I got to go with my Mom today to Concord NH to hear Bill (future First Lady) and Hillary (former First Lady) Clinton speak. It was a beautiful cloudless early September day. The leaves just showed a hint of saying "we're done with summer."
My Mom had reserved seats because she was a volunteer on Governor Patrick's campaign. We got right up front, and met and spoke with the Clintons as they left the stage.
Compared to the BS the White House has been feeding us (and the media) for years, these two speaches were refreshing. Please keep in mind I'm a registered Independant and happily married to a Republican. I went with an open mind and I left with hope for the first time in a very long time. The support I saw in NH from all ages, sizes, race, and sexual orientation was amazing.
President Clinton told a great story about a golf caddy he spoke with recently. This caddy turned out to be FDNY. This man explained to him that without Hillary's support for the medical care in NY for those that fought to save lives on 9-11 he would not be alive today. He said that 1 year later NY politicians were still claiming that the horrible materials the firefighters/cops breathed in was not harmful to their health. Except Hillary. She fought to get these men and women the health care they needed. This fellow thanked him and explained that he's a Republican and that he was voting for Hillary in 2008.
Hillary's theme song is really perfect (here's a few lines):
Campaign Song for Hillary.
'You and I' by Celine Dion.
High above the mountains, far across the sea
I can hear your voice calling out to me
Brighter than the sun and darker than the night
I can see your love shining like a light
And on and on this earth spins like a carousel
If I could travel across the world
The secrets I would tell
A lot of what Hillary said made sense. The world thinks horrible thoughts about the US. We are in Billions of dollars in debt with other countries (including China and also Middle Eastern Countries). When President Clinton left the White House he left with a bad reputation. He also left with a country with a surplus. Now, we're in huge debt and 16 injured soldiers for every single one killed in Iraq. 16.
I love to travel to other countries. I hate how they call this 'George Bush's War'. I hate being embarassed of my own country that I love.
I want a President that supports all races, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and people no matter what their sexual orientation is. I want a president that supports the scientific community and the research. And stem cells (which saved one of my friend's life, by the way).
If that person is Hillary then so be it. Bring it on. I really don't care. I want a country I can be proud to pay $1000s and $1000s of taxes for. That's hard earned cash. Not only that but when I travel I want to say in a proud voice "I'm from the States" not mumble it under my breath. I do care what other's think.
Photos from today: featured album, click to view as a slide show. Think what you want about the Clintons. Today was a breath of fresh air and a once in a lifetime opportunity to share with my Mom.
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About the author: Leah G. is a photographer, avid reader, geocacher, and true Western Mass girl at heart. She has an off-the-grid vacation home and loves growing her own organic veggies. Leah's day job is working in client service for Working Advantage (a source for discount entertainment tickets, shopping and more!). Currently Leah is pursuing a Master's in Business Administration at Framingham State College.
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Comments: 17
Having someone that is so knowledgeable about foreign policy will bring about a new era in the United States, one that has been sorely lacking in the present administration.
There were so many people in the crowd just sitting there crying. Crying with relief I think. Also perhaps crying what she was saying about people not being able to afford health care here (a young woman in a wheel chair to my left was sobbing quietly into her closed fist).
It was amazing how she spoke without teleprompters and just brief notes. Very inspirational.
Deal with it.
Go back and hide under the rock you came from.
It does not matter if she does or does not (really).
All that matters if in 2008 we get someone that can get this country back on track. You could have at least tried to say something positive here...or even why the candidate you're backing has your support.
But instead you presented yourself as ignorant, closed minded, and negative.
No I didn't.
I just stated a fact that you can't bear to hear so you attacked me.
Again...
Hillary is NEVER going to be president.
Don't like to hear it?
Too fucking bad!
I'm not saying Hillary is or is not going to be president.
I don't wish to fight with you in this forum.
You really have presented yourself as pretty stupid all over Gather this morning.
You have yet to reply with anything intelligent. Since you have not written any Gather articles I have yet to see what type of person you are. All you do is run around trashing other people's POV. Why don't you try your hand at writing. Anything. Instead of only commenting on other's works. Give it a shot. You seem to have a lot to say. Why not write an article about your beliefs.
Instead you leave behind a trail of curse words and no voice of your own. Until I see you write an article about who you're voting for (and why) all I'm going to think about you is that you are closed minded and ignorant. Hard to take, right?
Well I assume all you have to do on your day off (unless you did not get today off and you're writing from work) is just run around and trash others on Gather. Speak out in a constructive way. Write a GDMF article. You must have something to say about who you're voting for. I assume you're a Bush-lover, but I could be wrong.
For goodness' sake Dana, stand up for yourself and what you believe in instead of making yourself look like an idiot.
Something tells me that if I was on here trashing Bush you'd have no problem with the fact that I haven't written any articles or used curse words and you wouldn't be calling me close minded and ignorant.
Am I right or am I right Leah?
By the way you're wrong about me being a Bush lover. I think he's a horrible f-ing president, I hate what he has done to my party and I can't wait until he becomes a footnote in the history books. As far as I'm concerned he, the Clintons, and Ted Kennedy can all go for a nice leisurely ride off a bridge in a 1967 Oldsmobile.
Maybe I'm wrong about you being a Clinton apologist, willing to ignore all of the corruption and evil that the Clintons have wrought, but I highly doubt it.
One thing I can surmise from her comments is that while she maybe a Republican, she isn't with the Christian Right movement.
Leah...don't let people like her upset you...they aren't worth the time or effort. Cursing and being negative is the only way they know how to deal with anything that causes them distress.
I am so glad you went and had a great time and I am envious that I wasn't there!
Dana is actually a guy, I figured that out in someone else's article. :)
Thanks for the advice...I am done dealing with Dana for sure.
Perhaps you'll get a chance to hear them speak later in the campaign trail.
Have a great day,
Leah
I agree with you about the dollar. Urgh, it was so frustrating being on vacation had having such a weak currency behind every purchase. My friend just came back from nearly a month in Europe and we were just talking about this tonight.
Thanks for stopping by...
You're welcome! Yes, my Mom & I had a great day together. :)