My amazing meeting w/ "Republicans for a Democratic Ticket" in Naples, FL

[kerry-is-my-prez]

I live in SW Florida (Naples to be exact) which for those of you who don't know - is very Republican (68% voted for Bush in 2000).

An 82 year old woman had written a letter to the local newspaper asking that all Republicans and Independents who wanted to get Bush out of office to call her and that she wanted to get a group together. She put her number in the paper.

I called her but warned her that I was a Democrat and that I had a group who might want to come along with me.

She said that she thought maybe 10 people would be there. I showed up at the meeting today and there were 30 people - almost all of them senior citizens. There was one other person there who like me, was under 50.

Most of them started going on a rant about Bush and Company that would make many of us sound like a bunch of conservatives. One of the women there said she was 73 and talked about how she was at the protest in Ft. Myers protesting Cheney. She mentioned that there had also been a few people at the protest with walkers.

I asked if they had chosen a candidate yet and most said they liked Clark. I asked how many would support Clark and every hand in the room went up! I asked how many people would support Dean and about 3/4ths of the hands went up. I asked if anyone supported another candidate and several said that there was no way that they would vote for anyone who had voted for the $87 million. Some said that they would rather vote for a 3rd party candidate than vote for Lieberman and the other candidates who voted for the $87 million.

We all decided to get together next weekend and that we would call the media to be there.

I think this will end up being a huge group because today's meeting was a last minute thing and only people who called the organizer and found out about the meeting showed up.

We decided that we would really put the word out in the paper and make an announcement on the Guy James Show, etc.

People - these Senior Citizens were mad as hell. All I can say is look out George Bush.

[ignatius]

1. They are the people who remember the "great" depression and

WWII. They also tend to want a president who will make our country secure, hence the attraction to Clark.

They can see what is happening to the economy and that Dopey is full of promises but it all is for shit. As Molly Ivins says he is all hat and no cattle. His Top Gun impression proved that.

Go you senior citizens, kick King George's ass back to Crawford with the rest of the rattlesnakes!!!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

3. I told them that they all put people in my age group to shame!

n/t

[midwest_lurker]

2. this could be huge...

i like the way you think. anybody-but-bush...

[ignatius]

4. I believe seniors have a large percent who vote. This is very

good news and I hope it is true outside of Florida as well.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

5. I'm hoping it's huge - can you imagine?

n/t

[karlschneider]

6. Omigawd! Naples??? I have friends there who won't even fly in a plane

that has a left wing! ;-)

I have to think you're still horribly outnumbered, but it's a point of light. (OOPS)

heh

[Democrats unite]

7. I live in Fort Myers and would be interested in the group

PM me.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

12. Uh oh - I can't send a PM yet - says I don't have enough posts

you'll have to give me your e-mail address.

[blm]

8. Did they KNOW who voted for and who against the 87 bil.?

Cuz Edwards and Kerry were against it.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

13. I tried to tell them that we all should vote for anyone but Bush but

they're even more anti-war and rabid than we are. A few agreed that they would vote for Kerry, etc. Most only seem to be interested in Clark or Dean. I think many don't want to vote for anyone who voted for the war resolution also.

[fishnfla]

9. Y'all need to talk up the senate race too

with graham out, we need help

[MoonRiver]

10. Absolutely awesome!

I've been hearing stuff as I walk through departments where I work that I never heard before. People are mumbling statements against His Lowness, especially regarding the economy. When I start talking about Iraq, most people chime in how horrible the situation is and how mad they are about US being there. Because most folks around me don't have a loved one in Iraq, the issue is always the money being spent on this loser of a war, when so many are needy here. Bu*h is SCREWED, at least according to my midwest grapevine.

[Renew Deal]

11. There is a lot of this. Also, $87 bil is anti-conservative.

Traditional conservatives don't blow that kind of cash.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

14. One of the people was a woman who used to be on the Repub. Exec. Board

They kicked her off the Board after she wrote a letter to the Newspaper that ripped up Bush.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

15. Bush was in Ft. Myers today - they were protesting him - was on the news

We're the new Berkley here! Instead of Hippies - we have Senior Citizens.

[bobbieinok]

45. Aren't a lot of 60s 'hippies'

now senior citizens ... or almost???

[bread_and_roses]

16. Shades of the Grey Panthers!

Many of you might be too young to remember this group, and to my shame I cannot remember the name of the woman who started it...but yes, SENIORS VOTE! This is a great development, and could grow. I hope you have someone on board with some organizing experience. Losing support among seniors would be a real blow to Bush.

[SpiralHawk]

17. Maggie Kuhn was a key leader for the Gray Panthers

Rock on...

[kerry-is-my-prez]

18. Especially in SW Florida - a bastion of Republicanism

n/t

[kerry-is-my-prez]

23. I'm about it - any advice would be welcomed. I've worked on several

campaigns but I could use some tips...

[mrgorth]

19. Can you do us a favor?

Ask about support for Dean/Clark, Clark/Dean tickets and see what kind of response you get. My thought is that ticket adds the needed third. Danke.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

21. They all thought a Clark/Dean ticket was perfect

Clark was the #1 choice of every person. I'll ask them about Dean/Clark next time. Like I said, about a fourth of them didn't like Dean. Still pretty promising for Dean - I'd say...

[ShaneGR]

20. I can't get it over this line:

She mentioned that there had also been a few people at the protest with walkers.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

22. I think there's a big story there... They were pushing around the Seniors

at the protest. This lady called them "storm troopers." I'd like to go around to the nursing homes, etc. down here. We'll be sending out plenty of press releases.

[stevedeshazer]

24. I believe ya

Back in March there was a humongous anti-war, anti-Bush protest here. My son (age 15) and I got on the bus to ride downtown. A lot of people, mostly younger (I'm 48) were carrying signs and obviously were going to the protest.

But, there was this old guy on the bus who had to be 85 or better. He could barely walk, but he had his own hand-lettered sign and was good to go. I wish I had asked him more questions, but we were caught up in the moment. He got off the bus downtown and joined the crowd. I saw him a couple of hours later at a bus stop. The guy was tuckered out but still clutching his sign.

My Mom will be 76 soon, and she can't stand Bush. Most of her friends feel the same way.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

25. They're the best workers - they're the only ones showing up for all of

our Clark meet-ups and other meetings. The younger ones never show up...

[fabius]

26. Seniors vote!

Almost every one of them. Also they remember what real presidents are all about.

[nickgutierrez]

27. I'm from Immokalee

About a 30 minute drive from there.

"She said that she thought maybe 10 people would be there. I showed up at the meeting today and there were 30 people - almost all of them senior citizens. There was one other person there who like me, was under 50."

That's pretty representative of Naples, really :P.

I'm in college right now, but if there is anything planned for mid-to-late December, email me. I'd be glad to join in.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

28. That is the coolest story I've read all day!

Thanks for posting it! :)

Very interesting to see how these southern senior citizens feel.

My question is: why are these people Republicans? Did they vote for Bush last election? Did they vote for Jeb?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

37. Yes - I believe almost all of them voted for Dubya.

n/t

[roguevalley]

29. They aren't called the greatest generation for nothing.

[Robb]

34. That's IT!

Snappy name... "Greatest Generation for ______", fill in yer candidate. Or simply "Greatest Generation Democrats, Florida Chapter".

Keep us posted, this is wonderful news! :)

[KayLaw]

30. I find it somewhat troubling

There have been plenty of articles about Bush losing the support of seniors plus the poll that showed the same. There are so many seniors here in Florida hurting from loss of income due to the low interest rates but no one seems worried about their votes. Why not? Are the Bushies that secure in winning Florida, and why?

[leftchick]

31. BBV....that is why!

http://blackboxvoting.com/ Black Box Voting and ballot tampering is why they are so confident! Seriously read this site and the BBV threads at DU to catch up then Pass it around.....

[NewJeffCT]

35. Where do you meet?

I will be in Naples in a few weeks (from the day after Thanksgiving for about a week...)

[kerry-is-my-prez]

38. We will be meeting on the 22nd (Sat) at 1 PM

hopefully at the Vineyards.

Send me your e-mail address and I'll put you on my e-mail list.

[Josh]

32. 87 BILLION...!

As you were.

[in_cog_ni_to]

33. Great Post!

Our seniors are the backbone of our society and now we can see why! They are SMART, they VOTE and they never pass up a chance to say what's on their mind. If they're anything like my dad, they tell everyone they know how much they hate Bush! This is awesome. Now, add retired Veterans to that mix and Bush is toast in '04. :bounce:

Make sure they know about Bev's new book...."Black Box Voting"....being in Florida, EVERYONE there needs to read it. If the seniors read it, they will spread the word and Jeb would be remiss to steal the next election.

[nostamj]

36. i sent the link to this thread to guy james

i'm sure he'll be interested in hearing from you

if you have the meeting on saturday btw 3-6, you can call in live from the meeting!

[kerry-is-my-prez]

40. Maybe he can broadcast live from our meeting...

Would THAT be cool!!!

[nostamj]

43. well, I'm not sure he could broadcast away from the studio

but, he *could* put people from you meeting on the air live.

I think he would be very up for that. hits the local and national markets.

if you can PM me off-forum contact info, I'll see what I can do to put you in touch.

(note: I don't have any 'official' role with the program but have helped line up guests from time to time and I do talk with Guy from time to time off the air)

[ShimokitaJer]

39. So centrist Republicans hate Lieberman too?

So much for the idea of using Joe to appeal to the center.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

41. Yes- These people want change. Someone from the "outside" like

Clark. Some were a little leery about Dean - but he was #2. My concern about Dean and Seniors is that Medicare and Social Security thing. He would REALLY need to make it clear that he changed from his earlier stance on it. I have the feeling that it could really be twisted to scare the heck out of Seniors.

You know the rule: never mention Medicare, Social Security and the word "cut" in the same sentence...

[onecitizen]

42. Why don't email Dean..........

campaign and tell him what you found. They are pretty responsive to your questions/comments.

I wish we could get a Dean/Clark ticket. It would be awesome. Or even Clark/Dean ticket. Either way, I'd be happy. ABB!

[Eloriel]

44. Better yet -- post it to his blog

http://www.blogforamerica.com/

Click "Comments" underneath any entry, and it opens a new page. You can add your own comments at the very bottom of that page.

Trust me, the campaign absolutely reads EVERY entry, and makes use of it too. That's why I call this "the first Open Source, Iterative Presidential Campaign in our history."

Eloriel