Replies

OK, here's my "official" Post Action Detail Report...

Reported in at about 9:30 am to RonDog who was already in position with the "Culture War Materiel." Streets were blocked off all around making navigation a bit challenging, nothing major.

Offering to help any way, RonDog put me on the front lines of the action. Literally. I was handed a 4' x 8' mini-billboard of the Citizens United signs. Very Cool. Initial reaction from across the street, a couple of jeers and quite a few smiles from an apparent Harvest group (Greg Laurie's Riverside megachurch). At the very front rail next to the street, my job was to hold the position and hold the sign so all the celebrities could see and read it as they rolled up in their limousines.

One gentleman was quite verbally confrontive and disliked the big 4x8 foot sign, at one point saying I looked foolish holding it, at times fighting a bit with it due to the breeze. I'm sure he and those with his viewpoint haven't liberated five million oppressed people lately or anything so I discounted his remarks oh, maybe a hundred percent or so....

There were metal detectors, bomb-sniffing dogs, LAPD photographers and all kinds of SWAT and police teams on bikes, motorcycles and in cars ready for anything. The worst that happened was a Tolerance Nazi vandalized our 4' x 8' sign. Such destruction of private property can get one arrested, maybe it should have. We didn't push for that but it was, again, some sort of Tolerance Nazi that disagreed with the sign's contents. The sign wasn't blocking their view, it was down low when this happened. Ah, the bookburners once again rear their ugly doubletalking heads....

An aerial advertising plane circled the area towing a banner that read, in part: "BAD ACTORS MAKE WORSE GOVERNORS" I tried to photograph it and identify the sponsor but it was too far away (security regulations). Arnie was beloved by the Left and the MSM so long as he only ACTED like he had a spine. Now that he's shown that he might actually HAVE enough of one to challenge the teacher's unions etc. in real life...well, suddenly he has fewer friends on the Left. But I like him more. Now if he was more Pro-LIFE....

Met a fellow named Matthew (Hi Matthew) who may become a FReeper. RonDog and I coached him about reading and learning BEFORE posting, so he's not fed raw to the Viking Kittens as roadkilled troll.

One INFURIATING and one VERY COOL story, both related to us by a U.S. Military who is a FReeper who just got in from Iraq YESTERDAY....
First, the VERY COOL story: on Election Day in Iraq, this FReeper was guarding a polling place. Early in the day, an Iraqi woman tipped the U.S. forces off as to the location of a well-armed terrorist cell. The tip was verified and our Liberators TOOK OUT that cell. What an awesome thing, that voters there can provide the military intelligence that leads to their freedom so our boys and girls can come home....."No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy"
Now, the INFURIATING story: When that military hero arrived here YESTERDAY at LAX, he suffered being SPAT at. He was MAD. He was HURT. He KEPT ON GOING. Those of us hearing that story were all angered, of course. Talk about two, three, many Vietnams! "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy" -- and no worse enemy than the Enemy Within.

A few thoughts for future events along public thoroughfares:
I heard numerous complaints from people "put the signs down" and "put the foam hands down." At different times, some of these people were right near me when voicing their complaints. I engaged them one at a time, expecting "hate Bush" type and was pleased--surprised--and better enlightened at how important this vain event is to so many. One guy right next to me was actually recently returned from Iraq! I pondered what to say. I asked him, "So, what do you think of how the elections went in Iraq?" His reply was "The media messed things all up." He was on our side, yet felt hostility toward the signs...not the message, just the tactic, which was blocking his view and that of others. I experienced the same blockage when I was taking photos for this thread...and I'm tall and I was at the front. So I can empathize. Something definitely to keep in mind. The location on the corner meant that a sign held up indeed could block the view of dozens, hundreds of people lined up east-west along Hollywood Boulevard. This only applies to the signs that were occasionally held up at the FRONT of the crowd--this does NOT apply to the signs that were against the building, seen in some of the photos. For Freeping such things, an alternate strategy would be to FReep along Highland, away from corners, where the Limos are coming and where any signs held up would block the view of at most a handful of people standing behind.

Over and out, g'nite and watch for more photos...