John Kerry in Springfield, OHIO, this Thursday, 9/2/04

[Kukesa]

Get your complimentary ticket(s) to the Springfield rally!

Labor Day marks the beginning of the sprint towards November 2, and we need to start off with a burst of strength and support. John Kerry and John Edwards will take the stage Thursday, September 2, for an evening rally in Springfield, Ohio. Help us get the momentum started for America -- come and show that you stand with John Kerry and John Edwards.

Tickets are required for this event. To print your complimentary ticket(s) or to volunteer at the rally, please click here:

http://www.johnkerry.com/springfield

WHEN: Thursday, September 2
Gates open at 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Heritage Center
117 South Fountain Avenue
(Fountain Avenue and High Street)
Springfield, OH
DETAILS: Due to security, please do not bring any umbrellas, bags, or signs. Please limit personal items as well. This event will take place RAIN or SHINE. Parking is limited -- please consider carpooling. For directions, please click here.


We have a fundamental choice in this election: four more years of an administration that puts narrow interests ahead of middle-class families or the Kerry-Edwards plan that strengthens and expands the middle class. John Kerry and John Edwards will abolish tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and cut taxes for companies that create jobs at home. Make sure to invite friends and family to hear John Kerry highlight his plan for a stronger America that begins at home.

See you there,

J.B. Poersch
Ohio State Director

[liberalnurse]

1. I got my tickets!

[liberalnurse]

2. I don't have a Kerry shirt......

Do you think we could buy some there??????

Update:

I just called Montgomery County Headquarters....They have them for sale!

[mongo]

3. See you there!

Does anyone want to do a DU'er meet-up before the rally?

I'm always looking to meet other Du'ers.

[Philostopher]

4. I'm for that -- Mr. Nownow and I are on vacation this week ...

We were in Canada and had a minor auto accident (popped out the back glass on the mini-ute, so we couldn't secure the car in an open parking space), so we came home and put the car in the shop. We'll most likely be there Thursday night, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Unfortunately, the good 'carpooling' car is in the shop, so we'll be in one or another of our bombs -- or I'd offer us up as a carpool alternative.

[Kukesa]

5. I'd love to, but HAVE to be at a volunteer meeting here

in Montgomery County from 7-8 pm. We plan to carpool to Springfield afterwards.

I am SO SORRY to miss this opportunity to meet some fellow DUers!

:-(

[AngryOldDem]

8. I'm Hoping I Can Go....

...gemdem has tickets, but I just started a part-time job and may have to work Thursday night. I would love to see Kerry and Edwards just once before November. Here's hoping I can make it.

[AngryOldDem]

7. I'd Like To Meet Y'All, Too...

...it would be cool to meet somewhere sometime before the Election.

[A Brand New World]

6. I got my tickets too!

This will be the third time I've seen them both. I saw them in Dayton the day after Edwards was announced and then again in Springfield when they were there 3 weeks ago to attend church on Sunday. This place should rockin' at Midnight!! Also this is the exact location that Bill Clinton went to in 1992 and I was there then. So the karma should be flowin' too! Can't wait!!!

[Kukesa]

9. Welcome to DU, Voyager!

We're glad to have you and you'll love DU; warning -- it's addictive.

How's the campaign going up in Urbana? I'm in Dayton and we're fighting for every vote.

:-)

[Philostopher]

10. Hey, does anybody know if they have any rules about cameras?

We've got a pretty good digital I'd like to take with me, but I don't know if there'll be any problems about it. Wouldn't want to get booted out or held at the gate because something wasn't allowed that I didn't know about -- I've been through that kind of thing before...

[AngryOldDem]

11. Well, I Think Cameras Are Personal Items

and if you limit it to just your camera you'll probably be fine. Just have it out in the open so the security folks can see it. I don't think they'll have a problem with it.

[Kukesa]

12. At the July 7 rally in Dayton

even though I was a volunteer and had a name tag, we were subject to the same security rules as the attendees:

On entering the event, NO BAGS, NO SIGNS, and all the items in our pockets (car keys, money, etc.) had to be placed in a basket for the Uniformed Secret Service people to go through.

I watched as several people were told their "items" were NOT allowed into the event and they had two choices: return them to their cars or place them in a cardboard box that was provided at check-in; those items may or may not be there when the people returned.

I'm talkin' Secret Service, here, folks -- they're serious and take no nonsense (and, besides, they talk into their sleeves and in less than a minute four other agents appear as reinforcements).

I'm assuming security will be as tight for this event.

[Philostopher]

17. I probably won't risk it.

As much as I'd like to take the camera, I'm going to apply 'Fraze Pavilion' rules and leave pretty much everything but I.D. and my debit card safely at home. No point making life more difficult for Secret Service agents or myself. Don't blame them, either -- if a kid in Europe who paid to see a concert would hit David Bowie in the eyeball with a lollipop, what would a Republican at a no-admission political rally do to a Democratic candidate in a part of a swing state that's as sharply divided as ours, given half a chance?

[Kukesa]

19. Excellent point, nownow.

We were told the reason signs aren't allowed is because previously protesters carried in "good guys" signs only to have defamatory signs underneath.

I'd like to think that only we Dems were smart enough to do that.

;-)

[mongo]

24. We brought our digital to the Kerry rally and had no problem

Except that it was dark with a light shining directly in our face and I had to hold the camera above my head to try to get a picture.

So the pics we got Were Awful (See that guy wayyyy over there? That's John Kerry)

[Kukesa]

13. You might want to phone Dem HQ in Dayton.

Here's the phone number: 223-3729.

Also, see my post regarding the July 7 rally in Dayton.

[Kukesa]

20. OK, I phoned Dem HQ about cameras

and was told it "probably" will be OK to take small cameras, NO BAGS, and video cameras will not be allowed.

That's what he said, and that was one of our paid, professional National Campaign staff members who gave me that answer.

I'll check further and try to get back ASAP.

[jmknapp]

22. Camcorders

Thanks. I was at the Bush rally in Columbus yesterday and was pleasantly amazed to find they allowed video cameras. That was in contrast to the Bush appearance in Cambridge, Ohio and Troy, Ohio. No idea why it was different in Columbus.

Wish the Kerry campaign would relent because I will be there and would love to take some video.

[Kukesa]

25. Were you at the Bush rally as a supporter or a protester?

From what I understand, in order to get a ticket to a Bush anything you have to sign a pledge of allegiance to the Repuke party and give a DNA sample.

Our rallies are open to the public -- it's called Democracy.

[jmknapp]

29. Neither a supporter nor a protester

Just a Kerry supporter who managed to get a ticket (no way they can totally control a 20,000-person event). There is no mileage in protesting inside a Bush event because you will be ejected. I didn't clap or cheer though (my camcorder was a good alibi for that!).

[Kukesa]

23. Cameras, continued:

I just returned from my co-chair's house to do an emergency cooler delivery (I HOPE either Kerry or Edwards will sign my soon-to-be-famous cooler)and she reminded me that, at our July 7 rally, she took a small, disposable camera into the event. (How's that for a run-on sentence?) She figured if they took it at check-in, no big deal, AND THEY DIDN'T.

That's about the best advice I have, and I've gotta leave to run down to Dem HQ . . .

[Philostopher]

26. Thanks so much for checking!

Maybe I'll take my old digital camera -- it's several years old, so if I take a chance at it getting 'lost in the shuffle' I'll only be so upset. We actually have a newer one that takes 30-second video clips, but the thought that someone might arbitrarily decide, at the last minute, that I shouldn't have it doesn't make me feel too secure.

[jmknapp]

27. Real deal on cameras/camcorders

I'm at the rally site and asked an SS guy (I think) if they were going to allow videocameras tonight. He called over to a cop and said, "Sarge, you're allowing video cameras, right?" Sarge said yes.

Joe

[Kukesa]

28. Sounds like they've relaxed security a bit.

Thanks for the update; I noticed video cameras and handbags tonight.

[Kukesa]

14. I just GOTTA brag --

this morning I was asked to be in the motorcade to take Kerry-Edwards back to the Dayton airport on Friday morning.

The AWFUL thing is that, I can't do it because of a previous commitment!!!

They're staying in Dayton after tonight's rally because we have the only hotel in the area the Secret Service can secure.

My COOLER, however, may be famous -- they need 2 more coolers (yes, they drink Diet Coke) and I'm taking mine down this afternoon. I also asked to have AUTOGRAPHED coolers returned to me. I'll let you know . . .

[jmknapp]

15. Video cameras

Will video cameras be allowed?

[Kukesa]

18. I'll try to find out for you,

but I have to run around for the campaign all afternoon and might not get back to you in time. You might want to phone your local Dem HQ and ask them.

I'll try, I really will.

[Kukesa]

21. Please see my Post #20 regarding cameras. n/t

[cmd]

16. You deserve to brag

That is awesome. I'm debating about going to Steubenville tomorrow. The heat and humidity will probably keep me at home. The dryer and the dentist are calling. Have a good day.