Just came from candidate rally in Nashville

[Lurking Dem]

I was sitting in the Clark reception room at the Hilton Suites near the corner where my local coordinator had gotten my handicapped ass a chair.

He started putting a couple of chairs next to me and asked if I would mind if Clark's son stood on those next to me to give a speech.

MIND?!?!?!? Was he KIDDING?

What a DREAMY guy he is! He sat down next to me and I asked him if he would mind if I drooled on him! He laughed and said, "Cut that out! I'll get a big head!"

He gave a rousing speech for his dad saying in part that this was more than a campaign against Bush - it was a campaign against hypocrisy.

People were lining up to get in the ball room ($50 a head with all the attending candidates speaking) and my husband, ACLYouth and I went outside to do "visibility" with our signs.

ACLYouth's has already been a BIG hit earlier, reading "He took 4 bullets, give him Tennessee" and mine was "That's why they call it a GENERAL election!" We stood outside waving signs and cheering. There was a group there with silver letters surrounded by blue lights spelling out Clark's name. Local NPR radio was interviewing (talked to my son), CNN, local tv, a truck from CBS Dallas (?), etc.

As we were out there the busses start rolling in and Clark is in the first one. He spies ACLYouth's sign while talking on his cell phone and gives this little smile and appears to read it out loud into his phone. We're all screaming CLARK at this point and he gets off the bus. Son got a handshake and he actually held onto my right hand while shaking 3 other people's hands.

It was AWESOME.

We had spent the day putting up over 30 signs in our County where they are not allowed, everywhere we thought we could get away with it (and a couple of places we were sure we couldn't - like the 2 signs we put in the right of way under the Tennessee Baptist Convention Sign!)

I'm in extreme pain right now but it was WORTH it!

I'll try and find coverage of the event on the local news later (no one is doing live) to see how the speeches went.

As an aside, the Clark and Edwards supporters were getting along really well and the Kerry people were nasty to both. I'm not sure why that was because I hadn't gotten that impression on a National scale so maybe it was just a local thing.

[maddezmom]

1. thanks for your hard work and support for WES!

sending you a cyber massage. :pals:

[bigwillq]

2. Great story

Keep up the good work in support of your candidate. As a Dean supporter, at first I disliked Clark but now I appreciate what the Clark supporters are all about, grassroots in its finest state. Go Clark, Go Dean, Go grassroots.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. That was a heart felt compliment.

Thank you very much. Power to the Roots!

Wonderful story also. Sometimes pain IS worth it.

[bigwillq]

4. your welcome...

I think Dean/Clark Clark/Dean would be a fantastic ticket. I think those two and Kucinich are the only candidates who could stand up to Bush on issues. Like Dean said in an interview, i'm paraphrasing...
What if * turned to Kerry and said well you supported the war, child no left behind, etc.. Did anyone see that?
But Clark, Dean and Kucinich could really blast * they're the ones with the best contrasts to shrub

[Lurking Dem]

9. Wow!

Thank you VERY much. It means a great deal when we support each other!:grouphug:

[AP]

5. Clark's son is great. I've said that dozens of times here. He can really

articulate the Democratic project better than a couple of the candidates who are running.

I understand why he's trying to be a screenwriter -- he has gift for conveying meaning with words and images. Know what I mean?

However, it's to bad that there aren't many politicians who went from army, to screenwriting, to politics.

I hope he's able to write a few movies that end up getting people to think about electing liberasl.

[texasmom]

6. What a heartwarming and exciting report!

I am insanely jealous, and I'm so happy for you just the same. A big thanks for going and working the event, and thanks for telling us about it!!

:yourock:

[NashVegas]

7. Hey! I Was There!

Only I was at the Dean rally.

I got our elected President, Al Gore, to sign my DFA sign. Wooo!

[Lurking Dem]

10. There was a Dean rally?

I'm KIDDING!

Was this an awesome event or what? I can't wait to hear the coverage on tonight's news (if the morphine doesn't kick my butt).

Al Gore signed ACLYouth's ACLU card a couple years ago. He's awesome in person, as is Tipper. Was she there?

[eileen_d]

8. Stories like this are so inspiring

I wish I lived in a state that mattered in the primaries.

I know, :nopity:

[Mz Pip]

11. Me, too

By time they get to CA things will probably be decided. Sigh.

Still, I do believe that Clark has the best credentials to beat Bush. Never mind what the polls say. It's not like they have been right all the time.

MzPip
:dem:

[Kanary]

12. What a great day you had!

Thanks for the exciting report. Makes me almost.... but not quite :) wish I was in Tennessee. :)

Sorry you're in pain.... that I relate to completely. Hope you get some good rest now.

Kanary, who thinks you should drool anywhere you danged well please. :)

[Lurking Dem]

13. Hey!

Tennessee is as pretty as Colorado! It's just all our mountains have rounded tops! hehehehehe.

Sorry you're able to relate to the pain but thanks for the well wishes. Unfortunately for me, having to take morphine means I'm up most of the night. Kinda perverse.

The drooling might have embarrassed my husband a bit. Poor guy. But I did get him to donate his entire amount when we got home! YAY!

[blm]

14. Clark's son is a hot looking guy.

Of course, so's his dad. heh