At the Rand Paul/Lonegan Rally

[Nirvikalpa]

Pretty good showing, especially since its beginning to rain. 150-200 people.

 

[Nirvikalpa]

Schiff here? Thought i saw a glimpse if him butttt i am only 5'1 and far in the crowd...

 

[Root]

How long is this event going on?

 

[angelatc]

Cool! Live blogging!!!

 

[Nirvikalpa]

Rand's speech is awesome.

 

[CaseyJones]

+rep for live reporting

 

[Nirvikalpa]

Lonegan up now.

Rand talked about how a non-violent youthful mistake should not follow you for the rest of your life. He talked about how he would go about giving aid to NJ after disasters such as sandy and the fire by stopping foreign aid and start supporting ourselves, and stop borrowing from China. Usual stuff.

Someone's in the front and has a sign and is blocking everyone from the back from seeing the speakers.

 

[jct74]

 

[jct74]

photos

http://www.nj.com/suburbannews/index.ssf/2013/09/rand_paul_appears_with_us_sena.html

 

[TER]

damn... I had three tickets to go and then had an emergency call out at work. I hope everyone had a great time!

 

[Warlord]

it sucks that Booker is going to be a senator. hoping for an upset

 

[jct74]

here's a pretty good write-up of the event with some more photos

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ss...oker_and_his_imaginary_friend_are_dating.html

 

[angelatc]

here's a pretty good write-up of the event with some more photos

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ss...oker_and_his_imaginary_friend_are_dating.html

They took it down. I guess the editors didn't want Rand making fun of Booker's imaginary friend.

 

[jct74]

They took it down. I guess the editors didn't want Rand making fun of Booker's imaginary friend.

thanks, here is a new link that works.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/rand_paul_booker_and_his_imaginary_friend.html

 

[PatriotOne]

photos

http://www.nj.com/suburbannews/index.ssf/2013/09/rand_paul_appears_with_us_sena.html

Gage has spoiled me. Those pics are pretty poor quality. Wish Rand would put Gage on his payroll as his photog.

 

[Zarn Solen]

I understand Christie sucks and Rand wants to make a point, but there is nothing great about Lonegan. I am not even voting for the guy.

 

[Nirvikalpa]

I'll say this... the rally speakers besides Rand just seemed to be so... disconnected. I want everyone here to know Clark, NJ is pretty damn ritzy when you compare it to the surrounding areas (Newark, Elizabeth, Plainfields, Linden), and it's a Republican stronghold in Union County, for sure. It's exactly why they picked Clark to have a rally. It has a great public school system surrounded by school systems that just suck (my town for example was third worst public school in NJ, worse than even some Newark schools).

There were a lot of jabs made from speakers about Newark, in general, and this is where I felt my disconnect the most. As I stared at all the (old, Conservative, white) faces in the crowd, I became aware immediately that most, if not all, had never even stepped foot in Newark or understands what is occurring outside of their little fairytale community with great schools, freshly mowed giant yards, and extreme taxes. I saw a lot of nervous glances when Rand Paul was speaking about how "youth choices shouldn't follow them into adulthood," obviously talking about drugs - and Rand had to quickly comment "now, black or white or brown, it doesn't mean doing drugs is smart, ok?"

Before the Rally even began and "Stand with Rand" signs and "Ron Paul" shirts were beginning to flood the rally, I heard numerous people nervously whisper "oh, Rand... didn't know he was going to be here..."

I don't know. On one hand I was glad to see a lot of Libertarian YOUNG folks there, but on the other hand it was extremely obvious the youth there were strictly for Rand (well shit, I was too), and that the older Conservatives were just there because "Lonegan had the (R) next to his name, and well wait, he supports the Second Amendment, right? So it's good enough for me."

There were a lot of "DON'T MESS WITH AMERICA!"s and "We're the powerhouse of the world!"s and even the "Don't awake the sleeping giant," references in speeches. That stuff just isn't for me, I suppose. I felt like, had that rally been held on Sept. 13th, 2001, nearly everyone there would be waving flags and yellow ribbons and ushering in the Iraq war with open harms, hugs, kisses and a lot of tears.

And one more thing... he said something along the lines of "Our soldiers must only take action against those who threaten our national security," and he wasn't even done speaking when the crowd erupted in cheers. He continued on, slowly, by saying "and of course, it has to be a real threat..." and yadda yadda... war hawks, imho. I'm sure half the crowd thought Iraq had WMD's, or was a threat to "national security," still.

Just not my type of "Republicans," from what I can tell. I didn't really expect it to be anything different though - considering the time (12-1PM). A lot of retirees, and youth without jobs, or in college. I will still go out and support Lonegan, and vote for him. He did (finally) take a strong stance against getting our troops involved with foreign entanglements, which I needed to hear from him, in person... as it wasn't clear the last time I saw him in person.

I hope I am wrong, and there were more pro-Peace people there than I am giving credit for.

 

[FSP-Rebel]

I understand Christie sucks and Rand wants to make a point, but there is nothing great about Lonegan. I am not even voting for the guy.

Heard the guy on The Jerry Doyle show yesterday and he was pimping the fact that Rand would be endorsing him today. He's all for stopping Obamacare, against Syrian intervention, NSA spying, I'll take him. More so, Rand was just getting himself in front of Jersey GOP donors and if an upset is pulled off then Rand is even more the Golden boy.

 

[eleganz]

I'll say this... the rally speakers besides Rand just seemed to be so... disconnected. I want everyone here to know Clark, NJ is pretty damn ritzy when you compare it to the surrounding areas (Newark, Elizabeth, Plainfields, Linden), and it's a Republican stronghold in Union County, for sure. It's exactly why they picked Clark to have a rally. It has a great public school system surrounded by school systems that just suck (my town for example was third worst public school in NJ, worse than even some Newark schools).

There were a lot of jabs made from speakers about Newark, in general, and this is where I felt my disconnect the most. As I stared at all the (old, Conservative, white) faces in the crowd, I became aware immediately that most, if not all, had never even stepped foot in Newark or understands what is occurring outside of their little fairytale community with great schools, freshly mowed giant yards, and extreme taxes. I saw a lot of nervous glances when Rand Paul was speaking about how "youth choices shouldn't follow them into adulthood," obviously talking about drugs - and Rand had to quickly comment "now, black or white or brown, it doesn't mean doing drugs is smart, ok?"

Before the Rally even began and "Stand with Rand" signs and "Ron Paul" shirts were beginning to flood the rally, I heard numerous people nervously whisper "oh, Rand... didn't know he was going to be here..."

I don't know. On one hand I was glad to see a lot of Libertarian YOUNG folks there, but on the other hand it was extremely obvious the youth there were strictly for Rand (well shit, I was too), and that the older Conservatives were just there because "Lonegan had the (R) next to his name, and well wait, he supports the Second Amendment, right? So it's good enough for me."

There were a lot of "DON'T MESS WITH AMERICA!"s and "We're the powerhouse of the world!"s and even the "Don't awake the sleeping giant," references in speeches. That stuff just isn't for me, I suppose. I felt like, had that rally been held on Sept. 13th, 2001, nearly everyone there would be waving flags and yellow ribbons and ushering in the Iraq war with open harms, hugs, kisses and a lot of tears.

And one more thing... he said something along the lines of "Our soldiers must only take action against those who threaten our national security," and he wasn't even done speaking when the crowd erupted in cheers. He continued on, slowly, by saying "and of course, it has to be a real threat..." and yadda yadda... war hawks, imho. I'm sure half the crowd thought Iraq had WMD's, or was a threat to "national security," still.

Just not my type of "Republicans," from what I can tell. I didn't really expect it to be anything different though - considering the time (12-1PM). A lot of retirees, and youth without jobs, or in college. I will still go out and support Lonegan, and vote for him. He did (finally) take a strong stance against getting our troops involved with foreign entanglements, which I needed to hear from him, in person... as it wasn't clear the last time I saw him in person.

I hope I am wrong, and there were more pro-Peace people there than I am giving credit for.

I get you...it happens, we ARE dealing with the GOP here, the old folks haven't died off...yet.

Hang in there and thanks for reporting back!

 

[jct74]

video report on Rand's appearance at the rally:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKAu2qeWGTg


Rand's speech:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw0--y2kzIU