Kerry's San Antonio rally was a spectacular performance

[pmbryant]

First time I've really seen him in action, and I was very impressed.

The outdoor, late-afternoon setting on this beautiful early spring day further made the event picture perfect.

There was a huge crowd as well. Our former mayor Henry Cisneros described it as a 'late October' crowd, not a 'primary season' crowd. Many thousands of people, no doubt, though I got there early and was trapped near the front, so didn't get a chance to really see how big the crowd was.

I got some pictures, and hope to post them in the next couple of days if any of them are any good. I also had the honor to shake his hand briefly as he worked the crowd afterwards.

Oddly, I couldn't find any mention of this event on our local newspapers' web site. What's with that?

Kerry was never my top choice in the primaries, but now that he is the presumptive nominee, I think our Party has made an excellent choice.

:bounce:

--Peter

[muchacho]

1. man...

I miss SA.

[blm]

2. Kerry was always underestimated.

I am thrilled you had the opportunity to see for yourself.

[flpoljunkie]

3. Thanks, Peter for your excellent narrative of the event. Found a pic.

Crowd looks huge!
Reuters/Jim Bourg

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Wow!

[pmbryant]

19. That's a great picture of the crowd.

I must be in that picture, to the right of the main stage, about 8 rows deep. But unrecognizable of course.

:-)

Thanks for finding that picture.

--Peter

[flpoljunkie]

4. Peter, can you spot yourself in this photo?

AP Photo/Elise Amendola

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Beat Bush, the worst President never elected!

that's a good one.

[Frances]

11. This crowd looks diverse

and it wasn't carefully pre-selected, I'll bet

[SilasSoule]

22. San Antonio does have a very diverse population

A cross-section, if you will, of America.

[pmbryant]

16. No, but that wasn't far from me

I was about 10-20 feet to the right. That great sign 'Beat Bush! The worst President never elected,' wasn't very far from me.

:-)

Peter

[saltpoint]

5. Christ, pmbryant -- thanks for this post --

-- I was so stupefied for a second there to see a pro-Kerry post I didn't know how to react.

Wish I could have been there.

Democrats win in November.

[Gman]

6. No Kerry, but mysa.com sure has that ominous story about

a bong found in the boy's bathroom at Karnes City High School.

What a joke they are.

[cally]

7. I wish I could have been there

I'm glad you went and got to shake his hand. Thanks for the report.

[sadiesworld]

9. WE CAN DO THIS...GO KERRY!

[NNN0LHI]

12. Thank you for the report Peter. It was good to read. n/t

[SilasSoule]

13. Remember folks:

These crowds in support of Kerry are from deep in the heart 'o Texas. Think the size of these crowds may be worrying some one? I aint saying Kerry will carry Texas, but if Shrub is forced to spend time, money and resources here and thus diverting the same from the real battleground states - That would be more than a moral victory - it would be a strategic one.

[Zech Marquis]

14. will thre be a rebroadcast on Cspan?

or perhaps a webcast since the news is akk about Martha getting ready for her prson cell makeover special :eyes:

[NNN0LHI]

15. Another photo from San Antonio

San Antonio police laugh as Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., climbs on one of their motorcycles prior to his departure at the airport in San Antonio Saturday, March 6, 2004 (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

[DaveSZ]

18. I wish I had gone

I live a few hours away...

:*(

[Frances]

20. Great photo

I think Bush will lose a lot of blue-collar white male votes if Kerry keeps having his photo with motorcycles and guns and that football he throws around. All of those activities trump Bush's workouts.

[NightNurse]

17. Gracias, Pedro.

Ya' done good!:grouphug:

[beachbum]

21. Awesome Pictures!

Unfortunately, there seemed to be little coverate of Kerrys visit to Texas, but plenty of coverage of the others visit to Texas.

[pmbryant]

23. Finally, an article about the event, but no pictures

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/stories/MYSA07.01A.kerry_sa_0307.3e89d759.html

Kerry offers a Texas-size vision in S.A. visit
Web Posted: 03/07/2004 12:00 AM CST

Rebeca Rodriguez
Express-News Staff Writer

Speaking against the backdrop of a giant Texas flag, Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry painted an American future bright with jobs, affordable health care and a revamped foreign policy for a throng of fervent, sign-waving supporters at a rally here Saturday.

"If you liked Bill Clinton's eight years, you're going to love John Kerry's first four years," the pumped-up Massachusetts senator told more than 3,000 people packed into the Maury Maverick Plaza at La Villita.

Kerry, the presumptive Democratic challenger to President Bush in November, peppered his half-hour speech with fist-pumping and the occasional Spanish phrase as he railed against Bush's tax cuts, health care policy, foreign policy and what Kerry called a wavering commitment to education.

"Let's make the American people the special interest that's worth fighting for in this country," Kerry said, his voice hoarse.

(snip)

The event, with breezes and a sunny sky, was drenched in a festive atmosphere typical of San Antonio.

Piñatas and bright pink, orange, yellow and purple balloons bobbed above the crowd as the strains of mariachi music filled the plaza.

(snip)

[pmbryant]

24. Here's another picture

http://www.kvue.com/news/state/stories/030704kvuekerry-jw.602c67bb.html

From an Austin news site.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

25. I find this very reassuring

I know he wasn't your favorite. I'm hoping that what your post means is not just that you felt he was a good event handler, but that you felt he addressed enough of your concerns that you now feel better about supporting him.

Thanks, Peter.

[pmbryant]

26. He definitely addressed my concerns

But my choice of candidate has never been about my concerns, since I always felt that all of them would do a very good job on that score.

I feel better about supporting him now because I have seen that he can be inspiring. (I've actually seen that indirectly over the course of the last few weeks, but seeing it in person really drives the point home.)

:bounce:

--Peter

[pmbryant]

27. Here's a few of my own pictures. Were any other DUers there Saturday?

Out of several thousand people, certainly I couldn't have been the only DUer who was at the event Saturday.

:shrug:

Anyway, here's a few pictures I took at the rally Saturday, to go along with the handful of published pictures.

The crowd a while before Kerry arrived

The crowd a bit later.

The VIPs assemble on stage

Kerry speaking

Kerry speaking some more

The crowd watches Kerry shake hands afterwards

--Peter