Okay, some raw impressions of that speech

[TayTay]

First of all, it wasn't just one speech. It really wasn't. I'm so glad that C-Span will air this as a complete program. It needs to be seen as a complete program. This was brilliantly put together and all the speeches ran together as a thematic whole. They really did. I have been to events where this was attempted but it came off as awkward, or one speaker was not in sync with the others and so forth. This program was a complete presentation with common themes being passed from the first speaker to the next and then to the next and then, finally to Sen. Kerry.

It needs to be seen that way. It really, really does. It was a very special day and an honor to be there.

I have often (perhaps too often) posted about that Hall and how high a regard I hold it in. That's because John Adams spoke there and he voiced his anguished dissent about the treatment that his 'nation' of Massachusetts was receiving from an uncaring and unresponsive king in a distant land. Frederick Douglas spoke there and voiced his anger and his dissent at the treatment of African-Americans who were being held in legal slavery in his nation. Lucy Stone spoke there about the rights of women and voiced her passionate dissent about how women were denied their human rights and the precious right to vote. Dissent is the lifeblood of Faneuil Hall, it is the reason the place exists, it is that reminder from history that freedom often depends on those who risk everything to speak out and to speak truth. That is what that place means in American History.

The whole of the program today spoke to that tradition. It talked again about an America that is off course and is morally adrift. It talked about how hard it is to dissent and to try to get people to change their minds and support necessary change. It talked about the moral imperative of seeing wrong and trying to right it. Every speaker had that as the text, every speaker was eloquent on this. It really was an amazing event. It was a privilege to be in Faneuil Hall today and to see this in person. I don't think I will soon forget it and the emotion of it.

Senator Kerry's speech was not just well-written. It was not just delivered in his usual polished way. It was a felt speech. It came from some other place inside and it looked like it was almost freeing for him to be delivering it. I don't know, but this seems like the speech that he has been wanting and waiting to give for a long time. The speech was powerful and emotional and it really did connect back to that man who sat in front of that Senate Committee so long ago, and the man who sits behind a desk at that same committee today. It just felt like it had elements of a homecoming in it as well.

Again, it was a privilege to be in that Hall today. I wish you had all been there. It was a really, really well done event. I am still digesting it and all the points that were made. I could easily watch this again (and again) because there is a lot to ponder in here.

[ginnyinWI]

1. I can't wait to see it

Imagine reading all of these wonderful posts about the event today and having to wait until tomorrow! I believe that it must have come from deep down inside; his speeches never sound more heartfelt as when he's talking about the troops and war. He's emotionally connected to every other combat veteran, past and present.

[globalvillage]

2. Thank you, Tay

I know that was probably stressful. Thanks for blogging it for us.

[Island Blue]

3. Thanks Tay Tay.

It must have been incredible to hear the speeches of JK and the others on such hallowed ground. Just walking around in Faneuil Hall you can FEEL the history, I can't imagine being there for an event like this. Thanks to you and everyone else for doing such an fantastic job today.

[ProSense]

4. Thanks Tay!

When I watch this tomorrow, I'll be trying to imagine being there in person after all the great descriptions shared by you and the others. Sounds like it was an super awesome experience.

[YvonneCa]

5. Thank you, Tay Tay...

...what you say confirms what I believe (and posted earlier):
>>>>>
As a Kerrycrat old enough to remember his testimony in 1971, I am convinced more than EVER that this is the man who can 'heal the old wounds' and bring this country back together. That is a wonderful Op-Ed! I don't think our country ever fully healed from that Vietnam split between fathers and sons of my generation. Having a President Kerry speak out about this has the power to lance the wound and clear the air... FULLY...not just move past it like we did. If so, that's about the only good thing to come from this illegal war in Iraq.
>>>>


What John Kerry did in 1971, as a very young man, embodied our country's highest values...but he was not viewed that way (by many) at the time. Now, as a more mature, experienced leader, Iraq seems to have pushed him to come to terms with his own legacy. It's wonderful to see! Today's speech is both the culmination of a life CREATED by 1971 and the beginning of John Kerry's future legacy. He is risking everything to speak out and speak the truth. I think he WILL be President. :patriot:

[sandnsea]

6. Thanks Tay

I hope they show the entire program. Was CSpan there the whole time? Maybe we should suggest that they should either sell these events on CD, or let us pay and download them. I am so tired of missing so much because the idiot box won't show them. As the speech was going on, my husband and I were practically throwing shit at the tv because they were busy informing us that cooking eggs would kill bird flu bacteria and the ins and outs of National Georgraphic's special on the DaVinci Code.

:argh:

I can't wait to see this tomorrow, and from your description, I'm glad for him. I can't imagine what it's been like for him to have this bottled up inside these past few years.

[whometense]

7. I felt glad for him too.

He was magnificent. It was such an emotional event, I think for him, and definitely for the people who came to hear him. Sitting there, I kept imagining what it would have been like to hear Sam Adams speak.

Today felt (to me) like the beginning of another kind of revolution. People were so thirsty to hear him say what he said. I know the repukes are out there tonight making shit up about how angry John Kerry is (a particularly egregious comment in that NECN report by a local repug official), but he was a shining star of optimism. In fact, he addressed that in one of my favorite parts of the speech:

The true defeatists today are not those who call for recognizing the facts on the ground in Iraq. The true defeatists are those who believe America is so weak that it must sacrifice its principles to the pursuit of illusory power.

The true pessimists today are not those who know that America can handle the truth about the Administration's boastful claim of "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq. The true pessimists are those who cannot accept that America's power and prestige depend on our credibility at home and around the world. The true pessimists are those who do not understand that fidelity to our principles is as critical to national security as our military power itself.

And the most dangerous defeatists, the most dispiriting pessimists, are those who invoke September 11th to argue that our traditional values are a luxury we can no longer afford.

Let's call it the Bush-Cheney Doctrine.

[beachmom]

8. Thank you for that summary, Tay Tay

As someone else said, I'm sure today was stressful, what with live blogging and the connection not working, so I am glad that with all of THAT, you were able to still be in the moment.

I actually think it WAS an historical moment, and maybe the history books might end up using Sen. Kerry's quotes in them.

[kerrygoddess]

9. Tay Tay's Photos are here

MH posted them in the Dem Daily Gallery - http://pics.thedemocraticdaily.com/v/Faneuil+Hall+Speech/MH/



P.S. The Gallery is available for Kerrycrats to use for Kerry events. You can register and I'll set up galleries for future events.

[globalvillage]

10. Dayum.

Now that guy looks like a President.

[WildEyedLiberal]

11. He is exquisite.

Mmm... yum. :9

[ProSense]

12. Thanks! That's

my President. Awesome photos!

[jillan]

14. Great pics!

Can't wait to see the speech live - well - taped.

[Island Blue]

15. Great photos!

Looks like you guys literally had a front row seat to history!

[TayTay]

16. One tennsy correction

I was attempting to blog. I gave my camera to LevensonK. These awesome pics where done with her nice photographers eyes.

Team efforts are nice!

[politicasista]

13. Was Momma T there? n/t

[TayTay]

17. We did not see the lovely and talented THK

Alexandra and Vanessa Kerry were there, looking good, as usual. The Senator's brother Cam was there. But Teresa did not attend, that I know of. Reason unknown, but there were rumors that she was either busy in another state or not feeling quite up to snuff. I knoweth not.

[politicasista]

33. I hope she is doing ok. n/t

[Blaukraut]

18. it was incredible

The Senator was at his best yesterday. His passion came through completely in every word of his speech. The crowd listened, there were some vocal outbursts of approval (another passionate soul who could not contain him/herself) and many standing ovations, some of which lasted a minute or more.
I took pictures with my camera and Tay's camera intermittently. It was pretty hard to applaud with a camera dangling off each wrist, but it was well worth it! (I'll post some of mine and hubby's in a bit)
Of the family members I saw;
Cam, sister Diana, the girls. No Teresa :-(
Dynamicdems attempted to take a picture of the seats that had been reserved for the family (they were labeled with handwritten stickies - looked cute), but I don't think it came out. I'm still digesting all of it. Hubby is as well. He, being retired military, was especially moved by Cap. Powers' and Don Droze's (JK's crewmate on the swiftboat)widow's speech.
At one point, the good Senator came close to losing his composure - I think it was when the young captain paraphrased that famous question JK asked 35 years ago; 'How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake.'
We sat pretty close, and I'm positive, I saw JK's eyes mist up. It made me get teary-eyed right along with him and hubby.
I hope everyone gets to see the speech this evening. It is absolutely a NO MISS!!!

[Blaukraut]

19. pics

John during the speech


John signing autographs afterward.


Right after his rousing speech. You can see Alex on the left, right at the bottom left corner of the painting. She was checking out the crowd.

[sandnsea]

20. Awesome!!

I see her there. What an incredible experience for her. I should have raised my kids in Boston!!!

[ProSense]

21. Wow! Thanks!

Kerry looked and sounded great!

[karynnj]

22. It was an incredibly awesome event

As you can see from the CSPAN coverage - the speeches were awesome. There was incredible applause and many many standing ovations. What was amazing was nearly every part of it could have been the highlight, pointed to as a gem, in anyone else's speech. But, this speech couldn't have been made by anyone else.

Even though the speech was speaking loudly against all the Bush abuses, there was a tone of idealism and a call to return to our values. After the speech people seems in awe of what they saw, inspired and charged - though it was an intensely serious speech. I am so glad I went as this is very very likely the best speech I will ever hear.

I agree with Tay Tay that the 3 speeches went to together connecting in so many wonderful ways. Judy Droz was incredible, her story of protesting as a widow with a baby and being attacked for it really showed they would attack anyone.

It was beyond cool meeting so many people from here - so I can now assign faces to names. I will definately tape it later today. (We got in very late from MA)

[whometense]

24. Glad you got home ok,

and it was wonderful meeting you and your husband.

Funny that you should say this: there was a tone of idealism and a call to return to our values. After the speech people seems in awe of what they saw, inspired and charged - though it was an intensely serious speech.

I felt exactly the same way - just wrote this over at Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/hotlist/add/2006/4/23/115230/700/displaystory//

My allegiance to Kerry is due to the fact that he, among all public officials, makes me feel the most hopeful for the future.

[karynnj]

25. I don't know about you, but I had the hardest time trying to express

that feeling. It was weird because people were definately affected. It wasn't a campaign speech that could create almost euphoria, but it was a very positive feeling. I think it might be that Kerry was able to eloquently take back for us what was always the truth that we are the ones true to our country's heritage - and he could say it as the Adams looked on in spirit. It was a shift from defense to offense and it was freeing.

It was great meeting you and the others. (We ended up stopping in Worcester to see our daughter who changed her mind - so we had a nice visit.)

[whometense]

35. Kids!

;-)

I'm glad you got to see her.

[fedupinBushcountry]

23. Tears were streaming down my face

from the young Captain to the end. I can't wait to watch it again and grasp onto each and every word.

How lucky you were to be there and be a part of this, you guys did an awesome job on your liveblogging, and got through the technical difficulties beautifully.

:yourock:

[beachmom]

26. I also teared up from the Captain

What got me was how he's now working to help Iraqi children. This is what I've been looking for from anti-war activists. It can't just be about saving American soldiers. We need to reach out to the Iraqis and help them, but in a non-military nonintimidating way. And this guy is doing it. If I haven't said it before, I've kinda fallen in love with the Iraqi people -- their sense of humor, their ability to stay human in truly inhuman circumstances, the way they keep plugging away, and dreaming about their future. A friend of mine went to Iraq many years ago, and he said the people were so welcoming and warm -- he was moved by them. Can I just plug my generation a bit here, too -- Generation X -- I'm pretty proud of our soldiers the way they have innovated so much around an incoherent strategy. I don't think people will be able to marginalize us anymore.

[Island Blue]

30. I loved what the Captain said about helping the Iraqi children.

I was thinking when he was talking about the program, that maybe that could be our next group project - a donation in honor of the good Captain and Senator. Just a thought.

Overall, the entire event was outstanding and extremely moving. A few thoughts on JK's speech: 1.) You could definitely hear the echos of Kerry circa 1971. 2.) I loved the respectful raucousness of the crowd (I think that may be an oxymoron, not sure). 3.) Damn that man has big hands. 4.) Why hasn't he been delivering the State of the Union Address for the past two years? and 5.) This country NEEDS this man as our president.

[politicasista]

27. Watching it right now

He looks and sounds presidential. Lots of applause. :patriot:

[TayTay]

28. All the comments have been wonderful!

I just dropped MH off at the train station, so I now have some down-time myself. (MH and I have been brain-storming all day. My brain is now really ahm, stormed. Owww!)

Like I said, this was really a privilege to be there. I will always remember it.

Swagger of those who have never worn the uniform... or had to bury the results.

Damn, when he's on, there's nobody better. Nobody.

[saltpoint]

29. Your being there means those of us who wished to be were extremely

well represented.

Thank you.

[k j]

31. Thrilled

to bits that so many of you had the awesome opportunity to be there yesterday. Memory of a lifetime. :-)

[politicasista]

32. Thanks again TayTay and everyone that went

:yourock: :kick: :grouphug: :hi:

[TayTay]

34. Believe me 'sista, it was an honor to be there.

That meant a great deal to me. I have rambled on and on about that place and we all know that I am rather fond of my taller Senator, and I adore powerful, purposeful speeches that ask the citizenry to stand up and become involved. The combination of all these things in one event was extraordinary. It was an honor to be present and a privilege to be in that Hall.

Let me tell you, that joint was rockin' yesterday. The thing that didn't come across on C-Span because of their use of a single camera position, was how much each speaker connected with the crowd. You good folks saw the young Captain that stole my heart. (Hands off PA! I know you have Senator-envy, but my young Captain's only 27 and someday.... someday, we will need new talent. He belongs to us, did you hear him say 'cahz'? I refuse to give him up. No way, no how. He is the future of the Democratic Party in Massachusetts and I say, 'Findies, Keepies.' I am not sharing. What a cutie and I think his speaking skills will get way better someday on the campaign trail, don't you?)

I think Senator Kerry was interrupted about 30 times by loud, raucous, applause. It was ear-splitting approval, complete with the foot stomping in the balconies that is so typical of crowds in that particular Hall. Remember, those other opening speeches were deeply, deeply personal and emotional. (Gawd in heaven, Judith Droz Keyes nearly had me in tears. She was that good.) But Kerry OWNED that crowd. He is their Senator, they know him and they have been waiting for this speech. He OWNED that crowd. The next time DKos says that 'nobody loved Kerry in the '04 primary cycle' show him this damn video. That crowd loved him, loudly and vocally. Those were 'his people' and boy oh boy did he ever deliver a barn-burner. I won't soon forget this event, it was amazing.

And yeah, I did expect it. My taller Senator is rather good you know. (MH, really, he is very, very good and achieves excellence on many occasions. So yeah, Mass-souls are spoiled, but we also wait for things like this. We know what the good Senator is capable of and are moved when he delivers. But we always knew he had it in him. That was no surprise. He is quite good you know.)

[karynnj]

36. I can second everything Tay said

Even from the moment that they were introduced and gave in to applause and cheers, they had the crowd. It was a really really good event where it was obvious that each of the speakers was very personally connected to the Senator.

It was clear within the first couple of minutes that this was an exquistitely written and delivered speech. Much of his family was there, so it was clear that this was a very personal important speech for him. What was amazing was how the speech kept getting better as he went on. At the end, it seemed the applause wouldn't stop - and it didn't until he walked out.

[kerrygoddess]

37. Before the NH Primary

My daughter and I attended the NH Dems dinner with KarenDC and couple of other folks. We had the prvilege of seeing all the candidates speak. I don't know if C-Span has the video of that dinner, but DKos never would have admitted to what happened in that room that night. JK OWNED that crowd in NH. Even Dean's SEIU contigent gave Kerry a louder applause level than their candidate. It was obvious that night who would take the primary.