Just got back from the Obama rally in Grand Rapids....

[Obamarama]

After the opportunity to see and hear Obama and Edwards tonight, the next greatest thing was seeing 12,000+ people cheering them in the Van Andel Arena, named for one of the greediest, nastiest, most conservative Republican families in the country.

I love Hillary, and as of late I've been on the fence between who I want to see as our candidate. I also think she should not bow out until the primaries are finished. But that being said, beyond substance and ability (which I think Obama and Hillary both possess in different ways), I think Obama has more energy and excitement with which to unite and inspire a country currently bereft of hope for a brighter future for us all.

As of today, I'm an Obama man.

[Catherina]

1. I envy you for being able to see them both live

I've never seen either :(

Welcome aboard. May the next 8 years be very good to you!

[anonymous171]

2. Welcome aboard the Hope Train!

Good to have you! :hi:

[PBS Poll-435]

9. Can't Wait to Catch That Train!

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PBS Poll-435]

30. Keep spreading that unifying 'Hope'!

:hi:

[Binka]

34. Keep Spreading Manure!

:hi: Your girl lost!

[PBS Poll-435]

35. So you treat me like shit?

Um...

:woohoo:

[Binka]

36. You Are The Jr High Bully Looking For Any Excuse

Get over yourself, and grow up. How old are you ten?

[PBS Poll-435]

37. Wow. Look around.

Me, a bully?

Right...

:rofl:

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PBS Poll-435]

39. Must Be a Wine Night....Tomorrow Moning is Going to SUCK.

:hangover:

[lojasmo]

40. I have the "jr. high bully" meme on ignore.

[sniffa]

48. Same here

[Cha]

24. Yeah, I see you on it while we're on

this one..

[PBS Poll-435]

28. :-)

[Binka]

31. Some Folks Are Too Dense To Embrace The Win Train

We will choo choo on to the White House! Yeah Baby!

[FrenchieCat]

3. Excellent. Obama has a tendency to do that to folks.......

how did you like the speeches. I liked John's very much......and I also thought that Obama was on fire! Must have been a Hoot!

[Obamarama]

13. They were, in a word....inspirational!

I know these speeches are not spontaneous words. That they are well rehearsed....they are used in one reiteriation or another at most if not all of the campaign stops.

But when you hear Obama speak live, you KNOW that the energy behind his words aren't show. There's something about his delivery that telegraphs loud and clear that he is impassioned.

There were people in the crowd tonight that were raising their hands as if they were in a fundie megachurch listening to an evangelical preacher...that was the effect he had on people.

I saw several people crying, actually.

For the first time in a long, long time I found myself thinking...wow, maybe there IS someone who can begin to lead us out of this mess.

[Binka]

23. Star For You Choo Choo n/t

[LakeSamish706]

4. Thank you, and welcome aboard... n/t

[Renew Deal]

5. Did you know that Edwards was going to be there?

How did you find out? Did you go nuts? I would have.

[Obamarama]

16. I didn't know about it until we were intside the arena, about 1/2 an hour before the rally...

It was spreading like a super virus that John Edwards was going to be in attendance, but I chalked it up to a rumor that probably had no basis. Imagine my surprise when my cynicism was proven wrong.

[book_worm]

6. Welcome to the Obama camp

[AtomicKitten]

7. Welcome!

[crankychatter]

8. you GO, Dawg (well, that's what my kids say) n/t

:-)

[FightingIrish]

10. Top that McGrumpy

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

11. YES WE CAN ! Peace to all.

[slinkerwink]

12. welcome aboard!

[usregimechange]

14. Welcome on board!

[TragedyandHope]

15. K&R Welcome! Thanks for the first-hand report!

[Cha]

26. Nice Pics..Thanks,

TragedyandHope!

[CitizenLeft]

29. I don't know if Edwards should be VP or not...

...but they damn sure look GREAT together! :thumbsup: I always thought so!

[mzmolly]

18. Welcome to the Obama camp.

:hi:

I'm a former Edwards supporter, but Obama was my second choice and I feel that JE made the right decision by endorsing Senator Obama.

[jgraz]

19. Don't take this the wrong way ... but I hate you.

Lucky sonofabitch... :P

:toast:

[mrcheerful]

22. I hear ya

I live about a mile west of the Van Andel and couldn't make it up there. Damn gas prices and I don't walk more then 100 yards anymore. Medical reasons. Btw, Wood tv 8 was gushing that McDumdum will be making a stop here in the near future.

[Obamarama]

25. I can only imagine...Rick Albin (WOOD-TV's political reporter) is a Resmuglican mouthpeice.

They probably think Suzanne Geha is the fairness and balance to Albin, since she is Helen Thomas' niece and hence probably (hopefully) a good Democrat!

[mrcheerful]

42. Funny been living here 3 years and still don't know the news people.

But then when the woman was smiling and saying how great it was that gas was going up to $4.00 a gallon, lets just say the SO's ears were ringing lol.

[goclark]

20. What a thoughtful post ~

K and R
and delighted that you are an OBAMA MAN

[1776Forever]

21. I agree with you. I support Obama and I am excited and hopefull!

I saw the speeches on CNN-Live tonight and thought they both were wonderful! I like the fact that Edwards and Obama seem to be on the same wavelength! I love the way Obama says that this election is about all of us! It is so true! We are in the same boat! We will sink or float together so lets get together and move on to win in November!

Welcome Aboard!

[cui bono]

27. Nice. I was wondering how many people were there.

:bounce:


:bounce:


:bounce:

[Obamarama]

32. There were 12,000 inside...and probably another thousand or more standing outside...

The doors were SUPPOSED to open at 5 p.m., but they opened them about an hour and a half early. Everyone was very kind and considerate to one another even though we were waiting in line outside in the rain. By the time 5 p.m. rolled around, they had to quit allowing people into the arena because it had already filled to capacity.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[K Gardner]

41. Thank you, congratulations, welcome and I'm SO JEALOUS !!!

[Scurrilous]

43. K & R

:thumbsup:

[amandabeech]

44. Love the irony of those two at Van Andel!

It was an interesting spot for such a big night, to say the least.

I grew up 40 miles north of Muskegon, and I remember the beginning of the Scamway "phenomenon."

[knixphan]

45. GoGoGo!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[Romulox]

46. Strange that a Democrat doesn't come to Detroit...

:shrug:

[WA98296]

47. Tell us more, we didn't get to be there, it looked amazing! Please do tell!

Was it a surprise to the crowd that Edwards was there?