UPDATED: Barack Obama rally in Dallas draws hefty, “hope”ful crowd

Chad Jones, says:

The Observer has <a href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/02/the_first_of_several_barack_ob.php">a piece </a> on folks who got turned away due to capacity, with the best part being a commenter suggesting Obama telling the Dallas crowd "We're gonna send Bush back to Texas!" was ... <em>awkward</em>.

Scott Doyle, says:

Are you disrespectin' <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/blogs/pegasusnewsblog/2008/feb/19/eoo/#c21625">my authori-tah</a>, Chad?

Chad Jones, says:

Do what, Doyle?

Scott Doyle, says:

My authori-tah, you be disrespectin' it.

Doesn't seem very balanced, Miko! I checked him, but he did <i>noooooooothing</i>. I'm very perturbed with the PegNews staff at the moment, to say the least.

Chad Jones, says:

Yeah . . . Mike (o?), let's look into adding a breathalyzer component to our comment boards.

Scott Doyle, says:

I don't think y'all would want me getting tipsy at work, considering that's when I do the vast majority of my Pegnewsin'.

Erin Rice, says:

In all fairness, I think there is a difference between "equal opportunity offending" and "equivalent offending." If I could, not being the person who set the site up but as someone with, hopefully, a working understanding of the first term provide my view of it.

While it's certainly our goal to cover everything to the same nth degree, that is nearly impossible, most definitely improbable. In this case we had a prime opportunity to cover the Democratic primaries as they pertain to DFW. In covering the event, we aren't trying to imply that we wouldn't cover the same type of event were it hosted by the Republican/Independent/Green/Socialist/<a href="http://countrystudies.us/poland/85.htm">Polish Beer-Lovers' Party</a>. In fact, through comments, user submissions, etc., we welcome and encourage people to contribute stories about what is important to them.

Putting all that aside, there is definitely an unbalanced amount of Democratic primary coverage all over town because for the first time in decades, Texas will have some say is who gets the party's nomination. Since the Republican race is essentially sealed (as Chad pointed out in the article), there's not much news coming out of there, and certainly not much that pertains to DFW. However, back when the Republican primaries were closer, you may have noticed all our coverage of the local happenings <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/nov/05/presidential-candidate-mike-huckabee-stops-2-dfw-c/">here</a>, <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/feb/05/kay-bailey-hutchinson-wooed-presidential-candidate/">here</a>, <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/apr/12/massachusettsian-mitt-romney-ate-dinner-dallas-las/">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/aug/22/texan-republicans-hold-straw-poll-confab-fort-wort/">here</a>.

Rawlins Gilliland, says:

I was there. It was not hard to get in if you showed up, and I did at 11:50 when he was supposed to be on @ noon. Trouble is, it was a capacity cowd, and after the arena filled, that was that. And oh what an eye-opening event this was.

I can tell you this: +1) The crowd looked like America. +2) Maybe 20% were VERY young people. +3) The VERY young sat and watched and listened attentively. Respectfully. Not in 'awe' but involved. +4) When was the last time you saw (or heard) that?

Rawlins Gilliland, says:

Try: Dallas crowd fleshed out with swollen pride, overtaking electoral malnutition.

Scott Doyle, says:

Erin

I was bored, and at the end of my work-day I felt like giving Chad some grief for <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/feb/20/city-van-plan-see-obama-stirs-dallas-city-council/#c21663">dissing</a> my personal odor in public. Don't worry about 'splainin yo'self to me - you'll know when I'm actually passionate about something other than being a nerd. Did you think I was seriously expecting y'all not to cover anymore of the dem primary?

All that aside, don't talk about raising muh taxes. Doyle gets angry when my precious funds are at stake. I'll shut my mouth and pay what I feel is reasonable, but past that I'll moan all I want.

I honestly don't care who pit-stops in Dallas to rally their troops - it's not going to change my feelings on the candidate one way or another. I certainly don't care what local sites post about it. I prefer debates over rallies, b/c talking to a bunch of people who already support you is useless imo.

It particularly seems you have more to lose than gain by addressing people who are willing to take time out of their day just to stroke your ego. All the while, undecided or indifferent voters are waiting to be won over. Is this really the most effective way to campaign?

Neff Conner, says:

Scott, there are people who attend candidate's rallies who are undecided or indifferent. And these assemblies are useful for other purposes than "stroking" a candidate's "ego," as you put it. They help motivate supporters to increase their campaign efforts, raise money, and keep the candidate's media buzz going. "Is this really the most effective way to campaign?" Perhaps not. Maybe candidates should spend more time going door-to-door and speaking to individuals and families. Or how 'bout an ole fashioned whistle-stop tour on a steam locomotive?<br>i reckon you'll tune in to the debate between Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama tonight. Maybe one of them will say something that will change your opinion about them.

John McClelland, says:

I thought isolationism went out of style in the 30's.

Chad Jones, says:

Apparently, either the DMN thinks we don't read their print version*†, or our headline's alliteration is just so appealing they couldn't resist:

<img src="http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/photos/2008/02/21/Headline.jpg">

*this is mostly true <br> †can't find the story online whatsoever

Scott Doyle, says:

Maybe I'm crazy, but I figured there'd be more of a push to light a fire under the third of the country who didn't even bother voting back in 2004. As interestedcitizen pointed out, differences between candidates is splitting hairs (especially within the party). Considering Texas actually matters in the dem primary this go-around, why not take more of a grass-roots approach than just having a rally?

Rawlins Gilliland, says:

Sleepless Sufferers: Why bother asking your doctor for Ambien when you can read 'interestedcitizen'?

Scott Doyle, says:

I wouldn't consider people actually getting off their ass 'new voters'. And methinks a lot more people are interested in this election than the past one b/c of disdain for Bush, not necessarily love for any of these candidates. Could we improve from 2/3 to 3/4 turnout this election? Who knows, but it certainly won't be a result of the same-old-song-and-dance campaigning.

Everyone's talking about being a reformer of this and that - how about you actually show us with your efforts to get in office?