Via twitter: JK to attend GOTV fundraiser tonight!

[Democrafty]

@mayoungdems Tonight: YDM, YDA, Christine Pelosi and Vanessa Kerry, + NEW special guest: Sen. John Kerry. http://bit.ly/PelosiKerry

Tickets available here: http://www.actblue.com/page/bostonyd

[Luftmensch067]

1. I'm stuck on the West Coast

You guys better take pictures!

[YvonneCa]

5. Me, too...

...since I live here. :7

I sure wish I could go to this. Maybe he'll come out here for Barbara Boxer (hoping). I hope those of you who attend have a WONDERFUL time! :hi:

[ObamaKerryDem]

10. Thanks--I know I sure did. A night I'll never forget! :)

I would not be surprised at all if he came out there to campaign for Boxer. If so, I hope you can go and represent us Kerrycrats on the West Coast (my old stomping grounds, hehe)! :D

[YvonneCa]

12. If he does, I'll go for sure. I'm really glad you...

...had such a good time. It's always nice to spend time with like-minded people, too. :)

[MBS]

13. at the meeting I attended a few weeks ago, JK said he WAS

planning to go to West Coast to campaign for Boxer. So , Yvonne and noisydemocrat, keep an eye out ! : )
. . .also mentioned going to WA to campaign for Patty Murray.. also mentioned going to PA to campaign for Sestak. .

Despite all the gloom and doom in today's NYT, I do think election will turn out better than the worst predictions (not that I'm not nervous as hell, and I'm truly alarmed, even appalled, by the situation in Wisconsin, but still. . ).

Democrafty and obamakerrydemocrat's adventure with Young Dems in Boston made me jealous, but I also was heartened and energized to know that JK was on fire, and delighted that you guys got to meet him. God, I admire his spirit and persistence.

[YvonneCa]

14. Thank you for this. I'm wondering if maybe he is...

...coming with Obama to rally for Boxer on October 22 at USC. I just RSVP'd for that. And I hope you are right that the elections will be better than some have predicted. I do think there is a lot of energy out here because the governorship and senate are both in play. And then there are all our wacky propositions... :hi:

[MBS]

15. Having grown up surrounded by John Birchers etc in So Cal

in some ways this is deja vu (see Sean Wilentz in current New Yorker for insightful and provocative article on just this theme).
But (Wilentz also says this) the scary thing is that these guys are no longer a fringe group in certain areas of Orange County, representing 5-10% of the electorate, but a national phenomenon that's in real danger of wrecking everything our country stands for. (How in God's name could people like Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina even be in shouting distance of Boxer and Brown?) On the one hand, I'm tired of all the yelling and ache for an era of bi/post-partisanship. On the other hand, I consider that the Republican party, as it's currently constituted (eg,whole owned and operated by Tea Partiers, other members of the Far Right and corporate interests) is my enemy, and, more importantly, an enemy of the Constitution. We really do need to bring these guys down.

[YvonneCa]

16. We do need to bring them down. FWIW, I just came home from...

...canvassing for OFA here where I live. It's a pretty red area, too. But we spoke to lots of Dems who seem very motivated to vote. The local OFA group has been growing, too, since I joined a couple of years ago. People seem to see the need to stay connected. I'm really hoping we are not unique...and that this is happening in other areas of California...and the country.

I guess we'll know on November 2nd. :hi:

[ObamaKerryDem]

2. Was just about to post this..LOL!

Ahh I'm so excited! :) This will be my first time seeing him in person! :) Such an awesome last minute surprise! In fact, I probably wouldn't have even known in advance if I hadn't decided to get online before getting ready to head out to the city just now..LOL! I. CAN'T. WAIT!!!1 :D :bounce:

Will be sure to post a full report on here afterward! :)

[karynnj]

4. This is great

I can't wait to read your and Democrafty's reports.

[karynnj]

3. This is great - I hope that you and ObamaKerryDem have a great time

It is great that he will be there too.

[ObamaKerryDem]

8. I had a blast!!! :)

I had the BEST time last night! The event was amazing! It ended up being in this nice little room at Whiskey park (which, as I ended up learning is not an actual park as I had been looking for when I first got off the subway, lol, but a restaurant inside the Park Plaza hotel...ah, I'm still a tourist, I guess!:)) so we were really close up to JK, Vanessa, Christine Pelosi and everyone there! Vanessa didn't speak but JK and Christine did and both gave fantastic and very motivating speeches. JK was ON FIRE! He really came down hard on the Republican/Fox News/Tea party spin machine, the birthers, etc and emphaized the utter importance of us winning these elections and keeping the Senate and House. He was very frank and candid about the whole situation but also provided optimism and hope...and got us all fired up and ready to FIGHT! :kick:

Oh and I got to meet him on his way out!! :bounce: It was kind of brief as I think he was flying back to DC right afterwards but it was amazing! He is so nice! :) Not that I didn't think he would be, lol, but he is just so down to earth and approachable and is very generous with his time and focus. He is really attentive when he is talking to you and gives you his full attention, eye contact, etc. I forget exactly what I said as I was so caught in the moment and surprised (as I really didn't expect to meet him the first time out), lol, but I said something like "Hello, Senator" and introduced myself and he said something like "Hi, Tara, it's nice to meet you" and shook my hand!! :) I said something about being new to the area and being so glad to have him for my senator now and he thanked me. Democrafty was there with me--so great to have gotten to meet you and your husband!--and we were going to try to get a pic with him but it happened so fast! lol. Ah well..next time. But she's my witness! hehe :)

I also got a chance to meet a lot of local area young Dems, signed up for a phone bank the weekend before the election, etc. I definitely felt a sense of momentum, of "we can do this" at the event. I mean I think everyone recognizes the very critical moment and point we are at now, but I definitely feel a shift and think that if we do indeed GOTV, we can pull this off! *crosses fingers*

A truly unforgettable night. Feels great to be getting more involved here locally. Looking forward to attending more--including the Obama rally Saturday :)--and meeting more of you soon!

[karynnj]

11. So happy for you

It is funny reading your description of meeting him - as it sounds exactly like what all of us have written.

It sounds good that they were able to create a sense of momentum.

[ObamaKerryDem]

17. Thanks--still pinching myself! :) lol

I'll never forget it! :D When did you meet him, if you don't mind me asking? It's so fun, sharing the experience stories! :)

Between that and getting to see him again yesterday (by surprise, though I had a feeling he might be there!) and the President (who I had the honor of seeing on the campaign trail in Phoenix during the '08 primaries but this was the first time as Pres.!) and all the other wonderful Dems who were there/spoke...I just can't believe my luck! :D lol This is such an amazing place to be for politics!

[karynnj]

18. I met him the first time with people from this group - incluing Democrafty, who you met in December

2006. About 40 of us, including many from this group, met the Senator and Teresa at his PAC office. Here is a great thread started by TayTay where many of us wrote about it. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=273&topic_id=116234 (I think you for asking - as it me look for this thread, which was fun to reread.) I later was able to meet them at a book signing in NYC for This Moment on Earth. Another JK group member and I blogged on johnkerry.com. mine - http://www.johnkerry.com/blog/entry/this_moment_on_earth_nyc_event/ and hers http://www.johnkerry.com/blog/entry/this_moment_in_manhattan/

My husband and I also were with others in this group at two of Kerry's incredible Faneuil Hall 2006/2007 speeches - the two best IMHO - the first on the right to dissent and the second on national security. (I still think that years from now - if scholar were to chance on these 5 speeches as a group - they would be shocked that he was pushed out of even running.)

Then in 2008, two other posters here and I joined Tay Tay and others working on Kerry's campaign and were lucky enough to attend a special election eve rally in Hyannis - where Kennedy traditionally did a rally. As he was too ill, he asked JK to stand in. The Kerry campaign reprinted Kennedy for Senate signs and stapled them back to back with Kerry for Senate signs. The love and excitement at that rally was incredible. ( http://www.johnkerry.com/multimedia/entry/barnstable_democratic_town_committee_election_eve_rally_video/ ) The next morning, the three of us joined Kerry's campaign staff to surprise him when he vote very early the next day - http://www.johnkerry.com/multimedia/entry/senator_kerry_votes_early/ Roger Lau, Kerry's campaign manager made sure the three of us met the very happy Senator. We also attended the incredible MA victory celebration the next day - http://www.johnkerry.com/multimedia/entry/entire_election_night_remarks/

I feel incredibly fortunate to have seen the leader I most admire so many times - and each time, in good times and bad, he was the very same person - and very much as you described him.

[ObamaKerryDem]

19. Thanks so much for sharing--what incredible experiences!! :)

All of them, particularly the birthday event in '06! How awesome that you guys got to spend time with both JK and Teresa on his birthday! And I loved what you said here:

I think he misses it because he can't imagine the Senator and his incredible wife taking time out of their busy day on his birthday to see and talk to people. Who is the elitist here?

Exactly! It's so unfair, the memes that unfortunately got out there about both of them. I mean, how many other big time politicians--especially the Republicans the BH so obviously favors--would've done something like that, for their supporters? Such a caricature..and a very unfair one at that!

So awesome that you got to meet Teresa too! I would love to meet her sometime also. She seems lovely, inside and out. :)

I loved all the accounts, you guys surprising him whole voting on Election Day 2008, the rally in Hyannis, and Election Night 2008. I remember seeing video of the latter on JK's site shortly afterward and feeling amazed at the pure energy that seemed to be in that room (and rightly so--what an epic win on so many levels, Obama's and JK's--didn't he get like 70% of the vote? :D). So awesome that you got to experience it in person!

It's also so cool that both the Senator and his wife know about this forum and the work you guys have done for him/his campaign! I am so glad, as this is such a great group--the recognition is so well deserved!! :)

[TayTay]

6. So, how was it?

Did you have fun?

[Democrafty]

7. We had a great time!

Lots of enthusiastic young people, and great remarks by the Senator and the very inspiring Christine Pelosi. Someone was taking video of the event; will try to track it down and post it here.

[ObamaKerryDem]

9. That would be great. Wish I had brought a camera! lol

It was so great meeting you! See you on Saturday. :)

[karynnj]

20. Here's a link to the lesser Senator's appeal for Baker to the young Republicans

Is it my obvious bias, or is the room far bigger than needed? Seems sparsely attended and they cover very little of Brown. http://www.necn.com/10/16/10/Sen-Scott-Brown-campaigns-for-Charlie-Ba/landing_politics.html?blockID=332730&feedID=4212

[MBS]

21. yup, a lot of empty spaces, indeed

:evilgrin:
FYI, Scott Brown was just parroting Baker-campaign slogan. . nothing new there. Ah, notice he's got The Jacket on again. Jesus. :crazy:
In addition to issues of substance, I can't stand Baker's sort of slurry, frat-boy speech pattern.(Not to mention the fake jeans-and-flannel-shirt fake "I'm a man of the people " thing.If voters really fall for this stuff, I just have nothing to say.)
What a contrast to Patrick's eloquence this weekend.

[karynnj]

23. I had never seen Baker before - and was completely

unimpressed - especially at the end where he was essentially screaming. As to Brown, he may define "empty suit" - there really seemed to be little excitement there. (His hair looked weird at points - is it just thinning in the front or is that some new style.) Just looking at the photo of JK at the Patrick event, his eyes and face smile and he looks engaged in speaking to the crowd. With Brown, could it be that he loses interest when the subject is not him?

[MBS]

24. love your last sentence : )

My first thought was, "Bingo"! :evilgrin:

[Mass]

22. Brown vs Obama. Baker is kidding. But once again, his role model is Guiliani.

So, what can we expect? (Yes, the room is thinly populated).

I agree with MBS concerning Baker, and the good news is that poll after poll show that Baker's favorables are worse than Patrick's.

Worse are the videos with his wife. Which consultant told him that transforming his wife in a Stepford wife would make him more likeable to women (I dont know her, so she may be like that, but the video where she explains he likes cookies, is faithful to his family, and is really an ordinary guy is laughable. Just imagine Teresa saying that).