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Late Night: The Boss Rises in Philly

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 12:38:24 AM EST
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Bruce Springsteen at a voter registration drive in Philly for Sen. Barack Obama today. An excellent speech, delivered while strumming, no notes, no "uh's" and great words and imagery. He ought to run for office.



larger version here.

The song: An acoustic version of "The Rising." This is an open thread.

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    Late Night: The Boss Rises in Philly | 16 comments (16 topical)

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    Bruce (5.00 / 0) (#1)
    by Shari on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 12:57:35 AM EST
    It was an amazing afternoon.  Even though the fire department estimated the crowd at 50,000, I think it was much higher.  To me, it rivaled the 4th of July crowds, which routinely are estimated at over 100,000 people.  Bruce was amazing, Rendell gave a lovely speech, as did a very casual looking Bob Casey, and Amos Lee did a nice set, too.  A great afternoon, a great cause, and apparently many new registered voters.

    "This Land Is Your Land" (none / 0) (#15)
    by Peter G on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 08:21:44 PM EST
    Here's a minute or so, unfortunately only a minute, of Bruce doing Woody Guthrie's anthem, "This Land Is Your Land" in Philadelphia yesterday.  I hope someone got the whole thing and posts it to YouTube or another video site soon.

    Parent
    Got it ... Springsteen Does Guthrie, (none / 0) (#16)
    by Peter G on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 08:33:33 PM EST
    Complete version (with a lot of crowd noise, too, unfortunately) is here.

    Parent
    It makes a former . . . (5.00 / 0) (#4)
    by Doc Rock on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 08:13:07 AM EST
    . . . Jersey boy from across the Delaware from Philly, right proud.

    Actually (5.00 / 0) (#5)
    by Steve M on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 09:01:47 AM EST
    the size of that crowd is misleading.  I hear the Decembrists were the opening act.

    bruce need not run (5.00 / 0) (#6)
    by sancho on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 09:22:26 AM EST
    for office. his music has done more to change lives for the better than he could ever have done as a politican. bruce has found and fulfilled (and is fulfilling) his destiny beautifully.

    great clip.

    I agree (none / 0) (#11)
    by ruffian on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 11:05:36 AM EST
    Why on earth would he want to run for office?  He has been inspiring me for 30 years, more than any politician possibly could.

    Parent
    Bo Bruce! (none / 0) (#2)
    by stevea66 on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 03:22:56 AM EST
    That's the way to give Bush/Cheney and the rest of 'em the steel-toed BOOT!

    I think he did have notes (which doesn't detract (none / 0) (#3)
    by BachFan on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 08:09:16 AM EST
    from his message at all) ... I was watching the live-streaming on philly.com, and I think he asked someone for a rock to hold down something before he gave that fantastic speech.

    Who's right on the issues? (none / 0) (#7)
    by Yotin on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 09:24:22 AM EST
    Half of the nation is on one side and the other half the opposite side.

    So, who's right on the issues?

    If we're a divided nation on the issues, what should we vote on then, experience, age, character, service to the nation, predictive style of leadership?

    I think from a somewhat tortuous and convoluted way, I concluded from listening to both campaigns that age cancels experience... meaning young age negates years of experience.

    And so we're left with character, service to the nation and predictive style of leadership.

    And so I ask myself, who has character, greater service to the nation and a style of leadership combined with character to predict how he'll act and decide on tough issues.

    My answer would have been so easy was Hillary on the ticket. And so I'll have to ignore my own questions and answers in order I could go out to vote for my party's ticket on Nov. 4.

    Interesting (5.00 / 0) (#8)
    by Steve M on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 09:37:49 AM EST
    So you, yourself, have no opinion whatsoever on the issues?

    Issues don't become irrelevant just because "the nation is divided."  If some people prefer the Republican take on the issues, they can vote for the Republican.  For my part, even though I would have preferred Hillary myself, it's a no-brainer to continue to side with the Democratic position on the issues.

    Parent

    Springsteen in Philly (none / 0) (#10)
    by Dave47 on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 10:17:18 AM EST
    I was at Metropolitan Park in Jacksonville, Fl for what I saw as an historic moment for NE Florida,   We are a bastion for Ultra Religious Neocons posing as Republican politics. There were 20,000 of us waiting for Senator Obama. 20,000. 13,000 inside and another 8,000 out side the park. As Obama's bus finally arrived after 3pm and the entourage began moving toward the stage I turned to the group next to me and told them that when Barack took the stage I'd use Springsteen's "The Rising." That's what is happening here. The DJ chose a piece of tired funk instead. "The Rising' would have nailed the moment and put so much energy into a crowd that had been waiting since 10-11 am for OBAMA. Not that there wasn't a great deal of energy but "The Rising" puts a little lightning in the air.  

    A little known fact is that in 2000 Duval County had nearly 27,000 "spoiled ballots" and we weren't even in the recount mix because the Republican Supervisor of Elections originally told the local party leadership that there weren't that many.  When the real number became apparent it was too late for action.

    My son says that my generation's life is accompanied by a Beatle's soundtrack. Well maybe "Revolution" but I'm not ready to hold anyone's hand across the aisle. I'm here for "The Rising". Come on down to the ballot box and let's have one.  A Blue Florida!

    Senator Graham are you still going door to door in the Panhandle for Senator Obama? Senator Nelson are you at long last now ready to  Wehret den Anfängen (resist the beginnings)?  As citizens, we are all figuratively or literally "Born In the USA" and as a North Florida Dem I'm " tired of covering up like a dog that's been beat to much."  

    Springsteen nails it for me.

    Florida come on up for " The Rising"

    Parent

    Yes, if there's accountability (none / 0) (#14)
    by Yotin on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 07:37:10 PM EST
    I'm a lifelong supporter of the Dem Party, financially and in the past, I have been out on the campaign trail. Not only is the nation evenly divided on the issues but also the candidates can't be trusted on the issues. For example, I believe on campaign finance reform, no pork barrel riders on bills and court oversight on FISA. On all counts, Obama gets an "F". It's so easy to make promises if one is not held accountable for them.

    Hence, I couldn't differentiate them on the issues. The other factors count for more as predictors of their behavior in office. Character and internalized experience are major determinants to their leadership style and how they'll stand on tough issues. IMO

    Parent

    Actually it is not completely divided (5.00 / 0) (#9)
    by samtaylor2 on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 09:53:37 AM EST
    The nation as a whole supports democratic ideas much more- as unfortunately, so many democrats don't vote.  But that doesn't change the fact that, Americans support democratic models of government.

    A very loud, large and organized minority supports McCain and his moralistic platform.  

    Parent

    Sam, the term "moralistic" (none / 0) (#12)
    by Cream City on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 01:40:50 PM EST
    applied to only the Repubs this time is perilous.  Consider your candidate's current "faith tour" for him.

    Stick to principles and fight against the Dems caving to the Repub playbook and bringing religion into politics, too.  Fight from within the Dems, if you will.  But fight it.

    Parent

    SNL Veep Debate (none / 0) (#13)
    by Amiss on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 03:04:46 PM EST
    Link

    Late Night: The Boss Rises in Philly | 16 comments (16 topical)

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