Back from Kerry Town Hall in Atlanta...

[onehandle]

Meant to get there an hour early. Got there 30 minutes early. Mistake. But a happy one. The crowd was HUGE! The line stretched all the way around the block for hundreds and hundreds of feet.

Apparently THOUSANDS had asked for entry in the last three days. I barely got to the front of the lobby of the theater, and could only see glimpses of Kerry's head. The crowd was Very upbeat and generally excited. I heard Rep. John Lewis and former Mayor Maynard Jackson's wife give great speeches (especially Mrs. Jackson). Senator Kerry was introduced by my Senator Max Cleland. The response to Kerry was wildly loud.

After Kerry gave a great stump speech, he took open questions from the floor. Totally random and Not preselected. I'd like you to imagine Bush fending this barrage.

They were on:
- Equality in benefits for all sexual orientations
- Meds for Veterans
- A GOP plant asking what Kerry had against Free Trade (the GOP insanity that outsourcing is good for America)
- An Eighth grade kid asking about the balance of resources here and abroad
(Kerry was impressed and said he was, "Eighth grade going on PHD")
- An older lady who described herself as a "recovering Republican" asking about his take on the Patriot act. She said that she was worried about being prosecuted for protesting the war
- Portability of Health Insurance
- Handling Iranian hardliners and possible nukes
- Concurrent receipt for military retirees
- Easing college tuition costs
- One gentleman complemented him on not being reactive and staying on point
- An 18 year old wanting a forecast of the economy in four years
- GOP plant number two on English as the primary language
- The effect of the current administration on State Taxes
- An Eagle Scout asked him if he would be trustworthy and a leader that we can look up to (ooh, that's gotta hurt, eh Karl)
- Prosecution vs. Rehabilitation
- How do we get out of Iraq

He handled that all with ease. Anyone who thinks he is "stiff" needs to listen to him off the cuff. He was Very powerful and charismatic. Presidential as Hell!

His best line was, "If you liked (the economy) under Eight years of Bill Clinton, then you're going to Love the first four years of the Kerry Administration".

Kerry promised the greatest grassroots movement this country has ever seen for a general election.

Again I cannot stress exactly how excited the crowd was.

Up the street near traffic were a half a dozen Edwards supporters with a banner. That's fine with me. We're still in the primaries, but judging by the crowds and enthusiasm today, Kerry is the guy.

Oh, and across from the theater in a park were four Republicans with one small hand made Bush/Cheney sign. Not impressed.

I almost forgot. I was interviewed by a reporter from the Boston Globe. (The media always talks to me for some reason. My wife says it's because I look "professional") I'll have to look to see if they quote me.

[bigtree]

1. Thanks for this report!

I am really getting excited!

[donco6]

2. Great news!

Finally something about a real candidate - after a day full of Nader threads.

[Frances]

5. Agree

I want to enjoy the good news about Dem candidates

[Old and In the Way]

3. Thanks for posting.

He's going to be a great Democratic President.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

30. coup de pied

:kick:

[oasis]

4. Send them a president.

[JI7]

6. thanks, i love these

i love these reports. being able to see and hear john lewis, max cleland, and john kerry ? you are lucky.

[OKNancy]

7. Thanks, I'm trying to get excited

and reports like this give me hope. Especially the grassroots part. It was so fun and exciting working on the Clark campaign...If Kerry could reach 10% of that positive energy, we'll be okay.

[sandnsea]

15. Just bring 10%

If that's all you can muster up, just bring it. We'll provide the other 90. :-)

[fearnobush]

21. Kerry's grass roots is alive and well.

were bringin' huge crowds at the Kerry round ups, in Jersey.

[Adelante]

28. Where in Jersey, please? nt

Oh, you mean Meetups. Never mind. :)

[Clark4Prez]

20. I am very excited about Kerry now

Nancy,

Like you Clark motivated and excited me like no one else. Kerry has definitely won me over with how he is running the campaign.

He already has the White House dancing to his tune, see Late Breaking News for the WH response to the Kerry letter of yesterday about Chambliss questioning his patriotism. If Al Gore had run his campaign this aggressively, he would be running for his second term.

[Maddy McCall]

8. *GASP* You mean SOUTHERNERS are supporting Kerry??

;-)


Great report, onehandle!

[Nashyra]

12. Thanks for a positive report about a Democrat

at Democratic underground, especially since last I checked he was the front runner. Sounds like a fantastic afternoon. It was a welcome relief.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. Thank you

THIS is exactly the kind of thing I like to hear-first hand accounts of events. When someone asks about Kerry in Atlanta, I can quote you as someone who was really there-much more believeable than a newspaper report, imho, when telling others about it.

[sandnsea]

10. Great Report!!!

Awesome, outstanding, woohooooo!!!!

Kerry is the guy and it just doesn't get any better than when he takes those questions from the crowds and just hammers every single one of them, time and again.

It's A Beautiful Day!!!

[eileen_d]

11. That's quite a set of questions

Glad Kerry could take the heat. Also thanks for the least scary thread I've seen here all day ;)

[onehandle]

14. I took notes on my Blackberry...

Just about wore out my tiny little keyboard. ;-)

[BeatleBoot]

13. Max Cleland is my hero!

John Kerry is my hero, too!

It's a Beautiful Day with JFK!!!!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. It'll probably be all over

by the time Montana votes, but we are trying to get Kerry out here anyway... I'll be even more jealous of you if we don't...

[maddezmom]

17. thanks for the report

thinks looking good for John Kerry in Georgia. :)

[Toby109]

18. I got there a little earlier

and was one one of the last to get inside. It was great to be in a roomful of cheering Democrats! Kerry was very much on his game and I thought he handled the transgender voter's question quite well as that was the first one of the day.

There was also a strong anti-Bush sentiment in the crowd. Many standing ovations. Lots of enthusiasm.

Great report onehandle. Spot on!

:kick:

[King of New Orleans]

19. Thanks

I like to hear all the positive reports about all our candidates' rallies. The more, the better.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

22. Kerry is actually very good with impromptu anwers

Curious of the gist of his response to the Republican.

[onehandle]

23. The gist.

The first GOPer was easy. He just explained what's good and bad about the policies. Shipping our jobs overseas is good for corporations, bad for workers. I don't remember the details exactly, but he slammed Bush and the GOP in general pretty well.

To the English as the primary language GOPer, he said, "English is already our primary language". (big applause) He went on to say that he thought all Americans should learn a second language.

(this is from memory)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

24. Thanks. Your report rocked!

YOu really captured the excitment.
Hope to see you in the Globe!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. Great answer

All Americans should learn a second language. That is an education reform that would actually result in more education.

It's embarassing how few Americans speak a second language compared to the rest of the world.

And it's about time more people get over the idea that everyone understands English..... if ....... you ......... just ........ speak ...... it ...... slow ...... ly ..... e...nough.

[CalProf]

25. Thanks for the report. n/t

[Adelante]

27. Excellent news!

So glad to hear John Kerry is out there and doing so well. :thumbsup:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

29. "Eighth grade going on PHD"

that must have gotten a good laugh. :)

[curse10]

31. Thank you for the report!

I'm happy to see people are finally getting as excited as I was all along! Go Kerry! :-)

[onehandle]

32. Update: Attendance Numbers

This is in Georgia, folks. Think about it. Kerry will be filling High School football stadiums the way Clinton did soon.

"Kerry got a warm response at a town hall-style meeting that filled the 1,500 capacity Roxy Theater in Buckhead on Sunday afternoon." - AJC

And it's true that 200 were outside on the sidewalk (they had speakers outside the theater), but hundreds more did not stay due to the crowds.

My guess would be 2200 to 2500 showed up.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/election/0204nation/23campaign.html

[flpoljunkie]

33. Thanks for your detailed report. Kerry is indeed charismatic and exudes

leadership. He is going to be one hell of a President of the United States.

My favorite quote from your linked article: When voter Doris Bennett introduced herself as "a recovering Republican," Kerry shot back: "I've got a single-step program for you. Vote Kerry."
 

[RichV]

34. I was there too

Sitting on stage. Was a great and very fun event.

I was sitting behind the older guy who kept chanting "In two thousand fo', Bush got to go!" from time to time. Was funny. Event was impressive other than the failed RSVP system. Apparently they were so flooded with requests they just couldn't handle it logistically anymore. Wow.