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 ...
I just spoke to my son who told me his wife is despondent. She's a wonderful young woman and we love her dearly but she is Liberal to the core. I asked him why she's so upset and he said it was because of women's reproductive rights. I told him that the President doesn't just go out there and declare abortion illegal.
My husband told this brilliant Harvard grad that within 10 years(or less) she would put her vote in the R column. I'm not quite that confident.
My daughter says that once she gets pregnant and sees that first ultra-sound her feelings per abortion will change.
It was the first note of veiled anxiety.
By the time one US TV network called Florida for President George W Bush, there was open consternation and confusion.
Suddenly there was not a Democratic spokesman to be found. The drizzle turned into a downpour. On stage, a mournful ballad by James Taylor seemed to match the change in ambience.
Schadenfreude
Exactly what they put us through during the last election. We had weeks of stress - all because Al Gore demanded his right to cheat his way to the presidency.
One man who voted for Kerry said he could appreciate why other Americans did not feel confident Kerry could have provided sure leadership in these insecure times when the US is "at war with terrorism", as they put it.
"We never really knew what Kerry stood for," he said. "And maybe Bush is right that we shouldn't criticise the path of war in Iraq or Afghanistan, in case the enemy just thinks we are weak."
Come home to the Republican Party, friend.
Effin' had James Taylor and Carole King sing at his 'victory' party.
Isn't this evidence enough that he's completely unfit?
nice pic of al gore after the election.
Trivia: "chairs were being putting out......"
This from one of those, oh so proper, British rags-I almost thought they were talking about a bunch of 'rat whores they had hired for the evening.
I was reading one chronological thread on DU. I followd it into early Wednesday morning. All the chortling early on by the DU idiots followed by despair and gloom at the end really got me excited.
Once again, Kerry showed his poor character. He should have shown up to hand out coffee and pizza/donuts to the loyal troops who stood there so long in the rain. But he didn't. He sent a flunky, Edwards. And I doubt Edwards ordered out for coffee and pizza. Kerry didn't have to say a word about winning or losing. Just show up, thank everyone, help hand out some food, and go back to the trenches. But of course, he didn't. Although these people were working for him, they were, after all, only 'little people', nobody important, so they didn't really count. And by the way, 'Sit down and shut up'.
I'm pretty sure it was Ryan Lizza's piece. He writes for the New Republic.
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