If 50 people welcome a president while 500 protest him, does that suggest the supporters are ineffective? If their only intent is to show the president their support versus being in the media spotlight, is that foolish in your view?
A crowd of 50 supporting Bush in California isn't bad, but it isn't great. Sure, it's nice for him to see some supporters here. But if they don't get any media coverage, and the Rats (as always) do, Bush supporters are demoralized. Conservatives, even many conservative activists, are always making excuses for not doing enough. I'm not one of them. I don't pretend to be a huge activist, but I do much more than most and I believe in "supersizing it" every time. Not talking to the media is rarely smart in politics.