Report from Carnegie-Mellon University campus, where Kerry speaks today

[fertilizeonarbusto]

I work at CMU, where John and Teresa will come to a rally tonight. My job takes me all over campus. I am pleased to report that people here are really revved up for this. 99% of the people I saw this morning are going to the rally tonight and everyone is very enthusiastic about it. I took extra tickets to give away to anyone who wanted to go but had not obtained one. They were all gone in less than an hour. I was also told that there was a SURPLUS of volunteers to help in directing the crowd and making sure everyone is safe and comfy. There's talk of 10,000 people showing up.
Funny story: here at CMU student organizations are allowed to write ads for activities on chalk all over campus sidewalks as long as they get a permit from physical plant. It's very picturesque. Well, College Democrats naturally did this with the rally tonight. As I was on my rounds this morning, I saw a Young Rethug get his ass busted by the campus police for defacing one of these ads with his own chalk. He wrote "a**hole" next to Kerry's name and "s*cks" next to Bon Jovi's. I didn't linger much, but the cops did not look happy, the Y.R. looked like he shit his pants and I definitely heard the word "vandalism" bandied about. Sad, ain't it?
:evilgrin:

[lancdem]

1. Is this where he's giving that major policy speech?

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. I believe so!

BTW, everyone I talked to thinks Kerry will win if we keep our intensity. Pa. is optimistic, gang! Let's all get that way and keep fighting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nostamj]

4. i believe he already gave that speech

in Iowa earlier today.... the cables showed *parts* of it.

[lancdem]

5. Then what's the topic of his CMU speech?

[nostamj]

8. sorry... haven't heard.

maybe he'll repeat that speech? :shrug:

[fertilizeonarbusto]

11. I was told

just now he might be going back to the Iowa speech. Also, Pittsburgh has the oldest population of any city in the US outside Florida, so I'm sure he'll talk prescription drugs, Medicare and Social Security. And this being a college, there's young people issues too.

[blue neen]

3. They're taking buses to Pittsburgh from Greensburg and

New Kensington (both in Westmoreland County). People wanted to go but were worried about the parking, thus the buses.

You can count on having a great day there today!!!

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

6. the proper term is 'Republican Youth'. EOM

[fertilizeonarbusto]

10. Thanks!

Keep as intense in Colorado as you've been so far. We know you guys can do it!!!!!!!!!

[Beetwasher]

7. Do You Know Frank Frankly?

He's another DU'er who works there and goes to school there and will be going...

Thanks for the report! Have fun!

[fertilizeonarbusto]

9. I do, in passing

Because of my job, I know everybody here. He's a good guy.

[CityHall]

12. Just got back from the speech

Thanks for the heads up; I didn't know he was coming until I saw this post.

I managed to get in the second row, about 50 feet from the stage, and I shook his hand when he came around. There was an enormous crowd, offset by a pathetic band of Bush supporters attempting a counter protest. I'd hate to guess numbers, but 10,000 isn't unreasonable.

The speech didn't tell us anything new - it could mostly be assembled from clips of the debates. In fact, seeing this confirmed a theory I had about the debates: the media called them ties because they have seen so many speeches by both men. Since the debate performances were so familiar, they didn't think anyone's opinion would be changed by them. What they underestimated was that most people in the audience hadn't seen much of Kerry, and that side-by-side, Bush's style doesn't seem as impressive as it apparently does at his own rallies.

[RamboLiberal]

13. Had to be more than 10,000

I got there about 2:30 and the place was JAMMED!

Security was apparently slow. Heard they weren't expecting such a turnout. The lines were not moving hardly at all.

Finally at about 6:30 they just let everyone in but since we hadn't passed through the metal detectors they wouldn't let us within view of the stage. We got stuck behind a fence near back of bleachers. But even if we didn't get to see Kerry we got to hear him.

I'd love to hear more from people who could actually see him.

I had a great time though. There were a few obnoxious Bush supporters, I bet no more than 20-30. All young. A few of us got in the face of the young repukes and told them to get their asses to Iraq and fight their hero's war.

They had a couple two idiots in flipper costumes including one with a brown head joking about Kerry's tan. Also one idiot in a fake military uniform with a sign said something about prooud liberals. I really wanted to go over and tell that idiot he was just like his leader playing dress-up in military uniforms and why didn't he go get himself a new one. But I figured I was approaching the point that I may end up in cuffs so I restrained myself. One older woman did grab a Kerry baby killer sign right out of the hands of a young male repuke.

And an older Kerry guy (I think he may have been a vet), calmly was in the face of two of the young repukes for 15 minutes or so and they were having a hard time refuting him. Wish I could've heard what he was telling these jerks.

They tried during Kerry's speech to do their 4 more years but they were quickly drowned out by 2 more weeks.

If the crowd is any indication, * is losing PA. I went to Greensburg in July where they had 8,000 and a similar size venue and there was no problem getting everyone in on time. They were just overwhelmed by the turnout today. They should've gotten either the big football or baseball stadiums.

Also saw asshole Carl Cameron of Faux doing a report. He's so short he had to stand on a box! Wanted to shout out if he had his manicure today.

Even if I didn't get to "see" Kerry it was great fun.

Go Sox - up 6-0, is this a sign? Could the World Series be Boston vs. Texas?