Posted on 11/04/2004 7:56:15 PM PST by CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC
A perfectly clear blue sky spread over Boulder Wednesday.
Yet a dark cloud trailed the city's traditionally liberal majority after they learned their presidential candidate had conceded to George W. Bush.
Advertisement Shock. Disgust. Fury. John Kerry supporters said they felt a tornado of emotions starting Tuesday night, as state after state turned Republican red.
If Boulder County residents had called the election, Kerry would've clobbered Bush with almost 70 percent, preliminary numbers show. But outside of the so-called "Boulder bubble," Bush received 51 percent of the national vote.
Local Bush supporters seemed to come out of hiding Wednesday for the first time in months, maybe years. They proudly wore "W" stickers and exchanged high-fives while watching Bush's acceptance speech on the television at the University of Colorado campus bookstore.
CU Republicans said they felt joy and relief. Juniors Katie Spencer and Keri Winter said they have tried to celebrate quietly to respect the largely liberal campus. When Spencer learned Kerry had conceded, she sent a text message to Winter, who was in class. Winter said she almost leaped out of her seat.
"I was in the middle of a lecture with 500 people around me, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh,'" she said. "I rushed out the door to tell my other friends outside of the class."
Junior Republican Mike Stover said the overall mood on campus was "totally somber."
"The entire campus is dead," he said.
Many students wore all black "in mourning." One woman passed out black armbands to wear in protest. Several students wore homemade anti-Bush shirts.
Kathryn Jones, 22, said she tried to organize protests but her friends felt too hopeless.
"I was raging this morning," Jones said. "They should do a recount — anything. I can't believe it. There should be a revolution."
Several students, including 18-year-old Taylor Levy, cried when Kerry spoke. Levy repeatedly shook her head and tucked her face in another student's arms. She wore profanities about the president on her jeans.
At the Boulder County Democratic headquarters, Kerry/Edwards campaign signs lay on the carpeted floor. Volunteer Kim Cohen walked in, looking for kindred spirits, a debrief, something.
"I believe our republic died last night and we are birthing a theocracy," she said. "I don't know how we, the people, can fight that."
In the back of the room, a handful of volunteers listened to a live audio feed on a laptop of John Edwards introducing Kerry to concede the election. Listening somberly, none wanted to talk about the feelings behind their long faces.
On Pearl Street, pockets of people gathered for lunch at restaurants and bars with TVs.
"I think my wife's ready to move to Switzerland," said Chris Gullette as he sat at the Lazy Dog Tavern watching Kerry speak.
"It's almost like shock," said Leonard Hortick, a real estate investor eating lunch at the next table.
Outside, the sun shone, but smiles were scarce. A young man played the blues on acoustic guitar. A baby watched him from a stroller and began to cry. [Whoa! So it's Bush's fault that the baby cried while hearing the sad blues song??]
(PS: I don't believe the People's Republic Of Boulder Daily Camera is on the "excerpts-only" list, is it?)
Any response to that comment about "There should be a revolution"???
Yea, we already had one. They lost.
Isn't demoralization wonderful?
someone needs to explain to this kids what beer and tequila shooters are for...
How many boulder residents voted there AND back at their hollywood mansions?
Like the floriduh snowbirds from NY & NJ - they've "always voted in both states"
Whose faces: Kerry's and his daughter's, or, the supporters?
They're all crying in their beer and they don't own weapons anyway.
Get a clue, missy. Your revolution, which happened in the 60's, is dead. Our revolution, which started in the 80's with Ronald Reagan, has just reached full steam. Get in line, get out of the way or get run over--your choice.
YOu know, I don't remember the media printing 1000s of angry letters to the editor in newspapers across the nation and 100s of pity-party articles when WE felt dispirited after Clinton was re-elected... Funny, isn't it? ;)
Boulder PING
"Any response to that comment about "There should be a revolution"???"
Yes. Screw 'em. We're the ones with the guns.
It must the a Lampoon piece.
These squawkers sat on their collective (pun intended) butts and didn't bother to vote, then gripe at the outcome
as ADULTS went to the polls and voted.
Learn a lesson, kids. Mommy and Daddy aren't around to wipe your noses any more.
Do "reporters" have these whiners on direct dial?
GET OVER YOURSELVES ALREADY! WE DON'T CARE!!!
Betcha a hundred bucks 18-year-old Taylor Levy is a dependent adult, still parasiting off her parents.
Pick nose,pick butt,pick Kerry......well 2 out of 3 isn't bad.
The Jefferson Airplane has been grounded. Grace Slick lookes a bit long in the tooth also.
Not only that, but remember all of the media telling us that the Republicans have some unhealthy hatred of Bubba? To let them tell it, Bubba suffered more than Jesus Christ.
I dunno about Boulder, but 45 mi. north here in Ft. Collins they turned out in droves at the "voting center" close to CSU that I poll-watched all day. And they were a big part of why the GOP did so poorly in Colorado in the local races.
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