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September 10, 2008
McCain / Palin Campaign Stop at Lancaster, PA
Traffic heading to Franklin and Marshall College on the Harrisburg Pike is backed up almost to U.S. Route 30.
Outside, long lines wrap around the Alumni Sports and Fitness Center Field House waiting to go through the security screenings required for entry into the event.
Sources:
and Google, Yahoo and Reuters sites for photos
and additional notes from news sources
LANCASTER, PA.
It's official, Sen. John McCain's crowds are now Obama-sized.
The event was sold out with 7,500 tickets distributed within 48 hours. According to a Pennsylvania State trooper, they have an over-flow section in the parking lot for an expected 4,000 more.
Karen Miller, 50, of Lancaster, was in line with her husband, Tom. A registered Democrat, she voted for Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Pennsylvania primaries.
"Palin is a strong woman going after the big boys in Washington" said Miller, "she has made the McCain ticket a powerful one and one of reform."
Husband Tom, 54, said he didn't need Palin to persuade him. He was already on board with McCain after Hillary lost: "McCain is not afraid to buck the Republican Party he belongs to, he belongs to the people."
Three hours before the event was to begin, the line of cars stretched over a mile from the exit off of the Lincoln Highway to the event site at Franklin and Marshal College. A line a few thousand deep wrapped it's way around F&M college.
Supporters of Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, hold up campaign signs of her as ' Rosie the Riveter' as they wait in line to see Republican presidential candidate Sen., John McCain, R-Ariz., and Palin, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, at a campaign rally at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa
Matt Goss Band playing "Raisin' McCain."
Also on hand for entertainment are the band and cheerleaders from nearby Hempfield High School.
There were women that that wore pink "Hot Chicks Vote Republican" buttons; one hoisted a McCain placard bearing a hand-scrawled message: "Guns, God, Lipstick."
McCain-Palin enthusiasts begin filling the floor of Franklin & Marshall's Alumni Sports and Fitness Center Field House prior to this afternoon's Republican rally in Lancaster.
Photo of the bitter,religious, gun clinging people in Pennsylvania..... take that Obama freakazoid!
With electricity in the air of excitment and the audience like a roar........ Palin and McCain were introduced.......
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the next President and Vice President of the United States!’
A local minister who asked the crowd to pray for President Bush, Vice President Cheney, the Republican candidates and U.S. troops. Conspicuously absent from the prayer requests were Obama and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden.
The biggest cheers have come each time Palin's name is mentioned, underscoring her popularity with the Republican base.
The Hempfield cheerleaders took the stage a few minutes ago to lead the crowd in a cheer of "When I say John, You say McCain" and "When I say victory, you say now."
McCain stepped up to the microphone and said:
‘I am privileged to have been introduced to you by Sarah Palin. But I am looking forward even more to introducing Sarah Palin to Washington D.C.’
… at which point seven thousand south-central Pennsylvanians lost their composure, and the cheers and applause were (literally) deafening. Once the din subsided, a powerful chant of ‘Sa-rah! Sa-rah! Sa-rah!’ filled the hall.
Palin's speech is long on praise for McCain the veteran and former prisoner of war, and short on policy. Speaking with McCain beside her, flanked by her husband, the "First Dude" Todd Palin, the vice presidential nominee praises McCain's "determination, resolve and sheer guts," reminding the crowd several times of McCain's military record, because "he won't say it on his own behalf."
"There is only one man in this election who has fought for this country," she said.
Palin also seeks to reinforce McCain's image as a maverick and an agent of change, saying the senator, who has been in Washington since he was elected to Congress in 1982, "doesn't run with the Washington herd. He's willing to shake things up."
Several lines of her speech were familiar to those who watched her acceptance speech at last week's GOP convention
"We prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Lancaster and another way in San Francisco," she said, subbing Lancaster for Scranton in her referring to Obama's oft-quoted comments about bitter voters clinging to guns and religion.
"There are candidates who use change to promote their careers and those like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change," she said.
McCain got big cheers at all the expected places -- "Drill here, drill now"; "I would rather lose a political campaign than see America lose a war"; "All you ever ask of government is to stand on your side, not in your way."
But without a doubt, the biggest reaction came when he told the crowd, "I can't wait to introduce (Palin) to Washington." That brought a thunderous ovation, followed by a loud chant of "Sarah, Sarah, Sarah."
McCain proclaimed the surge in Iraq a success, promised to drill offshore and to build nuclear power plants, pledged to reach across the aisle to get things done and promise to veto pork-barrel spending.
Palin also made a stop at the outside overflow area to shake hands and sign autographs.
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Wild Thing's comment.............
It is reported that more than a thousand were turned away.
This is an absolute political Tsunami that is going to engulf and wash away the Obama presidency aspirations.
I caught a shot of McCain about a month ago from the side and thought he looked old and tired and kind of hunched. It surprised me because looking at him straight on you get a different impression. But ever since he made the Palin announcement he seems to be reborn. He looks healthy and energized and more than ready to take on Obama!
McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin and the manner in which he has conducted himself since he chose her speaks so highly of his character as a leader. Good leaders want other leaders around them, and are not threatened by the abilities of those leaders. McCain is energized by Sarah Palin’s leadership abilities, and it shows.
On the other hand, petty tyrants are petrified of the abilities of others, and so the character of B. Hussein Obama is seen in his choice of VP candidates. He could never chose a running mate who might steal any of his limelight.
They also made a special place along the railing in the front for those in wheelchairs and there were a lot of Veternas there wearing VFW hats adorned with a buttons and medals. I could not find any photos of this but one of the write ups online mentioned this and it touched my heart, because they thought of everything for the crowd attending the rally.
I got this below late in the evening after the rally, from one of Nicholas's cousins that lives in Maryland. It is from a frieind of his he works with and I thought you might like to see it too.
"Got to tell you my story. Sunday I got an email from the McCain camp about the rally in Lancaster. I immediately got on the horn with my friend and asked if she wanted to go. YES!!! was the answer, so we zipped up to Gettysburg to get tickets for us and another friend.This is the first political rally for any of us, and that is something since I am 72 and my younger friends are in their 60's.
Well,we can't go to any more rallies since this one was perfect. We got there at 10:30 and found a spot right near the building. We got in line with great people: registered Democrats, and women holding the "Rosie the Riveter" pic. Media were everywhere, we got to speak to Molly H from Fox.
We were allowed in the building at 12:30 and found places right in front of the Speakers stand. We got great pictures, got to shake John's, Sarah's and Todd's hands, and got my "Sarah for VP" button signed by Sarah.
My friends and family are so excited for me. Such a fantastic day, great excited crowd. great people.
Something we both noticed too, Johon McCain has a genuine respect and admiration in which he appears to hold Sarah Palin. It was extraordinarily obvious today on the speakers' platform.
And I know it isn't important, but Sarah is more beautiful in person than on TV. Molly H from Fox is a tiny little thing. And I tell you, John McCain was fantastic and looked great.. Can you tell I'm pumped!
Posted by Wild Thing at September 10, 2008 05:55 AM
Comments
The MSM is going nuts trying to discredit Sarah. Fortunately the people see right through them and it's backfiring big time.
Posted by: BobF at September 10, 2008 07:13 AM
Also, check out what Presidnet Reagan's son Michael has to say about Sarah
http://www.newsmax.com/reagan/sarah_palin_reagan/2008/09/04/127804.html
Wednesday night I watched the Republican National Convention on television and there, before my very eyes, I saw my dad reborn; only this time he's a she.
Posted by: BobF at September 10, 2008 07:31 AM
Lancaster, Peoria and Lubbock. Sarah Palin has given small town America someone to get excited about. She even makes the few good traits of John McCain stand out(Cindy helps a bunch also).
I like the mix of people at this rally. High school cheerleaders to 72 yr olds all excited by Sarah and John(in that order). Frustrated democrats, working moms, Amish, a local minister who left the abortionists out of his prayer, disabled veterans, etc. I did not read about any "professional" fainters.
One of WT's great comments is that McCain was not afraid to pick someone who overshadows him. He wants a powerful team and I would hope his Cabinet picks are also very capable people.
Obama and his faint and fainters are in trouble now. They appeal only to the extreme. McCain and Palin now give hope to the mainstream Middle, the "typical" of all colors who love theirs guns and bibles.
Posted by: TomR at September 10, 2008 10:57 AM
A month ago, who woulda thunk that McCain and the Republicans would be saved by a surge named Sarah? The successful surge in Iraq and now the successful Sarah surge on the home front leaves Barack Hussein Obama squealing like a pig.
Oink! Oink! Obama
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/Rokketmania/Pig-Barack-Obama--36545.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2134/2447913681_1d83dc5c1b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/2528234700_ebcac73a34.jpg?v=0
Posted by: Les at September 10, 2008 03:07 PM
With a do nothing Congress in power for the past 22 months, 36 years of Joe Biden in the Pork Barrel porking his district I find it laughable that Obama uses the lipstick on a pig comment to deride his real adversary, in battle it's called demeaning and dehumaizing your enemy, making it easier to kill them. Make no mistake, there are those who would jump at the chance, any read at any time on the Daily KOS will affirm that. The Obama camp has only one retort, smear, there is no substance and the public is slowly awakening. They tout the mantra of " "naked lies" to re-invent two politicians whose records embody the same culture of corruption and far-right policies we've seen from the Bush administration." Well before they spout off about corruption they should look internally, look at Congress, not only at Chicago and the inplications of Obama's associations and shady dealings there but also at the dealings of Biden in and for Delaware. What did Nancy Pelosi and John Murtha have to gain from their inside deals at the Presidio in California $$$$. Each scratched the others back to make big bucks on a military, Murtha the insider and Pelosi doing the deals. Sure Republicans have been corrupt and some are in jail but not anywhere near the extent of the Democrats, who favor keeping them in office. Don't open Pandora's box too far Mr. Marxist Obama there are skeletons in there, the type the Clinton's will kill to protect. Squirm Obama, it's of your own making.
Posted by: Jack at September 10, 2008 05:43 PM
Yeah that was a huge rally. I will be going to the next one in Pa. As soon as the wife is back on her feet again we will be there.
I am amazed to see Ahmish at a Political rally. They drive...er ride by our house everyday. In fact the local grocery store and the hardware has a hitching post just for the Ahmish.
They are one group that don't need Obamas health insurance. They pay for the care in cash.
Posted by: Mark at September 10, 2008 06:31 PM
BobF, WOW thank you so much for the link. That is an awesome quote too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2008 06:37 PM
Tom hahaha I had forgotten about the famous fainters. haha yes they were unable to attend the Republican rally. heh heh
Good one Tom.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2008 06:44 PM
Les, good one yesss it was the farthest thing from my mind that we would have all this happening. I was so worrried about who McCain might pick.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2008 06:46 PM
Jack.......loving how you put this.......
"Don't open Pandora's box too far Mr. Marxist Obama there are skeletons in there, the type the Clinton's will kill to protect. Squirm Obama, it's of your own making."
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2008 06:48 PM
Mark we have the Amish here too and see them riding their bikes and also walking long ways to the stores. Also a lot of Amish eating places.
Yes when your wife is up to it she will love it too. I showed the photos and write up to Nicholas and he said whew what line and crowd, it would be one long day but worth it. We are hoping they come some place near us in Florida. But so far nothing is on their list.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2008 07:00 PM
