Jersey Mike

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1:14PM

Actually, before I go- here’s the guy.

The STAR of the show-

Perez Hilton with black hair.

(Photo by Christine Baker of the Patriot News)

1:08PM-

And that’s all for our broadcast, folks.

I’ll put up a summary post a bit later today- for now, I’m going to watch the hullabaloo of the hand shaking and baby kissing at the edge of the stage.

It’s too funny to see the AFSCME people still onstage- herded behind barricades- as H.Dub makes her way past them all- offering high fives and handshkes.

Is this what American Politics is all about?

Apparently so.

Have a great day, Harrisburg.

Get back to work.

Your country needs you.

“Lemme see your hands!” Bruce yells.

How fitting.

1:04PM-

Annnnnd–she’s done.

And now she’s playing SPRINGSTEEN!

C’mon now, Bruce!!

How could ya?!

“Land of Hope and Dreams” is her exit song.

I’m glad it’s not Born in The USA.

And I’m REALLY glad it’s not “The Swish” by The Hold Steady.

“This chick she looked like Beverly Sills”

1:03PM-

Family, healthcare, military, war, Bush.

Et cetera, et cetera.

1:00PM-

Now she’s name dropping. “My father went to Penn State” -

Said something about driving through the midstate as a little girl.

Did the homeless guys on 2nd street hit them up for spare change and cigarettes too?

“Don’t. Stop. Thinkin about tomorrow.”

Oh wait…never mind.

12:54PM-

Quotes from the goofy woman somewhere a few rows behind me- screaming borderline incoherently-

“Whoooo!”

“Yes! Yes!”

“We need [inaudible] wooo!!”

12:52PM

*Yawn*

I wonder if Hillary inhaled?

12:48PM-

“We’ll all have healthcare”

You know…I wasn’t really here to offer any real political commentary on any of this. I really just wanted to sort of transcribe the days overall events.

Seriously, if you’ve heard one political campaign speech, you’ve heard them all.

But the thing that’s most astounding about this gathering is the absolute dedication these people have for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

And it doesn’t matter if it’s George Bush, Hillary Clinton, Saddam Hussein or Vladamir Putin.

People want to be led.

Sometimes, blindly.

I haven’t decided who I’m voting for yet. Because chances are, three years from now, we’ll all be crying foul again. Obviously, I hope that’s not the case…but those who fail to acknowledge history are doomed to repeat it.

Do your research, kids. There’s a lot at stake.

12:44PM-

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/11/122532/076/712/474237

12:41PM-

“Which part of the 1990’s didn’t you like? The peace or the prosperity?”

Obviously saving face for Bill.

12:38PM-

Is it possible that every single political speech ever uttered has said the exact same things?

12:30PM

Hillary-

Between the woman behind me yelling “God wants you Hillary!” and the audio difficulties…

Oh- here we go…somebody gave her a wired mic.

“I am grateful for the mayors endorsement”

“Also wanna thank Harrisburg city council member Brad Koplinski”

Championing Rendell some more-

Talking now, about the beauty of The Forum…”Look up [at the constellations on the ceiling] but keep your feet firmly on the ground”

“Keep us looking towards a better tomorrow”

“I think we’re at a turning point moment in America right now…”

12:27PM

Rendell- The Mayor and the Governor have a total of five minutes- (joke about the time he took)

To Clinton: “I want to ask you a political question- has there ever been a Mayor on a Vice Presidential ticket?”

And the audio is HORRIBLY cutting in and out.

12:24PM

More fodder from Reed.

More chants of “Hill Arr Eee”

The mic seems to be cutting and out-

Where’s Fleetwood Mac?

And here comes Rendell.

12:17PM-

Reed: Hellooooo America from Harrisburg Pennsylvania.

“Ladies and gentlemen, experience does count…” says Reed.

“We want REAL gain and opportunity for people living in poverty”

Know what?

I was going to try to transcribe Reed’s little chant- but it’s all the same old-same old. Looks like he got a new pair of glasses though.

12:14PM-

And here she is- the lady of the hour- accompanied by Reed and Rendell -

Working her way through the crowd- shaking hands and, literally, kissing babies.

12:10PM-

Is this thing on?

There’s a suit who couldn’t figure out how to use the mic-

TJ Rooney- chairman of the Pa Democratic Party- incites the crowd by proclaiming “it’s a great day to be a democrat”

If they could only figure out the “on” switch for the mic…

12:07AM-

Hype man is losing his steam.

Or people are getting bored with him.

Secret service is securing the room…

But everyone knows we’re gonna have to sit through Reed and Rendell before Bill’s wife shows up…

12:01PM-

The black haired Perez Hilton seems to be the official “Harrisburg Hype Man for Hillary” -

Hill Arr Eee.

(Did you hear about the new pirate movie? It’s rated “Arrrrr” eeee.)

11:57AM-

“Gonna Fly Now”- The theme from Rocky- is now getting these people off their seats.

Simply amazing.

Seems like any new person that walks onto the stage raising their arms gets these people into a tizzy.

“Adriaaaaan!”

11:51AM-

AFSCME is still on stage- doing nothing but looking uncomfortable-

I just noticed- that in this now-capacity crowd of around 1700- there seem to be VERY few representatives of the African American community.

In FACT- there are more onstage with AFSCME than there are in the audience.

Which is even MORE odd considering the demographic makeup of the City of Harrisburg is nearly 75% African American.

Hmmm….

11:47AM-

Keep on Rockin In the Free World follwed by Hey Ya!

And the soccer moms are shakin’ it like a polaroid picture.

Ed Rendell just pulled up outside- and my smoke was cut short by Secret Service.

Which is kind of cool in a way.

And now Sledgehammer- which could have been Bill’s song for Monica – is blaring though the PA.

I wonder if they’ve got any Hold Steady queued up?

“I’ll be anything you need” – Truer words have never been uttered from any politician.

11:36AM

They cut the music down to a dull roar during Walkin on Sunshine- as “AFSCME For Hillary” take the stage.

Matty Coulter hanging around stage left.

And it appears that he’s either breaking the rules, or he IS actually allowed to speak without the Mayor behind him whispering in his ear.

11:29AM-

Brad Koplinski – our newest City Council member – seems to have some sort of higher level involvement here. All important looking with his notepad- on the phone-

Gonna try to get a minute with him and find out what his deal is here.

And “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi is playing for the second time in less than ninety minutes.

11:27AM-

Rolling on a River- Credence. Which followed R.O.C.K In the USA by Mellencamp.

There are about a thousand people here at this point. And I’d estimate that 70% of them are women.

Amazing.

11:14AM-

My post mysteriously RE appears on PennLive.

And there’s a guy who oddly resembles Perez Hilton encouraging the “Moms For Hillary” group to yell “H! I!! L!! L!!…” and then they seem to have lost interest.

OMGLOLROTFLMAO.

This is going to be more entertaining than I ever could have imagined.

11:06AM-

My post on the PennLive forum- aptly titled “Live from The Forum” – which was live for all of six minutes- has been deleted.

11:05AM-

And to my right, there’s a group of about 20 women- all seemingly in their mid 40’s- waving signs and chanting “Hill Arr Eee! Hill Arr Eee!” and mugging for the newscams.

It’s like MTV’s TRL meets Rachel Ray.

10:51AM-

Not too much excitement just yet- (I promise, though, this WILL be something of an interesting post by the end of the day)

Music playing over the PA- is surreptitiously influential- I’m wondering who Hillary’s DJ is- so far, we’ve heard Praise You by Fatboy Slim; Respect by Aretha Franklin and now…the OK, Go! Treadmill song is on.

Outside for a smoke, was funny to hear Tina King proudly proclaim to SS- “We’re VIP’s! We work for Mayor Stephen R Reed”-

Back inside, looking around the room, there are four American flags and four Commonwealth flags- and it seems that no one took the time to IRON them- or steam them. One would think that for a national media event they’d pull out the stops and make the place look neat.

PA system still getting tweaked.

Oh, and now “Dreams” by Van Hagar is serenading us.

I can picture the Blue Angels flying overhead.

“Reach for the golden dreams, yeah reach for the sky…”

——————————————————

10:19AM-

Annnnnd….we’re live inside the forum.

After an extensive security check including the dogs and mandatory sipping of the coffee, the Fourth Estate is setting up shop- dead smack in the middle of the room- we’re about fifteen rows back from the stage-

In case you’re wondering, yes- this isn’t your standard fare for jerseymike.org- but it IS happening in Harrisburg- so I thought I’d do my civic duties and report – with my standard whimsical take-

To my left- Brett Leiberman- down in front- Dennis Owens- to my right- Roxbury News-

And hobnobbing his way through the Secret Service- the one and only Brad Koplinski.

Should be an interesting day-

————————————————————————-

Refresh this page from time to time as I take my first stab at LiveBlogging-

Offering updates on the spectacle at The Forum in Downtown Harrisburg as Hillary Clinton makes her campaign stop -

Who’s gonna be here? Oh, just about everybody- and I’ll be sure to keep you posted on what they’re doing-

Please stand by…