Posted on 11/04/2004 1:52:00 PM PST by traumer
Late afternoon on US presidential election day and the mood at Copley Square in the heart of Boston was electric, buzzing with anticipation.
On a specially-constructed stage, Sheryl Crow was strumming a guitar, rehearsing one of her best known numbers.
Sound systems were being tested for an expected John Kerry victory speech in the presidential candidate's home town.
Chairs were being putting out in readiness, while beyond the security fence, good humoured supporters jostled for a better view, many waving placards, many sporting Kerry badges.
New England's glorious autumn weather - blue skies and a golden glow - had given way to low cloud and the threat of drizzle. But that did not dampen the exuberance of the waiting hopeful.
Infectious optimism
Along the rows of waiting TV journalists, campaign advisers stalked, beaming broadly, as though holding a wonderful secret.
"Is there going to be a clear result tonight?" I asked one of them.
I know Kerry was trying to be tolerant, but in my heart I feel George W Bush's values are closer to mine
Hotel cleaner "Yep," he answered.
"And will it be Kerry?"
"Yep," he said. "Last time was a fluke. This time all the indications we're getting are making us smile."
The optimism was infectious, reinforced time and again into the evening.
"We're very encouraged," said John Kerry's sister, smiling serenely.
"Don't look so sceptical," said Robert Reich, a former labour secretary in the Clinton administration.
"The high (voter) turn out is helping us," he added, fighting to be heard as the band The Black Eyed Peas belted out yet another hit song on the stage behind him.
"We've won Pennsylvania. Ohio and the Midwest are looking good."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Famous last words. Right up there with, "Hey...watch this!"
It couldn't be a better possible outcome.
They reached the heights of joy and expectation based on false information, only to find themselves crushed when reality hit.
Ah, the joy. It has not subsided yet.
I can't get enough of these stories recounting the roller coaster emotions of election day. Rush read one today, but I don't remember who wrote it. I'll check his website a little later.
Ah the smell of toast on November morning.
Here we have a democrat senator who rose to the top of his party by being deemed to be of presidential caliber. Now he is being returned to the Senate. Given that the minority leader, Tommy D is now out, who better to fill his shoes than the "near-president" Kerry? Gee, I wonder what his chances are of getting this nominal position are. Or will his peers determine that he's really not that good?
If I HAD to give Kerry any advice, it would be
"GET REAL"!
Then what in the world was this guy doing voting for him?
"Famous last words. Right up there with, "Hey...watch this!"
I always heard that old line as "Hold my beer. Watch this."
I heard that little Tommy used to use the same behind-the-podium pedestal as Reich. Now they'll have to put that historic pedestal away in the closet because both of them are gone.
Good article. This part quite important:
________
But perhaps even more telling was the conversation with a young black woman I met, a cleaner in my hotel.
She too had voted for Kerry - no surprise when nearly 90% of African-Americans across the nation backed him.
Yet even she was not wholehearted in her support for him.
"In some ways I think Bush was closer to me," she said. " On gay marriage and abortion, I know Kerry was trying to be tolerant, but in my heart I feel George W Bush's values are closer to mine."
This, from a young black woman in the liberal state of Massachusetts.
He was in favor of abortion. That's all it generally takes to get a lefty to pull the lever for you.
But perhaps even more telling was the conversation with a young black woman I met, a cleaner in my hotel.
She too had voted for Kerry - no surprise when nearly 90% of African-Americans across the nation backed him.
Yet even she was not wholehearted in her support for him.
"In some ways I think Bush was closer to me," she said. " On gay marriage and abortion, I know Kerry was trying to be tolerant, but in my heart I feel George W Bush's values are closer to mine."
This, from a young black woman in the liberal state of Massachusetts.
And they call us stupid, ignorant morons. LOL
But I haven't noted anyone's commenting that this is a deserved fate, because it was the 'rats who phonied up the exit polls in the first place!
When their little trick didn't work, they got what they deserved.
The more crushed the spirits of their supporters, the happier this makes me. They brought it on themselves.
For short terms, I recommend investing in Kleenex and Prozac stocks. Long terms, I recommend ropes :)
We do know what Kerry stands for: marrying rich women.
Do you think any of the mainstream news anchors would have said anything about disappointment if Bush had one? Of course not! They would have been grinning too much. Unbiased media my backside.
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