Musings by Zalala, HRH Empress of Planet Claire!

I was a Kucinich Groupie for a Day!

Just my personal opinion, I am sold on Kucinich's vision of a new America. Everything he had to say while he was here in the Tampa Bay area made so much sense. The mainstream press has been told not to report about him. The corporations are afraid of him because he speaks the truth!. Voters in Florida still have a choice for a Democratic Candidate!!! That is why Kucinich says he is here, to let people know that.

I had a marvelous time and got to shake the man's hand and followed him around like a groupie on Wednesday, March 3rd during his sojourn through the Tampa Bay area. I must say that his supporters are a lively and exuberant bunch and will talk to anyone who will listen about their belief in what this man can do for our country.

Kucinich first appeared at the refabbed Royalty Theatre in downtown Clearwater. Openers were John McKutcheon, a folksinger, and Tim Reynolds from the Dave Matthews Band who got the audience energized. Both of these guys have lent their support to Kucinich and have hit the campaign trail with him. Hard to believe that this was the same theatre where I used to go to see the Midnight Movies like Reefer Madness and Fantasia (many years ago, of course)!!! The theatre had a very celestial atmosphere, the motifs, paintings and sconces were all angels, lots of gold and mirrors...very fitting for the man with the celestial vision and a personal friend of Shirley MacLaine. This man walks the walk, has won peace awards, accomplishes great things with the environment and is one of the few vegans making policies in the halls of DC. He did an electrifying talk at this venue with a short question and answer session. He knew the issues and had the numbers, the facts and the answers to every issue that the audience brought up.

The press conference took place right out in front of the theatre after 1PM. The main point that Kucinich reiterated was that he was in Florida to let Florida voters know that they had a choice at the polls on Tuesday, March 9th, voting day for the Florida Primary. Kucinich had to literally tell the CBS affiliate that he was making a major point, because the reporter was walking away before Kucinich could finish his statement. His focus with Florida voters is Health Care, Jobs and the War.

Later in the evening, I went to USF where he did a talk there and a great question and answer forum with the students, faculty members and Kucinich supporters. He spoke to great applause for almost every point and then John McKutcheon sang a song...then it was on to Skipper's Smokehouse, an outdoor venue for some more great music. I sat three people away from him as he held court, young and old, dressed up and dressed down, old hippies, young hippies, reserved and bikers, short hair and dread locks, people wanted him to sign their Tshirts, have their picture taken with him, shake his hand and encourage him. I sat with some friends and Kucinich supporters about three people away from Kucinich. The funniest thing was when the band did a Bob Dylan type song, complete with flipping the white posters (that a young girl was holding) all about George Bush and oil and money...Kucinich was cracking up. He did not stay long but really seemed to be having fun. There were a few more appearances by John McKutcheon and Tim Reynolds. Kucinich spoke for a short time on stage and then made a hasty exit right after 10PM.

A real truism, and something that Kucinich said while on stage was that being there listening to the music, transported us, that remember Viet Nam to another time and another place and that all this has happened before. We as young people back then, changed the course of the nation, and we had the power to do it again! It is NOT impossible!!! What a rallying cry! What a message of hope!

I am amazed regarding the media blackout of him and his appearances here in the area. I rushed home after the fun time at Skipper’s Smokehouse, just in time to watch the 11PM news and I flipped the channels back and forth. The channels covered Kerry and Edwards, but I did not see a word about Kucinich. If anything was aired about Kucinich’s appearance, it was so brief I missed it!

I really hope that some of you get a chance to see him in the next few days...check his site for his itinerary on Monday and Tuesday, March 8th and Primary Day, the 9th. Monday he will be in the Sarasota area and Tuesday in Tampa Bay with venues to be announced (at the time of this writing).

DO NOT LET THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA TELL YOU WHO TO VOTE FOR! Let Florida know whom you support. Check out Kucinich’s site, read through the issues. Go and see him speak while he is here-—he is one of the best orators I have ever seen. This is a man that can do this again in 4 years, so maybe it is not his time yet! BUT there is always next time. I feel that I saw a man making history! He has my vote NOW!

http://www.kucinich.us/(The picture on the site is of Kucinich speaking at the Royalty Theatre on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2004)

posted by Zalala @ 3/07/2004 01:48:00 AM