Inaugural Parade & W2 Ball Report, Audio, and Photos (large file warning)

January 23, 2005 | BillF

[BillF]

SKUNKS AND BLUE BRACELETS AT CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

The 7th Street security checkpoint ("Checkpoint Charlie") for the inaugural parade was closest to the American Sector established by the DC Chapter of Free Republic.  Waiting there, I coincidentally ended up near DC Chapter member, bmwcyle, and Flora McDonald, a Richmond-area FReeper of long-standing. As we waited in the crowd (it wasn't orderly enough to be a line), pro-Bush people mostly tried to stay quiet in the face of some leftists (maybe ten percent of the crowd) occasionally and individually shouting anti-Bush or anti-war slogans. However, numerous Bush supporters and people who just came to watch a parade would shout back every now and then.

On one occasion the crowd started singing God Bless America.  The song's title has three words, each word representing a concept antithetical to many of the leftists.

I told one leftist waiting in the security line near me to "swim to Cuba, free healthcare, free education," much to the amusement of most nearby people. (Some of the other, regular parade-watchers started chiding leftists. I heard one later say "go to Cuba" to another leftist.)

In response to my "swim to Cuba" line, he said "why did you come to annoy us today?"  The leftist was serious.  He and many of his leftist friends truly believe that the world revolves around them. It's all about them.

I said: "Get real. We won. You lost. We're here to celebrate and watch a parade. You are the skunk at the parade." Seeing his discomfort at that characterization, I started referring to all of them as "skunks at the parade."

That particular skunk, stung and not used to being verbally challenged, retreated about 25 feet from his original location that was a couple people away from bmwcyle and me.

When I laughed at another skunk, he complained that he had a right to criticize "Bush," but said that I was violating his First Amendment rights. After laughing at that absurd comment, I said, "I'm not interfering with your rights. I'm just using my First Amendment rights to criticize and ridicule the way that you use your rights."

Bmwcyle and I left after waiting for about 20 minutes at the security checkpoint, but Flora McDonald decided to stay. BMW and I didn't think that we would get in because there had been little movement towards the entry gate.. Also, there was an ugly incident when some leftist was shouting slurs against President Bush into a news camera and a conservative (not a FReeper as far as known) quickly charged 20 feet through the crowd, getting into the guy's face. It had not gotten physical, but appeared to be on the verge when we left.

We later returned and waited again at the "Checkpoint Charlie" that was a couple blocks north of our intended American Sector destination. Some of the sound files which are linked below are from the first time waiting and some are from the second time waiting, but I'm not sure which ones go with which time.

Click here for a SOUND FILE (regular left click to play the WAV-format file, right click if you want to download it for later listening;  188 K, 17 sec.). This is some leftist saying "stop the Nazism, we don't need another Hitler." In response, bmwcyle says, "Yeah, Clinton is out of office." More back and forth is in the audio.

Click here for a SOUND FILE ( 853 K, 78 sec.) that begins with bmwcyle and a leftist arguing ("sore loser" vs. "sore winner") and ends shortly after I tell a guy wearing a Che Guevara button that he should "swim to Cuba."

Click here for a SOUND FILE (679 K, 62 sec.) that begins with a woman telling the leftists "if you don't like it here, you can leave" (paraphrase). Later the audio has a guy who had not voted for Bush.  The guy wanted to see the parade, but was disgusted at the leftists. He was asking a leftist "where is your political cadre." However, the guy told me that, as disgusting as the leftists were, it was appropriate for the leftists to be exercising their First Amendment rights there.

Although I agreed that the leftists had the right to demonstrate (i.e., be skunks at the parade), I argued that it was not appropriate.  It was uncivil, rude in the extreme. Suppose a Democratic Senator had led a filibuster of a Bush Supreme Court nominee, it would be our First Amendment right to protest on public property adjacent a wedding reception for the Senator. I'm sure that FReepers would not hold such a classless protest, despite it being within our rights.

As bad as the leftists' conduct was, I believe that the leftists are digging a hole for future Dem candidates. Like the guy who didn't vote for Bush, but was disgusted by the leftists, many Americans will turn away from the Dems upon becoming aware of such conduct.

A leftist climbed up a Jersey barrier and stood 3 feet higher than the crowd. He started shouting leftist inanities to the crowd.  Ridiculed by bmwcyle, me, and others, the leftist soon realized that the crowd was overwhelmingly against him. He abandoned his perch.

Some guy, who had been given a blue wrist bracelet (i.e., Blue State emblem), asked if anyone wanted it. The man was a Bush supporter and didn't really want it, but apparently had accepted it from a guy handing out dozens and dozens of them. The man had previously not felt confident enough to "out" himself as a Bush supporter by turning it down.  After he heard several of us ridicule the leftists, he realized that he was not in enemy-occupied territory.

I warned the nearby leftists that the blue bracelet might be misinterpreted as a sign of willingness to perform a sexual act.  I explained that National Review online had linked to a site which explained the sexual significance of various bracelets. As delicately as possible in view of the young ears not far away, I said that Monica would have worn the blue bracelet to go with the blue dress that was the legacy of our last President.

When a leftist accepted the blue bracelet, I suggested that he should avoid the possible misinterpretation of the bracelet as a sex signal. Instead, I said that he should have a blue letter "L" tattooed on his forehead.  He didn't like that idea.

With the one exception when the conservative interrupted the leftist's interview, this was great fun.  Nothing had come close to physical confrontation, probably because the leftists were so outnumbered.  Most of my comments were made with a laugh and a smile.  Indeed, bmwcyle shook hands with one of the better behaved leftists.

This was a great day to celebrate. Our side had won and could afford to laugh at the pathetic losers.

BARBARIANS AT THE GATES

Between our first time waiting at the security gate and our second time, bmwcyle and I drank some beer at a brew pub a few blocks away.

[Click on a photo to see a full size photo in a new window, except where noted. PROBLEMS SEEING PHOTOS OR HEARING SOUND FILES? You may want to try TEMPORARILY turning off Zone Alarm or other firewall and trying again.]

As I drank, I looked out the window and saw a black wave moving down the street.  Like the hordes of barbarians or Vikings that storm establishments in the Capital One credit card ads, the anarchists had taken to the streets. Grabbing my camera, I went just outside the door of the restaurant and  took these photos. Two waitresses from the brew pub had stepped outside to watch the garbage pass. One said, "that is so cool." Obviously, she was highly sympathetic to them. I could have taught her a lesson by shouting "hey, this chick here is a Bush supporter," but it would have been wrong. The anarchists looked like they were spoiling for a fight. Hundreds, possibly over a thousand, moved by very quickly and turned the corner on the way to the security checkpoint that bmwcyle and I had left 20 minutes before. A few police cars trailed the anarchists.  A short time after they had passed, at least ten police cars and ten police motorcyles zoomed by. They were going a different way, but apparently planned to head off the anarchists.

ANARCHISTS , OFTEN CALLED  "BLACK BLOC" DUE TO THE BLACK CLOTHING [CLICK ANY PHOTO TO SEE FULL SIZE]

Returning to my beer, I would later hear about the anarchists' further exploits from witnesses. The anarchists moved towards the crowd at the checkpoint, apparently hoping to create a stampede. The anarchists probably wanted the crowd to flee the anarchists by breaching the security gate. The anarchists could have walked across the bodies of the injured people and used the chaos to get into the secure zone without going through the checkpoint.  Fortunately, police vehicles swooped in to block the anarchists from getting too close to the waiting crowd.  The police vehicles protected the crowd from the anarchists, but some people at the edge of the crowd had to quickly get out of the way of the police vehicles. This created a big crush in the crowd, causing many to fear for their safety, especially those with small children.  Many of those people gave up on the parade and left the area as soon as they could. The anarchists got a Protest Warrior on the ground and kicked him. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured.

CAMERA-SHY GUY THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MEET IN AN ALLEY

[THIS PHOTO, NOT HYPERLINKED TO LARGER ONE] SKULL AND BONES, BUT NOT IN HONOR OF THE PRESIDENT'S SECRET YALE SOCIETY

The anarchists threw snowballs at people. Then they took the signs and flags off their support poles.  When they threw the poles at officers, the police responded with a canon that fired pepper spray on the anarchists.

AMERICAN SECTOR

After about an hour in the pub, bmwcyle and I went back to the gate and started our second wait.  It took us about an hour to get in.  Separated from bmwcyle during the security processing, I made my way to the American Sector. Unfortunately, I missed President Bush by about 5 or 10 minutes, despite the fact that security concerns had delayed the start of the parade at least an hour. (The anarchists' lawlessness and near-riot described above MAY have been the security concern that delayed the start of the parade.)

At the American Sector, I talked with kristinn, trueblackman, staytrue, Flora McDonald, Rabidralph, the Sarce, BufordP and DCBryan1, among others.

Sad to say that my camera didn't work all the time. At the parade and at the ball, I "took" photos that never registered, but I didn't realize it until later. Some of the better parade photos are below.

TRUEBLACKMAN ON RIGHT AND ANOTHER (SORRY, I DIDN'T GET THE NAME) HOLD ONE OF BUFORDP'S GREAT SIGNS	PROUD MOTHER FLORA McDONALD HOLDS SIGN FOR A MARINE SPECIAL TO HER
BUFORDP HOLDS ANOTHER OF HIS GREAT SIGNS	LURKER (L) AND DCBRYAN1 HOLD SIGN
RESCUE DOGS AND HANDLERS MARCH AS POLICE SCAN CROWD	IMPRESSIVE TEXAS FLOAT
TWO ROWS OF BARRIERS (ONLY ONE ROW VISIBLE HERE) AND POLICE LINE SAFEGUARD THE PARADE AS POLICE (SNIPER-SPOTTER TEAM?) WATCH FROM BUILDING TOP	WYOMING FLOAT WITH STATUE OF COWBOY (INSERT DEAN SCREAM HERE) ON BUCKING BRONCO

W2 BALL

The Capitol Offense Band with Gov. Huckabee, the comedian/impressionist singer Billy Finch, the program, Sauropod's video, and Jimmy Valentine's brother as Saddam Hussein in prison stripes dancing onstage as the band played Jail House Rock, it was all great. Meeting old friends and making new ones and proving once again that FReepers are the greatest!

 

SIGNS NEAR THE MAIN ENTRANCE	PHOTOS OF VARIOUS FREEPERS AND RELATIVES IN OUR MILITARY
JIMMY VALENTINE'S BROTHER AS SADDAM HUSSEIN	PHOTOS OF PAST FREEPER ACTIONS ON WALL WITH GREAT SIGNS FROM STAYTRUE ("VOTE FOR BUSH") AND BUFORDP ("ROCKIN' FOR BIN LADEN")
KRISTINN INTRODUCES CAPITOL OFFENSE BAND	KRISTINN AND TGSLTAKOMA
TWO MORE SIGNS THAT STAYTRUE USED IN FREEPS THIS PAST YEAR	MUDBOY SLIM, HELMS, SAUROPOD, AND IRONMAN
MORE FREEPER SIGNS USED IN FREEPS	BUFORDP MADE THE SIGN ON THE LEFT AND USED IT IN A FREEP OF SeeBS News

[Flora McDonald]

Sorry I didn't get to meet you in person nutmeg. Free Republic is home to so many fine people.

I hate to criticize the security efforts but there has to be a better way to funnel folks into public events. That wide open mob at 7th & D was a nightmare and potentially very dangerous.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

When I laughed at another skunk, he complained that he had a right to criticize "Bush," but said that I was violating his First Amendment rights. After laughing at that absurd comment, I said, "I'm not interfering with your rights. I'm just using my First Amendment rights to criticize and ridicule the way that you use your rights."

"Congress shall make no law" ... Did he think you were Congress? Why is it so hard for people to understand the First Amendment?

[Mr. Buzzcut]

The anarchists got a Protest Warrior on the ground and kicked him. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured.

I was half hoping one of the unwashed miscreants had tried something with me ... while I'm no ex-Marine, I am a hockey dude ... though i never really had to scrap with someone that wreaked of 5 day b.o. ...

BTW, can people who live in their mom's basement really be call "anarchists"? "Mom, I'm gonna stay out past 11 and there's nothing you can do to stop me, you fascist!"

Hehehehehehe ...!

[BillF]

Exactly, I'm not the govt.

Many people all across the political spectrum seem to forget that governmental action requirement before a violation of the first amendment or any other violation of the bill or rights.

It I had hit the leftist or threatened to hit him if he didn't shut up, I might be fairly described as interfering with his ability to speak (albeit, not a First Amendment violation since I'm not the government). The criminal charge against me would have been assault.

What was most funny about this guy's complaint had nothing to do with the government action requirement (i.e., before some action could violate the first amendment).

I kept my distance from the guy and never threatened him, let alone hit him. I sure didn't want to fight him.

The funniest aspect was that he went into victim mode when I laughed at him and ridiculed him. Boo hoo. It made him feel bad.

I half expected this thirty-something guy to tearfully call his Mother on his cellphone: "Mommy, he's saying bad things about me. Wah! Make him stop! Make him stop!"

PS. It was great to see you at the festivities.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

PS. It was great to see you at the festivities.

You too ... we had ourselves quite a time!

[BillF]

I was half hoping one of the unwashed miscreants had tried something with me . . [emphasis added]

Two problems here.

First, as DC Chapter co-leader always emphasizes to us, the police often see the retaliation and not the first punch. Therefore, we try to back away from any aggression or threat by the other side. (Yes, it's tough to do sometimes.)

[Some leftist grabbed my forearm at the wait. He was not in a fighting mode, but did it as a "let me talk" gesture, I just shouted at him to keep his hands off me, even as I was tempted to take a lot stronger action.]

Second, and especially if it was the anarchists, it would be 3 or 4 of them who tried something with you, not one. The anarchists like the odds that way.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

First, as DC Chapter co-leader always emphasizes to us, the police often see the retaliation and not the first punch. Therefore, we try to back away from any aggression or threat by the other side. (Yes, it's tough to do sometimes.)

ESPECIALLY when you're 100% Eye-talian! ;)

Second, and especially if it was the anarchists, it would be 3 or 4 of them who tried something with you, not one. The anarchists like the odds that way.

Just like a hockey brawl ... I 'd be right at home ... ;)

Still, I suppose I wouldn't have wanted to risk arrest and miss the shindig!

[mack98]

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[Dan from Michigan]

I am a hockey dude ... though i never really had to scrap with someone that wreaked of 5 day b.o.

It's been a while since I've seen someone get a jersey pulled over his head...LOL

[Mr. Buzzcut]

It's been a while since I've seen someone get a jersey pulled over his head...LOL

I was wearing a tear-away leather jacket! ;)

[Cindy]

Note: Dropping these links in here for archival purposes.

MICHELLE MALKIN.com (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE): "DEMS GAVE CODE PINK DISRUPTERS TICKETS" (January 21, 2005)

BRAIN-TERMINAL.com: "STOP BITCHING, START A REVOLUTION (Washington, DC - 20 January 2005 - Inauguration Day)

January 20, 2005: "Inaugural.Senate.gov - THE 55TH PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL"

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "A CAPITOL HATEFEST" by Ben Johnson (January 20, 2005)

On The 'Net..."counter-inaugural.org"

[BillF]

Cindy, thanks for the links.

And thanks to StayAt HomeMother for this additional link.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-26-05....Inauguration and W2 Ball Pictorial Review
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1328732/posts

[Cindy]

You're welcome.

I really appreciate this thread.

[BufordP]

Nicely done, Bill!

[DollyCali]

WONDERFUL thread, commentary & pix. Just back online since Inagu with computer & power problems. Will get my pix/thoughts on a thread soon & will ping you .... will be much more humble ..

Thank you for the work here .. it is great !

[QwertyKPH]

Clearly, a labor of love. Thank-you very much.

[BillF]

New FReeper Green-eyed-lady was a lurker when she attended the pre-inaugural dinner, the parade, and the ball.

She emailed the below photos to me last week for posting, but my old computer was having problems running the program that I use for image processing. I'm just posting these now following the setup of a new computer.

Click on any photo and a new window should open with the larger, higher-resolution version.

Green-eyed-lady and DCBryan1 at the parade.	Thank you Marines!
BufordP and Green-eyed-lady.	Kristinn and Green-eyed-lady.
Green-eyed-lady at right.	Green-eyed-lady and Hey Lady.
Green-eyed-lady with Governor Huckabee.	Green-eyed-lady and DCBryan1.
Unknown FReeper, DCBryan1, and Green-eyed-lady.	Two unknown FReepers on left, Green-eyed-lady, and jtmac40.

[BillF]

Click here to see DolliCali's great photos, just posted earlier today.

[BillF]

Pinging you to above photos. See also link to DollyCali's photos above.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Last Green Eyed Lady photo "Two unknown FReepers on left, Green-eyed-lady, and jtmac40." the unknown freepers are wife of jtmac40 and our SC Chapter rep and all around good guy Stand Waite.