"Welcome Cheney Rally" - December 22, 2003 4PM

Free Republic ^ | 12/20/2003 | Chad Fairbanks

[Eala]

PoisedWoman, I took photos (I hope they come out, it was quite dark). I don't have any of the flag-dragging, though -- certain of their in-your-face affronts on our corner had me feeling quite unChristian towards them, and rather than allow that to fester I left. It seems the dragging started after.

[Libertina]

BTTT I am so glad you got photos, and I'm pretty certain that someone must have gotten shots of the flag dragging - (boo hisss shame) or is it only liberals who carry video cams with them everywhere? Snardius, please post after report on reception, for those of us not fortunate enough (or wealthy enough) to attend. ;)

[djwright]

I was on my way home and felt bad that I didn't have time to stop. (If I didn't do something on my wife's Christmas gift I was going to be in big trouble). I did hear that the good guys had about 70-100 people at one point but I didn't hear how many the bad guys had.

[Eala]

DJW,

I heard the "100" figure also, but will only remark that at the time _I_ did a crowd count I came up with approximately 40 (+/- 5) on our side, and roughly 30 (+/- 8 on theirs). I'm no expert at this, but there are some simple procedures that can get one into the ballpark and I double-checked my numbers with another engineer there. After that our corner was "invaded" by some libs (some of whom I don't think were really quite aware they were on the wrong corner, and some who definitely were) whose appearance seemed only to increase our numbers.

About the time I left, a quarter to six, the numbers were approaching parity and I saw a number of libs walking towards the demonstration.

An after-action report over dinner from LibreOuMort and friend tells me I left at the nadir of the action. Things apparently got pretty lively after, with more turnout from the Fighting 570th, and our friend who'd never been to a FReep before was excited about it all.

I should have some pictures for you all tomorrow.

[djwright]

I guess I should have said that my dog ate my 570th hat (which is true). I am a charter member of the fighting 570th and a Freeper to boot. Held down that corner in Lynnwood last spring and joined the exit 122 people for that great rally to counter some of these same thugs last month. It can be kind of addictive.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I have some photos of the flag dragging - a dirty tattered flag being dragged in the gutter. I may even have video of it. Not sure of the quality though...

[Chad Fairbanks]

Can I get on the Washington State Ping list?

CyberCowboy - can you help her out???

[Chad Fairbanks]

Here is a picture of the dirty smelly hippies on thier corner - the one punk with the dirty tattered flag...

So, I went over to document it, and ended up behind the guy - here is one of the shots of the Hippie Ass and his flag...

[Chad Fairbanks]

Ping to #28

[sleavelessinseattle]

I regret that I didn't have camera ready for the event...I was totally repulsed by the behavior of the unwashed and also some ill-mannered, yuppie-suited wannabe trumps who would look more at ease in NY. Great to see some Veterans and also the USMC flag which flew at GITMO for a while...We held the corner and extended a pseudopod to the opposite side of Bellevue way for a while and then I had to vamoose...

The opposition got very little support from traffic while our flags and signs brought out some very enthusiastic thumbs ups, waves and honks as well as some folks who seemed to be driving laps around the block, bless them!;-D

[Chad Fairbanks]

It was good to meet you today! Thanks for coming out!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

One of the news casts (I thought...I'll have to rewind TiVo and check) said there were more protesters than supporters. Would you say that was true?

I think it was KIRO that showed one Cheney supporter, standing seemingly alone (no one within his close proximity, anyway), chanting "four more years". When they showed the other side, it looked like a big crowd.

No bias there. (Is it me?? Am I paranoid?)

[Chad Fairbanks]

I think eala's estimates were pretty accurate. I think we outnumbered them - heck, most of the crowd on the opposite corner was King County and Bellevue cops...

[sleavelessinseattle]

Hey CF, It was good to meet you too! I'm looking forward to more of your pics tomorrow...I got caught on the wrong side of the bridge with out camera and felt like my personal presence was more important than photography. As things turned out we definitely needed more bodies on site...(I gotta get a backup unit that just rides in the pickup for such occasions!...Chance favors the prepared mind and all that.)

I saw the flag desecrater holding the flag inverted and decided to avoid the rush and began hating him immediately...

[Chad Fairbanks]

YEah, I was hating him too. I'm not ashamed to admit it - I'm a hate-monger LOL

[Snardius]

The reception was great!! I attended the pre-event photo-op with VP Cheney (told him to "keep up the great work") and Nethercutt. I got to spend some time with former Senator Gorton, Rep. Jennifer Dunn and Nethercutt and his wife, Mary Beth.

The reception was a great success. Gorton introduced Nethercutt who spoke briefly then introduced Lynn Cheney who introduced her husband and the VP spoke for about 20-25 minutes. Cheney is such a powerful speaker and he held everyone's attention as he talked about the war on terrorism and why we need to stay the course as well as why we need Nethercutt in the senate. He also mentioned that George would get us closer to the 60 votes we need in the senate so we can get our judges appointed.

I've heard him talk before and am always struck by how he's able to convey his thoughts so well. The friend I brought was attending his first political event and though he's very cynical about politicians, he came away praising Cheney as " a great man."

[Softballmom]

Yes, please! I'm a bit sheltered here on Liberal Bainbridge Island. I need all the help I can get!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Here's the After-action Report thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1045282/posts

[CyberCowboy777]

Your on Softballmom!

See the After Action FReep! You make it 360 FReepers on the list!

[Eala]

And here is a photo report.