Patterico's Pontifications

1/17/2010

Obama-Coakley Rally Doesn’t Fill the Hall

Filed under: Obama,Politics — DRJ @ 1:38 pm

[Guest post by DRJ]

Today’s Obama-Coakley rally in Boston didn’t fill the hall:

“It holds 3,000 and frankly only 2,000 to 2,500 showed up.”

Ones of Barack Obama’s last events in Boston was February 4, 2008 — the eve of the Massachusetts Democratic primary — where he spoke to a capacity crowd of 9,000. People waited outside for hours to see him.

How things have changed.

— DRJ

Comments (109)

109 Responses to “Obama-Coakley Rally Doesn’t Fill the Hall”

They are all out in the street holding Brown signs.
Mike K (2cf494) — 1/17/2010 @ 1:52 pm
“Beauty is skin-deep, but ugly is to the bone!”

Hers has been a truly ugly campaign.
AD - RtR/OS! (b27208) — 1/17/2010 @ 1:54 pm
What, are there no buses? Is there a bus driver strike or something? I mean you just have to figure that 50 frantic flacks were working the SEIU phone list trying desperately to fill those seats.

And still no takers.

Heads will roll.
Kevin Murphy (3c3db0) — 1/17/2010 @ 1:55 pm
The enthusiasm gap is among the most dramatic in this campaign.
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/17/2010 @ 1:56 pm
“…Is there a bus driver strike or something?…”

They out-sourced bus transportation to Ray Nagin.
AD - RtR/OS! (b27208) — 1/17/2010 @ 2:00 pm
The applause was perfunctory, the speeches awkward. If it’s any indication of the outcome, Brown is in.

Why no film of his rally, BTW? Or did I miss it?
Patricia (b05e7f) — 1/17/2010 @ 2:00 pm
TV ratings might be more revealing. Boston area is under a winter weather advisory; a football Sunday on a holiday weekend. Priorities… like staying dry and warm.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 2:18 pm
Interesting that the Brown supporters priorities at the counter rally was to overfill the hall.
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/17/2010 @ 2:25 pm
DCSCA,

There may be snow in the forecast but it’s currently overcast and 38 degress in Boston. That wouldn’t even stop me from getting out, and I live in a more temperate climate. I can’t believe this weather would deter someone living in Boston. And by the way, the weather archive shows Boston’s weather on February 4, 2008, was the same as today’s — overcast and 37 degrees.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/17/2010 @ 2:40 pm
Well, I tend to think of things as following Greek mythology.

So now the DNC will apparently learn about another definition of “hope and change.” Perhaps voters aren’t sheep after all?

It could be that Mr. Brown is the change Massachusettes (!) has been waiting for?

The trouble with putting people on pedestals, like POTUS, is how far they have to fall. Many of the trollishly inclined posters here sniffily insist that they were not starry eyed.

Um. I doubt it.

Anyway, the bloom is off the Chicago Rose, it seems.
Eric Blair (70639b) — 1/17/2010 @ 2:48 pm
Certainly POTUS’ handling of this, and much else, has been…what’s the expression?—pitch-perfect?

That is some grade inflation, to call this kind of thing a B+.
Eric Blair (70639b) — 1/17/2010 @ 2:49 pm
They out-sourced bus transportation to Ray Nagin.

Ha! I can just see about 150 buses full of Acorn members sitting in a lot in New Orleans not knowing they were supposed to be in Boston. Oops – the e-mail went out to the wrong city.

It would be a perfect ending to the pitiful Coakley campaign.
MU789 (514c52) — 1/17/2010 @ 2:49 pm
“to call this kind of thing a B+.” Graded on a liberal curve to assure no one fails. Remember we have thousands of college grads (5 year) who can’t read on the 3rd grade level. They are automatic democrats.
Scrapiron (4e0dda) — 1/17/2010 @ 2:55 pm
Where are the Purple People Beaters?
daleyrocks (718861) — 1/17/2010 @ 2:57 pm
#9- February 4, 2008 was a holday weekend? Hmmm. As to weather, purely speculation on your part since, as you say, you don’t actually live day to day in that climate. Family connections who do (Worcester) are not prone to venture out in such slush. It’s a mess to drive in. And they are pulling for the Jets. Of course it is a holiday weekend on a football Sunday.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:16 pm
Where are the Purple People Beaters?

Quite a few of them are carrying Scott Brown signs.
A little dissension within the ranks, it seems.
AD - RtR/OS! (b27208) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:16 pm
The latest Suffolk University poll this week showed Obama’s performance approval rating in MA at 48%; I don’t know what it was a year ago, but one can reasonably assume this pales in comparison. And as it didn’t turn out so well for Corzine and Deeds when the president campaigned for them, it might be overreaching to assume his appearance today will make the difference. Desperate times etc….
Dana (f64b7d) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:18 pm
Comment by DCSCA — 1/17/2010 @ 3:16 pm

Yet, Scott Brown had an overflow crowd in Worcester.
AD - RtR/OS! (b27208) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:19 pm
#8 -Interesting that the Brown supporters priorities at the counter rally was to overfill the hall. Uh… that’s not saying much.

The People’s Rally – Scott Brown For US Senate
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Time:
3:00pm (EST) – 6:00pm (EST)
Location:

Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA
Mechanics Hall General Event Space Max Capacity: 450 people– source http://www.eventective.com/USA/Massachusetts/…/Mechanics-Hall.html
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:21 pm
Gateway Pundit is reporting Ear Leader was heckled for several minutes during his poorly attended and perfunctorily received harangue.

i wonder what the penalty for lesse majeste is under the USC?
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:22 pm
#18- see #19.

All that matters is who shows up on Tuesday. But there’s little doubt Coakley has been a poor candidate for the Dems.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:23 pm
“Of course it is a holiday weekend on a football Sunday.”

DCSCA – We’ve been having football Sundays since September. Only three in ten private employers give paid days off for MLK day. Next point?
daleyrocks (718861) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:24 pm
#20- CNN aired it. An anti-abortion protest. He and his son were escorted out and questioned by the Secret Service.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:24 pm
Hey, daley, you got your wish: Mr. Pitch-Perfect is back.

Have fun playing whack a troll.

He should just, what? Let things land. Wasn’t that the famous quote?
Eric Blair (70639b) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:29 pm
DCSCA,

I see you’ve given up on your weather excuse and you’re relying on football. So which game is keeping everyone in Boston glued to their couches — the Jets vs the Chargers, or the Vikings vs the Cowboys?
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:33 pm
“But there’s little doubt Coakley has been a poor candidate for the Dems.”

SCSCA – Sort of like Obama, but the media helped to carry him over the goal line, using a football metaphor, since you noted that it’s a football Sunday.
daleyrocks (718861) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:33 pm
“I see you’ve given up on your weather excuse and you’re relying on football.”

DRJ – Nobody in Boston drives or ventures out in bad weather. Trust DCSCA on that. Heh!
daleyrocks (718861) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:35 pm
#9-There may be snow in the forecast but it’s currently overcast and 38 degress in Boston.

There’s a winter weather advisory for the region. http://www.wunderground.com/US/MA/Boston.html
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:36 pm
Comment by DCSCA — 1/17/2010 @ 3:21 pm,

If you’re referring to the Brown rally in Worcester today, apparently the hall was full at 3,000 people, with another 1,000 or so outside. Photos here.
Dana (f64b7d) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:38 pm
#25- Hardly.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:38 pm
I suspect its not a surprise, but DCSCA can’t count.

[url=http://www.mechanicshall.org/eventbooking/seating.html]Great Hall seating diagram for Mechanics Hall[/url] shows that the great hall can hold over 1600 in theater mode.
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:40 pm
Wow. #30 didn’t make any sense. As if that is a surprise.
Eric Blair (70639b) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:40 pm
Whoops, that should be this link
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:41 pm
#29- see #19. Mechanics Hall capacity is 450. So about the same number attended both rallies with overflow in lousy weather on a holiday weekend and polls show it a close race. Should be an interesting Tuesday in MA. Regardless, it is a wake-up call to Dems.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:45 pm
SPQR, photos of the hall – full- at link #29.
Dana (f64b7d) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:45 pm
DCSCA,

Now we’re back to the weather again? The Obama-Coakley rally was early afternoon but the snow isn’t scheduled to move in until late tonight or tomorrow. In fact, as I write this at 6:45 PM EST, it’s still 38 degrees in Boston. Are Boston residents always this timid when it comes to inclement weather?
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:49 pm
#25- DRJ- the family is split- East Coast contingent is pulling for the Jets; The West Coast clan for the Chargers. And, of course, all are united against Dallas winning anything. 😉
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:50 pm
#29- see #19. Mechanics Hall capacity is 450. So about the same number attended both rallies with overflow in lousy weather on a holiday weekend and polls show it a close race. Should be an interesting Tuesday in MA. Regardless, it is a wake-up call to Dems.

My god, I haven’t seen someone so adept at wiggling out of a corner since my oldest son was 12 years old, and in his desperation to be right, his rationalizations became increasingly more ridiculous. LOL!
Dana (f64b7d) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:54 pm
DCSCA,

You get your wish since Dallas lost, but are all Boston residents as conflicted as your relatives? I picture New England residents as loyal to regional teams.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:54 pm
DCSCA,
So about the same number attended both rallies with overflow in lousy weather on a holiday weekend and polls show it a close race.

And Coakley’s rally had an incumbent president. I know, such a minor detail is easy to forget.
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:55 pm
It is utterly unfathomable that
1-Duckcrap actually has relatives,
2-That they are willing to talk to him,
3-That he actually believes that anyone in MA has any interest in either the Jets or the Chargers – though I would tend to believe that what with the normal amount of NY animosity resident in MA, that anyone there would be cheering for the Chargers.
AD - RtR/OS! (b27208) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:57 pm
Slightly OT but can’t help but worry that large amounts of US troops are going to have to go in and take charge in Haiti soon to protect aid workers, restore order and keep the peace. It will be interesting to see how all that plays out in the dicey political landscape Obama is maneuvering in right now. Especially since so many of the military are already deployed elsewhere and the troops are spread so thin. Another ball in the air to juggle. At least he can’t say he “inherited” the earthquake.

Also, granting asylum to illegal Haitians already in the US, and bringing to America tons of the injured for medical treatment, etc, are all very understandable from a humanitarian perspective, but at the same time tap into more potential hot button issues with unintended consequences (related to the healthcare bill) for the administration.
elissa (c02e27) — 1/17/2010 @ 3:59 pm
If the Coakley/Obama rally was overflowing, why did major media report that the hall was not full?

Want to try that spin again?
AD - RtR/OS! (b27208) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:00 pm
DCSCA, your claim regarding capacity of the hall is false.
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:00 pm
elissa:
The Haitian government (what there still is of it) has a long-standing peace-keeping agreement with the UN, and they are supposed to be the lead agency for security in Haiti.
Any move by the US to replace the UN Peace-keepers with our soldiers/Marines would make certain elements within our National Command Authority very uncomfortable due to their desire to not create any appearance of imperialism/colonialism, or the imposition of an American Hegemony.
So, Teh One will allow the UN to continue on its’ always disastrous course of peace-keeping and additional Haitians, and non-Haitians, will die.
AD - RtR/OS! (b27208) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:06 pm
Comment by SPQR — 1/17/2010 @ 4:00 pm

Why are we not surprised!
AD - RtR/OS! (b27208) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:07 pm
So Dccrap first says the Dems will win because of weather…then football, then…weather again…then…

It’s a mess to drive in.

What a fool – take a hint from those of us who live in real winter weather, slush is child’s play compared to the usual stuff.

But please keep hanging onto your fantasy, it’s almost as good as your other ones:

– your conversation with Von Braun in your dorm room in your underpants

– not to mention that awesome snowball fight with US Embassy staffers in Moscow, which was directly preceded by…

– selling newspapers on a corner in London, which was directly followed by…

– stints trading energy futures at Enron while at the same time working at NASA as Chief Propeller – Head…

– working in secret assassination teams in Latin America;

– working as a Navy Seal, presumably operating on some kind of dinghy in the Atlantic

Keep ’em coming, this is truly hilarious.
Dmac (539341) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:13 pm
Of course it is a holiday weekend on a football Sunday.

Comment by DCSCA

Yes, all those Brown supporters in the streets are watching TV, no doubt. You are really pitiful.
Mike K (2cf494) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:15 pm
I see that the Boston Globe puts the Coakley rally at 1,500 and the Brown rally at 2,200.

Make of it what you will.
Dianna (f12db5) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:28 pm
#49- “The president’s speech, which organizers said was attended by 1,500 people in the gym and viewed by 2,500 in a spillover room, was briefly interrupted by a shout of “Abortion! Abortion! Innocent Blood!” Two men and an 8-year-old boy were escorted out of the gym by police. One of the men could be seen holding a placard that read, ‘Jesus loves all babies.’

Brown held a competing rally at about the same time at Mechanics Hall in Worcester that organizers said was attended by 2,200 people, with another 1,000 in two additional rooms. – source, Boston Globe.com 1/17/10 So it appears pretty much neck and neck. Make of it what you will, indeed.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:50 pm
DCSCA points out the real outrage — those horrible anti-abortionists who dare speak out publicly at a political event. What do they think this is, a democracy where people have free speech?
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:53 pm
Latest InTrade: 55-40 Brown.
AD - RtR/OS! (b27208) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:56 pm
You don’t mess with a Navy SEAL, damnit!
Dmac (539341) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:56 pm
Comment by Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. — 1/17/2010 @ 4:53 pm

Yes! How dare they question The One Who Will Bring Openness and Accountability to Governance?
AD - RtR/OS! (b27208) — 1/17/2010 @ 4:57 pm
#44- Actually, it is not false number. But it was inadverntently quoted on my part as alow-balled capacity, which depending on the configuration of the hall for events and the error stands acknowledged and corrected. Still, comparing capacities between the Northeastern Univ. gym and Worcester’s Mechanic’s Hall (GREAT HALL 80′ X 105′ 8480 sq. ft. and can be configured for 1615, 450, 600, 1500, depending on the event) the rallies appear to equally attended per the Boston Globe and polls seem to have it right- neck and neck. Tuesday will tell. But there’s little doubt Coakley has been a lackluster candidate. Regardless of the outcome, it should be a wake-up call to all incumbents in both parties.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 5:05 pm
#51- Actually, the President let him speak. The crowd took it from there.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 5:08 pm
Regardless of the outcome, it should be a wake-up call to all incumbents in both parties.

DCSCA stays on message — Deflect blame from the Democrats at all costs!
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 1/17/2010 @ 5:10 pm
#40- As MA’s late Tip O’Neill often quipped, ‘All politics are local.’ And incumbent presidents jetting in may or may not be helpful during close campaigns. See Dubya for details.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 5:14 pm
See Dubya for details.

So DCSCA is reduced to comparing The Precious™ to the evil Bush The Younger (The Ignorant)? Oh, the indignity for progressives!
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 1/17/2010 @ 5:20 pm
Bradley, the guy is just out of detox. Don’t torture him too much. Remember all the mental Twister he has been playing since before 2008. He’s tired.
Eric Blair (a606ad) — 1/17/2010 @ 5:29 pm
Oh good Allah, International Man of Parody has become a parody of its parodic self. 38 in Boston is fucking warm this time of year. The idea that football played a role is laughable, since there is no New England team left in the playoffs, unless you count the Jets, who I guarantee the Pats fans are not cheering for. I blame Bush.
JD (2e1461) — 1/17/2010 @ 5:39 pm
Eric,
But I expected so much more from DCSCA. He was a double-super-duper-secret agent! He tutored von Braun in rocketry! He was Limbaugh’s personal armpit-sniffer!
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 1/17/2010 @ 5:41 pm
He was emptying wastebaskets while Zucker was discussing dissing O’Brien.

Sigh. Seriously, he hasn’t been offensive, and he hasn’t really bragged much recently.

And it must be tough to have all these expectations for the BHO and the most honest and ethical Congress in history…and find…
Eric Blair (70639b) — 1/17/2010 @ 5:47 pm
Eric,
Well, at least we know how the Dems will spin the results if Coakley loses: This was an anti-incumbent vote*, and since incumbents represent the status quo, all the more urgency to enact Obama’s agenda of hopenchange.

*Yes, Coakley is not an incumbent, but when spinning, who cares about accuracy?
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 1/17/2010 @ 5:59 pm
DCSCA, you wrote “…Mechanics Hall General Event Space Max Capacity: 450 people …” emphasis added.

A false claim.

Keep spinning, oh International Man of Parody.
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/17/2010 @ 6:02 pm
Staying away from the Obama rally for 38 degrees!

Wimps.

Three thousand of us tea partyers were standing outside at a bonfire in rural Wisconsin at 28 degrees (with a slight damp wind blowing). Motivation – stop obamacare and other manifestations of socialism.
red (7b5f67) — 1/17/2010 @ 6:54 pm
—Yes, Coakley is not an incumbent, but when spinning, who cares about accuracy? —

She ran like an incumbent.
red (7b5f67) — 1/17/2010 @ 6:55 pm
Another photo of the Great Hall / Brown’s ralley which is accompanied by:

Not only did supporters fill the Great Hall (shown), but they also filled the overflow room downstairs and the overflow-overflow room at the Crowne Plaza hotel down the street.

So much for the International Man of Parody’s self delusions.
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:15 pm
#65- Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts (MA) – Wedding Venue …
Hold your event at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts (MA). … Mechanics Hall General Event Space Max Capacity: 450 people …
http://www.eventective.com/USA/Massachusetts/…/Mechanics-Hall.html – Cached
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:33 pm
#68- See #50. Better still, just keep wishing he wins.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:36 pm
Worcester’s Mechanics Hall has a website and the photos demonstrate it is a beautiful facility. Like many multi-purpose venues, it can be configured for a range of events that accommodate “10 to 1600 people in comfort and elegance.”
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:38 pm
#65- Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts (MA) – Wedding Venue …

FWIW, SPQR is correct if you’re trying to rebut him by contending the room’s capacity was in the “Schoolroom” mode, or set up to reflect one of the statistics that you yourself cited in a previous post. For a political rally the hall obviously would have been configured in either the “reception” or “theater” format.

GREAT HALL 80′ X 105′
8480 square feet

Theater: 1615
Schoolroom: 450
Banquet: 600
Reception: 1500
Mark (411533) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:45 pm
DCSCA didn’t do his homework. The 450 max capacity was for the eponymous part of Mechanics Hall, just one of six event spaces. DCSCA probably got confused by reading from a cache, while the actual Web site makes the total capacity clear.
Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:48 pm
DCSCA, your attempt to keep spinning is making you look like …. oh, I don’t know … maybe The International Man of Parody.
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:52 pm
Sheesh, I link to the actual hall’s own website in #33 and IMP still can’t get that he’s looking like an idiot.

Epic IMP Fail.
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:53 pm
#73. Hmmmm. See #55. Tuesday will tell all.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:54 pm
And when you compare SPQR’s photo above (the same photo in my Mom and her Protest Sign post) with the photos at the Mechanics Hall website, it’s clear this was held in the largest venue called the Great Concert Hall.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:54 pm
So…your comment was, um, fake but accurate?

C’mon, DCSCA. Quit digging. Go do something fun tonight. Getting into blog fights isn’t fun. Is it?
Eric Blair (70639b) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:56 pm
DCSCA #76 – Super Duper Double Epic fail.

With a belly flop.
SPQR (26be8b) — 1/17/2010 @ 7:56 pm
#76- Correct and can be configured from 450 to 1615 people. Overflow at both venues, per the Boston Globe. Should be an interesting election but clearly Coakley let this slip away.
DCSCA (9d1bb3) — 1/17/2010 @ 8:02 pm
Here, DCSCA, just try saying you are wrong.

Face it, you have been wrong plenty of times. It’s true for everyone, all troll-bashing aside. You have a long, long history of exaggerative partisanship, which anyone can search out and see. We get it that you are all hopeful that the DNC wins.

But you were proven pretty darned wrong on your commentary here. Just move it along.

When you act all weird about it—like you are doing—you don’t earn any respect or attention from others. You just look weird. And I doubt that you really want that.
Eric Blair (70639b) — 1/17/2010 @ 9:26 pm
“Earning respect” did you say, Eric? Von Brain never had any to begin with around these environs.
Dmac (539341) — 1/18/2010 @ 10:11 am
Does anyone here bother to do even 10 seconds of research? There are countless reports of people who were actually there at the Obama rally yesterday. Here is but one that actually tells the story – from fivethirtyeight.com

“That link to the Boston rally, saying only a stadium of 2,500 was used and it wasn’t even filled to capacity? I stood outside in a line that snaked for over half a mile, 10 people wide, for over 5 hours. Barely anyone made it inside the rally. If you gave it even 20 seconds of research you could find thousands of pictures of the enormous support that came out for Obama. There were at least 15,000 people that showed up, if not significantly more. The other side of the street had a smattering of Brown supporters, but nothing really tangible.”
Tramaker (4e066c) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:07 am
Huh. And here I thought it was a Coakley rally?
Eric Blair (70639b) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:11 am
[…] Pontifications: Bob Kerrey: Scott Brown Doesn’t Believe in Evolution (Updated) and Obama-Coakley Rally Doesn’t Fill the Hall and If Brown Wins, Can Democrats Stop a Filibuster By Delaying His Appointment? Nice Deb: Martha […]
Disturbing: Martha Coakley’s Controversial Ruling on Child Rapist, Toddler Was Sexually Assaulted with Hot Curling Iron - Sean Hannity Show (video) « Frugal Café Blog Zone (a66042) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:15 am
These trollish types aren’t even trying anymore. Asspulls appear to be their only tool.
JD (67dc98) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:20 am
Here’s a report from the student newspaper where the rally was held:

http://huntnewsnubetablogs.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/tales-from-the-line/

According to local news reports, people began lining up as early as 11 p.m. Saturday.

Those who arrived later Sunday morning, however, were turned away. Solomon Court’s usual capacity of 2,500 was reduced to about 1,100 for security reasons and to accommodate media equipment.
Tramaker (4e066c) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:21 am
There were 15,000 people at the Coakley rally! Fire never melts steel! Google it!
JD (67dc98) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:21 am
What choice do they have, JD? Remember: this troll is criticizing us for not being there…while not being there.
Eric Blair (0b61b2) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:39 am
#83

– from fivethirtyeight.com

Oh, I heard of them! They got them world renowned journalists named … uh, and … lots of fact checkers ‘n stuff, right?

Oh, sorry…had ’em confuzzled with a clothing outfit. Never heard of them, so how exactly do they have credibility? I’m mean, not like you bothered to link to your quote, nor give an attribution to anyone that could be asked to corroborate your post and that statement? I mean, not that I don’t believe you, or anything like that.

On second thought…
EW1(SG) (edc268) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:48 am
EW1 – 538 is a completely leftist cesspool, along the lines of moveon and mediamatterz. And that troll is removing numbers from its rectum.
JD (facce9) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:51 am
Eric & JD – are you two just deliberately dense? I am pointing out links to people who actually were there. It is clear from every single news report that the hall was full way before Obama arrived and police/security were not letting anyone else in the hall. A long line of people were turned away.

The top of this thread is entitled “Obama-Coakley Rally Doesn’t Fill the Hall”. My simple point is -that headline is a lie. Can you explain to me how that makes me a troll?

Need more evidence?
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/01/a_long_line_wai.html

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/01/11k_supporters.php
Tramaker (4e066c) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:53 am
Actually JD, 538 actually uses real statistics and although Nate Silver leans to the left, his numbers are accurate. He predicted every single senate race correctly in 2008.

I’m interested in facts, not partisan nonsense from hacks like you.
Tramaker (4e066c) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:56 am
P.S. And the notion that you would criticize a source for being partisan while going by the word of Fox News (headline/video clip at the top of this page) doesn’t pass the laugh test.
Tramaker (4e066c) — 1/18/2010 @ 11:57 am
15,000 people were there !!!! GOOGLE IT !!!!
JD (facce9) — 1/18/2010 @ 12:05 pm
The point of the post from 538 wasn’t his estimate of 15,000 people – and by the way, he was referring to people outside the hall, not the hall itself – it’s the fact that the hall was full and people were turned away.

Again – for the deliberately dense…I am arguing the headline at the top of this thread. The hall was full. The hall was full. Repeat 50 times until it sinks in.
Tramaker (4e066c) — 1/18/2010 @ 12:09 pm
I love it when Leftists try to guesstimate crowd size. It is like they divide by 5 when it comes to people they do not agree with, and multiply by 5 when it serves their purposes. If you don’t get it, Tramaker, we are mocking you.
JD (facce9) — 1/18/2010 @ 12:19 pm
The Fox News video cited is, frankly, mistaken.

Regardless of the precise numbers for the two events, people did wait outside to see the President for hours.

I personally waited for 3 hours and did not get in; the BPD informed us the event was at capacity. Other individuals who arrived at 9am for the 1pm opening of the doors also did not get in. For comparison, someone I know who arrived in line at 6am did manage to get in. The earliest I heard of people lining up was 3am.

Implying that the rally did not fill the hall due to lack of supporters is simply false.

– “Lines are Long”
http://huntnewsnubetablogs.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/tales-from-the-line/
– “Photos from outside Cabot, Huntington Avenue”
http://huntnewsnubetablogs.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/photos-from-outside-cabot-huntington-avenue/
MT (5baee6) — 1/18/2010 @ 12:42 pm
Hilarious how you people bash fivethirtyeight.com and mediamatters on a post that cites Fox News! I support your frustration about government, but when will you guys figure out you’re mad at the wrong people?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-08-12/the-gops-misplaced-rage/full/
Mr. Reality (4f969c) — 1/18/2010 @ 12:55 pm
Concern trolls! YIPPEE!
JD (ab38a3) — 1/18/2010 @ 12:57 pm
There were 15,000 people there! Maybe more! Google it, you reichwingNazis.
JD (ab38a3) — 1/18/2010 @ 1:00 pm
Great link. Mr Reality follows the Finger Pointer in Chief’s talking points and blames Barcky’s profilgate spending and soaring deficits on … drumroll … BOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHH!!!!!
JD (ab38a3) — 1/18/2010 @ 1:05 pm
“…are you two just deliberately dense…”

I may or may not be dense, but at least I am not a rude and spiteful troll who is seems so very worried about Hope and Change.

Take a chill pill and see what happens on Tuesday. Wouldn’t it suck for you if Brown won despite those remarkable POTUS coattails?
Eric Blair (0b61b2) — 1/18/2010 @ 1:45 pm
Here’s a WSJ roundup of just how badly the Coakley Special has run off the rails.

To date, Coakley and her Keystone Kops campaign has offended Catholics, truck drivers, UPS, Federal Express, rape victims, and perhaps the biggest blunder of all, Red Sox fans.

What. A. Buffoon.
Bradley J. Fikes, C. O.R. (a18ddc) — 1/18/2010 @ 1:50 pm
#93:

partisan nonsense from hacks like you.

Interesting.

You arrive here, basically spouting nonsense, and people that have demonstrated a thoughtful and deliberate approach to the politics of the day are suddenly partisan hacks?

No wonder Coakley and Democrats in general are losing ground so rapidly.

Partisan hackery tends to turn people off.
EW1(SG) (edc268) — 1/18/2010 @ 2:20 pm
I read the trolls’ links and say “so what ?” The two rallies, one with the president and every Democrat politician in the northeast, the other with Scott Brown, Curt Schilling and Doug Flutie, were equal size. Which would you rather have been at?

Bruce Bartlett is mad at Bush and, like far too many Republican hacks, trying to make new friends by trashing his old ones. Yes, Bush spent too much. No, Clinton DID NOT have a surplus and here is where I part company from Bartlett. The national debt went up every year Clinton was in office. They had PROJECTIONS of a surplus but more money still went out than came in.

I am unhappy with Republicans but thinking that, because you are, you are going to join Obama’s team is like getting made at your nose being too big and cutting it off.

I still don’t know what Bartlett’s thing is but he has lost me a long time ago.
Mike K (2cf494) — 1/18/2010 @ 2:48 pm
I was actually waiting at the Boston event. I think there must be some sort of mistake in the story here, because I was in an incredibly large line that wrapped far, far down several streets. We waited for many hours and were turned away because even the overflow area was full.

I think perhaps someone confused the smaller venue used with the larger one available at Northeastern, and they were counting the available seats from that.

I certainly can’t say why they chose the smaller venue, but I certainly doubt they would turn away people in the line if they still has seats that they needed to fill. Better to get voters inside and fired up than turn them away. Even if you think Democrats are crazy, there’s a limit to what is logical.

I suppose the police car that drove by to tell everyone in the line to disperse might have been lying, but I would hate to think something like that could happen and not make the news.

In a nice note, all the Brown supporters I interacted with in line were fairly nice! Always good to have a positive interaction with folks from the other side.
Kaete (e2de81) — 1/18/2010 @ 3:11 pm
Mike K. – Bartlett’s got as many obvious errors in that piece as a Krugman column. Why would anybody take it seriously?
daleyrocks (718861) — 1/18/2010 @ 3:41 pm
[…] *Brimming conservative confidence. Conservatives are also chirping about big buzz at Brown rallies. And however much liberal nerves are soothed by President Obama’s last-minute visit to the state, his inability to draw crowds like those he did 2008 is causing further crowing. […]
The Coakley-Brown Intangibles | TheWorldPolitics (197be1) — 1/18/2010 @ 10:01 pm

1/17/2010

Obama-Coakley Rally Doesn’t Fill the Hall

109 Responses to “Obama-Coakley Rally Doesn’t Fill the Hall”

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