Milbank - Crowds treat * like Rock Star, Kerry crowds warm

[RamboLiberal]

Another load of BS in IMHO. I've been to a Kerry/Edwards rally that rocked and from what I've seen of * rallies on TV, many times he's putting his supporters to sleep, sometimes they're sitting on their hands. I'm sure he has enthusiastic crowds, especially if their are a lot of koolaid drinkers. And of course the * crowds had to sign a loyalty oath as Milbank points out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A25440-2004Oct11?language=printer

The question is put to Andy Griffin, a supporter of President Bush from Canton, Ohio, after a Bush rally here. On Election Day, will his vote be for Bush or against Democrat John F. Kerry?

"It's 100 percent for Bush," says Griffin, a 22-year-old accountant. "It wouldn't matter who he's running against, unless it was my dad."

A day later and 50 miles to the east, the same question is put to Jack Saling, a Kerry supporter waiting for the Massachusetts senator to arrive in Youngstown for an event. "It's 50-50," says Saling, a veteran and retired trucker. "I've never followed Kerry that much, but we need a change, a serious change."

Those responses, typical of the partisans at Bush and Kerry events across the country, say much about the passions that define the 2004 elections: The Republican faithful love their candidate; the Democratic faithful have less such enthusiasm for Kerry but know he is their vessel for defeating Bush -- about which they are passionate.

The difference explains why crowds at Bush rallies, though similar in size to those at Kerry events, have been more energetic. The reception for Kerry is warm at Democratic events; the reception for Bush at GOP events is akin to that of a rock star. The different motivation of Kerry and Bush supporters also explains the difference in campaigning styles between the two presidential contenders. Bush's stump speech is packed with appeals to his conservative supporters; his biggest applause lines are typically his call for limits on jury awards and his opposition to gay marriage. Kerry's speech is full of economic facts and figures and paeans to the middle class; he typically gets his best reactions when he mentions job losses and criticizes Bush's honesty.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Difference in audiences - MINDLESS followers, compared with...

people who listen, who think, who can actually process thoughts.....my comparison of * crowds are actually with the hypocritical suckers who show up at Fundy tent rallies, all raise their hands in the air, wriggle on the ground and pretend that they have been saved, healed or found.....equally horrific, scary, and dangerous.

[Mz Pip]

2. Hand picked audiences

will do that for you. :crazy:

MzPip
:dem:

[Unstuck In Time]

3. This is what happens when a reporter never leaves the hotel bar

Doesn't exactly get a feel for what's going on in the real world.

[Cha]

6. Welcome to DU, Unstuck In Time!

I read before what you're saying about these reporters..so sad..they're such lazy, lyin', buttheads.

[Cha]

4. BULLSHIT!

Democrats are ENERGIZED! Keep the bullshit coming, milbank..it's just going to ENERGIZE our broad spectrum even more!

Does anybody believe this crock of shit?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. "Similar in size?" I thought the crowds were about as "similar" in size

as Bush and Kerry themselves...

[Bleacher Creature]

7. Me: Readers treat Millbank like a hack, others as professionals.

n/t

[ILeft]

8. Bush will use rock concert sound levels during final days

Remember the final 2 weeks of the 2000 campaign? The Bush campaign turned up the vulume so high that reporters couldn't even report due to the noise levels. They want to make it look like a victory celebration. No doubt it sways some people. They are trying to look like winners. The losers.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

9. Jackbooted goose-steppers versus normal people

.

[Gyre]

10. It's all the abstinence.

They see all that manly power tightly compacted into the village idiot's body and it's instant orgasm. So many 21 year old virgins, so little patience.

Gyre

[LiberalAndProud]

11. I am infatuated

Nay... I am in LOVE with John (soon to be President) Kerry!

[LittleClarkie]

20. Yawp, piddy pat, piddy pat

I heart my candidate.

I think if I ever met him in person I'd burst into tears, so high would my emotions be.

[JI7]

12. Kerry events are open to all, Bush events only to loyal supporters

who sign loyalty oaths.

Kerry events not only allow but encourage non supporters so he can appeal for their votes.

[BillZBubb]

13. Milbank ought to be ashamed, for all the reasons mentioned.

Bush* buses in his ultra-loyal, glassy eyed zealots. Kerry talks to a random group of Democrats and the curious.

Crowds at the Bush* photo-ops are given applause lines. Crowds at the Kerry events are learning.

[democracyindanger]

14. Kim Jong Il

gets GREAT audiences.

Just sayin'.

[mitchum]

15. I so look forward to seeing 22 year old Andy Griffin in desert fatigues

And Andy, that guy you call "my dad"? He's not.

[redstateblues]

16. Nerd Alert-Milbank Compares Bush To Rock Star- C minus writing

A rock star like Pat Boone maybe- what a fucking ridiculous thing to write

[iamjoy]

17. This Reporter Isn't Paying Attention

Oh, I'm the first to admit I wasn't thrilled with Kerry. I volunteered for him, but more because I was so worried about Bush. But I picked up some enthusiasm when he named Edwards as a running mate (I've had a crush on Edwards since the primary)

And at the convention, I finally understood why Kerry was our nominee. And my heart started to warm to him when the kids spoke. Especially when the Heinz son referred to John Kerry as his friend (which is exactly how I feel about my step-father.)

Then, Edwards and Kerry were at the TD Waterhouse Center (Orlando.) And I thought it was like a rock concert. The crowd was cheering and yelling when they came on stage. I thought Edwards responded to it better than Kerry (but of course, I'm biased). And when Kerry was here in Orlando at a smaller, calmer event just ten days ago - I saw a young woman he'd helped get VA benefits crying as he spoke. And while it wasn't as kinetic as the rally at the arena, after it I went up, actually got to shake Kerry's hand and was totally gushing like a teeny-bopper, all I could say was, "You are AWESOME."

I'm in my thirties and married, but when I see these guys, I feel like a teenager again.

[fujiyama]

18. How dissapointing

I expected more from Milbank.

Hey Millie, go tell your worthless paper to endorse Chimpy. Didn't these idiots endorse and advocate the neocon plan in Iraq? I swear I remember the WaPost supporting the war.

[sandnsea]

19. This spew again

If Bush didn't keep doing stupid shit to piss us off, maybe we could get enthusiastic about Kerry. Hell I love the guy, I'd follow him anywhere; but my anger at the Bushies overwhelms me most days. I just don't see how an American can support what Bush is doing to this country. The disregard for American values and democracy is just such an overriding thing.