Kerry and Company (Bon Jovi et al.) Pack U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids on Oct. 27th

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Jon Bon Jovi  performs at the Kerry rally
in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday

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The Quad
City Times also reported that there were 604,277 registered Republicans, versus 598,296
Democrats, and 736,007 registered with neither party.



Supporting
Harkin’s announcement at this rally, however, was the Quad City Times’
contention that Democrats have gained 66,409, while Republicans have
added only 21,903 new voters.  



The
Kerry the crowd saw at the rally on Wednesday was fiery and passionate.
He was preceded on the stage by actor Ron Livingston of “Office Space,”
“Band of Brothers” and “Sex in the City,” who is a Marion native. Phil
Robinson, director of “Field of Dreams,” who also directed Livingston
in the first episode of “Band of Brothers,” said, “The right thing to
do is the unselfish thing to do. They (the Administration) took
billions of dollars from the Treasury and gave them to the richest and
wealthiest Americans, while cutting programs for the poor.”



Robinson
also commented critically on the 386 tons of missing explosives and
George W. Bush’s inability to ever admit he has made any mistakes. It
was also pointed out that Veterans’ programs are suffering under “W,”
with this observation, “The ability [of a government] to convince the
young to serve in a war – no matter how justifiable – is directly
proportional to how it treats its veterans.”



The
President of the International Firefighters’ Association, Harold
Schaitberger, took the stage to say a few words, as did Governor
Vilsack, but the crowd was impatient to hear Jon Bon Jovi, who did not
disappoint. Looking fit and playing guitar with just a violin
accompanist, Bon Jovi sang such hits as “Livin’ on a Prayer” and
“Wanted: Dead or Alive.” Soon after, Colin Chamberlain, the local
organizer for Kerry, asked the crowd to take out their cell phones and
make the largest mass cell phone call for voters in history.



Since my
cell phone was buried under a variety of objects in a large bag, this
didn’t pan out for me, but I have no doubt that many friends and
relatives of the 8,000 to 9,000 present did answer the call. (I would
have, but I’m not that good with machines, and I was still smarting
from the confiscation of my apple….the second apple in two days to be
taken by the “examiners” at the metal detector booth; I told the Secret
Service person at the Bush rally, on Monday, “If I could throw an apple
– or anything else –

that far, the Cubs would be recruiting me,” but to no avail.)

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Kerry turns in a solid performance at
the rally in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday.

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Many of
the refrains we repeat rallyers are now familiar with (e.g., “I
defended this country as a young man, and I will defend this country as
your President,”) were present again, so let me move on to the “new”
stuff:



“The
world is looking to America. We owe the troops a Commander-in-Chief who
knows how to get the job done…No young American in uniform should ever
be held hostage to the cost of oil in the Middle East.”



“By 2020, 20% of energy will be from alternative and renewable sources, if I am elected.”



“Health care is not a privilege for wealthy and connected Americans. It’s a right for all Americans.”



“The
heart of the choice between us is this: every time George W. Bush has
had a chance to make a choice for you, he has walked on by…Tom Harkin
and I tried to get unemployment benefits extended, beyond the current
period when they run out; George Bush said no. Tom Harkin and I fought
for the right to import drugs from Canada. George W. Bush not only said
no, he made it illegal.”



“We need our president to trust Americans with the truth and to tell the truth each and every time.”



On a
lighter note, while noticing several red signs with yellow lettering
that said, “Vote the Son of a B**** Out,” with amusement, Kerry
commented on how, during the debates, “W” kept saying that being
pResident was “hard work.” (This from the man who, as pseudo-pResident,
has spent more time OFF the job than any previous occupant of the White
House). Kerry retorted, “Let me tell you, Mr. pResident: I am ready and
impatient to relieve you of that hard work.” (Huge cheers.)



In
closing, before the strains of U2’s “It’s A Beautiful Day” filled the
hall, Kerry invoked this moment of election opportunity that is before
us all. “The journey of a lifetime – a tiny moment that God gives us to
make a difference – is now.”