Kerry photos from the Taylor MI Rally 8/1/04

[Carni]

The local papers are stating there were over 6000 people at the rally/picnic in Taylor, MI on Sunday and I think there were at least that many people there.

The line to get in was about an hour and a half long because of the security (and it was hot out) but people hung in there!

This was not a highly publicized event and I believe this was just announced on the Friday before it took place...anyone could attend but you had to pick up tickets (they were free)

This was more like a festival than a rally...food, beverages, a band, face & hair airbrushing for kids (everything was free)

Aside from the ungodly wait to get in it was well done.

In any case like a fool, I didn't take any pictures of the size of the crowds but my eight year old snagged this one of John Kerry as his bus pulled in behind where we were sitting


(My apologies because this isn't a very clear photo!)

Here's another long distance one of Kerry speaking
(he's that dot in light colored pants)



Here's another one that gives you an idea of the size of the baseball field and the park...you can barely see the people surrounding the field but they wrapped all the way around the fence that surrounded the field.




Hey, these photos suck but I tried!

When I attend the next one, I will have enough brains to take photos of the crowds! :(

[jpgray]

1. Better use photobucket

Angelfire doesn't allow outside posting of photos hosted with them.

[Carni]

3. Oh damn, really?

I just made another page to my website with photos on it and slapped them on there.

I didn't know that wouldn't fly!

[clydefrand]

2. How do you access the images?

All I get is AngelFire.com/rt Do we type put that in the address window?

[Carni]

4. I THINK (hope) this is fixed now

Thanks for the photobucket tip...

These are displaying now for me and hopefully (now that I have made a computer illiterate ass of myself once again) they are displaying for everyone else!

[sandnsea]

5. Oh cool, the baseball game!!!

You were there?? Oh tell me all about it!

There's an entry on the blog. http://blog.johnkerry.com/

[Carni]

6. It was actually very exciting

I couldn't believe the turn out!

I really had it in my head that this was going to be a small rally because it was announced fairly late and was not very well publicized.

It was so crowded by the time we got in that we headed for the rear fence behind the outfield because it was not as populated.

Our view for Kerry's speech was horrible...but his whole entourage, convoy of vehicles, whatever you want to call it, pulled in right behind us and THAT (I am almost embarrassed to say) was a real thrill.

UNFORTUNATELY I didn't SEE the B-ball game because my wonderful husband (and whiny offspring) didn't want to get caught in traffic so we left early :(

I am still pissed off about it!

Michigan's two senators were there as well as several congressional reps and union leaders, they all spoke and had a few things to say about Herr bush.

Kerry's address to the crowd, was very similar to his convention speech -- with some new material about how he intends to carry out his plans.

One interesting thing...many of the cops seemed pretty into the rally and were giving the thumbs up sign as they drove through. I was pretty surprised at the number of them that seemed like they were on board and for Kerry.

There was a real sense of enthusiasm in the air and I think it was a very good sign! (No, poll bounce my ass!)

Oh and there were some Freepers at the entrance to the park.
There were probably about 30 of them and they didn't exactly look like bush's "have mores" (to put it mildly they looked like they rolled out of bed and waddled up to the venue)

One "moran" was yelling through a bull horn asking if we wanted any waffles as we drove by...

They sneered in vehicles and yelled stupid comments at passing cars. (In other words they looked and acted like total buffoons... as per usual!)

[sandnsea]

7. IBPO, police union endorsed Kerry

So I would imagine quite a few of them are personally for Kerry. And alot of cops really don't want the AWB to expire, have their jobs because of the cops program, and it would be helpful if health insurance wasn't as big a part of union negotiations. Lots of reasons for a cop to be pro-Kerry, not to mention he was a prosecutor so he's well aware of every day crime problems.

When I was in Portland, even though we got there 3 hours early, we kept getting moved around and the time was getting closer and closer to the event. And I was getting very "anxious". So we got inside and it was packed and there was no way to get near the stage. So we just went over to this side area because I don't like crowds much anyway. Imagine MY delight when Kerry and Dean made their entrance in a little balcony thing RIGHT ABOVE MY HEAD!!! So, I know what you meant about managing to get sort of up close when it's totally unexpected. And feeling a little silly to be SO excited!

[Carni]

8. I know!

When I realized I was getting all excited about seeing politicians
I felt like I needed to seek medical attention! LOL

On edit your close encounter sounds way more exciting than mine! :)