Happy News from a Sestak event

[MH1]

Okay, you all have forced me to post this. I came in and started reading that censure thread and got about halfway through and said to myself, that's it, I've had enough, I gotta tell my good story.

Since today is the last day on the current filing period (guess it goes by quarters) there was a fundraiser tonight for my congressional candidate, Joe Sestak (who I understand is quite pleased by all the $$$$$$ Kerry raised for him).

So I wore two buttons, a Sestak for Congress (of course) and on the other side, my "John Kerry is My President" button that Dynamic Dems gave me in Boston. (Thanks, DD!! :hug:).

I got a lot of compliments on the Kerry button all evening. Several people told me that they still have their Kerry stickers on. Even one of the more important people on the campaign staff told me "I really like your button." Another fellow, who had been fairly involved in the Kerry campaign in 2004, including being at the convention, made a point of talking about how great a guy Kerry really is and how it's a shame so many people "even in the Democratic Party" seem to not really know what kind of person he really is - "what a great guy" - and just take their image of him from the media. This was very cool because the last time I saw this fellow and the topic of Kerry came up, he was a little less positive than I would have expected for someone who worked so hard in 2004. So it was great to hear him saying really nice things about JK again.

But the best part is that as I was heading out the door, that fairly important campaign staffer made a point to shake my hand again, and he said "I want you to know I really meant it - I really like your button." I took it as saying that he realizes there's been a lot of trash talk in the party, but he's not buying it. I'm not naming names but I think it was a good person to be saying that - I'm thinking it's a good indication of the general climate towards Kerry among the whole group. All the more reason for me to happily support Joe Sestak!

Very cool.

Okay really that's alot of words about probably not much, but just the general attitude at that event, among the folks I talked to at least, was so positive to Kerry that I just have to chuckle a little (although still a bit wryly) when I log back onto DU and see all this censure crap. It really is quite a different world, isn't it?

(And oh yeah - Joe Sestak is looking and sounding better every time I see him, on the issues as well as presentation and campaign organization - and he started out pretty darn good. I think he's really going to do it!)

So that's my happy story. What's yours?

[jenndar]

1. That's awesome! Thanks for sharing! n/t

[ProSense]

2. Really wonderful story. Thanks! n/t

[wisteria]

3. Oh, how nice. Renewed support within the party.

It is a good feeling.
I have a button story to, similar to yours, but just ordinary folks. I was at our local State Store the other day and on my pocket book is a John Kerry 2008 button. The store clerk, unsolicited pointed to the pin and said she liked it and......added she liked John Kerry....adding again that she really liked him quite a lot. I got a similar reaction from the US Post Office clerk when he saw my button. Now, I get excited about these comments because I live in a part of the state that is considered Bush country.

I just love these good comments.

[globalvillage]

5. Something similar happened to me in the airport yesterday

It was a book, though (The New War). It feels good when people openly express their support.

Speaking of Kerry pins, I have a collection of sorts. Does that sound a little obsessive? :blush:

Oh, well. Maybe it is. Wanna see my favorites?

[MH1]

6. Hee hee...I know the book of which you speak.

In fact I will be reading a few pages in it very soon now, just before I drift off to sleep.

Thanks again!

[wisteria]

9. Sure, I have a few myself. n/t

[MH1]

7. Your story is really good too - especially since it's "Bush country".

I have a feeling that "country" is losing population pretty quickly these days.

[globalvillage]

4. Good to hear.

I love this stuff. Sounds like you had a good time, and that the Senator is regaining a lot of support. I know he is in my circle, but seems like more and more people are coming around.

Yay. Very cool.

[TayTay]

8. What a great story!

I am very glad to hear that the fundraising letter was so successful. That's good news indeed. Sestak sounds like a very good candidate and I'm glad Sen. Kerry supports him. (And I still think you will get a Kerry visit sometime in the near future to show support.)

My happy story, hmmmmm. It's been on here already. My greatly, deeply and muchly esteemed taller Senator is going to raise money to help his home state elect a Democrat as Governor. He is also going to go around the Noble Commonwealth of Massachusetts and campaign against Kerry Healey. (Who offends me greatly. It's a positive thread, I'll leave it at that.) I am thrilled with this. He has also pledged to raise a cool million to give to the Democratic nominee in September as a 'Congratulations - you just won a grueling primary, what are you going to do next?' present. ("I'm going to whip Kerry Healey's butt, that's what!")

This gratifies me beyond my ability to tell. It warmed the inner and outer cockles of my heart. I am very, very happy with this news. And I hope to be in attendance when the good Senator comes to Worcester and gives a speech to the assembled Democrats of Massachusetts and, ahm, talks to us as a big group for the first time since, well, since a long time ago. ('03 maybe? I think he's been rather busy lately and could not attend the various large state conventions. Hmmm, welcome home Senator. This convention is the third largest in the world and there will be over 5,000 elected delegates there. Perhaps they shall make some noise.) I will, undoubtedly, get the vapors at such a momentous occasion. (There have been a lot of Kerry-people around at events lately. Very, very nice. I am now hopelessly spoiled. Sigh!)

[sandnsea]

10. Check the REST of the Luntz article

On Kerry and the ten-point plan quote:

It was the highest tested soundbite of both sessions, and the comments indicate just how effective it is:

-- “Wow! He is now my pick. I forgot a lot of his views. I think a Kerry-Edwards or a
Kerry-Clinton ticket would be awesome.”
-- “He has warmed considerably since 2004.”
-- “Human, funny, visionary, smart, great ideas, has a plan. Great ’10 things’ list, likeable,
solid, experienced.”

People got bamboozled by the right wing talking points. You know, during the campaign I said they needed to send out a Kerry CD to all the hot spots in the country. CD's aren't that expensive to reproduce, cheaper than alot of print really. We have to get him into people's homes, right on their computers. If we did that, he'd win hands down, and he'd be the overnight leader of the party. You hear it time and again, people love him when they meet him or hear him again. That's really what that focus group showed.

I don't think the actual Luntz piece ever got posted, I think we just got an article about it.

http://images.dailykos.com/images/user/3/Luntz_2008.pdf

[karynnj]

14. That is impressive

It's strange as it is so different from the Kerry summary in the article - which not as negatives that people were angry about the loss. If these were comments after exposure - the article really is not reflecting the results. That is cool that it was the highest rated sound bite.

I need to read this in its entirety.

[Island Blue]

11. Great story MH!

Here's mine. (It doesn't take much to make me happy.) Yesterday I attended a local conference that focused entirely on issues that effect children in our community. It was held at a hotel, and I saw no less than five Kerry/Edwards bumper stickers on cars in the parking lot. I guess this is to be expected, because almost everyone who attended the conference works in some way with or for kids. (Enough said.)

I then went to K-Mart (not quite as evil as Wal-Mart, she rationalizes) and there was a car with a Bush/Cheney sticker and a Richard Burr sticker, parked illegally in a fire zone. (Enough said.)

[_dynamicdems]

12. That's a nice story! I'm really glad to hear that people out there get it

about Senator Kerry. He IS our President! Cool that the button is getting some notice.

I've got my buttons (a whole collection of them) on one wall of my cubicle at work. I've also got another section that co-workers refer to as my "Kerry shrine" and that is a pretty accurate description.


My happy story: just Kerry stuff I've been collecting. Recent finds: a beautiful Kerry photo on ceramic plate, 3 unique ceramic photo tiles, Kerry '04 dollar bills, Kerry '04 playing cards, a reporter's badge from the 2004 Dem convention with JK's photo in the middle and lots more.
(Hey, I still have stuff from when I campaigned for Hubert Humphrey as a Teen Dem. I've got a several campaign cards with Humphrey's pix on the front and a Patriot's season schedule on the back.)

[ginnyinWI]

13. Funny how the MSM and DU are of one opinion about JK

He's either a negative or he's non-existent. The invisible man. Well, not to all DU-ers-- but the highly vocal ones pollute the whole place sometimes.

But out in the real world, not the blogosphere or TVland, it's good to know that JK still enjoys popularity. (problem is with the power both of those entities have!)

[karynnj]

15. Great story and great news

This is excellent -less than a year and a half after the election. It suggests there's a lot of latent support. The really great thing is that Kerry is simply doing what he thinks is best and right and it helps the country while giving him his best shot as President or as an excellent MA Senator, if he chooses that. (better than tradeoffs where X helps you, but not X helps the party or country.