Posted on 11/04/2004 9:14:19 AM PST by NYC GOP Chick
In large swaths of the city, President Bush's victory cast a pall of deep disappointment - even minor depression - upon New Yorkers.
"I guess being in New York, I was in a bubble," said Danyelle Minor, 25, a temp worker near former President Bill Clinton's office in Harlem. "I really thought [Bush] would lose, but I turned on the TV and saw all that red."
Democrats outnumber Republicans 5 to 1 in the city, and opinions in the Bush-Kerry battle pretty much split along those lines in New York.
"This is unbelievable," said a crestfallen Spirit Wedmore, 29, outside Borough Hall in Brooklyn. "[Sen. John] Kerry's an obvious choice if you actually have a heart and a brain."
Things started out promising for Kerry backers, as early exit polls suggested a Kerry win. But by Tuesday night, it was clear that must-win swing states Florida and Ohio were going to Bush.
"I thought the new voters would help Kerry," lamented John Uss, 67, a retired teacher on the upper West Side.
Not everyone was down about Bush's win. "To me, the No. 1 priority is security for the country - Kerry isn't the man for that job," said Jim Stevola, 55, a Wall Street broker from the Eltingville section of Staten Island.
Miriam Florezan, 35, an insurance broker from the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, is a Democrat but voted for Bush. "I don't think it's a good idea to change Presidents while we're at war," she said.
The story couldn't be more different for the thousands of New Yorkers who volunteered in swing states to get out the vote for Kerry.
There were memorable successes and genuine connections made with strangers. Yet it was still hard to accept just how politically different the rest of the country is from New York.
Jeff Simmons, press secretary for City Controller Bill Thompson, took off a week and a half to volunteer his PR skills for Kerry in Pittsburgh.
"I'm disappointed but also impressed with the dedication I saw," said Simmons, who described how Pennsylvanians stopped by campaign headquarters at all hours of the night bringing trays of hot food and cold drinks.
Ellen Meyers, a senior veep at the Teachers Network who lives in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, flew to Florida on her own dime to knock on voters' doors and to help the elderly get to the polls.
Although she was devastated while she watched the returns on her JetBlue TV as she flew back to New York Tuesday night, Meyers said she does not regret her sacrifice.
On Sunday, Meyers came across a frail, 79-year-old woman in south Miami who had never voted in her life - but wanted to this time.
"We got her to the poll and had to bring the machine out to the car," Meyers said. "It was very powerful. There were wonderful moments."
Kudos and congrats! It must have been a hell of a day in old manhattantown yesterday! I hope you enjoyed it!
I love schadenfreude!
I simply cannot fathom how a sane person can truly believe this... It is the most alien of sentiments to me.
She left out the word "don't" - in front of "have a have a heart and a brain."
Dan Rather knows what it is.
I know that freepers everywhere took pleasure in watching Clooney's father lose. :)
LOL! Good idea!
Hell, YEAH!
Excellent!
Your solution is PERFECT!
ROFLMAO!
Unfortunately, I've been sick this week and haven't gotten out of my neighborhood since then -- and I live in the Financial District, so the weeping is minimal down here.
Oh yeah, one of the ones I had my eye on! :-)
Oh well hope you feel better, and just enjoy the antics on local and network tv!
Unfortunately, this year, we couldn't fit the voting booth in the ecologically friendly car to be stuffed...
The 1960's, looongest decade in history for some.
"...obvious choice if you actually have a heart and a brain."
I've heard liberals frequently say that conservatives are either stupid or have no heart. I've heard colleagues say it too. I can't imagine saying that about a co-worker's political position - even if I thought it. What kind of upbringing do these people have.
Courage? Never mind the man behind the curtain.....
That is an excellent question.
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