OMG !!! I just shook the hand of Howard Dean last night!!

[DebJ]

I am 49 years old, and Howard Dean is the first public hero I've ever had. I feel like I'm a 17 year old groupie for the first time in my life.

Last night Howard came to Gettysburg College. The speech was to start at 7pm; I arrived at 4 pm. I was waiting outside when he arrived, but I was at another entrance to the building.

I went inside quickly, listened for their voices and then saw Dean and four men going up a staircase.
I said, "Mr. Dean, Dr. Dean, may I please shake your hand?"
He said "Sure" and turned around on the staircase with his hand extended.
Wow, doctor's have great hands! Firm, strong, and perfect, that handshake was.
I said, "I just want to thank you. My husband is voting for the first time in his 54 year life span. We love you so much!"
He smiled, made eye contact. Wow!
As Howard and the men returned to climbing the stairs, Howard said that is really good news, especially in Pennsylvania. Someone asked where I was from, I said "York. And we are working very very hard!"
My husband had been parking the car and getting us a bite to eat and batteries for my camera. I had to wait an hour for his return before I could tell him.
My husband went up the stairs Howard had ascended and saw that he was speaking to a political science class. Hubby suggested we could go in becaus some people were standing in the back of the classroom, but I said I would not want to be so rude as to walk into a class.
But then, Howard came out about a half hour later, and was standing in front of the dining hall getting his picture taken with some people. I snapped lots of pictures myself, and then got up the nerve to ask him to autograph my copy of his book. While he did, my husband took pictures of Howard and I. I pointed to my husband and said that is the man who is voting for the first time because of you. You are the first politician he has ever liked.
Later, after Howard's terrific speech, he again shook hands and gave autographs. My husband asked him to dedicate his autograph to my husband's seventh grade class, and Howard did. He also thanked my husband for voting. By the way, my hubby is 6'7" tall, and he has a habit when speaking to someone in a large crowd of putting one arm around the person and bending over to speak in their ear. That's what he did with Howard. I was pushed back several people in the crowd; I looked up, and here is my husband with his arm around Howard.
Wow! I am just so pumped. Can't wait to go to work and tell everyone! This is one of the very best days of my life!

[Crunchy Frog]

1. Congratulations!

What a great story. I'm so happy for you.

I got to shake Wes Clark's hand a couple of weeks ago, and I snapped some really good pictures of him, but I didn't manage to get a picture with him, or get my books signed.:cry:

[cali]

2. Great Story!

Thanks for taking the time to post it, and thank your husband for me for voting. I too am a die hard Dean fan. He's one of the very best things about our party.

[Eloriel]

3. Deb -- I feel the same way you do about Howard

I absolutely adore the man.

Great story, thanks for sharing it!

[Larkspur]

4. Congrats! Yes Howard is wonderful!

[greyfox]

6. It amazed me

when the public (media) made such a HUGE roar over Howard simply shouting with excitement. My god, who hasn't done such? But, that one simple thing and boom, he was OUT! Made NO sense at all!

[DebJ]

18. Dean said last night that the scream didn't matter, because they

had just lost Iowa, and whoever won Iowa got the nomination, and they knew that. He said Kerry ran a very good campaign the last three weeks in Iowa, and that is what lost it. Not the scream.

[greyfox]

20. Then why

does the media always play that scene and say it lost it for him?

[DebJ]

21. because the media wants to show how powerful they are

[madfloridian]

5. Here is a write up from a Gettysburg paper. Sounds like a big event!

http://www.gburgforum.com/

Dean, who had met with small groups of students and faculty for a question and answer session and dinner earlier in the evening, began his talk at 7:30, and covered a breadth of topics central to the current campaign and political climate in America.

Governor Dean was introduced to the crowd of over 1,000 in the Ballroom by Political Science Department Chair, Professor Ken Mott. Mott quipped, "This stage has been blessed by governors, doctors, presidential candidates, I believe a few Vermonters may have wandered in, and also by people whose vocal cords can be so loud they could pierce the din of their supporters, but never have they all been here simultaneously!" As Dr. Dean shook Mott’s hand, he approached the podium and let out a somewhat subdued version of the famed, ‘Dean Scream,’ bursting out with an energetic, "Yeahhhhhh!" He began his remarks with a disclaimer, saying, "Those of the Republican persuasion don’t be offended by what I have to say. I just feel very strongly about what I have to say!"

SNIP..."He invoked memories of his college career, and remarked on the importance of dialogue within the college community, saying, "One of the things grossly lacking in this country is a civil dialogue. This hasn’t happened under Bush, who has broken all his campaign promises that I can think of. The problem is the notion that you’re on one side or the other. Liberals have good ideas and conservatives have good ideas, but neither has them all.l with and that you listen to what others are saying, even if you don’t agree with them."

[DebJ]

25. thanks. I'll have to print and save that article.

[otohara]

7. I Sat Next to Him @ Lunch

only 30 people were there - it was early in the campaign. I've met lots of famous people, but people like Dean, Gore - give me goosebumps. Hero's!

[realFedUp]

8. I felt the same when I met him

Maybe because a lot of us worked hard
for him...he was the captain of our ship
for awhile.

I love the way he's continued his fight
for a freer democracy again.

[milkyway]

9. For good luck, don't wash your hand until after November 2.

[Patiod]

10. Thank you for that story - he gave me hope in a dark time

When I thought I was the only one who saw the Emperor didn't have any clothes on. I will always love him for that. Lucky you, getting to shake his hand and thank him!!!!

Seriously - when being against the idea of war with Iraq was thought of as "unpatriotic", Dean was out there saying what I was thinking and what my own party was NOT saying. If it weren't for he and Bartcop.com (I didn't know about DU) I would have gone nuts.

It's gratifying now to see that Dean's "wacky left-wing ideas" like being anti-war-in-Iraq and health care for all are being embraced by most Americans.

[Cha]

12. I know what you mean..

Dean gave a lot of us Hope in a dark time. And I will be forever grateful..Thank you, Governor Dr Dean!

Welcome to DU, Patiod!

[Patiod]

17. Thanks! nt

[NYCGirl]

11. That's a wonderful story. Thank you so much.

Dr. Dean really is the best!
:yourock:

[DebJ]

24. I want that poster! My hubby is a Lord of the Rings freak....you

would not believe it. He can take you on a 'tour' of that fantasy land, as if it were real. Knows everything. Has every DVD...regular and extended versions. We have Lord of the Rings toys all over our bookshelves...
and Howard is also my husband's hero.

[OneTwentyoNine]

13. Get the pic posted when you get them back....

I was sorting out some things in my office closet and whatda you know. There is the Halloween button I got from the Dean Campaign last year. People that got one will know what I'm talking about.

Dean is a great man,he'll always be in the Democrat picture.

David

[Patiod]

16. Yes, please post the pics nt

[Cha]

14. Wow! What a good story, Deb!

I hope we get to see the pictures of your husband and Dean and you, too!

Congratulations for being in the right place, at the right time in History! :toast:

[Voltaire]

15. I was lucky to shake his hand 3 different times

Including right after the speech in Iowa, (I refuse to call it what it is commonly known by)and I still tear up sometimes when I look at him. Dean is Da Bomb!

[bigwillq]

19. Awesome story!

I am so happy for you!

But just a tad jealous.

Dr. Dean is my political hero.

Show us the pics!:hi:

[mandyky]

22. What subject does your hubby teach?

Lucky yous guys!!

[DebJ]

26. he is a special ed teacher, middle school..7th grade this year...

history and geography are his specialties. Some years he has lucked out and only teaches history and geography. His store of knowledge on these subjects is just absolutely amazing. I don't need to use google, I just google him!

[DebJ]

27. he made the best tour guide ever in Europe last year.

[goforit]

23. WOW,WOW,WOW!!!!.........Dean is just outstanding,....

Jealous with envy!!!

Hats off to you, Dean and your hubby!!!!