I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to cover last night's rally, but once I arrived I figured I should do what I do best--Twitter.
It was a mixture of live-reporting, attempts at wit/humor, and analysis.
I'm just going to copy & past the full stream-of-consciousness tweet-fest, please excuse the spelling error.s
Apparently, the line for the Obama event is already forming in downtown... 02:35 PM May 14, 2008 from twhirl
Retweeting @Spout: For a limited time only: 50% off all DVDs on Spout! Get 'em while they're hot. http://www.spout.com/store/ 02:48 PM May 14, 2008 from twhirl
Have to leave here at 4:30pm to get credentials for an event that doesn't start until 7:00pm. Stuuupid. 03:19 PM May 14, 2008 from twhirl
@tonytagliavia i'll be there in about an hour! 03:41 PM May 14, 2008 from twhirl in reply to tonytagliavia
Heading over to VanAndel to check in and get my wristband... 04:25 PM May 14, 2008 from twhirl
At this point, I was heading down Ottawa from my workplace to the Van Andel Arena...
Young obama folk out in full force. 04:42 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
There was no doubt that the crowd was predominantly younger, and this is something that I sensed immediately.
Lots of people inside. Screen displays text MI to an obama-specific shortcode to sign up. 04:49 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
This was a smart move on the Obama campaign's part.
And the music playing is natasha benningfield's "unwritten." Reference to the blank canvas theory of der spiegel? 04:55 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
In case you weren't aware, "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield is a song about new beginnings, self-empowerment, etc. but the lyrics also include this:
I am unwritten,
Can't read my mind
I'm undefined...
When I heard these lyrics, my mind immediately jumped back to the Der Spiegel article which, among other things, said this:
Last night the Iowans didn't vote for a president -- they voted for a symbol to represent their unhappiness with the current state of America. Obama, like Republican winner Mike Huckabee, is like a blank sheet of paper on which they could project their disaffection.
But back to my tweets..
Guy wearing "Wright was Right" shirt is talking to the press. This could be good or bad. 04:57 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
I should have brought a videocamera. 04:58 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Dan Truel of the Saint is here. 05:05 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Stoner-looking guy just leant me a cigarette lighter. 05:09 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Breaking: edwards to endorse obama 05:25 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Obama in the house 05:27 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
6:15 P.M. TONIGHT: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO HOLD PRESS CONF ON HILLARY'S STRONG PRO-CHOICE RECORD. 05:44 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Hearing that edwards will appear with him tonight. 05:45 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Pledge of allegiance. "Please rise and remove your caps." 05:48 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Field team member speaking "let me tell you - it is good to be here in Grand Rapids." 05:50 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Playing the "yes we can" video... The stands are full but the ground floor still has a lot of room. 05:54 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Really, really, really bad coffee. 06:01 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Haven't seen a single Latino person to interview just yet 06:01 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
@ndraper I totally should lol. Or "yes she will!". But I'm here as a blogger and to hear what he says about michigan's delegates. 06:03 PM May 14, 2008 from web in reply to ndraper
@caro_k happens at all the rallies. Now they're starting the wave. 06:06 PM May 14, 2008 from txt in reply to caro_k
Handing out obama signs into the crowd now. @caro_k was woman who passed out near you? 06:08 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Consensus from the three old ladies I've spoken to is that Michigan should be seated. 06:08 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
"I want my voice heard at the convention, but I sure as hell didn't vote for Hillary Clinton." 06:10 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
Someone wearing a "she can do it" NOT shirt 06:14 PM May 14, 2008 from txt
This is obviously an attempt to show that working-class whites support Obama, which we knew.. 06:37 PM May 14, 2008 from im
"[Obama] helped provide job training for jobless after the steel plants closed." 06:38 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Guy now talking about layoffs at his plant. Barack Obama can change that. Yes he can! about 23 hours ago from txt
Clinton advance much nicer than Obama's people, in my opinion. Both as pushy. about 23 hours ago from txt
Obama "I felt bad about not campaigning, and so as a consequence, I decided that I would try to give you something special.". Edwards? about 23 hours ago from txt
I think it was this last line that made me angry, and I'm not sure why. Maybe because its pandering, but I tend to dislike the small lies that everyone knows are lies. First of all, by all accounts, the Edwards endorsement was not "planned," and had Edwards called Obama tomorrow when he's campaigning in Oregon, Obama would have said the same line in Eugene. If he had just apologized for not campaigning here, instead of trying to offer up an obviously fake conciliation prize, I probably would feel a lot better. But that's the kind of guy Obama is. The other example is the "sweetie" comment he made to a female reporter in Detroit. Instead of just apologizing for using a misogynistic term to describe a professional woman that simultaneously devalues her and turns her into an object (even thought that's not the way he intended it, by any means), he said it was "bad habit" and then said that his press team will attempt to make it up to her the next time he's in Detroit. Moreover, and regardless of what people here want to believe, the Obama campaign's decision to hold the event in Grand Rapids was probably largely influenced by the fact that he had a PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED high-dollar fundraiser here. Knowing a little bit about how presidential campaign fundraising schedules work, these events are scheduled and planned (thought not published in the public schedule) several weeks in advance.
Edwards comes out and standing next to Obama one can only think "vice president" ? Where's elizabeth? about 23 hours ago from txt
The seats are filled but still over half the floor is empty. Should have gone to Devos hall about 23 hours ago from txt
I'm not sure if anyone mentioned it, but there was a lot of empty room (over half) on the floor of the arena. The stands were packed, but could have fit a lot more people on the floor (which is usually the case, because Secret Service shuts down the front doors as soon as the candidate is in the building and creates a safe zone).
Cut to Edwards:
Does this mean edwards no longer thinks of Obama as arrogant? about 23 hours ago from txt
I seriously still want an answer to this.. because I remembered this article in NY Mag:
But now two months have passed since Edwards dropped out—tempus fugit!—and still no endorsement. Why? According to a Democratic strategist unaligned with any campaign but with knowledge of the situation gleaned from all three camps, the answer is simple: Obama blew it. Speaking to Edwards on the day he exited the race, Obama came across as glib and aloof.
But back to Obama walking out w/ Edwards:
The show is actually starting early. Hard to believe. about 23 hours ago from txt
Obama: "I am fired up! Fired up! Fired up to be in Michigan. Fired up to be in grand Rapids." about 23 hours ago from txt
The press is now mixed with the young children of high-dollar obama donors. Interesting mix. about 23 hours ago from txt
Booing at mention of Hillary Clinton. Classy. about 23 hours ago from txt
Edwards: Barack obama stands with me in the fight against poverty. about 23 hours ago from txt
Edwards: hillary believes with every fiber of her being that americ needs change. about 23 hours ago from txt
"[Hillary] has shown strength, and character, and what drives her is something that every single one of us can and should appreciate." 06:46 PM May 14, 2008 from im
"She cares very deeply about the working people and their families..." 06:46 PM May 14, 2008 from im
"This tenacity has shown her strength and determination. She is a woman who, in my judgement, is made of steel." 06:47 PM May 14, 2008 from im
"She is a leader in this country, not because of her husband, but because of what she has done, because of her standing up." 06:48 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Edwards: "[The nomination battle] will be over soon." Wishful thinking? 06:49 PM May 14, 2008 from im
"we are a stronger party because Hillary Clinton is a Democrat." 06:51 PM May 14, 2008 from im
"One America where no child--no child--goes to bed hungry." 06:56 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Copying images to my computer... but can't upload because poor net connection (IM barely works) 06:56 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Backside of Wright guy's shirt says "Will My Vote Count?" 06:57 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Obama leans now to hug Edwards... "Give it up for John Edwards" 07:00 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Obama: "I haven't been seeing John as much, so I forgot how good he is." 07:00 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Do you think Obama thought Edwards was a good speaker when he was attacking him for taking money from "special interests" (also known as unions, nurses, teachers)?
Obama gives a shout out to Elizabeth Edwards... but where is she?? 07:01 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Still haven't gotten an answer. Now Obama goes into his stump.
Obama: "We can start by ending the tax breaks we give to companies that ship jobs overseas." 07:07 PM May 14, 2008 from im
it's probably my bias, but I've heard this speech before (Iowa, Iowa, California, Ohio, Indiana), and I'm hungry. 07:09 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Obama just threw his bottle of water into the crowd. 07:09 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Someone passed out, he literally tossed his water bottle. "Does somebody want to catch this?" I think someone caught it. 07:09 PM May 14, 2008 from im
EMTs are now being dispatched. He's picked right back up where he left off. 07:09 PM May 14, 2008 from im
I won't lie.. it was kind of cool that he just tossed the bottle of water. But I thought it was strange that he jumped straight back into his speech. The last fainting incident I remember was in Toledo, OH and Sen. Clinton waited until the EMTs had cleared the woman from the crowd before continuing.
Obama: "John Edwards and I both got into this race because we believe in America where it's always possible to change the way things are." 07:10 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Strange I seem to remember the Obama campaign saying that the Edwards was just "talking the talk" and that the "the easiest thing in the world is to talk about change during election time."
Corporations love "the wall." I'm starting to get confused.. He's talking construction and I don't know construction. about 23 hours ago from txt
Obama staffer is nodding his head to obama's speech, looks like he's seen the face of god. about 23 hours ago from txt
Obama is shifting from attacking Hillary, now including her in the "believes in a different America" line. about 23 hours ago from txt
There's a girl here with the largest camera I've ever seen in my life. about 23 hours ago from txt
"The campaign isn't about me, it isn't about John, or Hillary, or - uh - McCain.." about 23 hours ago from txt
He stumbles over his words without a teleprompter. Proves he's human. Builds character? about 23 hours ago from txt
The server cook guy from yesterdog is here. Lol. about 23 hours ago from txt
Obama shout out to Marion, IN. Hillary carried Marion, if I remember correctly (Beth - correct me if I'm wrong, it was your turf.) about 23 hours ago from txt
"This type of change has never started in the halls of Washington. It starts in the streets. Not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up ... ... 07:11 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Obama: "The status quo resists. Because people are afraid. Because sometimes cynicism wins out." 07:20 PM May 14, 2008 from im
"If you're willing to join John Edwards and Barack Obama and -uh- Hillary Clinton, then I promise you we will change this country and we can change the world ... 07:21 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Just noticed the american flags behind Obama are back in full force. Can't see his lapel, though. about 23 hours ago from txt
23 hours ago from txt
Clinton's schedule: Thursday in South Dakota, Friday she's in Oregon. 07:21 PM May 14, 2008 from im
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" starts playing... harkens back to Iowa 07:22 PM May 14, 2008 from im
Breaking: from Terry McAuliffe "We respect John Edwards, but as the voters of West Virginia showed last night, this thing is far from over." about 23 hours ago from txt
As I suspected, he made no mention of seating Michigan's delegates. Not one. But did make an appeal for the general. about 23 hours ago from txt
Still rushing the stage. Lots of young people here. Now realizing how many. Massive amount about 22 hours ago from txt
This girl is going crazy about having shook obama's hand. I hope I'm not like that about Hillary. about 22 hours ago from txt
The music here has a lot of a lot of bass. about 22 hours ago from txt
"I just wanted a souvernier" someone from channel 13 on why she's carrying an Obama sign. about 22 hours ago from txt
The press just swoons over Obama. about 22 hours ago from txt
All high-dollar donors waiting for their signed books and such. about 22 hours ago from txt
Finally got my chance to meet sunlen miller of abc news about 22 hours ago from txt
Standing next to a kid from calvin who is studying for his final exams tomorrow. about 22 hours ago from txt
And the tweet that defines the night for me. Although its a simple take-away, it was all over the news last night.. and I tweeted it first (well, probably not really):
Endorsement shifts focus away from obama's trouncing in WV. Now he has to live up to increased expectations among workingclass whites in KY. about 22 hours ago from txt
Originally posted on:
Cerebral Politics