Honor Roll: Hellinahandcart, sauropod, bufordp, gunsareok, fraxinus, Cindy True Supporter , Buford’s friend Vijay, Rod Bemo, [Mrs] Trooprally, Angelwood
People seen: Frank Luntz, David Schuster, Carl Cameron, Norah O’Donnell, Michael Barone, Al Sharpton, Kiran Chetry, Michael Hayden, Rep. Ed Markey, David Axelrod, George Stepanopolous, Cindy McCain, John Fund, Steve Moore, Ricky Schroeder, Matthew Modine, Bob Corker, Mort Kondracke, Claire Shipman? Code pinkos, Ben Nelson, Mort Zuckerman, Steve Centanni
We arrived at 5 pm at the Washington Hilton (Connecticut and T Street) and several FReepers were already set up. Cindy-True-Supporter had a great sign that compared Abraham Lincoln’s America to America of today, calling it “Ameristan”. 
Hellinahandcart had made some great signs for the event. Here is one that said “Welcome Cheerleaders” (photo 217). She made one for me that had a kid holding a little woolly bear caterpillar. It said “don’t make me use this instrument of torture”
Buford had a great sign that said “It’s hard for the “press” to report accurately when they are teabagging Obama”. He got a lot of reaction to it from passersby. He also brought a couple of signs from the previous year that showed Chrissy Matthews with his famous “thrill” quote and also Herr Olbermann as the worst person in the world. 
Rod Bemo's first FReep. Buford met Rod at the Mark Levin booksigning at Tyson's Corner. After a few minutes of conversation Buford knew he was DC Chapter material. 
We saw a number of people in tuxes. Here’s one gentleman goosestepping his way towards the event. Some of them got out of their taxis in the middle of the street because of all the police vehicles around that were blocking off 
a lot of the area.
Here was a japanese couple that attended. 
The female really did walk 10 steps behind the male. There was lots of “tsk-tsking” about this, including from some FReepers, and I observed one other couple walking in that saw this and the woman had a kind of amused contemptuous look on her face. 
Whatever happened to tolerance for other cultures, hmmmmmmmm?
We got the opportunity to say hello to several luminaries, including Michael Barone, Michael Hayden and Steve Centanni.
The Code Pinkos were also there with little Susie Benjamin in the front seat. 
These media whores have quite the talent for showing up at events like this.
Most people went into the dinner from the Connecticut Ave entrance to the hotel. BHO was slated to enter through the T Street entrance, and, true to form, the Code Pinkos made a scene. 
I remember hearing someone on a policeman’s walkie talkie say “Don’t let that Code Pink van down here.” Too late.
They must have a pretty cozy relationship with the police. One of them was arrested and slammed on the hood of the cop car for good measure. She was then put in the
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back seat for a few minutes. She was released a short while later to continue protesting with Susie Benjamin and the rest of them. I think this is the same broad that accosted Condi Rice in a hearing on Capitol Hill, waving bloody hands at Ms. Rice a couple of years ago.
Here is John Fund posing with Susie Benjamin.
I thought he would have known better than to do that. Of course, he did talk to Bufordp, so I shouldn’t have been surprised.
Angelwood was there and she regaled the passersby about the “press quagmire” 
- reminding them on how they reported the Iraq war as a “quagmire.” 
We saw Al Sharpton turn the corner right in front of us. His car had to stop for a moment, so I yelled “I believe Tawana! Sharpton for Prez!” He 
looked straight ahead.
Georgie Stephanopolous recognized us and waved from his vehicle. This is different 
from past years, where he would walk up the street, by our pickets. Guess he’s learned his lesson *smirk*.
Rep. Ed Markey (Skunk-MA) walked by us. Buford asked him if he's still after Big Roller Coaster.
David Axelrod walked by us. He stopped to wait for the light to cross T-street. 
It was all I could do to *not* say “How’s that Chicago thug politics thing working out for you?” to him. I was sorely tempted, though.
Norah O’Donnell showed up in a Code Pink dress.
Buford spotted Uncle Sam coming up the sidewalk. Buford stopped him and scolded him about getting too tyranical nationalizing banks, auto manufacturers, and trying to control everything. He told him he needed to "Ease up!" All Uncle Same could do was turned his pockets inside out and say, "I'm broke, Man. I need the money". 
Code Pink was still there by this point. These twits have had their 15 minutes of fame already. Go away! 
There was also a Marine bus that we saw. I did not see many uniformed people. Here is one. I wonder if BHO treats them like the Clintons did - bringing hors d’oevoures (sp?). 
People had stopped trickling into the event by about 7:30 in the evening, so we went into the bar for some food and brew. We decided to leave after BHO had stopped speaking. When we had left the hotel and were walking back toward Conn. Ave, we saw Frank Luntz and David Schuster yukking it up in the parking circle in front of the hotel. Buford talked w/ Schuster, reminding him of when he used to work at Fox News. Apparently, we had interrupted Luntz and Schuster talking about what was wrong with Republicans. When we turned to leave, I said loudly “Words that work. Conservatism! Freedom! Not RINOism!”. I’m qute sure Luntz heard that.
Note to Glenn Beck: Glenn, I heard your show Monday morning where you said you had seen some picketers (that’d be us) on the way into the dinner. You commented that you were in a roomful of liars and deceitful people and the whole thing was creepy. I definitely got that impression from those we saw that were walking in there. There was an evil vibe about. I’ve attended several WHCA dinners (including the one the weekend after Elian was kidnapped and “returned” to his Father in that worker’s paradise, Cuba).
I thought that was bad. This was worse. ‘Pod.