Bush draws a crowd [USC Daily Trojan covers pro-Bush Iranian-American/Free Republic rally]

www.DaliyTrojan.com ^ | March 4, 2004 | SHRADDHA JAISWALI

[RonDog]

.

Bush draws a crowd

President Bush spoke at the Shrine Auditorium Wednesday. More than 100 showed up for the event.

	Elizabeth Leitzell | Daily Trojan
	Mixed Emotion. The Iranian American Republicans were among the demonstrators who welcomed President Bush to the Shrine Auditorium Wednesday afternoon; they said they support him because he opposes terrorism in Iran.

By SHRADDHA JAISWALI
Staff writer

President George W. Bush's visit to Southern California on Wednesday was marked by demonstrations from more than 130 supporters and opponents who packed onto the four corners of Jefferson Boulevard and Shrine Place in the early evening.

The demonstrators, both for and against the president, waved signs and shouted slogans at the drivers passing the Shrine Auditorium where Bush was scheduled to speak at 5:35 p.m.

With the clock ticking down to the November presidential election, Bush planned a three-day visit to California in hopes of raising funds for his re-election campaign.

The anti-Bush corner was home to about 80 people of all ages waving signs reading everything from a general "Stop Bush" to the more specific "End Occupation in Iraq" and "Immigrant Rights."

Many of the anti-Bush signs were provided by the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism organization, but they were joined by groups such as Code Pink, The Socialist Organization and Out Against War as well as by individuals simply wanting to be heard.

Those gathered at the corner shouting against Bush's policies felt it was necessary to protest even at a fundraising event to open the eyes of Californians.

"I hope to call attention to the fact that other people who think he should not be president will know they are not alone," said Eda Hallinan, a member of the women's peace group Code Pink.

"Bush is probably the worst president this country has ever had," she said. "I think that we are so much worse off now than when he first took office, in terms of the economy and our own security."

Along with the sea of anti-Bush posters, the protesters chanted their messages from a megaphone with sayings such as, "George Bush — we know you — your daddy was a killer too," and "Hands off Haiti."

But despite the loud anti-Bush sentiments, Bush supporters were not deterred from standing their ground. The largest group of Bush advocates at the four corners was a group of Iranians waving flags and shouting praises of the president's international policies.

"We're here to support President Bush because he's for democracy, not only in Iran, but around the world," said 59-year-old Reza Ershadi.

Fellow conservatives praised the Iranian effort to support Bush saying that they were dedicated and knew that Bush could help them.

"These guys have been here since 3 p.m.," said Ron Smith pointing to the Iranians. "Think about it, they've got family in Iran. They've got family right now in a brutal regime, and they're saying, 'well we appreciate what you did in Iraq, how about coming over here and helping us out in Iran.'"

The topics of demonstration on both sides ranged from the war in Iraq, the issues in Haiti, and same-sex marriage rights.

"People don't support a war in Iraq, but if you look at it, we've liberated an oppressed people," said Ryan Reid, a business administration student at USC. "Saddam Hussein, thank God we caught him. He's killed over a million of his own people since the 1980s, and these people obviously wanted to keep him in power. I think we did the right thing."

While the conservative groups supported and even welcomed Bush's occupation of Iraq and his goal to "stop terrorism," liberal groups remained pessimistic about his true motives.

"If you wait, Bush will take everything you have, and that's a guarantee. He will take your oil, he will take everything," said Lyzegte Blanco, a senior at Harbor College. "That's pretty much why we got Saddam Hussein out of office, because we wanted the oil. With Bush, there's always a hidden meaning."
Copyright 2004 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 151, No. 34 (Thursday, March 4, 2004), beginning on page 1 and ending on page 13.

[Valin]

There is deep hostility against Bush among Democrats

Understatement of the day.
The next 8 months are going to get REALLY nasty.

[DoctorZIn]

Great Post!

Bush draws a crowd [USC Daily Trojan covers pro-Bush
Iranian-American/Free Republic rally]

www.DaliyTrojan.com ^ | March 4, 2004 | SHRADDHA JAISWALI
Posted on 03/04/2004 5:32:13 AM PST by RonDog

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1090488/posts

[F14 Pilot]

Bush 2004

[VOA]

Bush draws a crowd [USC Daily Trojan covers pro-Bush Iranian-American/Free Republic rally]

I'm not totally shocked at this.
IIRC, a few years back some USC students "stirred the pot" by letting it
be known that they were tired of the liberal B.S. of some of the faculty members.
I can't remember all the particulars, but do recall thinking it was an encouraging sign
of some sanity in academia.

[nuconvert]

"The others did not get off as lightly as he did. One was killed by immersion into a vat of acid. Ten others, he recalls, were put into a room and torn apart by wild dogs. Several prominent religious leaders were also executed. One was a university dean, someone Mr. Jaiyashy remembers as "a great man." They drove a nail through his skull."

I couldn't read the rest............
Those ANSWER protesters should be forced to listen to and see the results of life under Saddam.

[StriperSniper]

I always assume the media would cover the President,

Only if something goes wrong, or if a dim says that they think they heard that something might have gone wrong or might soon. ;-)

[ohioWfan]

Thanks for the ping, Ron, and thanks for freeping!

This article is consistent with the growing trend in Universities in which the students are more conservative than the profs.

To quote a sixties song of rebellion..........the times, they are a-changing......

GOOD news!

[cake_crumb]

Agreed. It was a very well written article. Judging from the unbiased perspective, it was probably written by a member of the young Republicans.

[cake_crumb]

Thanks for the ping.

Contrast the Iranian Americans supporting President Bush and the war on terrorism with the Socilist's Club or whatever they call themselves and Pink Bull Dyke's Club still supporting the now-disarmed, walking WMD (Saddam).

It's like pitting the cream of the crop of principle against the scum you have to scrape off the bottom of the barrel ;- )

[onedoug]

ping

[DoctorMichael]

I am a USC grad.

GO TROJANS!

FYI: There is a sizeable Iranian population in Los Angleles that got out Pre-Mullah-ocracy and many attended USC. I knew a quite a few and they were of a Westernized mindset. Also, the Shah's son attended USC for his schooling.

[Calpernia]

Bush draws a crowd [USC Daily Trojan covers pro-Bush
Iranian-American/Free Republic rally]

www.DaliyTrojan.com ^ | March 4, 2004 | SHRADDHA JAISWALI
Posted on 03/04/2004 5:32:13 AM PST by RonDog

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1090488/posts

Thanks for the Ping DoctorZIn!

[Modernman]

From a fellow Trojan- Fight On!

[freedom44]

Iran ping!

[GOPJ]

There was balance in there... It's odd. Who know, could the press be waking up?

The author covers BOTH sides very impartially, and even prominently features the MAIN story, the Iranian-Americans and their passionate, morally unassailable support for President Bush.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Awesome, RonDog. Wish I could have been there, but yesterday was a VERY busy day. Good work you guys!

[Cinnamon Girl]

You could hold up a sign that says: "ISRAEL EXISTS, YOU ANTI-SEMITE A.N.S.W.E.R BIGOTS!"

[A CA Guy]

This explains why it was tough getting to USC the other day...

[sauropod]

I wuz wondering if youse guys wuz gonna do the Oscars this year.

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~