Never did I ever think I'd see him

[GRLMGC]

but I did. I went to the Villaraigosa event and I was right in front. I saw Kerry. It was so great. I didn't get to shake his hand but my hand did brush past his as he was shaking someone else's hand, hehe (What can I say? My arms are short). My tall friend gave him my ticket receipt though and I got his signature. I got pushed around and it was kind of a pain in the ass to get there but it was totally worth it. I have a big smile on my face :)

[JI7]

1. you are so lucky

i saw a clip of it on tv and Kerry looked really good.

i can't imagine what i would do if i ever got close to him. maybe something totally outrageous and crazy or probably nothing from nervoursness. but then again he seems the type that you don't get nervous around and easy to be around so i would probably demand a hug or just yell something out to him if there were too many people.

[GRLMGC]

2. Yeah

he seemed pretty cool. By the way, photographers are assholes

[kerrygoddess]

29. JK gives good hugs!

[JI7]

3. also, were you able to get pictures ?

[GRLMGC]

4. Sigh

I forgot my camera so i told my friend to bring his digital but his mom had taken it with her so he took his regular camera. Anyway, it only had one picture left and he has to get the film developed and scanned. So one pic and I probably won't get it for awhile :(

[fedupinBushcountry]

5. More info please

How many people showed up, where they happy to see him? Can't wait to see pictures.

[GRLMGC]

6. The picture, haha

Lots of people. It was a really good turnout. A bunch of protesters who were Hahn supporters showed up and were being obnoxious but they died down by the time Kerry and Villaraigosa got onstage, which was pretty funny. Lots of Kerry love. I mean lots. People with all of their Kerry gear came to show their support and his endorsement meant a lot to Villaraigosa. Villaraigosa was one of the first people to endorse Kerry and he was apparently in Boston that horrible night in November. It was a very energetic and positive event.

[fedupinBushcountry]

7. Pictures

http://us.news3.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/380,http%3A%2F%2Fus.news2.yimg.com%2Fus.yimg.com%2Fp%2Fap%2F20050425%2Fcapt.la51204250705.la_mayor_kerry_la512.jpg?v=1

http://us.news3.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/345,http%3A%2F%2Fus.news2.yimg.com%2Fus.yimg.com%2Fp%2Fap%2F20050425%2Fcapt.la51104250705.la_mayor_kerry_la511.jpg?v=1

http://us.news3.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/380,http%3A%2F%2Fus.news2.yimg.com%2Fus.yimg.com%2Fp%2Fap%2F20050430%2Fcapt.cars10304302329.la_mayor_cars103.jpg?v=1

http://us.news3.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/345,http%3A%2F%2Fus.news2.yimg.com%2Fus.yimg.com%2Fp%2Fap%2F20050430%2Fcapt.cars10604302340.la_mayor_cars106.jpg?v=1

To bad I don't know how to transfer the pictures, not computer savvy here.

[GRLMGC]

8. kinda strange

it didn't look like that from where I was standing. Then again, I'm like 5'1. Sigh, I hate being short

[JI7]

9. the first 2 pictures are from last year

during the presidential campaign that's why it looks different.

the second 2 are from today.

[GRLMGC]

10. oh okay nt

[fedupinBushcountry]

11. Thanks

I didn't read the captions, figures Yahoo only puts 2 of today up, and of course they don't show the crowd well.

[elshiva]

14. Thank you! I loved this picture.

Nice to see men hugging men with such affection.
http://us.news3.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/380,http%3A%2F%2Fus.news2.yimg.com%2Fus.yimg.com%2Fp%

[ginnyinWI]

35. it's easy to post pictures off the internet

1. right-click and go to "properties"
2. copy the url-- "Control + C" (be sure to get the whole thing"
3. go to your post and paste-- "Control + V"

That will do it!

[JI7]

36. yahoo changed their links

they added some more after the .jpg , i think that's why the pics themselves didn't show up in those posts.

you can still direct link the pics on here but make sure you only copy and paste up the the part with the jpg and leave out anything after that.

[TayTay]

12. May I annoy you with a few questions?

Just the standard stuff. What was the speech about? How many people showed up? Did Kerry speak mostly about the LA race or about national stuff?

My usual annoying litany of stuff.

Thanks!

[YvonneCa]

13. Kerry in Los Angeles

I thought I'd respond to your questions, too. I lurk here a lot and feel like I've come to know many of you over the past months since the election. I did attend the Antonio Villaraigoso event in Van Nuys today. Kerry looked fantastic! His speech was very positive, mostly to endorse Villaraigoso for Mayor of Los Angeles, but he spoke in broad terms about how we, as a country, must look toward the future with an inclusive vision... one that provides for the health and educational needs of our children. There were many state and local politicians in attendance, as well. At one point, Kerry's microphone went out and another leader (sorry, I don't know his name) lead the audience in the National Anthem until it was repaired. John Kerry signed autographs during that time. It was actually a nice (although unplanned) moment. The crowd was probably a couple thousand people, so it was a much more intimate setting than when I saw him in Las Vegas last October. I did get to shake his hand, say "thank You", and got a great John Kerry smile! Yes, I think the eyes are blue!:loveya:

[TayTay]

19. Okay then, his eyes are as blue as his states, me thinks

We can safely assume the following:

Press estimates of crowd size in Boston, Austin and LA all suck. Apparently, one of the prerequisites of becoming a crowd estimator is the inability to actually count the crowd. Hmmmm, that's strange.

John Kerry now, for some reason that defies logic, nature and the worst wishes of lefty freepers, looks great. Really, really great. He has been re-energized at the exact moment that everyone expected him to curl up into a fetal ball and crawl under a table somewhere. No really, he is looking mighty fine and has the kind of energy one usually finds only in teenagers and newlyweds. Hmmm, that's great! (I'll have what he's having, please.)

My deeply and greatly esteemed Junior Senator (and yours too, just as Sen. Durbin is my deeply and greatly esteemed Senator, IL division) is starting to develop a really great stump speech. The speech today hailed an old and loyal friend as a great candidate for LA Mayor, but Kerry seems to have also talked about his favorite issues of getting health care for kids and trying to move the country forward. Rethugs are trying to sell the notion that the Democrats are a party without ideas. Kerry's speeches are antidotes to that. I really, really like this.

We need pics! Where is KerryGoddess?

And thanks for the reply. I always feel a little funny asking questions. (Honest, I do. But I force myself to do so. Sometimes I feel intrusive about it. My Hannibal Lector thing: Thank you Clarice, that was very ... illuminating.)

[ginnyinWI]

38. that's just one of his really great characteristics!

He doesn't let defeat, defeat him! If he did, he'd have been 'toast' long ago. I think it is so much a part of his life in the Senate, especially when the repubs have the majority, that he has become rather immune to it. He's got a tough skin, but still a tender heart. How often we see the reverse in politics: thin-skinned and hard-hearted.

Another great quality is being a leader rather than a follower. He doesn't look over his shoulder to see what everyone else is doing. He sets an agenda guided by his own principles and instincts. (He should have followed those, rather than the advisors on the Swifty Liars, but I'm willing to allow him to be a fallible human being.)
For example, when he was talking to Judy Woodruff about 2008--he said he didn't care what other people have done or not--he intends to run if he decides it's right, an not worry if "nobody" ever did it before.

[Vektor]

24. Hi Yvonne!!

Nice to see you here. Welcome to the forum!

[JI7]

33. that's so sweet, i can't wait to see your pics

if you need help on how to post them there are people here who can help.

[GRLMGC]

15. yeah, what she said, hehe

and I thought his eyes looked blue but then I looked more closely and was in doubt.

[JI7]

16. hazel eyes

according to military records so they can look anywhere from different shades of blue, green, or gray depending on how and when you see him.

[GRLMGC]

17. no kidding

they looked blue and then sorta gray. That's pretty cool.

[JI7]

18. yeah

i remember we had a huge thread on here on his eye color since they looked different all the time. and then someone did the research and found out they were Hazel which helped explain it.

[TayTay]

20. Women. Sometimes I think we have too many women here!

I cannot imagine a discussion about eye color that goes on so long in a discussion board that has a majority male membership. (I'm not complaining. I actually love this stuff. It's just a bit odd too!)

Anthing else that only women would notice? Blue shirt, pink or red tie? Haircut? Was Marvin there? Did the Senator start the speech in full suit, then take the jacket off? What was the crowd composition, ethnically and racially mixed? More men or women? (Thanks Clarice(s)

(I love his board. I really, really do. You guys prevent me from sailing off into wonkville and remind me that human beings are observed on many levels, not all of them purely academic. Thanks!)

[GRLMGC]

21. well

It seemed pretty racially mixed. Villaraigosa had a grip of people supporting him on stage (local elected officials). I don't remember the tie color. I don't think he took off his jacket (I could very well be wrong). I don't know what Marvin looks like, though I couldn't see much past what I saw while I was looking up because I'm a short mofo. Hair looked good. He looked good overall. Easygoing. Like, I notice little things about people and he didn't strike me as pretentious at all like a lot of other pols. I knew he wasn't but I finally observed it firsthand.

[TayTay]

22. Yeah, people I've met who know him

say he actually laughs a lot. He can be a very serious guy and do serious work, but he also likes to kick back and relax. (And is a big movie fan. And he likes or liked theater. And is a great conversationalist, as any good pol should be. He has that pol's radar thing going for him as well.)

[GRLMGC]

23. That's good to hear

a lot of pols piss me off. They take themselves way too seriously. To be honest, I dislike most politicians.

[Vektor]

25. Did he mention wanting to make sweet love to me?

Ya know, just wondering.....

[GRLMGC]

26. Of course

the first thing out of his mouth ;)

[Vektor]

27. Oh thank god!

I'm so glad he remembered his pledge to "rock me like a hurricane."

[kerrygoddess]

30. Marvin... Marvelous Marvin

Tay Tay, Marvelous Marvin was there. There's a photo of my daughter and I in this thread - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=273x25318

Marvin is the best. I was so happy to see him and he was happy to see my daughter and I. He took care of us today, made sure we got to speak to JK... etc.

He came out with his jacket off, did not put it on until after the event when they came out to leave. Blue shirt, nice pink tie. He looked a little tired after the event. Marvin said he had a bit a of a cold.

Good mix of a crowd. We're talking L.A. - San Fernando Valley, a very racially diverse place and the crowd was that. Lot's of Latino's. JK had great Latino support here in L.A.

[TayTay]

32. Thank you so much!

Again, I apologize for my constant questioning. I feel of two-minds on this badgering of people for information. On the one hand, I am genuinely curious. I am detecting patterns and some really nice developments in the Good Ship Kerry. The questions clarify that. I deeply appreciate it.

Since I am your proto-typical New Englander I am also every watchful to detect the presence of sin (or pseudo-sin, in this case) in me and am prepared to castigate myself for it. (No, Vector, not in the fun way either.) "Stop badgering the witness," I say to myself. "They will tell if you leave them alone. They didn't go to this event just to feed you information for pondering purposes." Sigh! TayTay is conflicted, with curiosity winning out at the moment.

This sounds like it was much more of a localized event with some national issues coming in. It also sounds like the Senator got a decent reception with a nice turn-out of a crowd. This is wonderful. (And his eyes are blue, or green, depending on who is looking at them and what color they want the Senators eyes to be. I vote for hazel, which is fence-straddling on my part.)

Thank you KerryGoddess! You rock! One more question, if I may. Did the Senator mention the KidsFirst Act by name and did he talk at all about any of the recent fiery issues that are consuming the Senate?

Happy Beltane!

[kerrygoddess]

34. I don't think he ever mentioned Kids First by name

I could be wrong though, because I must admit to spending quite a bit of time talking with Marvin and JK's PAC Press Secretary. It really was Antonio's day and though Antonio graciously gave JK a bit of his own forum and also paid lovely homage to JK, it seemed that it was more about paralelling how alike the two men are.

[sandnsea]

28. Kerrygoddess will report soon

I talked to her a couple of hours ago, I honestly do not know what is taking her so long. :shrug:

[kerrygoddess]

31. Trying to come back down to earth!

:woohoo: It was quite a day!

[saracat]

37. Congratulations! It is a stunning experience isn't it?

Better than a rock star. You just KNOW you have seen a great man! I am soo happy for you!:toast:

[Kerrytravelers]

39. I was there, too!

Wow. It was great to see the hero in person. I was so thrilled. I was up front and center with Mr. kt. I was the one with his biography in hand. He actually signed it!

I was so moved and thrilled to be there. I'm still coming down off the high 24 hours later!

Ok, I don't have a scanner or digital cameras or anything. All I have is a picture of me and Mr. kt from our weeding on a friend's web page.

<http://frankandcynthia.net/picturegallery/armstrongwedding/armstrongwedding-Pages/Image2.html>

Did you see me there?

[JI7]

41. that's so great

didn't get to go myself this time but i love reading all the reports on those who did go.

and that's a lovely wedding pic, you make a nice couple.

[GRLMGC]

42. I totally saw you

I was there early too. I was sitting with my friend. He's a tall skinny guy with glasses. I don't know if you remember seeing us.

[Kerrytravelers]

43. I think I might know exactly who you'

Is he dark-ahirded, and was he wearing red? You guys sat to our left, right?

Hey! What a small world!

[GRLMGC]

44. I don't remember if he was wearing red

but I think we asked you if it was okay to sit down 2 hours early, haha. We were to the left of you. That's so crazy. I remember you two so clearly, haha

[Kerrytravelers]

45. How funny! I wish we had spoken more!

What a small world. DUers are everywhere!

I absolutely loved Saturday. Mr. kt and I went to Nevada and worked in Clark Country during the elections for Kerry. He had seen Kerry speak during the primaries, but I had never seen him before, so I was SO excited! I can't wait to get my pictures developed!

Are you thinking about doing the big CA DU meet-up in July in Berkeley?

kt

[GRLMGC]

46. I drove down from Santa Barbara

I go to school there and volunteered a lot for Kerry before the election and have been involved in more local matters. I'm originally from Glendale and I love coming home. I don't really like Santa Barbara. I found out about the Kerry visit to LA and wasn't gonna go but decided, what the hell, why not? So I got my friend from home (Glendale) to come with me. It was way worth it. I got kinda sunburned but that was worth it too. I forgot my camera in SB and I told my friend to bring his camera but once we were at Valley College, we discovered he had one picture left. So I can't wait to see that one, haha.

I don't know if I can make it to Berkeley. I wanted to go to the Kerry supporters meetup but I'm poor and I can't make it to the East Coast. I was planning on a trip to San Francisco, though, to make up for it. Maybe it'll coincide w/ the meetup.

[JI7]

40. another person who went to the event

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1755930&mesg_id=1756897