"It's about time you guys did something."

8/9/2004 | self

[staytrue]

On the first Saturday of every month, the short North area of Columbus, Ohio, puts on Gallery Hop. The stores, mostly art galleries, stay open late and the entertainment district draws a large crowd. The short North, is generally liberal and a Kerry stronghold.

I went to the 8/7/04 edition for some non politcal amusement, and then I saw about 10 Kerry supporters working 3 intersections, handing out Kerry buttons and literature.

I decided that I could not let this go unchallenged. I walked back to my car and got my anti Kerry sign out and staked out an intersection across the street from the Kerry people. My sign read "John Kerry was not a leader in the US Senate. Kerry is not fit to lead this country."

For the next 3 hours, I engaged the public, stating my case against Kerry and for Bush. I had a lot of Kerry supporters voicing their disapproval, and I got the middle finger 10-12 times. But I also had about 15 people wanting to shake my hand. There was also a lot of thumbs up from Bush supporters, and a lot of expressions of gratitude that I was there in a Kerry district. The overall reaction was generally about 50-50, which for this area, is very good.

However, one Bush supporter in particular said, "It is about time you guys did something". This sentiment was also expressed by numerous others.

The Bush campaign and Karl Rove need to take notice that the ground campaign (retail politics) is just as important as the air campaign (mass media politics).

Freepers also need to be out there, taking chances and saying the things that need to be said.

[Tamzee]

Excellent! So glad you are out there :-)

I had my own private freep-but-not-really-a-freep the other day. Stopped by a mini-mall to take my mother out for Chinese lunch and noticed United For Peace and Justice Ads for an anti-Bush rally in the windows of a few stores and a hair salon. I went in and told the folks in the stores exactly how NOT for Peace and Justice that red group is, gave them Leslie Cagan's background and the brutal dictators they support, and just why these radical left groups despise President Bush.

Got the signs down in every place except the hair salon (big, sullen leftie owner). But I bet he was as embarrassed the hell in front of his salon full of customers who heard every word and saw that he left the sign up ;-)

[netmilsmom]

>>When no one answered him, he pointed to the maintenance man with a crew cut who was operating the freight elevator in the loft building. "I bet HE'S a re-PUB-li-can!" <<

Sometimes one must think of personal safety before politics. I think you did the right thing. (except maybe trip this loon as he got off!)

[Angry Enough]

As a former Columbus resident, I used to spend a lot of time in the Short North - bless you, StayTrue!! You showed great courage bringing a conservative voice into that liberal bastion - and pulled off a small miracle by garnering support for Bush/Cheney and the righteous cause. Blessings upon you...

[Flightdeck]

On Saturday I met a couple of guys down here in Texas, and they asked where I was from originally. When I said Ohio, one of them commented "Too bad you moved, we could use your vote up there" just assuming I was a dumbass liberal like themselves. I answered "Yeah, it's a shame my Bush vote is going to be wasted down here." He looked shocked and said "Are you this stupid in everything you do?" I just said "I've got a really big family that still lives in Ohio and each and every one will be voting for W in November".

(except for the one journalist in the family. One liberal and he's the one writing the newspaper articles.)

[SirLurkedalot]

Hat's off to both of you!

[John123]

Do I need a permit from the city to protest?

[LibertyGirl77]

"The Bush campaign and Karl Rove need to take notice that the ground campaign (retail politics) is just as important as the air campaign (mass media politics)."

No kidding. I went to the Alexandria, Va. Irish festival this weekend (a big, free event in the middle of a busy shopping/touristy area) and the Kerry people were out in force with their stickers and signs, handing them out to everyone. I looked for a Bush sticker to wear, but there was no one handing them out. Even the lone Republican Congressional candidate, when asked why her booth wasn't making W. stickers available, said that the national party was supposed to take care of that, but no one had shown up. Nice work, guys. /sarcasm You turned the Irish festval into a Kerry rally.

[LisaMalia]

Good job, Buckeyes!

I have been active here in Chillicothe, working the phone banks for President Bush's re-election campaign.

My daughter and son in law, both avid President Bush supporters, bought BUSH/CHENEY (in huge letters, front and back) longsleeve t-shirts online. They live in UA in Columbus, and had been dismayed to see a few Kerry bumperstickers in the area. So my daughter decided to wear her shirt to the grocery to see what kind of responses she would get.

Glad to report, they were all positive! Several people commented and asked where she got her shirt, and she got a few thumbs up as well. Sounds like Columbus is Bush country to me!

[Redbob]

"They would have sat in their seats on Flight 93."

WOW! There's a slam!
("Cruel but fair," as Bob would have said...)

[Redbob]

"They would have sat in their seats on Flight 93."

WOW! There's a slam!
("Cruel but fair," as Bob would have said...)

[finnman69]

I was wearing this t-shirt in NYC this weekend and have been wearing it 2-3 times a week as I bike around the city:

I wore it to the sign painting event at the Farley post office in preparation for the GOP Convention. I had many positive comments, but many of the younger staffers were amazed and said I was brave to wear it. One female staffer said she expected me to be spat upon. I told them I have had only positive comments about it and that the ABB ypes are either tto stupid to understand it or are too embarassed by it's hard hitting truth.

I also said if more people were pro-active, there would not be this element of fear in displaying support for the President in even the most liberal of cities.

[finnman69]

I would have told him. "I am a Republican, you have a problelm with that? I cant imagine being associated with the party of RATS, anti-war traitors, and liars."

[Redbob]

Congratulations!

Wish there were something we could do for Bush here in Texas, but a win for him here is such a foregone conclusion that our major difficulty will be getting folks out to vote at all, especially in counties (like Denton) so heavily Republican that there are no Dim candidates even running for the local offices.

[finnman69]

I went through the aftermath of the Dominican Day Parade in NYC and saw the place littered with signs for the United for Justice & Peace anti-Bush/anti-convention march.

Those lefties sure dont care about the environment when they litter all over the place.

[wideawake]

a win for him here is such a foregone conclusion that our major difficulty will be getting folks out to vote at all

I often wonder how many voters in Bush-safe states stayed home, and therefore handed Al Gore his "I won the popular vote" propaganda talking point.

I voted in a Gore-safe state (NY) where I knew my Bush vote would be meaningless, but I cast that vote anyway - just to let people know I exist.

[Rebelbase]

"The Bush campaign and Karl Rove need to take notice that the ground campaign "

Ditto. I called my local Republican HQ to volunteer and got a recorded message asking me for my name/number as they will not be opening until the middle of August, meanwhile the Dem. HQ is running full steam.

[Nita Nupress]

Where can I get a t-shirt like that?

[Nita Nupress]

Never mind. I went to the http://www.authenticgop.com/ from the picture URL.

[Redbob]

Somebody actually said "Are you stupid in everything you do?" and you let him walk away?