa Monica, where they seem to be MOST adept at answering any and all questions. The rest of 'em are all registered to vote, and are eager to exercise their right to do so.

Doctor's office: one of the medical assistants looks at me, smiles, and says "I like your button!" (Kerry button that's always on the sunhat that I always wear everywhere (I'm OLD! Gotta protect the ol' skin, dontcha know?) and when I asked her if she was registered, she said "oh YES! And I'm voting for Kerry."

Starbucks: asked the guy at the cash register if he's registered. He said yes, but in another county, and he was concerned he might not be able to vote that day. I reminded him you can vote absentee. He said he hadn't thought of that and was glad I mentioned it. Lady behind me waiting her turn noticed my Kerry button (the OTHER one I have pinned to my purse) and complimented me. Said she'd run into some lady at the grocery store and complimented her on HER Kerry button, and that woman turned her purse around and showed off a SECOND Kerry button pinned to the opposite side! I asked her if she was registered. She said yes, and she's voting absolutely!

Waiting to cross the street: another lady (elderly-ish) sees my Kerry button and compliments me. I ask if she's registered. She said she certainly was, and she was going to vote. Only, she was worried that others might not. And she was quite adamant about it - "I want them to vote, but of course I want them to vote the way I'M voting! For Kerry!" I gave her a hug.

On to the girlie shop (my daughter had something there for me to pick up): another positive comment about my button. She, too, is registered and said she is anxious to vote for Kerry.

Finished that, went to get gas (now UP to 2.59 a gallon, self-serve, for premium). I hear an African-American guy over on the other side holler out, angrily, "Gas is up AGAIN! GOTTA get bush OUT OF OFFICE!" I holler my agreement over to him and add - "you're registered to vote, I hope." He comes around where I am, on the way over to the cash register guy, and says "I'm not gonna waste it, either. Too many people DIED so I could have that right to vote." I said "Bless your heart!" A second lady, elderly-ish, comes over and points to my bumper stickers (all along my inside rear window) and asks where I got the Kerry one. I told her and offered her one, since I had a couple of extras in the back, too. She gratefully took one and thanked me. Said she, too, was registered, and in fact was a precinct worker. Expressed the disgust that we have to have Jimmy Carter watching things in Florida, which she was worried about. I said "well, at least more people are watching this time, and aware of it. It's like shining a light on the cockroaches. They don't like the light and they scatter. We just have to keep shining a light on it." She said she liked that metaphor and was gonna use it, herself.

So HOW many encounters was that? A BUNCH. Not a soul I've spoken to is NOT registered now. I've spoken to NO ONE who is apathetic or figures it won't do any good or that it doesn't make any difference. EVERYBODY's into it, everybody's knowledgeable. Everybody seems to give a damn, and BIGTIME. Everybody's keeping track and staying alert. It's truly stunning. Felt MIGHTY good, too!

Just thought you'd like to know.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. There were about 100 people at the debate party I went to in Orange County

Friday night...OK it was Laguna Beach but STILL!

[blm]

3. heheh...my favorite dumb girlfriend looking out at the ocean in Laguna:

Is this the same ocean that's up in Malibu?


heheh....what a beaut.

Thanks for spreading the good cheer, calimary.

[Carla in Ca]

13. Did you go to the rally in Orange last Saturday?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. No I had to work

if there's anything else though, drop me a note...I went to a debate party in Laguna Beach on Friday though...was a bit noisy to watch the debate but great energy... :hi:

are you in Orange? If so, I am close

[Carla in Ca]

27. Yes, I am

Rally was at Hart Park then we walked to the Orange Circle. The attendance was disappointing. Only about 100 people showed up but that was still OK because I don't remember there even being a rally in OC before.

[Nordic]

2. I live in Santa Monica and it's over-the-top Kerry

I saw exactly one Bush/Cheney yard sign north of Montana, but most of the rich people up there are vehemently pro-Kerry.

Bush is universally despised here, and in my business (the media)

[calimary]

5. Yeah, don't you love seeing the SUVs and Mercedes and BMWs

and such with Kerry/Edwards stickers on them? They're even in evidence at my daughter's school, where lots of folks you'd assume were staunch republi-CONS send their kids.

[jean]

10. MN - I saw a Lexus SUV with a MOB sticker Mothers Opposing Bush

sorry to horn in on your good California vibes!

:yourock:

[calimary]

15. No apologies necessary! GOOD to hear it. VERY good.

Glad you dropped that in. I realize it's just (in this case) me talking about MY little corner of the country. I never get to Minnesota. So I am tickled to hear stuff like this. Some of my FAVORITE posts here on DU are the testimonials - about finding or encouraging others of the "faithful" - or winning over more converts. Every one of these bumper stickers or pins or yard signs is free advertising.

[ronnykmarshall]

4. God I love L.A.!

I had all guys at the car wash making positive coments on my bumperstickers and my car flag.

[Carla in Ca]

14. I was born in LA (my mom,too) and I adore it.

n/t

[Beaverhausen]

17. Are you going to that party on Thursday night?

the 20 days to victory party at the Highlands?

[ronnykmarshall]

22. I might .... thanks for reminding me.

[calimary]

29. AND we've got the coolest theme song, too.

Thank you Randy Newman, Finally-an-Oscar-Winner!

[faithnotgreed]

6. im hot for kerry too! and im not the only one.... thanks for sharing

[proud patriot]

7. YAY

Thanks for sharing that .

I've had similar experiences .

[calimary]

32. Yay indeed. You know what they said after Prop 13 made such a big

noise here. "As California goes, so goes the nation." The "Left Coast" may slowly pull other states that way, too.

[Emboldened Chimp]

8. There are Kerry/Edwards signs EVERYWHERE

I think I've seen three Bush/Cheney signs and/or bumperstickers on the westside. Kerry wins LA in a landslide, fer sher!

[calimary]

11. I've noticed about that same ratio.

Where are you? I see at least 8 or 9 stickers either for Kerry or against bush (sometimes both) for every one "w" or bush/cheney sticker. And by now I've seen a grand total of one bush-cheney yard sign in somebody's front yard. Compared to about 24 or 25 Kerry ones. I saw two bush-cheney signs high up on somebody's front yard tree. But whoever's house that was, he or she was surrounded by Kerry/Edwards yard signs. Kerry owns L.A.

Funny thing, too, when I got back into the car to leave the gas station (I'd prepaid), Crosby Stills Nash and Young were on the radio, just about to sing "Carry On!" Or would that be "KERRY On"?

[Emboldened Chimp]

12. I live in Palms, work in Santa Monica

My old neighbors in SM had a Viva Bush sticker in their window, and for a long time that was the only one I ever saw. Recently, I've seen two or three more, including an SUV littered with Stop Kerry stickers--but he was from Idaho, so that doesn't count, imo.

[coalition_unwilling]

19. I live in Mar Vista, work downtown L.A. (so drive a lot)

I'd estimate K/E to B/C bumper-sticker ratio at least 20:1 in favor of K/E. Also seeing a lot more anti-war bumperstickers lately on my daily commute down the 10 East.

[calimary]

28. Yeah, screw it. Idaho I think is a lost cause, but it may not matter.

Oh well. Can't win 'em all. But we certainly can try to!

Driving through Palms quite frequently. And we're all over Santa Monica, all the time.

[cally]

9. Up here in Bay Areaville

K/E stickers are everywhere. Maybe one in 10 cars has a bumpersticker. Another volunteer and I were lauging about it because when we table, everyone buys one. It's almost like you are not with the in crowd if you don't have one. Whatever works. We're close to funding our local campaign by selling bumperstickers, buttons, and signs. :-)

[proud patriot]

16. Even here in Conservative CoCo county

many many more Kerry/Edwards Stickers then
bush stickers .

1 bush sign around the corner according to my
son who rides his bike around .

I guess my son let him have it :evilgrin:
my sons latest meme is "bush is stealing my
money" he really doesn't like the deficit
spending by bush.

[cally]

18. I just wish I could tape your son saying that

You should be proud!! My 14 year old helped me register voters. Umm, I'm rather aggressive and approach everyone and ask if they are registered. She was much more subtle, polite, and gentle. No one was rude to her. :-) When someone answered in Spanish, she responded in Spanish. That surprised them. She's coming next time too.

[faithnotgreed]

21. wow. you and your daughter are fantastic! sounds fun too

[cally]

25. Well, she is

The first few times someone said they weren't registered and didn't care, she looked at me and asked, "What do I do?" I answered that by her very presence she is showing them that it matters.

[faithnotgreed]

26. thats just downright inspiring. a fantastic role model you are

we all know she isnt seeing too many on tv....

i know amber tamblyn and much of the cast of joan of arcadia supports kerry. no real point to that except i was just thinking of young people on tv who are active and care to get out the vote

[SW FL Dem]

23. I miss Southern CA :(

Lived in West LA and Ventura county for 15 years. Can't beat the weather or the intelligentand friendly citizens.

[robertpaulsen]

24. Hot for Kerry in the Valley too!

Definitely high ratio of Kerry bumperstickers to Bush. The ratio changes if you head out to McClintock County (Thousand Oaks) but I avoid heading out there like the plague. Besides, gas is too damn expensive out here! I rely on MTA whenever I can.

Good to hear from you calimary!

[calimary]

30. Hey, you too, robert! Haven't talked to you since those Plame threads.

I attended a baby shower in West Hills last weekend. The street where the party was - had just a marvelous Kerry/Edwards showing. LOTS of bumper stickers. On the way to and from there from the freeway, too. I have a friend up near Lake Sherwood who went for bush in 2000 (knowing he was dumb as all-get-out, but claiming she was encouraged because at least he'd "surrounded himself with good people." Yeah, one of those. She's since seen the light.

BTW, we went to a Kerry party a couple of months ago (I think it was, immediately after Arnold made his adorable little "girlie man" comment). My kids helped as greeters and soda-fetchers. Sheila Kuehl was the special guest. Hey, come to think of it, you may recall some of the stuff I reported from that - Josh Marshall was also a long-distance guest via conference call, and he had a sliver of info about his "tectonic plates" comment that he's since enlarged upon.

Anyway, Sheila Kuehl (her name COULD be spelled "Cool" because that she is) said that California is still mostly liberal, mostly Dem, especially along the coastline and the big cities like L.A. and San Francisco, although she said there were problems in the central parts of the state. Always worth staying vigilant about. But I am NOT a BIT worried about L.A. AND I think Orange County may not be SUCH a lost cause anymore as it used to be. Sure, they still have that repulsive lizard dana rohrabacher but they finally got rid of "B-One Bob."

[K8-EEE]

33. Like, TOTALLY! Valley Awash In Kerry Gear!

I have TWO K/E signs, myself. No Bush signs on my block...there is ONE * sign about three blocks away GAG ME! But with K/E on the lawns of either side!

[neomonkey]

31. So true

Kerry/Edwards stickers are everywhere around here!

One day a couple of weeks ago, one level in our parking structure here at work had about 7 cars with Kerry/Edwards or anti-Bush bumper stickers (granted I work on the lot of one of those "left-wing librul Hollywood studiuhs")...