I shook Bill Clinton's hand today

[dofus]

in Indianola, Iowa! He looks much better in person than he does on the TV (I'm finally back home in Kansas watching a replay on C-Span). He's lost quite a bit of weight, and looks almost fragile.

The Kansas City Dean Meetup group chartered two busses, total of 100 people up from Kansas City. There were altogether 7-8,000 people at the event. Because there were so many Dean supporters, we had our own rally with him before the speeches you're seeing on TV. About 800-1000 people were there. It took place at a large picnic shelter at a softball park about a quarter mile from the field the Steak Fry is taking place. And the crowd shots don't do justice to the number of people there.

Everyone was enthusiastic and warm to all the candidates. But when Bill started speaking, the tents where people were eating (I'd just started) cleared out. After his speech, he worked the rope line, which was when I got to shake his hand. When I called my husband several minutes after, he told me he spotted me, right before C-Span cut to an interview with (I think) a Kucinich reporter. So look for a middle aged lady with gray/blonde hair wearing a blue lettering on white Dean t-shirt under an oatmeal colored jacket with two Dean buttons!

Was anyone else from DU there?

[Pallas180]

1. Congrats. I noticed his thinness...what do you mean fragile? that's worri-

some. Is he sick? How lucky you are. You should have
gotten his autograph on your jacket or hat..

Big Dawg is one terriffic American.

[Madrone]

20. He's sick with the same thing the rest of us are...

...probably. The Bush Flu. Or Bush Cancer. Or Bush-er-oids.

[newyawker99]

28. Congrats PROUD DemocRAT!! 600 posts

:toast:

[leftist_rebel1569]

2. Don't EVER wash your hand again!

:P

[southern democrat]

4. Thats just great,wish I could have been there

but I did get to shake Wesley Clark's twice today.

[maxomai_vs_rove]

5. Dude

Do you know where that hand's been?

I'd bleach the mother with a vengence.

[glarius]

8. You are really rather PATHETIC!!!

:puke:

[Cha]

3. Oh dofus! I'm so happy for you! It sounds like you had the most

fantastic of days!

Imagine all that Dean generated energy and shaking Bill Clinton's hand, too!

[madaboutharry]

6. Lucky you.

I noticed the weight loss too. He did look rather thin. I hope it is on purpose.

[Unknown Known]

7. I know how you feel

I got to shake Clinton's hand too at a Dem fundraiser. The man actually exudes an aura!! And it infects the crowd as well.

I've seen other famous politicians in person, but Clinton stands way above any of them.

If you ever get the chance to see him in person - do it!!

[dofus]

9. I've never before seen the man in person

and he was much heftier when he was President. It's almost as if his bones are smaller, but he didn't look ill, just tired. I don't think the man has gotten enough sleep in years.

And a correction as to when you can see me (not that anyone who doesn't already know who I look like will know): I'm seen about twenty minutes after his speech ends, after cutaways for several interviews and a cutaway to Harkin meeting and greeting people. I'd gotten quite close to the fence, and then tapped the back of the man in front of me and said, "I'm smaller than you, please let me in front," and he did!

And yes, the man exudes charisma.

I also got over to Dean a bit later and shook his hand and spoke with him. At that point PBS people were filming for possible showing on Monday on the Jim Lehrer show.

It was chilly and rainy and the field was very muddy by the end of the day, but the energy was great.

[Habibi]

12. And so?

How would you compare the Clinton handshake to the Dean handshake?
:D

[glarius]

10. Every time I think of this brilliant man compared to the moron now in the

White House I want to cry....Clinton is not only intellectually superior but he has a great heart. I always feel that his empathy for the downtrodden of the world is for real, whereas Bush says what he thinks will make him SOUND like a caring person...Oh...if only you still had Clinton as president, what a difference it would make to those of us in the rest of the world....None of this shit would be happening....Iraq attack etc....I really want to cry when I think of it!!

[hel]

14. Check this out

http://tourarium.com/info/clintons/visit04.htm

This is from Clinton's visit to Turkey in 1999, after a major earthquake hit and mostly destroyed Western Anatolia. It was a terrible time for us Turks, and Clintons came and showed that they really cared. The second picture at the webpage, it was on TVs for weeks, it made me cry when I first saw it on TV (I had friends who died there and was in a very bad mood), he was so warm and friendly to everyone.

I respect Bill Clinton more than any other politician just because of that. He still had -and has- a heart even if he had the ultimate power anyone can have in this world.

[Cheswick2.0]

15. great pic of our last elected President

thanks for sharing that with us.

[kskiska]

11. Bill and Hillary

have both been on the South Beach Diet. Looks as though he was really dedicated. I've read where when he was young he figured he could squeeze much more out of life by staying awake longer.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. I just wish I had read your post before I caught the repeat of this

tonight on C-Span. I am sure that they will show this again and I will look for you!:D

I envy you being there in person. I loved the speeches by all the candidates. They were all great, but Bill Clinton was brilliant, as usual. The candidates and Tom Harkin were in good form, but Bill Clinton is always just inspired. Thanks for sharing this experience!:-)

[catmandu57]

16. Out of the loop again

I didn't even know this was happening until I caught it last night while flipping channels. Three or four hours, hell even my old car would have made that, I've got to start paying more attention.
Still, I'm happy you got to go Dofus and meet the man, I know what you look like so I'll look for you in the repeat.

I noticed that President Clinton looked thinner also, but otherthan that tanned and full of energy, ready to go in 04. I think he misses the thrill of battle and is ready to kick some piggie ass. There's a gleem in his eye that wasn't there when he was being worn down with all the frivolous stuff of his last days in office.

[Lindsey]

17. I absolutely adore him

and I literally cry, at times, when I think of how things used to be and how they are now. He has such a sincere caring for the downtrodden and he, without question, was probably on of the most intelligent presidents we've ever had. His charisma will be legendary. I feel his major failing was having no idea (and really, how could he?) that he was the victim of the most ruthless character assassination in the history of this country. Good for you - you shook a GREAT man's hand!!!

[fortyfeetunder]

18. I see him Tuesday night!!!

the Big Dog will be giving a lecture at McCaw Hall, Seattle in a benefit for Foolproof. Can't wait to see him. I might want to cry too as bad as things have gotten lately...

[Rhiannon12866]

19. I envy you! As good as his speeches are when they're televised,

I'd give a lot to see him in person. I understand your sentiments, but don't throw yourself, tearfully, on him, as Secret Service might intervene. I noticed how close they remained to him at the Harkin Steak Fry and the people he was confronting there were all adoring fans! Report back how it was; I am sure everyone on DU would love to hear all about it!:-)

[WindRavenX]

21. Bill Clinton can be summed up like this:

I remember after 9/11 an image of Clinton that can sum up what kind of a man Clinton was.
Clinton was walking down a street by Ground Zero, and there were women that were weeping openly in the streets. Clinton, breaking the flanks of his security, went over to one such woman who looked beyond devestated, look her into his arms, and let her cry against his chest. His look was the look of utmost sincerity; a look that is seldom found in politicians. This image is still with me.
A few days later, Bush came to town. Women still wept in the streets. Security surrounded Bush like some kinda shield that tried to block out the human misery of these "common" NYers. Bush walked past these people without thinking twice.
Clinton had heart. To hear him speak in person is an amazing experience.
For all his faults, I still love the man. He was an amazing president...

[KT2000]

22. Remember that too

and think of it often.
I cry at two things these days - horse races and hearing Clinton speak. They both come from the heart - so rare.

[Rhiannon12866]

23. Thank you for this lovely memory

I feel the same way about the man. What was he called? The empath-in-chief? He certainly had empathy for everyone that crossed his path. Having been poor, unlike Bush*, he can understand those who are in need. He said such things at the Harkin Steak Fry, about the absurdity of his substantial tax cut, things that would never dawn on Bush*. I like most of the candidates, but would vote for Bill Clinton again tomorrow...:-)

[dofus]

24. Not only were we all adoring

fans of Bill, but we were commenting as we were waiting for him to get to us that W never does anything like this. In fact, that's another series of ads to run during this coming campaign: contrast Bill Clinton meeting and greeting to the way W sneaks in and out of closed venues, while dozens, hundreds, even thousands of protesters are cordoned off, sometimes a quarter mile or more away so he can pretend he's loved by everyone.

Dean himself also held court on another side of the field, and after I waited twenty minutes or more for Clinton, I was able to get over the where Dean was, shake his hand and speak with him. Another man who's not afraid of meeting people.

In contrast, Kerry left almost immediately after the candidates spoke and before Clinton got there. Presumably he had a prior engagement. I don't know if Kucinich, Edwards, or Graham greeted their supporters. I hope they did.

[Rhiannon12866]

25. That must have been a thrilling experience

Have you washed your hand yet! LOL! I wish I could have been there!:D

One question only you can answer for me. Was Gephardt there? I have a friend who is working for Gephardt in New Hampshire and I asked her why he was MIA. She told me that he had another engagement, so spoke first. I know I didn't see him at all, but maybe I tuned in late. The first speaker I saw was Carol Moseley Braun. Was Gephardt there?:shrug:

[Rhiannon12866]

26. I did see Graham, Kerry, Gephardt, Edwards and Dean greeting

supporters. I assume that they all did, just not necessarily on camera. Dennis Kucinich had a lot of supporters there.:-)

Thanks so much for the information! I came back to read this over. Now that I have the link, I must see if I can find you. I will post it in case anybody else wants to see this great rally!:hi:

Harkin Steak Fry:
http://www.c-span.org/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=Harkin+Steak+Fry&image1.x=27&image1.y=7

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Kick!

:kick:

[Swede]

29. When Clinton said he felt your pain

he meant it. It's called empathy. Rightwingnuts look down their noses and sneer at this for one reason:they have no empathy.

[Rhiannon12866]

31. Bill Clinton wasn't called the empath-in-chief for nothing.

He really did. Bush* is truly the opposite. I cannot imagine the reason the American public hadn't found him out long ago.:shrug:

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

30. LUCKY

I want to meet Big Dog! :(

[VOX]

32. Cool! His motorcade drove past me once, and I could see him...

In his limo. I was sitting in my car westbound, and all of a sudden a platoon of motorcycle cops began to shut down the signals and direct traffic by hand. The motorcade came from the opposite direction, heading for the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City.

Good for you dofus. And good for you participating in the Dean Meetups!

:toast: