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August 27, 2004

Day Five: Bruce Roemmelt on the DNC Bus

Blog Day 5

This morning we got a little gift. We got to sleep late (8:00 am) and rest up. I've been on the trip since day 1 and the little time off was most appreciated.

Today's schedule takes us to us to Pittsburgh and Harrisburg and overnighting in Scranton. Tomorrow will find us doing an event in Scranton and Philadelphia prior to our grand entry across the Hudson to NYC.

The Pittsburgh stop was very well attended. Although he tour is primarily a meet the media event we were deluged with requests for buttons, posters, bumper stickers and other campaign paraphernalia. We occasionally were able to share an America Can Do Better sign but little else.

I've also found out that these yellow fire fighter shirts are like gold. Lots of people want one and I just don't have the resources to help everyone now. But we were treated to a stem winder speech by Ann Lewis, former Deputy Communications Director in the Clinton White House. She was on fire and really wound up the crowd and the real people too.

Lisa Ferrare
My name is Lisa Ferrare. I live in Erie, PA and decided to get on the America Can Do Better bus tour for several reasons. One is the economy. It's really bad. The other is our job force - we don't have one any more! The next issue is our elderly - our senior citizens, who can't get by with out medicine and good health care. America Can Do Better and John Kerry and John Edwards will make that difference.

Joyce Kovacs
I met John Kerry at our airport and shook is hand. I looked into his eyes, and listened to him talk and I knew he could make a difference! We desperately need a president who can make a difference.

Mike Mignogna, Steel Worker
Niles Ohio
I believe that in my lifetime this is the most important election I have ever been involved in. I'm a 54 years old, married with three children and three grandchildren. The direction we've taken in the past 3 1/2 years in health care (or lack of it), American jobs and the course that our nation is taking through out the nation is frightening.

We are in bad shape the world over and we cannot win this war on terror by ourselves. We were in Afghanistan where the person responsible for 9-11 was Bin Laden, but then we attacked Iraq who had nothing to do with WMD or terrorism.

My biggest concern is health care. My mother is in a nursing home and her memory is gone. We need someone who will look at and take care of the needs of the elderly.

This election is not about me, it's about America and our children and grandchildren. Middle America is being gouged. Seniors need to go to Canada to buy drugs.

And we need a new respect for labor in this country. We need to respect the working people. When workers wages have gone up 0.3% and CEO's 28% there is something wrong. We need a change. America Can Do Better and our candidates John Kerry and John Edwards is the crew to make it happen.

Benjamin Bush
Columbus, Ohio

My name is Benjamin Bush and I am here with my father George E Bush, Junior from Columbus Ohio. I am a junior at Xavier University in Cincinnati. I am scared every day when I read of and seen picture of caskets and hanging corpses. I am scared when I hear stories about men and women my age fighting and dying in a war that cannot begin to understand. I am scared by the purposeless nature of the war and I'm scared that I and any of my friends will get sucked in to the war. That why unlike many people my age I am registered to vote and I am voting for John Kerry.

Howard Van Kleef
Ohio
As a veteran of WWII I am appalled at what has happened to this country. In 1942 when I enlisted there was a "clear and present danger". The Germans and Japanese had "weapons of mass destruction" that were highly visible. The USA was unified behind our troops and those of us who were in the military felt any sacrifice we made was worth it to make a better world.

The founding of the UN, I felt, was a step in the right direction in order to stop future wars. President Bush, with his act of ignoring the UN and starting the war was an act of betrayal of the sacrifices made by me generation to win WWII.

The eroding of the benefits such as Medicare is a continuous worry for people my age. It is shocking that the richest nation in the world cannot provide a true national health care plan and senior citizens are forced to go to Canada to get affordable prescription drugs.

If Mr. Bush wants to see an example of terror, let him talk to a senior citizen who has to choose between food and medicine. That's real terror.

Kay Ferronte
Erie, PA
Hi my name is Kay and I'm thrilled to be on the America Can Do Better bus tour. I support the Kerry/Edwards ticket. I'm tired of our jobs being outsourced; I want our Social Security to be there for everyone. I think the war was unnecessary the big tax cut for the rich, we need help for our children when they decide to go to college. We need to kick this president out of office and we need to elect John Kerry and john Edwards for a healthier and happier America.

Sonia Ferrante
Erie, PA
I'm a married unemployed mother of six teenagers. I protest the downsizing and outsourcing of jobs.

Congress and George Bush voted down extending unemployment benefits for American workers. Each week my local paper in Erie, PA lists the longer notices of bankruptcies. Lots of houses for sale. Families are unemployed with no health care. How can other countries provide better health care for instance, Canada, Germany, and Europe when we don't even take care of our vets?

It's a shame when you give Iraq 80 billion dollars to rebuild but we can't take care of Americans that are hurting for jobs and health care reform.

Come on! Get real. I believe Kerry /Edwards will get us back on track.

The last 4 years of Bush have been chaos for America. A war where no WMD's were found. America needs a change. Don't let the lat election deter you from voting. People need to vote and fix this mess George W has gotten us into. God Bless our soldiers and families and veterans.

Alfonse Ferronte
Erie PA
Being retired at age 73 with the budget trillions of dollars in debt I'm worried about how our Baby boomers when their time comes to collect their social security. With the deficit and the war: where is the government going to go to get the money to cover it. Ask Mr. Bush. What terrorist are we fighting in Iraq right now since we already have Saddam?

Judith VanKleef
Cleveland, Ohio

I've taken this bus tour because I would like to see a change in the administration.

Issues.

1. WAR we were deceived about the need to go into Iraq. We need to withdraw - this incessant loss of life and injuries on both sides is not serving any purpose.

2. JOB RESORATIION the money being spent on the war could be spent to use for many needy American people. Something must be done to help restore jobs - we need living wages, and benefits to the growing unemployed people

3. EDUCATION this country is leading to the eradication of public education - a right of any child and adult. The school funding methods need fixing - and schools need support schools are in crisis all over the country and the Bush |"no child left behind" converts to "all children left behind".

4. HEALTH CARE 44 million people are without health insurance in this country need to be helped. This is the only industrialized nation in the world without a national health care program. Health care is a right not a privilege.

5. MEDICINE - the medicine drug prescription program of 2003 Medicare act is a disaster and it is the beginning of the end of medicine. If not changed before 2006 will be faced with more people having to choose between food, shelter and medicine.

6. PATRIOT ACT - this law must not be extended if we are to avoid a total police state - loss of first amendment provisions

As an elderly woman I would like my children and grandson to be part of a generation that can enjoy the benefits of peace, jobs, good education and personal liberties.

Gary Barnes
I'm an organizer for the International Brotherhood of Electrical workers. Along the way various vets, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, spoke movingly about their service. I'm really struck by the amount of anxiety about the current war and I've very concerned about my brothers that are in Iraq right now who are going to return to shaky circumstances, especially if they are injured or need veterans services. I'm very concerned about the services being cut to our newest veterans.

Bonnie Buchanan
Today we went to Niles, OH to a titanium plant that workers have been locked out of for 10 months. It's these stories that really make you think that something has to happen in America.

You think, something has to happened in America and the current administration isn't helping. Corporate greed is everywhere. The America Can Do Better bus tour is, to me, one of the best experiences I have ever had. I feel somehow that I'm helping American do better.

Cecil Hickman
I'm from Cleveland. I talked to my wife, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, this morning. She learned that she will have to take a shot that will be billed to our insurance for $8000. $8000 for one shot!!! I am unemployed and she is under-employed after a lay off. I'm a Vietnam vet. Thanks God we have insurance, but $8000 for a shot. What has happened to our health care system??? I've been a journalist and educator for 35 years, and my wife is a bookkeeper.

Frank Stone
I am frank stone and have met a lot of great people on this America Can Do Better tour. As a former mayor of a midsize city in Ohio I believe in the phrase, "Our children, Our Family and our Children" nothing is more important.

John Kerry is the best candidate for president because I feel that he shares these same ideas. John Kerry wants a better America.

John Abbatico
Pittsburg, PA
America is in a health care crisis. The cost of premiums is rising at 5 times the rate of inflation. It costs approximately $9000/year for a family health plan. If this situation continues and nothing is done to curb these high costs in six years that $9000 is anticipated to double.

Today there are 45 million uninsured and those with coverage will pay a larger and larger portion of the costs to care for the uninsured. Some people I know have maxed out their credit cards and some have filed for bankruptcy.

In the past 3.5 years 4 million more Americans have lost health care coverage. Health care costs are up 50% and premiums have risen 3 times faster than average wages have.

We need a change and John Kerry and John Edwards will show us that America Can Do Better! John Kerry will put working American's Health Care needs first and the profits of drug and insurance companies last.

Pippa Carter
Cleveland, Ohio

I'm Pippa Carter and I'm on the America Can Do Better bus tour because I don't think that working people can survive four more years of the Bush Administration and I want all eligible voters to know about this.

As a parent, the Bush regime scares the bejesus out of me. For the past 18 months we've sent our young to fight and die for a lie. THERE WERE NO WMD'S! Now almost a thousand of our young men and women have come back in body bags. That doesn't even take into account the thousands coming back disabled and in need of increasing medical services. I listened to many veterans to talk about closing VA hospitals being closed and waiting up to 6 months for a doctor's appointment.

I believe the money spent on this war could be much better spent on US soil to support our schools, our elderly our cities and our veterans. But our children will really pay the cost with the soaring deficit.

I'm a recently laid off teacher from the Cleveland School District which is $100,000,000 under funded. 1200 of us (teachers and support staff) are looking for work. From my view No Child Left Behind left the funding behind. Class room sizes have increased and students lack books, desks, chairs and other supplies.

Two of the teachers in my school last year had to pool books between classes and the students had to alternate taking the books home.

These are only a few of the reasons I'll do whatever necessary to elect John Kerry.

Ann Lewis
Friendship Heights, MD
The people on the bus are the real real experts on George Bushes' economy. I wish more people in Washington could listen to these stories: the educator who lost her job because of the Bush Reform Education Policy that is squeezing our schools so.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers members whose friends are working 2 and three jobs to pay the bills; with the with US Healthcare system where people have to ask their physicians which pills that are really important to take so they can decide which of all of them they absolutely must pay for - because they can't afford to pay for them all!

So you can see why I'm so pleased to be here, driving along between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg on the bus that is a big bill board for bringing our America Can Do Better message to towns and center cities that the candidates can't reach. It's a great journey!

Posted by bruce roemmelt at August 27, 2004 11:48 PM

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