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The New York Clarkies met downtown - in the little park across the old Customs House (now the American Indian museum). We were a huge crowd - enthusiastic and bearing good signs. We waited for a while - with some loud stadium music blaring at us. Clark came and "worked the rope" as the lingo goes, I got to tell him to stick with "This Land is Your Land" - because it resonates with a lot of my friends. He thanked me. Afterward we started walking towards Pace University - the debate site (about 20 blocks away) giving away Clark bars. We were a smaller group now but very spirited. A Columbia group had a whole song and dance routine (one on the theme of "Sound off" ) Their signs were theme coordinated "Another Chocolate lover for Clark" Another bad dancer for Clark" aso.We got to the City Hall Park were Dean was having a rally. We did our song and dance on a different part of the park with the cameras following us. At Pace large groups with professionally made signs were converging: Dean, Kerry, a few guys for Lieberman and a vocal group for Sharpton. As the large group of Deanies crossed the street from the park to Pace we engaged in dueling chants - but in a friendly way. Privately, we were telling each other - I'd vote for your guy - no problem" As the dueling chants went on, our brilliant Lu, sensed the vibe and started a new chant: DOWN WITH BUSH! Deanies joined in and we made some good music. Now the cop that up to that moment had no problem with our raukus, suddenly turned sour and waved us away from the Pace entry. As we crossed the street, our chant grew: DOWN WITH BUSH! DOWN WITH BUSH! Kerry people joined in: DOWN WITH BUSH! The few men in shirts and ties carrying Lieberman signs joined in too. Only the Sharpton gang stuck to their own chants - odd, considering how courteous their candidate was to ours. No matter. It was at that moment I knew: bush is toast! --
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