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."
| Barbara Anne Rollins weeps in Times Square as she watches Bush speech. |
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| Orli Hacker (l.) and Michael Weiner hug in Rockefeller Plaza as they watch President Bush's victory speech. |
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| Eric Barrett seems not at all buoyed by the prospect of four more years of George Bush occupying the White House. |
Per "Spirit", "Kerry's an obvious choice if you actually have a heart and a brain."
She left one thing out. Anyone else catch it?
Hate America filth, all!
I just can't take seriously anyone named "Spirit." :-) Ditto anyone named Rainbow, Peace, Moonbeam, Dweezil, River, or George Clooney. :-)
Please send a mass mailing to the Hollywood crowd!
Lighten up, Francis!!
Man! These people are really living in an alternate universe. I'm going to NYC this weekend as marathon team support - it will be great to revel in our victory in a libs crib.
I have lived in Manhattan all my life and I have never seen so many depressed people in my life.They are really shaken. It makes my heart sing.
You have the addresses? *\;-)
enjoying being a minority in the big apple today?
BooHoo ~ Bump!
I gotta in on business next week, I hope I don't gloat too much!
It amazes me so many voted for him, it hardly seems possible. He was the worst candidate and person to run for Prez that I can remember. I wish we could still get the truth out about him. He is a disgrace to the Senate.
and it is precisely this arrogance which did so much to cause the average joe to distance himself from the DNC
The taste of their torment and sorrow is sweet and refreshing.
Thanks for the ping. We live just outside of Dothan, Alabama and my mother lives with us in a mother-in-law's suite we had build for her. Although born in New York, my mom has lived in Alabama for 40 years. She was interviewed by our local paper for her reaction to the election (she's of course, elated) and they asked her where she was from. She said New York City! Her interview made the paper and I'm still laughing.
Another Schadenfreude Alert! :-)
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