Posted on 06/14/2005 9:30:07 PM PDT by absalom01
I'm posting this at RonDog's request, and to give a quick update on a successful FReep at SaMo City College -- the gang is still "networking" at the after-party, so photos should follow!
Kudos to RonDog for organizing 20+ FReepers, plus some outstanding SaMo College Republicans who met at the corner of 16th and Pico in support of Governor Ahhnold, and to help counter the cancer from A.N.S.W.E.R. We had tons of media exposure -- all of the local TV stations, radio, and print outlets were there, and many interviewed folks from our side. We should see some of this on the local news tonight. The "alternative" press was out in force, and interviews were given, but you could tell that their hearts weren't in it!
We did have some attention from the smelly opposition, but nothing untoward occured, which is always good.
The bad guys were broken up into two groups, a block to the east of our location. The Mechistas and Answer commies had their little Klatch, and the Union thugs had a separate gathering.
My own little anecdote: as I was approaching our corner (late, per usual), a young woman warned me to "be careful, there's fascists on the corner". When I arrived at the corner, I didn't see any of those, just a bunch of nice people holding "go Arnold" signs. So, she was either engaging in hyperbole, or (more likely) is an example of the unhinged left.
Following the festivities on the street, we repaired to a local eatery, and were joined by the college Republicans. According to their report, no major nonsense occured during Arnold's speech, though a few members of the "progressive alliance" walked out, and some people made low-level noise to ruin the event for the rest of the people there.
Hoping others will fill in.
bump!
Great news!
ping
Thanks for the great report and for being there.
Thanks for the report and kudos to you all.
Thanks for the Freep!
It's nice to have balance to the cancer that is A.N.S.W.E.R.
Missed you, bro.!
RonDog did a great job, and the college Republicans were great.
But the opposition really is unhinged. Arnold a fascist? Give me a break! (The prize for Unintended Irony went to the kid in the MECHA shirt wheezing "Republicans are fascists". Uhh, if that were true, we'd be wearing brown MECHA shirts, too. Sheesh.)
Photos to follow?
Good report, thanks.
Yes, I don't understand who came up with the idea that screaming the word fascist would gain credibility no matter what, but these folks do have followers.
It's sad how few people understand what the left has aligned itself with.
Good show!
Channel 9 news reporter Dave Bryan said "Arnold was showered with Boos". They showed footage of audience yelling at him. Several members of the faculty on stage turned their backs while he spoke as did some of the graduates. Two students had "We deserve better" printed on the backs of their shirts.
The faculty also held signs up behind him. One read, "80 million dollars buys a lot of books"....in reference to the cost of a special election.
The reporter said that among the graduates the supporters equaled the protestors. The only footage of the pro Arnold side was a lady holding the sign "Honk if You Love Arnold".
The reprter closed the piece by saying that the only time Arnold acknowledged the protests was in his closing...."I WANT TO THANK THE AUDIENCE FOR THEIR ENTHUSIASM"!!
From the AP:
One of the pro-Schwarzenegger contingent, Ben Eisenberg, said he believed only a small clique of faculty and students on campus objected to the governor's speech. He said he supported the right of Schwarzenegger's opponents to demonstrate, but was disappointed that it was detracting from the college's graduation.
"This should be about the students, this should not be political," the 28-year-old economics major and president of the Santa Monica College Republicans said.
From the AP story by way of abcnews.com:
Schwarzenegger didn't mention his proposals during his 15-minute commencement speech at Santa Monica College on Tuesday night, instead recalling his days as a college student, a world champion bodybuilder and an actor.
"I found so much joy educating myself at this college," he told the students. "Work, work, work. Study, study, study," he exhorted them.
The governor's initiative proposals were clearly on the minds of the audience, however, which heckled his every word with hoots, whistles and cat calls. A few people also cheered him. At one point a police officer pulled down a sign being held up by protesters ridiculing the cost to taxpayers of the special election, which is expected to exceed $45 million.
Most of the reaction, both positive and negative, seemed to come not from the graduating seniors in their caps and gowns, but from an audience of several thousand people there to witness the graduation.
Schwarzenegger stuck to his speech and ignored the protests.
About 150 anti-Schwarzenegger demonstrators had gathered outside the college more than an hour before the speech. About two dozen pro-Schwarzenegger demonstrators also showed up.
"I WANT TO THANK THE AUDIENCE FOR THEIR ENTHUSIASM"!!
Hehe!
I suppose that's a fairly evenhanded report. Thanks for the post. What do the socialists want, $250 billion in state debt? It's a hoot to watch them on TV, realizing they're simply hawking their own union party line. That silly teacher is a joke.
Thanks for the good report!
I will be posting some media coverage FIRST, then some personal observations, and finally some PICTURES -- perhaps as soon as tomorrow morning.Bottom line on today's FReep:
We were HUGELY successful in accomplishing our two primary objectives:1 - Prevent disruption of the graduation ceremony by outside agitators, and2 - Limit the media exposure of those "anti-Arnold" forces -- by aggressively promoting an OPPOSING point of view.
...as the college dumped that part of their name a few years ago......and many newbies from tonight's event will be looking for this thread using the search term "Santa Monica College."
Thank for the update. Congrats and good job to all who went.
Kudos to RonDog for organizing 20+ FReepers, plus some outstanding SaMo College Republicans who met at the corner of 16th and Pico in support of Governor Ahhnold, and to help counter the cancer from A.N.S.W.E.R...Turnout was a LITTLE less than we expected on OUR side.
I estimated that we had as many as thirty or forty of us total......but over a dozen SMC Republicans left our rally OUTSIDE at just after 5 pm...
...since they had tickets to get INSIDE, to hear Arnold.
Reuters Article on FR here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1423076/posts
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