Symbolman is on the Campaign Trail! Let's keep him going! Updates and info here.

[demobabe]

He's in the air over the east coast as we speak, and is headed to the Edwards party tonight! He'll be following Edwards and document and fight the media brownout out some Democratic candidates are experiencing, and then spread the video far and wide. Updates will be posted on the DU with URLs and info, and we're going to try to see if we can get Edwards and other candidates Symbolman can track down to answer some questions and talk about this campaign and the media.

We're hoping through the power of online community, we can put a dent in the corporate media that continuously frames the candidates in the way they see fit, which does not benefit most of us, instead promoting what is best for corporations.

The admins have generously allowed for Symbolman to raise funds on the DU for this trip, and you can contribute here:

http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/staticpages/index.php?page=20040530194340861

So far we have enough to get him started and keep him on the road for about a week (thank you DUers!!), but it will take more to keep him on the campaign trail.

Thank you DUers for all your support, and let's do all we can to Take Back The Media!

- - - - - - - - - - -

Required disclaimer: The administrators of Democratic Underground have given permission for one discussion thread on this topic. The administrators of Democratic Underground make no claims regarding the legitimacy or illegitimacy of this fundraising effort. Permission was granted by Skinner on 1/8/08, and the moderators have been notified.

[OneGrassRoot]

1. Will do. Thanks for the info! K&R

[demobabe]

53. UPDATE: Wednesday, January 10, 4 am EST

Uploading and will post more details in the Symbolman update thread. He's had a lot of logistics and technical issues, but he's been pounding away. I've been asking him to come on the DU and talk about all that's been going on, but he's insistent he wanted to post some video first.

He sent some to me, and I've been posting it, and he just went to bed at 3 am, to be up again at 7 am.

Symbolman is in South Carolina later today (Jan 10th).

Here is the Edwards speech from New Hampshire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqmRkSvUncE

And footage continuing right after the above speech of John in the crowd:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwHxCLSEgzo

The primary event was pretty cut and dry - no time for interviews - just a speech, a few handshakes and then the Edwards family and the campaign crew were on the bus and out of there. Symbolman has more video to capture and then encode, including Elizabeth Edwards - the next update will come at some point Thursday.

For a more general update: we've been in contact with the Edwards folks, but so far we have no commitment that Symbolman will be able to get an interview with John Edwards himself.

I have to say, all the Edwards volunteers have been very helpful and extremely nice, but it is clear this is a big media game. If you don't have the big dollars, you don't get to play.

For instance, there is a press plane. If you want to ride on it, it's $1000 per shot. If we were ABC, CBS, or even Fox News, a producer would ever blink an eye while budgeting that kind of money to follow a candidate.

And independent reporters? They have to pay the same $1000 as everyone else, or they get to thumb it to the next location.

There is also a press bus, too - but still that is $150 per day, and then you have to pay for your hotel room on top of that.

We've been stringing together frequent flyer miles and rental cars and short plane flights on budget carriers, and have been explaining ever so gently to the Edwards camp how this is Grassroots Media Reporting - how we're not the big media, how we aren't paid a salary to do this kind of thing and have an expense account. We've told them how we're here for all of the folks on the DU, Buzzflash, Kos, and others - all of the voters who are interested in really hearing what the candidates have to say and are not interested in having the Mainstream Media decide from the outset what our two choices should be.

So here Symbolman goes, to take the next step. There will be "press availability" tomorrow with John Edwards, but it's yet to be seen what that means.

I can only imagine how much Hillary's plane must cost...

[Ghost in the Machine]

59. thanks for the update and links......

the videos are now posted at http://www.hqrnc.org :evilgrin:

PEACE!

Keep up the good work, symbolman... we appreciate you very much.

Ghost

[EFerrari]

62. Thank you!.

:)

[vireo]

2. While waiting for Symbolman

one might enjoy checking out Sam Seder's NH reports: http://samsedershow.com/

[Maat]

3. Woohoo!

This is exciting.

I think that we are taking back the media here (or making our own media)!

[OzarkDem]

4. Done, thanks!

[Binka]

5. Kick And Hugs To You Demobabe

I wish I could donate but this is a really hard time for me and the girl. :loveya:

[symbolman]

14. Your good vibes keep us going!

Thanks so much, Binka... take care of you and Peyton.

:hug:

[K Gardner]

6. Done, thanks and most special thanks to Admins at DU !

[smokey nj]

7. K&R!!!!

[DemReadingDU]

8. Thank you for the update!

[judaspriestess]

9. awesome!!

I can proudly say I helped!!

[mzmolly]

10. Thanks for the reminder!

:toast:

[Kip Humphrey]

11. K&R (Thank you Skinner!) + more $$

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. Donated! Thanks so much, Symbolman! You ROCK!

:yourock:

[Ghost in the Machine]

13. Thanks for the update, demobabe. HQRNC.org is waiting for links to upload

and show support for John Edwards. http://www.hqrnc.org :evilgrin:

http://www.myfoxnewsonline.com is waiting also! :evilgrin:

PEACE!

Ghost

[symbolman]

15. I'll keep you posted...

Talking to the Edwards folks now - will keep everyone posted and let you know when there is video or audio available. :)

[Lugnut]

16. K&R for symbolman

[caligirl]

17. thanks for your sacrifice Demobabe. Now go get a shave ice.

[symbolman]

18. You have no idea...

...how hard it is to get supplies for cold weather places here in Hawaii. Finding shoes other than sandals can be a challenge...

[caligirl]

19. former Kailua resident here: Kuukama st 8 doors from Kailua beach. I remember.

Edit to add, but then they have to have stuff for people going to the big island volcano's don't they?

[Hekate]

36. Oh gods yes. You have to beg and borrow to put together an outfit!

I had a friend who had to attend a professional conference in DC one winter. She went to the thrift store, she borrowed from friends -- really there was nothing suitable at Sears, Penney's, or Liberty House. She said she felt like she looked rather peculiar, plus her lei died on the way there, lol. I used to freeze miserably going from Hawaii to SoCal in the winter to visit family. No one at the California end was my size.

Good luck to you staying warm! I hope you can take some time to shop a bit once you arrive.

Cheers!

Hekate

[sellitman]

39. When I lived in Maui we had cold weather gear available halfway up Haleakala.

It got cold near the top!

[catmandu57]

20. I've bookmarked this thread

The first of the month dinner is on me Symbolman, it's the least I can do.

[troubleinwinter]

21. Oh, hey... I got some goodies right here!

Flyarm flew into Iowa to volunteer for Edwards and she asked me to post her photos for her.

She's going to be working SC too!

New Years Eve In Iowa 2007-08 ..the Volunteers New Years party with John Edwards.

these pictures are all the volunteers and campaign staff of John Edwards..you will see pictures of John Throughout.

John is wishing Happy New Years to my dear friend, who i asked him to say hi to...our MaryRN from DU




John with Volunteers wishing happy New Year and thanking the volunteers..








John and Flyarm!


The stage was manned by volunteers and staff doing very funny Karaoke..




and......the Edwards bus....the infamous bus....the night it broke down..




the night before the caucus ..and the Edwards Mellencamp rally








Flyarm and other volunteers


John Edwards speaking to the Steelworkers Iowa 2008




a bunch of steelworkers and they were also volunteers for John Edwards.and they hosted many of Johns volunteers in Iowa..they were wonderful with us!!

Go, Fly! Go, Symbolman! Go, John!

[Blue Diadem]

23. Love the pics! n/t

[malaise]

24. Great Pix

K & R

[demobabe]

26. FANTASTIC!

Thanks for posting those photos, and thanks, Flyarm for taking them!

Interesting diary on Kos today:
The corporate media blackout of John Edwards gets worse
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/5/12286/27650

Did everyone see the poll on DU showing that DUers would choose Edwards over Obama 3 to 1 if they had a choice between the two? Non-scientific, yeah, but still. I've seen a huge outpouring of support for Edwards on many of the blogs... why the big discrepancy in what the media is covering?

Regardless if his actual chance of winning, it is in the public's interest to give all of the candidates time... and broadcasting in the public's interest is supposed to be a requirement of all the huge discounts given to these corporations for broadcasting licenses! Why do we only have two Democratic choices being rammed down our throats?

[SammyWinstonJack]

42. Awesome pics. Thanks for sharing these.

[EFerrari]

22. Go, symbolman!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[demobabe]

25. Symbolman is headed over to Edwards' party!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

He's safely made it to New Hampshire and is en route to Manchester!

I'm hoping to have more news to post shortly.

[symbolman]

27. kick!

:kick:

[demobabe]

28. Edwards is going to come out any minute and give his speech

Camera is rolling.

CNN is showing Ron Paul and talking about the battle for 4th place.

Talking heads on MSNBC. Hillary, Hillary, Obama.

Any other stations showing anything else?

[demobabe]

30. Ron Paul on CSPAN

...

[lonestarnot]

29. wootie woot woot!

:patriot: :applause:

[MagickMuffin]

31. Here's to MEDIA coverage, with enough of OUR coverage, WE WILL TAKE BACK THE MEDIA

:kick::applause::kick::applause::kick::applause::kick::applause::kick::applause::kick::applause:

THX Symbolman, I have been working on a video for John. I hope to have something later tomorrow (((???)))

We'll bring John's message to the masses. Creating an internet buzz/sensation the MSM will have to take notice.

Can't wait to see me some video of John Edwards for President....

[Breeze54]

32. Why isn't he downloading info and pics yet?

:shrug:

[MagickMuffin]

33. Good question

:hi:

We hungry for John. Symbolman, we want feed.

Send us a stream. We ready for the man.

:applause:

[sojourner]

34. Thanks demobabe! And thanks mods!

Questions...can we keep this thread kicked? How can we use this one thread to accomplish the task?

[tavalon]

35. There will be money flying his way on Thursday

When my overtime paycheck hits my sccount. All the extra is going to him and to Edwards. Even if I weren't an Edwards fan, I would be appalled at the media treatment of him and Kucinich.

[watrwefitinfor]

37. K&R

[porphyrian]

38. Now that is good news. -n/t

[peekaloo]

40. kick

:patriot:

[bigtree]

41. ha! so you're doin' it. perfect.

best wishes, with all of the resources I can manage to send your way.

[earth mom]

43. K & R & Bookmarked. nt

[sojourner]

44. how now? anything new?

[lala_rawraw]

45. kick!

[demobabe]

46. kick

Symbolman filmed last night and is now on his way to South Carolina. I'm hoping he's going to be able to upload some video a little later tonight and check in here as well.

[me b zola]

47. kick

:kick:

[demobabe]

48. kick

:kick:

[ThingsGottaChange]

49. Back to the top!

:kick:

[unapatriciated]

50. kick nt

[MagickMuffin]

51. Time for some Streaming

Ass:kick:

Kicking back to the top.

Symbolman, I left you a PM:hi:

[catchnrelease]

52. kick

[EFerrari]

54. Kick

[OneGrassRoot]

55. Kicked again and bookmarked n/t

[sojourner]

56. kicked and bookmarked (well I did THAT when thread started sinking from view)....

awaiting news with anticipation of good things!

[Ghost in the Machine]

57. kicking..........

and waiting for links....

[demobabe]

58. Latest update with video here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2629414#2648955

I posted at the top of this thread so people wouldn't have to scroll.

[MagickMuffin]

60. Back to the Top

:kick:

More Footage, Please :pals:

[Hekate]

61. Kick

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[tavalon]

63. Oops, I didn't see this thread before I started my own

I just sent him $100 and sent Edwards another $100

[tavalon]

64. ..

:kick:

[tavalon]

65. Kick and good night

[tavalon]

66. Come on people, it's the 15th, let's support symbolman

Please, please, please, pretty please?

[DemReadingDU]

67. Here's another kick!

[Ohio Joe]

68. Kick

oop's, too late to rec