Kerry in Portsmouth Va today - shook his hand Twice

[2Design]

Kerry came to Portsmouth Va today. Only announced on Sunday, but there were a number of Kerry supporters there to greet him. He came half way through the parade for memorial day. It was great to see him and Mark Warner the Governor of Virginia. There is hope for this state yet.

The Kerry Aides think Virginia may be in play for the election in November. That was the most encouraging news I have have heard. I thought Virginia was a lost cause after their hateful constitution admendment against gays.

It was great to meet and greet other Kerry supporters. Some were ex-Dean or ex-Nadar. Took a number of pictures and will have to get developed.

When he arrived he came over to the crowd to shake hands before going up on the reviewing stand for the parade. There were so many people the parade route got blocked for a short time with the press and fans blocking the roadway.

Once they were cleared the parade continued. Kerry came back to the crowd to shake hands again after the parade. It was a steamy hot day and many people, including Kerry, look a little worn at the end. He spent at least an hour shaking hands after the parade. It was terrific.

He signed the Kerry poster I received there. Mark Warner signed it too. It was a great day in Virginia!!!!

Eileen :bounce: :silly: :party:

[Frances]

1. Great news!

[bigtree]

2. Thanks for this

:kick:

[Justice]

3. Thanks for Posting

It is always great to hear about these events from someone who attended them.

[JI7]

4. sounds great, Kerry is a great guy

where did you get the kerry poster from ? mark warner sounds like a nice guy. i think he might be the "surprise" vp pick .

[2Design]

9. poster was a John kerry President poster

They handed them out before Kerry came. It was really terrific. Another Kerry person whom I had walked down to the parade from my car with, bought me a kerry button. She just came back from buying some stuff and gave me the button. Just nice and friendly group.

We had a guy in the group with a poster, hand made, Republican for Kerry. He was interviewed by two tv stations. I watched the news at six and did not see him. The NBC station reported but did seem slanted Right.

They made sure they go the one Bush sign and said there were Bush supporters. There were four that I could see. It was so funny to watch the Kerry sign people trying to block the Bush signs.

[arwalden]

5. I'm Grinning For Ya... That's Exciting!!!

Wish I could have been there too.

-- Allen

[salonghorn70]

6. Great Reporting-What About Warner?

I even started sweating just reading about the hot day.

So, 28erl, what is your opinion of Warner. Do you like him? Will he help in Virginia? Let's hear some more from the Virginia hustings.

[2Design]

14. Mark has been governor for awhile....

I am not sure about Mark Warner. Most of what I hear has been positive. He tried to admend that hateful constitutional admendment but was over ridden by the hateful legislature.

Mark took over this state from I believe George Allen. Now George Allan is one of the hateful senators. George had a law that no unrelated people could get a loan for a home in this state. He did that during his term as Governor. Backwards, hateful, and aimed at gays and unmarried people from living together.

Back to Mark. The state was in enormous financial difficulties. Mark has done a lot to accept, recognized and change the shenigans. It has not always been easy but he seems to be tough. He cut lots of things to start with to get us back to fiscally responsible.

I had thought he was a independent because of the issues of fighting with the legislature. He was elected just before I got here. But he is democratic. I am only now really waking up to politics and the games, so forgiven me if I am not up on all the details.

Mark got the legislature to raise some taxes this year. The legislature is a lot Republican. He tried to balance it out. More tax on cigarettes than anything. I don't remember all the taxes that he raised. Lowered tax on food. That is the kind of thing he does. He looks at the big picture. Says ok, we have to change what we are doing. What can we cut, what can we add, how much more here and he tries, it seems, to do it and it be for the good of the whole. Yes there are parts that hurt, but the whole is better for it. at least this is my impression without knowing all the details.

So can Mark Warner help us, I don't know. He is in until 2006. Locally the elections this may went to the right wing people. People did not show up. I even asked some at the parade about that. The answer was, they didn't know who they were.

The Internet allows you to go and look people up and find out information. It is unfortunate we all don't vote. So Mark can help if people help themselves. They need to vote for more than just President. Part of that is for all of us to get more informed or find out how to get informed. The May elections were for city council and school board positions and Mayor. These are the people who influence others voters and our children.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

19. He took over from Jim Gilmore. He really screwed things up.

[Oddman]

7. I like Mark Warner and think he would be a good vp candidate . . .

[the Kelly Gang]

8. great..you shook the hand of the next President

[2Design]

11. Yes President Kerry ....nice

I like the sound of that. He just seems to have a big heart.

I especially like his hand shake. It was firm but not too tight. Genuine. Not a sloppy, fast, am done with you. You felt connected for a minute.

Just a genuine kind of guy. I like him. He seems like a person who will truly care.

I love that his Wife speaks five languages and see her as such an asset to him. Her work is so important to this world and to have two people like that in the peoples house, our house, will be so good.

[2Design]

10. Here is a link on yahoo about the parade and his visit

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040531/ap_on_el_pr/kerry&cid=536&ncid=536

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

12. I just want to give the man a big bear hug and a kiss on the cheek!

Am I cheesy or what?

[JI7]

13. you aren't the only one

i would love to give him a BIG hug and kiss.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

15. :) sigh...

[cosmicdot]

16. here's a photo and link to local article

Sen. John Kerry, center, appeared with Gov. Mark R. Warner to greet crowds at Portsmouth’s Memorial Day Remembrance Parade. HYUNSOO LEO KIM/THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT


By DEBBIE MESSINA , The Virginian-Pilot
© June 1, 2004 | Last updated 11:36 PM May. 31

PORTSMOUTH — Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John F. Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, spent most of Memorial Day in South Hampton Roads because, he said, “I’m a Navy man, and I love a Navy town.”

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=71064&ran=32636

[oasis]

17. JK appears to be getting a bit thin. He'll enjoy 4 years of WH meals.

[2Design]

18. Yes he is thin

That was what I noticed at the end, after he had shook most everyone's hands. As I looked at him, I realized he looked thin, tired, and it was so hot and steamy. He had taken his jacket off while on the reviewing stage but before he had even gotten off the stage to go shake hands, a young lady near me had fainted from the heat.


Must be a long day to start out at the Vietnam war memorial, do a etching of someone who had died 6 years after the war from a wound during the war and then fly to Norfolk va.

They did have food for him afterwards inside the bank. But who knows what else he was scheduled for that day. It was a long day. Most of us after a plane trip want to rest. This is a constant go, go, go.

It was so nice he took so much time to meet and greet everyone there who wanted to stay and shake his hand or get a signature.