I got back from the Florida Democratic meeting...

[Lorien]

at Disney’s Coronado springs resort. I arrived there a little late today, so I missed most of Kerry’s speech. Clark was great, very inspiring. I watched his speech from Deans rally room, which was to the left of the ballroom. All the deanies there clapped and cheered as Clark slammed Bush* and spoke of the administrations missed opportunities and lies, and they cheered and shouted their approval as Clark laid out his plans and policies for a better America. Imagine that! A room full of Dean supporters cheering for clark and saying to one another “he’s good! I’d vote for him”!

Outside, some contentious Clarkies and Deanies- most of whom weren’t even listening to the speeches-yelled “Wes will win”! and “Go dean go”! and one another for a while,but slowly the chants changed, and soon they all yelled in unison “BUSH MUST GO! BUSH MUST GO”. It was a beautiful thing. :-)

Then Dean came to the stage. Thunderous applause and chanting. He started off a tad shakily, but soon had the crowd as wound up and excited as Clark had. A Kucinich supporter stood to my left, and he cheered and clapped as enthusiastically for Dean as the Dean supporters had for Clark. A Kerry supporter sat in front of me, and she jumped to her feet and cheered when Dean spoke of taking our party and our county back. There was a tremendous feeling of unity.

I’m sorry to say that most people left the room when Dean finished speaking. Most of the press packed up as well. Kucinich was on next. I heard Clarkies, Deanies, Gepherdt and Kerry supporter all saying to each other as they left the ballroom “Dennis is a great guy, it’s so sad that we live in a country that simply isn’t ready for someone like him.” I sat through much of Kucinich’s speech, and liked what he had to say, but I have to agree, our country isn’t ready; we need to evolve, we need to shift back to the center-left before we can make it all the way to the liberal left (I know a lot of Kucinich supporters will disagree). I hope that Dennis will run for the Senate-I’d love to see him as MAJORITY leader sometime soon! :-)

Overall, it was a wonderfully upbeat and positive experience. There was such an optimistic “can do” spirit there, and yes, there was a display on BBV ,lest any of you think it was blind optimism. Everyone there seemed fully aware of what we are up against-and ready to take it on!

Any other DUers there? I’d love to hear your take on the event.

[Armstead]

1. Thanks for the report

I saw some of it on Teevee, but nice to get a sense of it from someone who was there.

Unity is a good thing.

[caledesi]

20. C-Span? When? I missed it! Damn. eom

[Kathleen04]

2. Thanks for the report :) n/t

[Ilsa]

3. How exciting!

Thanks for the report. It was great that there was so much Dem unity there, also. Wish I could have been there.

[Gloria]

4. Thanks for the report....I watched most of it, but your report gives

a real feel to the whole thing....

[creativelcro]

29. Yup, I only disagree with the statement that Dean

started slow... From the C-SPAN feed it looks like the audience would not let him speak! He started firing right away...

[slinkerwink]

5. thanks for the report!

:hi:

[Rose Siding]

6. How upbeat!

Thanks- it's so refreshing to hear about the sense of unity and goodwill.

[Eloriel]

7. Fabulous report

Reports like this help me understand how much "coverage" you actually miss on C-span.

I wasn't going to post it (tho I obviously wanted to) but this seems an appropriate place, from the Dean blog:

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002553.html

Dean Grassroots Electrify Florida Convention
The crowds of blue and white and black and gold and green and doctor's coats and shaking prescription bottles were so eager to push in the door for Governor Dean's arrived. Every candidate had his supporters, chanting in a crowd -- when Dean came in, the entire floor lit up with signs and dancing and cheers and chants. The room swelled from right and left and both sides, and then Dean people and signs peppering every third seat. Gwen and Gina and I stood on our chairs, and I felt a deep sense of awe looking out at the moving, happy, determined crowd in every direction.

So many people up were front with signs they had to kneel when they weren't cheering, so right in front of us was a long line of adults kneeling with their signs, grinning back at everyone around them as Dean spoke, fresh and strong.

You saw him speak, I hope, on C-SPAN -- shirtsleeves rolled up, serious and funny and deeply presidential. You could hear the cheers, but some of the more powerful moments, moments only a true leader can create, were the moments of pause and reflection when he spoke about moral purpose in the international community, and personal responsibility for eachother in the national community -- in those moments the crowd was silent but nodding and looking inward, at our own power, at our own responsibility. A woman we met in Nashville explained that the reason she believed in Dean was that he believed in her, the reason she felt hopeful about this campaign was that the campaign was hopeful about her -- the hope in the room today came from that kind of inspiration. There were so many powerful people in that room today -- newly politically powerful people -- and we all felt it.

"We need someone who can energize people to beat Bush," said one man who'd been undecided, "and he has it." The couple next to me, who hadn't spoken to eachother throughout the entire convention, introduced themselves at the end of Dean's speech to ask what eachother thought -- this was interesting, new, infectious. "Nothing compared," said a group towards the back, "nothing compared to the energy in this room."

[Lorien]

15. Yep, that sounds about right

though to be fair, that wonderful energy was there for most of the candidates, though Dean and Clark seemed to generate the majority of it.

[caledesi]

21. El - thank you for this wonderful post. I almost felt as if I were there.

[calimary]

8. That may have been what I saw on Cspan earlier today.

Everything looked good. Everyone sounded good.

Unfortunately, I too agree that America probably isn't ready for Kucinich. We do indeed have to move back to center/left. The Grover Norquists of the world vow to go to retirement in the middle of the road, knowing they have pushed the whole country so far to the right that it'll make 'em look like moderates. Frankly, sometimes I think I'd like to see a country that would make ME look like a moderate.

[Jerseycoa]

9. Glad you reported

I know you weren't in the room, but did you hear anything of Gen. Clark being booed twice inside the room where the stage was? It was clear over the TV. Also, somebody said Dean supporters "sat on their hands" instead of clapping for Clark. It did appear this way on TV. But you are telling a different and happier story and I am glad to hear it. I hope more people who were there report on their experiences.

[Lorien]

12. The room I was in

had a door open to the main ballroom-I could see Clark from there (it was just so packed that I chose not to go in until the breather between candidates). I couldn't hear any booing, but ALL candidates supporters seemed to be cheering for what Clark had to say; after all, what was there to disagree with? I saw one Kerry person and two Lieberman supporters not cheer the other candidates (maybe they just weren't feeling well? Who knows), but the rest of the room was on their feet for each one. It was VERY encouraging!

[Jerseycoa]

14. Thanks again

I'm glad to hear it.

[kentuck]

10. Interesting perspective I have never heard before...

"we need to shift back to the center-left before we can make it all the way to the liberal left"

[Zomby Woof]

11. you are right

We aren't there yet, as a nation, for Kucinich's vision. But I am glad he is in the race, and that the supporters of the other candidates are listening to him, and giving him his due. I am proud to support him, and want everyone to know we will stand united when the time comes.

Great report, thanks Jen!

[Indiana_Dem]

13. I watched it from Edwards onward......

You are right. Clark's speech was the best I ever heard. He needs to save that one and give it again and again and again! He inspired me. I will be voting for him in the primaries.

Dean and Kucinich were on fire!

I think the crowd is right that the public isn't ready for Kucinich's ideas yet. His ideas sounded so utopian and unattainable to me as I listened although they are excellent ideas and inspirational at that! I only wish the world was more like him.

If Dean and Clark got together I think it would blow the Repubs away!!!! I wish it would happen so badly because I really favor them both. They each have their own styles. Clark spoke about everything I wanted to hear and with passion. Dean's in your face like-it-or-not honesty I would respect as well in many situations. I don't really know why I want to choose Clark over Dean. I just have a gut feeling about it. Regardless, as with the convention people today, I will support whoever wins the nomination wholeheartedly!!!

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[Myra]

16. The gut feeling factor and General Clark

I get that from him too holyrollerdem.
I like him on a lot of levels, not just that one.
But I think he's way up in the lead on the gut feeling factor,
aka the "holy crap he's impressive factor."

[meow mix]

17. guts for me too!

i keep expecting him to like... start glowing, and flying around and stuff.
but he just stays normal.

noo, he must at least have a crystal fortress somewhere in antartica.

[madfloridian]

18. Hubby just got in. Very excited.

Here is a picture of a new button someone gave him.

[Lorien]

27. I would be interested to hear

your hubby's take on the whole thing. Sounds like he was pretty jazzed too! Too bad we can't seem to inspire a similar feeling of hope and unity here on DU.

Hey, I saw a great bumper sticker there too, it read; "a working person voting Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders" lol!

[caledesi]

19. Thanks for the great report Jen. Makes me feel so good!

We are going to win this one. Dean/Clark Clark/Dean....let's do it!

[Auntie Bush]

22. Dean is on C-SPAN now (12.:55AM) giving his speech.

i just finished watching Clark. Man he was awesome!
Dean is getting the crowd worked up now.
Thanks Jen for the uplifting report.

[Lorien]

24. Both Clark and Dean

had great praise for Graham today (of course, they were in Florida), and I wouldn't be at all surprised if either one chose Graham as their running mate. However, Dean/Clark, Clark/Dean would be an unbeatable ticket, IMHO.

[TexasPatriot]

23. thanks to Jen

and to ALL the people who went and were gracious and encouraging to all the candidates. It gets frustrating in here sometimes - what with all the people either pretending to be supporters of candidate A or B or actually supporting that candidate in a negative fashion (that sways no one, but makes their candidate look bad). It's good to see that real democrats, in a real life situation, act the way democrats should. United in our opposition and united in our appreciation of all the aspects of our broad tent.

Kudos to Florida!!!

[Toucano]

25. I too support Dennis for US Senate! n/t

[Lorien]

26. I don't have cable. What was the coverage like?

Was there a lot of "spin", or did they just show the speeches?

[UTUSN]

28. All Speeches Rolled on Their Own on C-SPAN

and KERRY and EDWARDS were at least as effective as everybody else. KERRY had a Q&A besides speechifying and EDWARDS was VERY loose, relaxed, and laughing. C-SPAN being C-SPAN, the audience responses were unevenly conveyed and difficult to weigh against one another for each speaker. On Capital Gang they said that DEAN had the hands down response. Today, some stuffed shirt from the Orlando Sentinel was spewing PURE wingnut spiel, saying that "their leaders" had TOLD Dems that just anger was not enough and positive options were needed----but do those Dems LISTEN?----no-o-o-o-o.

[Lorien]

32. Well, Dean had an incredible response, but

I don't know if I could honestly say it was significantly better than Clarks. I popped in for a little bit at the tail end of Kerry's speech, and the crowd was pretty wound up there as well. I heard several non Edwards supporters in the hall talking about how impressed they were with him, so I was sorry that I missed it (parking was at the Animal Kingdom-well away from the resort, and had many people coming in late).

Where does the press get off focusing on "anger"? I didn't sense "anger" there, just optimism and determination. Almost a feeling of various armies preparing themselves for battle against a common foe; joking and laughing, yet knowing that the days ahead will require everything they have.If one commander falls, it seemed his troops would quickly join another under the same banner. I hope that's what happens, and that we won't become fractured and weakened again as we have in the past.

[Le Taz Hot]

30. Thanks so much!

I absolutely LOVE hearing first-hand reports from events such as these. It's amazing how amicable and supportive most of us can be, regardless of which candidate we back, in real life, isn't it? Such a far cry from the few but prolific candidate bashers here at DU. I think it illuminates how out of touch they really are.

Again, thanks for the first-hand report and I'll be returning the favor in January (16-19) when I return from the California Democratic Convention.

[Gin]

31. I like Dean...but if he doesn't make it...I will support the Democratic

nominee.

[Lorien]

33. I can't wait for your report!

A lot can happen in just a few weeks.

Yes, I agree, the candidate bashers here at DU are fairly out of touch with "mainstream" democrats-I was relived to see that yesterday! I'm wonding now if many of the regular bashers are GOP trolls or just lonely malcontents, looking for someone, anyone, to direct their personal anger towards. I just didn't see it here in Florida. I gave me great hope that-if we can overcome the BBV issue-we stand a good chance of changing America's direction (not just the presidency-but the house and senate as well). I've never felt that kind of "can do" spirit and unity at a democratic fuction before, and I worked at several Al Gore rallies in 2000. Bring as many people as you can to the CA convention; i think they'll find it very inspiring and will pass on their enthusiaism to others. :-)

[lumpy]

34. The whole event was inspiring

and held a very hopeful note. I am impressed with all the candidates. The thing to be aware of is, which candidate would have the charisma to pull in the voters who have little time or inclination to spend time outside of their immediate concerns. So many people are struggling to meet their financial & family obligations they barely can take the time to relax let alone dive into political complexities & barnstorming.