SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - DINNER - AFTER ACTION REPORT

San Diego Chapter of FreeRepublic | 7-24-04 | CyberAnt

[CyberAnt]

The San Diego Chapter held a special dinner to honor Jim Robinson.

We arrived early at the restaurant only to discover it might be an hour before we could have dinner. The restaurant herded us (22) into the bar so we wouldn't take up their whole lobby, and we all chatted and got acquainted; some imbibed in their favorite beverage.

While we were in the bar, a classy looking guy and his wife walked into the bar. He looked so familiar to me .. and all of a sudden somebody said his name .. and WOW! it was Joseph Perkins who writes a column for the San Diego Union Tribune. Joseph is a BLACK CONSERVATIVE. I love his columns and try to send him emails of applause whenever I read one I especially agree with. His advice: don't believe the dems when they say the country is 50-50. It's more like 60-40 AND THE CONSERVATIVES ARE AHEAD. I'm hoping this encourter with FReepers will give us some good local press. I plan on sending Joseph some information about us, as well as notify him of any FREEPS we do in the future.

It was great meeting everyone after having talked to them on the internet for eons. And .. it was equally great meeting new people.

The participants in the dinner were as follows:

Jim Robinson (plus Mrs. & son), CyberAnt, Doodlelady, onyx, Hildy, Travis McGee, Hollywood, eleb, sd-joe (and Mrs.), SoCalPol, doug from upland (and Mrs.), Brads Gramma (and Mr.), Texican (and Mrs.), Norman Arbuthnot, Warrant (and Mrs.)

I've probably left somebody out .. and if so you have my permission to FReepmail me and properly chew me out.

We took lots and lots of pictures. We have appointed Hildy to be the official picture poster. We will all be sending her our pictures, and she will be posting them within the next few days.

As a chapter, we have taken on a couple of projects. In August I will be meeting with a local RNC person who will be setting us up to do voter registration. San Diego County is still "Bush Country", and I intend to keep it that way.

The second project we are working on is what I will call a "Truth Sheet". A few days ago there was a thread about how to defend Bush in 5 words or less. I have taken that thread and distributed copies to members of the chapter. We will all be going through the list of 32 items and changing or expanding the answers (10 words or less).

As soon as we have compiled a good working list, I will be posting the thread so everyone can make a copy of the list. This will allow us to have ready answers to the standard mantras from the left .. such as #1 - "Bush is stupid" - my reply is: President Bush has an MBA from Harvard. We may ultimately end up with a different answer, or maybe I will post several answers .. if they are especially good .. and I have a feeling they will be.

My personal thanks go to doodlelady and onyx who were so helpful in contacting the restaurant and making all the arrangements, as well as keeping track of the attendees. You did a great job!!

Okay everybody who attended the dinner .. put in your 2 cents.

[CyberAnt]

Personally, I was delighted to be sitting next to Jim's wife - we got to chat about a lot of things.

The other part which I enjoyed was talking to people who were not in our group. The Olive Garden (OG) set us up by pushing a lot of tables together on one side of the room. However, in the section we were in, there were 3 other tables and they all had diners. Our group was loud (of course), and I was concerned the other diners would be cursing under their breath because we had totally ruined their dinner. I took some business cards and went to each table to apologize .. and to my surprise they were all conservative or republicans. They were delighted to find out we supported President Bush.

One such couple turned out to be a great resource .. his website is http://www.veteransjournal.net. The gentleman was Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. He was very happy to know of us .. and I plan to contact him about perhaps doing a feature on some of the military people we have in our chapter. I'll have more on this later.

The 2 other couples were also happy to know about us and were excited to find out there were Republicans who were activists.

[cmsgop]

How Cool is that! Now where are thwe pics,LOL!

[FairOpinion]

Great!

[CyberAnt]

{{{{ Ping }}}}

[Hildy]

Texican sent those pics but they were sent in a format I couldn't read. I emailed him back to see if we can work it out. So we'll all have to wait for pictures. I haven't received any others. So I think I will retire for the evening and hopefully in the morning the pictures will be in my mailbox ready for me to format and post. I'll keep you all posted.

Thank you all for a wonderful evening. I had a blast meeting you all and look forward to our victory celebration in November!

[CometBaby]

You said .. This will allow us to have ready answers to the standard mantras from the left .. such as #1 - "Bush is stupid" -

My favorite response to that remark is this ..

Bush is soooo stupid he BEAT algore in all three of the debates .. and he did it with one hand tied behind his brain!

[NonValueAdded]

An hour wait and you all didn't pull the "don't you know who we are?" routine? Oh, wait, John Kerry wasn't with you, was he? He he he.

Sounds like a great time and it is wonderful news to hear about the chance encounters. I guess we'll have to wait until the winter tour for our chance over on the right coast. Who knows, maybe we'll still be counting ballots and Jim can pitch in.

[South40]

Click on pic for JP's latest column.

[SoCalPol]

And a good time was had by all!
A lot of fun visiting with everyone

[timestax]

San Diego County is still "Bush Country
Yes, I saw BUSH-CHENEY for President signs in 2000, from San Diego , up I-8, I-15 through Temecula,74 on the way to Idyllwild. I thought BUSH would surprise everybody and take California...He didn't. San Diego County, and Riverside County ,yes, The rest of Cal. no.

[onyx]

I loved every minute of our banquet!
Thoroughly enjoyed meeting yall.
FReepers are the finest folks on God's
green planet, bar none.

I laughed so much and ran my mouth so
much that I am hoarse.

The Olive Garden folks could not have
been nicer or more accomodating; ---
they rearranged one whole side of the
dining area so we could all sit at one
long table with JimRob and his lovely
wife and his really hot-looking son at
the head of the table, along with CyberAnt.


I sat between Hollywood and Hildy with
Texican and his Missus of 59 years (they are
a darling couple and still in love!) across
from us alongside of SoCalPol and sd-joe
and pretty missus. TravisMcGee was surprised by
Hollywood's attendance (he is his BIL and
resides in AZ).

I think Brad'sGramma entertained the other
end of the table. She was seated between
her wonderful husband (he is so nice) and
DougFromUpland's pretty Missus and across
from Norman, and Doodlelady and blastdad51
and his pretty missus and elelb and poohfan
and Niles Jo.

Doug fromUpland had everyone including our
wait persons laughing and we TRIED to convert
these young people to the GOP. I think we did. :)

I could go on and on, but I won't. (Smile yall at that)!

I am still thrilled and reliving the banquet.

I adore all of you and
I love you JimRob.
You're the greatest.

[onyx]

You were MISSED!
Next time, OK?

[b9]

Thank you, Hildy... posting the pix is a huge job.

You are aDORable. So glad to meet you tonight.
Hope the pix show off your great T-shirt!!!

I wish everyone on Free Republic could have a chance to meet Jim Robinson. Joseph Perkins (the columnist) was soooo proud and humbled to meet such a "great American."

What a family Jim's created here. I hope this dinner will be the first of many.

The only way we could tear ourselves away was knowing we'd be seeing so many of each other again next week at the RWR Library & barbecue.

Onyx, you're the reason God created grin muscles :-)

Doug, will you and your sweet wifey be there next weekend? I think you converted our waitress :-)

SoCalPol, you're a doll. Can't wait til next week.

Warrant, San Diego is a better place with you and your wife here. So glad you found a place you love.

Thanks for posting this, Sue.

[South40]

Thanks. As for next time...that depends, of course.

[b9]

I can't forget the gutsy, darling eleb.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 2 days late!!!

And Norman, you've brought the best of New York with you...class plus. Glad to have you in our San Diego Freeper Family.

[Mo1]

I think Brad'sGramma entertained the other end of the table. She was seated between her wonderful husband (he is so nice)

Sooooooo . is it true that Grammie has Blue Hair :0)

Thank you so much for the report

That's wonderful news from Joseph Perkins

[b9]

SoFo, we so missed you!

[onyx]

I totally adore you.
Seems like we've been
best friend since your
childhood and my twenties.
You are YOUNG snd BEAUTIFUL.

[onyx]

Depends? LOL!
Do I have a story for you about that!

[b9]

That's wonderful news from Joseph Perkins

He's a REALLY classy guy.
And his wife is gorgeous.
He just loves JinmRob and Free Republic.