Wellstone, Carvey, Franken, & Al Gore -- and I was there!

Hell Hath No Fury

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Mon Sep-29-08 03:29 PM
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Wellstone, Carvey, Franken, & Al Gore -- and I was there!

I had the incredible luck to be invited to a BBQ fundraiser for Al Franken this past Sunday. It took place up in Nacacio, a small, rural area up in Marin County. The location was amazing -- a private home called The Shadows, nestled in a redwood grove. The site was almost like a campground, reminiscent of a place you would take the family to where you would play horseshoes, go hiking, and have a BBQ. There were maybe 200 attendees in all -- from the conversations going on, it was clear these were very politically active and aware people -- I heard PNAC, Smedley Butler, and Prescott Bush all being discussed.

My friend Jim at the pavillion

Al Franken was the first to make an appearance. The BBQ lunch had just started when he arrived and immediately began meeting with people and individually thanking each person there. He caught me in the food line -- I shook his hand and told him to kick Norm Coleman's ass. He replied he would. :) He is a little guy who has incredibly soft hands -- in person, he looks exactly like he does on screen.

Jim and Al having a chat

He worked the crowd for a good hour before our host took to the stage of a small, rustic pavilion to introduce the first speaker, David Wellstone. It was great to see him carrying on his father's and mother's legacy -- I encourage anyone who has the chance to get involved with Camp Wellstone, a great organization educating and inspiring youth about progressive politics.

David Wellstone

At one point while David was speaking, you could hear and feel a stirring at the edge of the crowd -- Al Gore had just slipped in and was getting ready to speak next. I have to say he looked GREAT! Relaxed, healthy, handsome, at home with himself. After David was finished, Al was brought up and chose to speak from in front of the pavilion, standing right with the people there. Because my friend is in a wheelchair, we had incredible access, right in front. As a huge Gore fan I was in 7th heaven. :)

He spoke on many subjects, the environment of course, the shame of an American policy of torture, the economy, the use of 9/11 by Bush et al to establish a military presence in Iraq -- he was passionate, informed, humble, and, most impressive of all, funnier than shit! I had heard stories and read articles about how the private Gore is so different that the public Gore and I am here to tell you it is the truth. The guy had the audience roaring with laughter with his some of stories. At one point, my friend Jim turned to me and asked where was this guy during the 2000 election! I feel so Iucky to have seen the real Al -- I love the guy even more that I had. :loveya: I taped a few minutes of his speech (as well as Franken's and Carvey's) that I will try to get online ASAP so you can enjoy it.

Al Franken was up next -- he is an unabashed progressive and it was a pleasure to see someone taking the torch from Paul Wellstone. You can see he is dead serious about the values he wants to bring to DC, and it is clear he would make an excellent, much needed addition to Congress. His race with Coleman is crazy tight -- if you can spare a few, please send it his way. It was tremendous fun watching the two Als riff back and forth (Gore stayed up on stage for Franken's speech) and there was obvious, genuine affection between the two.

Dana Carvey was up last -- I swear the guy must have a portrait of himself hidden away in an attic somewhere -- the guy still looks 20! :wow: He did bits with many of his well-known characters, including Garth, GW Bush, and Arnold, and pointed out that Franken had loads of foreign policy experience, after all, Minnesota shares a border with Canada! :D

All in all it was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience that I will always remember. It is heartening and inspiring to know that there are people like Al Franken, Al Gore, and David Wellstone out there trying to make a diffence for us all.