At the Palin Rally in Carson, CA UPDATES!

Just got all set up here. I didn't say anything about it because I wasn't sure I'd get it together. But Im hooked up now, in the bleeder seats press section of a medium sized tennis stadium. (The ADT Tennis Center at the Home Depot, if you know the area.) There's an overfull crowd but I'm crap at estimating crowd size. I'll try to get a number from a cop.

If anyone knows how many the ADT Tennis center holds-- add 20%.

Right now Dana Rohrbacher is speaking. He's connecting Palin to Reagan and Jimmy Steward from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

I have a camera, and took pictures of the crowd... but forgot to bring the cord to connect it up to the computer. Until I can get my hands on one, no pictures, alas, except for crappy ones I'll take with my cell phone.

Outside, of course, was a sizable contingent of Obama cultists protesting the appearance. Many Steelworkers for Obama t-shirts. One chant I heard sound liked "No to the USA," but perhaps I misheard it, as the Palin supporters were chanting USA, USA, to whatever the cultists were saying.

Incidentally, I hear Palin will "make news' today. What news? No clue. If I'm going crazy and indulging in fantasy, I'd guess 1) she's convinced McCain to open ANWR for exploration; or 2) she's announcing a revved up attack on Obama and the Democrats for causing the fannie/freddie/cra supbrime meltdown.

If I'm less optimistic, I'd say that Palin is going to announce her portfolio as Energy Czar and Reform Quarterback, which we already knew, or her intent to begin highighting obama's connection to ayers, wright, rezko, etc.,which, again, we already knew.

Jon Fuckin Voight now on the stage. (Palin is supposed to take the stage at 2:30 Pacific time, which means 3:15, I'm guessing.)

Okay, the limitations of my zoom mean that pictures of Palin are going to be lame. Just tried it with Voight.

Voight now talking about "being on the other side" during Vietnam. And how he's learned since then, saw the consequences, and yet obama wants to concede Iraq to the sort of thugs who raped vietnam.

Voight: "I asked Todd, is it true that Sarah, as captian of the basketball team, always wanted the last shot. [Then says the greats are like this.] Todd answered, 'Yes it is.' And did she make it? 'Yes she did.'"

"The media was a great negative force trying their darnedest (booooo!) Go ahead, go ahead give it to 'em (BOOOOOOOO!!!) I'lll say it again the media was a great negative force trying to destroy this maginificent energy of love and truth only to fall flat on their faces (yayyya) because I believe Sarah iseveryone'sunderstanding of what we all believe we were raised to believe morals trutth fairness faith."

(Big applause).

And love of the neighbor as yourself. And she will be the greastest leader of them all. Yes, true love, and energy that comes especially from mothers of theworld."

Pardon typos, my keyboard sucks, and due to the lighting, I can barely read my computer screen. I'm typing not quite blind, but severely impaired.

President of CA. GOP (?) Says 'we're comin' to get ya' and says obama shouldn't take california for granted. Eh.

National McCain cochair Meg Whitman now up. Just standard "CLEVELAND ARE YOU READY TO ROCK" stuff.

Now as music plays, a fairly enthusiastic chorus of 'SARAH, SARAH, SARAH" begins, but sputters out, like an attempt at a wave that doesn't come off.

Oh, nice analogy. Now they're doing the wave.

Time to mention the crowd again. every seat is filled (obviously), plus the rings around the statdium, SRO, are filled say three to four deep. The entire tennis court is filed with supporters (and of course the stage, that takes up about 20% of the available space).

Make that five-to-six deep ringing the top level, SRO. The crowd has grown.

Okay, now the wireless connections are getting overloaded and cannot deliver actual signal. Damnit.

I've asked Dave in Texas to type up my notes, delivered by telephone, if this happens again, which it will.

It's never easy.

Sarah's out now, being introduced by a local NOW president. (Not Tammy.) Sarah's wearing a green button down sweater and black skirt.

The crowd is very enthususiastic but not as wild as I'd thought. Then again, Sarah isn't talking yet.

NOW president says Sarah will try persuading McCain on ANWR. Audience reaction not explosive.

"America, this is what a feminist looks like -- Sarah Palin."

posted by Ace at 05:00 PM

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