Kerry in Bloomer on Friday

[ewagner]

Got an e-mail this morning and just got a robo-call with Feingold's voice on it promoting the visit.

Detail are at:

<http://www.johnkerry.com/wisconsin>

May try to round up some troops and head over there........

[On the Road]

1. As Long as It's Not "Kerry in Bloomers"

That would not be a successful photo op.

[sybylla]

2. Got a call on it today

We're thinking about going. You?

[ewagner]

3. Thinking about it

My son will be home by then so it might be a good Dad/Lad trip.

[RetroLounge]

4. I'm thinking of going; printed off my tickets

I will be in Chetek or the weekend, just up the road. If I can convince my wife to go, we'll be there. Maybe bring my mom and dad too (They are undecided bush voters...)

RL

[sybylla]

5. Chetek is too close not to go

For me it's about two hours one way if I don't get lost. Perhaps you can convince her by telling her she wouldn't want to get shown up by some central wisconsin hick because I'm gonna be there.

[RetroLounge]

7. Or I could just tell her there will be a whole busload

of cute Liberal women and she had probably better not let me go alone!

:):):):):):):):):):)

RL

[sybylla]

9. LOL

I bet that will work, too.

[LeinesRed]

12. this central Wisconsin hick is making plans too!

gates open at 6? Any point in arriving earlier? Anyone know? THANKS!!!!!

[sherrem]

6. Going...

Printed out my tickets...thanks for the heads up

[sybylla]

8. Welcome, Sherrem

We are honored that your first post is to the Wisconsin forum.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi sherrem!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[sherrem]

13. :)

Thanks for the kind welcome :)

I'm pretty excited about tomorrow. I've been trying to get active with the campaign in our area, but its virtually non-existent. I hope to get something started soon if no one else does.

[RetroLounge]

10. Do we know what kind of crowd they are expecting?

large? hundreds? 1000's?

RL

[sherrem]

14. Nope

I scoured the news, and no word on what kind of crowd is expected. They did ask for the SWAT team and extra police--which Chippewa County is apprently complaining about...

We are planning to show up early though just in case.

:)

[Seldona]

15. Heading up tonight.

Any plans for a meet up afterwards or anything?

I know nothing about Bloomer, but we will most likely stop for something to eat afterwards.

Let me know if anyone is getting together, would love to meet some local DU'ers!

Cya tonight!

[goddess40]

16. Not even front page news in Wausau

Our next president comes to the state and they bury the story. It made it in to the front section, big deal.

[Seldona]

17. Made news here in the Eau Claire area.

In fact my 5 year old will most likely be in the paper.

Anyway it was a great rally.

My personal opinion is that Kerry is a great orator.

He talked alot about very progressive ideas, which I should mention does point out the fact that almost none of that ever makes it onto the news channels.

But I digress.

Got to admit, half the reason I went was because of Feingold.

But I have to say overall Kerry was very impressive, and didn't mince words about the war, national health care, and taxes.

I can tell you this much, I won't miss a chance to hear him speak again.

[sybylla]

18. Agreed, Kerry did very well

This is the first time I've heard him speak and not carefully mince words about issues.

And he is much better in person than on the tube - much more charismatic.

We were interviewed by WOJB, the public radio station from La Court Oreilles. There was press up the wazoo, but I didn't see any cameras labeled CSPAN. I hope they covered it too. We made it on B-roll but I don't know whose B-roll and whether or not it will get used. I have family in Eau Claire and friends in the LaCrosse area so I'm sure I'll hear if they did.

My local paper had a back page report from Kerry's Cloquet stop but they put the paper to bed about 4pm on Friday so I'm not surprised there wasn't a bigger story. We'll see what they say tomorrow.

A variety of speakers claimed we broke records but I'm not sure if they were referring to attendance to a political rally in Wisconsin or what. There were a lot of Kerry fans there though. Heard there were crowd estimates of 5000.

I thought that Congressmen, Obey and Kind as well as Sen. Feingold and Gov. Doyle all spoke in a much less formal way than I've ever heard them in the past. They seemed as excited about the rally as the attendees did. It was really nice to see. For me, one of the highlights was getting to hear Dave Obey play the harmonica with the Bushwackers for and great rendition of This Land Is My Land. Awesome!

It was definitely a great rally. We brought with us a veteran Dem who attended several rallies for Clinton/Gore and others. She said this was the biggest she'd seen and was impressed that Kerry stuck around for about two hours afterwards shaking hands and signing autographs.

[RetroLounge]

19. It was a great rally! We had a great time!

My wife and I made it there at 6 and waited patiently in line to get in. We had to stand in the back for a while, but then they opened the section where the band was playing and we got seats on the hay bales about 20 feet from the stage.

All the speaker were great, in particular, Feingold. Then Kerry came out and was amazing. No punches pulled. Very funny, very hopeful, very progressive, very moving. We were both very impressed.

I got a kick out of the big sign on the hill with the four-letter word on it, and the way the speakers used it in their talks.

Sunday, during the parade at Chetek, there was much more cheering and clapping when the Kerry car came by in the parade than I would have expected. Saw lots of Kerry bumper stickers too around town.

All-in-all, a great weekend, and then he picks Edwards! Woo hoo!

bush* is toast!

RL

[RetroLounge]

20. Here's an article from the local paper

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12248677&BRD=1134&PAG=461&dept_id=150853&rfi=6

RL

[sybylla]

21. Nice article

I'm also glad to hear you made it to the rally.