Posted on 04/09/2005 9:59:39 AM PDT by kristinn
First, I want to thank all the FReepers who were able to attend and to all who contributed to the March for Justice II. It wouldn't have happened without you. I also want to thank our cosponsor, the Coalition for a Fair Judiciary. Our speakers were excellent and I thank them for standing with us. Most of all, thanks to Jim Robinson for all he does.
The March for Justice II was a success, even though we didn't accomplish our goal for attendance. We thought 100 to 200 people would attend, in fact there were between 40 and 50--almost all of them FReepers.
The purpose of the rally was to urge the Senate to employ the constitutional option with regard to the filibusters of judicial nominees and to call on the judiciary to respect the Constitution.
We had four goals for the day: hold a modest sized rally on Capitol Hill on a work day, get other like-minded conservative leaders and groups involved, lobby senators to support the constitutional option and to get media coverage of our efforts.
We had varying degrees of success for each goal. As I said, we wish more people were able to attend but we don't have the financial resources to bus people in like the left. However, everyone I spoke to afterward who attended was very enthusiastic about the day.
The Coalition for a Fair Judiciary helped with getting other like-minded conservative groups to send speakers. Most of our speakers came through their efforts. Hopefully we can build on relationships founded and renewed to help with our efforts on the judiciary and other areas where we have common ground.
All of our announced speakers appeared at the rally, except for Roy Innis who was unable to attend due to illness.
The speakers all gave great speeches. The prepared text of Congressman Billybob's speech was posted on FR Thursday night. Most of the other speakers, if I recall correctly, spoke extemporaneously.
After the rally, Niger Innis led a delegation to three senators' offices to lobby in support of the constitutional option. The offices were those of Sen. Warner, Sen. McCain and Sen. Allen.
FReepers also visited their home state senators' offices. At least one was able to speak to a senator in person as they walked down a hallway. I stayed behind at the rally site to supervise the loadout of equipment, so I hope those FReepers will tell the stories of their adventures.
The response from the media was modest, but we did as well as could be expected. There were four news cameras and one documentary crew that covered the rally (Fox News, WBAL-TV and a West Virginia station); one domestic print reporter (Roll Call); and one reporter from the Ukraine were present. A reporter for Family News in Focus called to get information on the rally and ran a story mentioning it.
I did two radio interviews that afternoon. One was Blanquita Cullum's show on Radio America where the main subject was the rally. The other was on WWRL-AM 1600 in New York City on a different topic where I got in a mention of the rally.
An unintended bonus for us was that the liberals were so scared about our little gathering they sent a group of counter-protesters over to march and chant on the perimeter of the rally. The counter-protesters outnumbered us by a few dozen, but we weren't bothered. We were standing up for the Constitution while they were supporting rule by judicial fiat.
I'll close by thanking and listing the speakers who gave impassioned and very informative speeches at the rally. In order of scheduled appearance, they were:
Ken Connor, Chairman, Center for a Just Society
The Honorable Tom Parker, Justice, Alabama Supreme Court
Gary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Confirmation Network
Dr. Gary Cass, Center for Reclaiming America
Manuel Miranda, National Coalition to End Judicial Filibusters
Jeff Ballabon, Center for Jewish Values
William Greene, Founder and President, RightMarch.com
John Armor, Esq.
George Landrith, President, Frontiers of Freedom
Kay Daly, President, Coalition for a Fair Judiciary
Niger Innis, National Spokesman, Congress of Racial Equality
Roy Innis, National Chairman and CEO, Congress of Racial Equality (canceled due to illness)
Rep. Steve King (Iowa)
Thanks for the joint effort on the pictures, ladies!
We're on the way to the shop to get a jack, my boat has two flat tires and it lists something terrible! As soon as we get them fixed I will be back this afternoon to post a report and some pictures.
Boooouuuummmmmmmp!
It must be pretty miserable living life as such a pessimist.
I read Billybob's speech, and it is excellent. I just hope his speech, and the others' speeches were heard by people other than just the attending FReepers. That would have been "preaching to the choir," so to speak. I can imagine they were all very impressive and should be heard. Were the speeches delivered aloud or sent to anyone else for reading or publication?
What I meant was: were they delivered aloud - to anyone else (other than the FR group, like any politicians, etc.)...or sent to anyone else to read?
If not, perhaps that can still be done? From the quality of the speech of Congressman BillyBob it seems they should have more exposure. I am sure they worked on the speeches quite a while.
Man, it's too bad Roy Innis could not be there. That boy kicks ass.
(1)Terri's case garnered all the focus and media attention and deservedly so. Thus, promoting the event was next to impossible. I know I tried.
(2)It was held during a week day.
You can attempt to find DEEPER reasons for the low turnout; they just don't exist.
Good job!
Jim Robinson and Doc 
Kay Daly, Coalition for a Fair Judiciary 
Senator King
Kristinn 
Freepers!
FreepersCreepers
Common Tator, I had been hoping to meet you--were you at the March?
I agree with Liberty Valance about your sobering look at politics in America---
Boy have I been unrealistically idealistic in the past---this past few years and analysis' like yours make it so hard to want to keep going ....
I appreciate the post, but alas, it isn't very optomistic right now....
You know, liberals were consistently doing demonstrations for years, and they have abortion rights, tax and spend policies, the nanny state, separation of church and state.....things that most voters don't want, yet politicians backed it, passed it.
Special interest is, by definition, the minority, or they wouldn't be "special." And special interest groups get plenty of what they're asking for. Money and noise win political support. That doesn't necessarily mean more votes. All special interest needs now is a judge.
It's always been easier to sit on your a$$ and complain than to get out there and hold a sign, or deliver a letter.
I just wish the Northeast where New York and Washington D. C. are, was not such a "blue state"---there are a lot more "liberal protestors" that live close to the areas that get the media exposure---
Sure, you might get a lot more "red state conservatives" protesting in Dallas, but you will never see it on TV! And, if it isn't on TV, then the rest of flyover country won't know and won't care---at least right now.
Hopefully the internet and website like this one will have more of an impact...it has had more impact by a ton, since the Rathergate incident, but face it, most people are too lazy to scour the internet, when it is so easy to have on CNN or even Fox News as background noise---
I don't think the reason for the analysis goes any deeper than the two reasons I posted. I respectfully submit, in this situation, you folks are overly analytical and pessimistic.
Not you SVDPJ.
The first March for Justice help to spur Clinton's impeachment. We will again have such impact in the future.
All excellent points. Well said!
Good job on posting the pix!! Thanks!
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