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:: Friday, August 06, 2004 ::
Kerry in the Hood
I came within a gnats eyebrow of Kerry & Co. today. The 15 or so identical black SUVs with tinted windows and flashing strobes ripped right past the National Prairie Fire HQ twice and his little blue train car is about a hundred yards south of the loft right now.
Kerry spoke this evening at Kansas City's Union Station and the word is he was about an hour and a half late for his appearance leaving his loyal constituency (mostly local political hacks) chilling their heels. Sources who wish to remain anonymous tell Max the wait was a, muffled-mumbling, stretching-yawning, coughing, foot-shuffling clinical distention of time.
The local press was apparently miffed. After yawning and shuffling for 90 minutes waiting for his Royal Lateness to show, they were told by Kerry staffers, in no uncertain terms, that anyone asking a question of the French-speaking, metal-tossing candidate would be unceremoniously removed from the event (cheering and clapping were tolerated if not encouraged).
Midnight Update: I just met a friend at a cocktail party who bumped into the Kerry's as they were leaving a steakhouse down the street. On their way out, Kerry and Theresa apparently spent a lot of impromtu time with the assembled crowd, shaking everyone's hands and walking up and down the crowded street. My friend shook Kerry's hand and somehow managed to get Theresa's autograph on a small piece of paper. I saw it--she has a nice, fast, graphic signature ('Theresa' only--sans Kerry). Secret Service made everybody take their hands out of their pockets.
A leisurely dinner and the impromptu glad-handing were apparently the reason for their late arrival at the station. No word on how many, if any, Vietnamese were in the crowd.
Saturday Morning Coffee Update: KC Star reports he had an excellent turnout--Secret Service estimated the crowd at 20,000+ "one of the most well attended political gatherings in the city since the Republican national convention in 1976". The Star is also reporting he met with some fairly disgruntled hog-farmers who were complaining about being squeezed by the giant coporate hog operations. Theresa took the mic from her husband and suggested they look into organic hog farming "Before she could finish speaking, hog farmer Winston Simpson of Clarence, Mo., jumped to his feet to say that although he appreciated her comments, farmers bristle at the idea that the Kerry campaign would would make organic farming a priority. "They freak," Simpson said...
:: Max 10:04 PM [+] ::
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