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Desertrose...reporting live from...well I'm home now, but I was there live yesterday and I wanted to share this with my DU friends!
Too bad all you Dennis supporters couldn't have been there last nite...of course CNN didn't cover all the fun outside the Orpheum...but I was there...so here's the"skinny"....
We DK shirted supporters, all properly buttoned & signed, were hanging out in the Wyndham Hotel, waiting to accompany Dennis to the Orpheum - about 2 blocks away, to get ready for the debates. We were in a small group laughing and looking forward to seeing Dennis & I suddenly heard this booming southern accented voice say "Hi y'all. How ya doing? "
Looked over & there was John Edwards, smiling and waving to us. (Its funny - you get used to seeing these guys on TV and suddenly there he was about 10 feet away- live and in person!) I said "Hi John. We're great. How you doing? Good luck tonite!" and then he was gone to the elevators. He had one man with him and no one else around. (He seems very personable in "real life".)
Shortly after John went through we saw the Dean shirted supporters come down waiting either for Howard to appear there or to also go down to the Orpheum. One suited man comes through and says when Howard comes through you will all move out of the way for us won't you? I made an attempt at humor saying "no, we'll lay down and make you step over us." Ooops, bad timing I guess, don't think he appreciated my joke so I immediately said "Of course we'll move. This is all about working together and cooperating. We'll make way for you and if Dennis comes you can give us space." One of the DK supporters took pictures of some of the Dean supporters when they asked her to. It was really very mellow.
We got the word that Dennis was getting a ride down the the Orpheum ( it was pretty darn warm to walk it all dressed for the debate) so we all went down and joined the larger DK group. Man...they were already hyped!!! I think we definitely "won" for the most creative signs and the most vocal group! CNN, FOX & local stations were shooting a lot of footage (I know cause I managed to make my way right up to the police tape ...being short I wanted to see over all the signs, banners & posters! They definitely filmed all our signs.) We chanted and sang "Give peace a chance".
I kept noticing this tall goofy guy- dressed like a clown who was just being really silly and was out in front talking with the police & newsmen and realized it was Patch Adams!! He was there to support Dennis!!!!
Finally Dennis was there and we went wild!! He seemed genuinely surprised and pleased to see us all there. We greeted him with "Happy Birthday!!!" as he came around and spoke a few minutes and shook hands and we cheered and chanted and well, I said that already, didn't I? He actually spent quite a bit of time with his supporters before he had to go in for makeup. It was just this great high energy, positive even if rather spirited!
Everything seemed mellow- they had the street closed in front of the Orpheum and I only noticed about 4- maybe half a dozen cops (although there may have been more)... they were low key and I think just possibly, enjoying the show in the street.
We hung out as a group for quite awhile.. saw Kerry come across the street - he had supporters too- hard to tell how many and then Dean came in his limo. His supporters were cheering him and we saw a banner appear from one of the office buildings. It didn't seem to me he spent much time with them but from my position across the street and the Kerry & Dean people mixed together- it was tough to tell...plus by this time they wanted them everyone for makeup & so forth.
At this point I had to go back to the Wyndham to see how the party arrangements were coming since I had arranged for the band to play...now if you like great rock- you simply HAVE to hear these guys play. They are awesome!!! "2 SUNS". The band was pretty well set up and they cut loose for about 30 minutes before the debates started on our giant screen TV in the Sand Painter Room at the hotel. The room was filled with Green party, peace party and other folks tabling...we had a silent auctions and birthday gifts....this was a serious kick ass party, folks!
We all watched the debate and were pretty disgusted at CNN's crappy coverage and the miniscule amount of time given to Dennis. (I think had it not been for the fact we knew Dennis was coming later, the crowd would have mutinied and gone down & stormed the gates... seriously... they so blatantly ignored Dennis I wanted to...well.... nevermind):shrug:
OK...debate over...giant TV off...
"2 SUNS" starts to seriously rock and I mean seriously...with their own material...even played a new one...quality rock and roll with a positive message....(I think Dennis' theme song should be "New Reality"!) We even had a Dean supporter come down & say "Dean has disco!" He liked our music so much he kicked in a few bucks for the band! Dancing and groovin' baby...waitin' for DK...and as someone shouts "he's here!" - the band switches into "Imagine" with Gina's haunting vocals as Dennis walks in he is just blown away by the amount of people in the room so happy to see him. I got to shake his hand and even slip him a wee birthday gift ashe made his way through the crowd! Patch Adams and Mimi Kennedy introduced him and he spoke in his inspiring way to us, took some questions and after was given a surprise birthday cake-all vegan!!
Unfortunately he had to catch a flight out to the NAACP debates on the east coast so we didn't have as much time as we'd hoped with him ( How does he do it I wonder!)
We did manage to get Gina & Gary -2 SUNS - an opportunity to give Dennis a CD and he was so sweet- he shook Gina's hand, held it actually and made her tell him all the songs on the CD and thanked them both for the great music and asked Gary to make sure to have contact info....and Desertrose even managed to say hello to Dennis again. :)
It was a great great evening and experience...in spite of CNN & the media's exclusion of Dennis....but you know what? What I saw and have been feeling from his supporters....this is a very deep thing and I am sure, at some point , sooner rather than later...they will be unable to ignore Dennis as the amount of grassroots and groundswell support will no longer be able to be denied....
....and for all the Dean & Kerry people I saw, who came to Dennis' party...welcome!!
The hotel valets told us we partied longer and better than any of the others.....
So a big wahoo for Dennis and another big wahoo to the AZ DK TEAM! Sherry, Robert, Kevin and my thanks to 2 SUNS!!
:grouphug:
Peace
DR
PS Anyone intersted in the 2 SUN's CD- pm me :)
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