CA Young Republicans: "Support America/Support Our Troops" Rally at noon - SATURDAY (2/8/03)

Orange County [CA] Young Republicans ^ | February 3, 2003 | Jennifer Kerns, Vice President, External Affairs, OCYR

[RonDog]

Orange County Young Republicans
P.O. Box 11081
Newport Beach, CA 92658
www.ocyr.org

NEWS RELEASE - For immediate use

Contact: Jennifer Kerns
Vice President, External Affairs
949/679-7559
E-mail: External-VP@ocyr.org

CROWD RALLIES AT FIRST KNOWN
"SUPPORT AMERICA/SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" RALLY

Weekend rally such a success, crowd asks for encore;
Second rally set for this Saturday

Newport Beach, CA (February 3, 2003) --- "Support our troops." "Have faith, America." And "I trust our President, not Sean Penn." Those were just a few of the choice phrases scrawled on posters at Saturday’s "Support America/Support Our Troops" rally in Costa Mesa, California. The rally was staged by the Orange County Young Republicans.

On Saturday, 125 people gathered at the intersection of Bristol Street and Anton Blvd. near South Coast Plaza to show support for America and the Bush administration. Among those in attendance were military veterans, families with children, young professionals, and even a pair of bagpipe players who serenaded the crowd with patriotic songs.

"After seeing anti-war, anti-American rallies for a few weeks, our members decided it was time for the other side to be heard," said Lee M. Lowrey, President of the Orange County Young Republicans. "We hope that our efforts boost support for our president and our troops during this time."

Some attendees drove from as far as Culver City and Van Nuys to attend the rally, saying that they have tired of Hollywood’s voice in the matter.

Participants overwhelmingly voted to hold another rally to follow Secretary of State Colin Powell’s address to the United Nations this week. The next rally will occur this Saturday, February 8, from NOON to 2 p.m. at the same intersection.

For more information, the public should call 949/475-5559 or visit www.ocyr.org.

About the Orange County Young Republicans

The Orange County Young Republicans is a group of politically-active young professionals ages 18 to 40. Their mission is to support candidates and ideals for a strong national defense, a functioning free enterprise system, limited taxation and limited government. Their president Lee M. Lowrey was recently awarded "2002 Volunteer of the Year" by the Republican Party of Orange County. For more information about the club or for interview opportunities, call 949/679-7559 or e-mail External-VP@ocyr.org.

###

[RonDog]

On Saturday, 125 people gathered at the intersection of Bristol Street and Anton Blvd. near South Coast Plaza to show support for America and the Bush administration. Among those in attendance were military veterans, families with children, young professionals, and even a pair of bagpipe players who serenaded the crowd with patriotic songs.

Participants overwhelmingly voted to hold another rally to follow Secretary of State Colin Powell’s address to the United Nations this week.
The next rally will occur this Saturday, February 8, from NOON to 2 p.m. at the same intersection.

Southern California FReeper PING!!!

[RonDog]

Ted Hayes with FIT-AIM-ACT plans to be at this rally, too - promote ANOTHER pro-USA rally:

FIT-AIM-ACT's "March Against TERRORISM" at the L.A. Marathon
(March 2, 2003)
www.FITAIMACT.org ^ | January 20, 2003 | Ted Hayes (with FIT-AIM-ACT)
Posted on 01/20/2003 9:58 PM PST by RonDog

Activist Ted Hayes and Justiceville/Homeless USA are inviting Americans of every religion, ethnicity, race, and background to join the March Against Terrorismsm. Our primary goals are: 1) to give all Americans an opportunity to show their outrage against terrorism, 2) to advocate the liberation of people and Homeless people abroad, and 3) to actively support our military through FIT-AIM-ACT...

Ted Hayes


from http://www.fitaimact.org/products.html

CLICK HERE for more

[happygrl]

I am, well, SHOCKED to see Ted Hayes at this event. This is wonderful , an indication that the activist crowd is seeing the light.

Ted Hayes has worked for years with the homeless and has lived with them, coming up with some creative ideas. Perhaps his work on the streets has brought him in touch with Veterans who didn't do well after Vietnam and even GWI.

I'm not putting all Veterans in a bad light, but it is true that a number of homeless men are Veterans.

This (Hayes' presence) is a slap in the face to the leftist Hollywood crowd who ASSUME he's one of them.

Mr. Hayes' integrity took a big jump up ward in my book. Welcome aboard Ted !

(I'd be there, but I'm an east coastie now).

[TheSpottedOwl]

Thanks for the ping. I had a different impression of Ted Hayes, but this is cool :)

[RonDog]

Ted Hayes is NOT the main event for this Saturday, but I have talked with him extensively, and his support for our troops is genuine, IMHO - making him, like his FRiend Jesse Lee Peterson, yet another of the Liberal's worst nightmares: a strong BLACK man who does NOT spout the same old tired RAT rhetoric...

[seenenuf]

What's that I hear?? OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING for Orange County Freepers!

[SeenTheLight]

The Bay Area FReep Chapter (still forming) salutes the Young Republicans in Orange County! I wish we could join you this Saturday, but we'll be holding a counter-protest of our own on 2/16.

Keep up the good work!

[Jerez2]

Hmmm, how 'peaceful' are the protestors going to be when they realize they're being countered?

[RonDog]

bump

[RonDog]

Map of Bristol St At Anton Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

It's almost SHOW TIME!!!

The Orange County Young Republicans' "Support Our Troops" rally start at NOON on Saturday, February 8 - across the street from the South Coast Plaza.

[P8riot]

Great going! As a transplanted ex Orange County resident (I graduated from Orange High School) it does my heart good to see an organization such as yours being so active.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

There are many things FReepers can do to help support our military.
To find the latest FReeps going on check below.


Join Operation Infinite FReep!

*Infinite FReep Bump List
Click Here to find more Operation Infinite FReeps

USO CANTEEN FREEPER STYLE MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

Please Thank someone in the military for ensuring our Freedom.
Take a moment and Thank a Service Man or Woman.
Just Click on the graphic to SEND a message to someone in the military.

[RonDog]

EXCELLENT rally!

HUNDREDS of pro-USA supporters - from the Young Republicans, to FIT-AIM-ACT, and of course, FReepers!

I trust that FR videographer daviddennis will post he after-action report.

Until then, I sense a potential GROUND SWELL of support for our troops.

Check out THIS story:

Eagan [MN] man makes 'Liberate Iraq' signs to counter antiwar ones
The Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | 2/8/03 | Eric Black
Posted on 02/08/2003 5:22 AM PST by Gothmog

Signs reading "Liberate Iraq" may be appearing in Twin Cities yards and windows thanks to a retired soldier who was getting frustrated with the proliferation of "Say No To War With Iraq" signs.

Joe Repya, 57, of Eagan and his wife, Deb, were riding home from church a couple of Sundays ago thinking about how to respond to those "Say No" signs that have become popular with opponents of President Bush's Iraq policy. They decided to print 250 copies of their own sign. In addition to "Liberate Iraq," the sign encourages people to: "Support Our Troops, Call Your Congressperson!"

Repya, a retired lieutenant colonel and veteran of the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars, is a military analyst on KSTP-AM radio, and he used one of his on-air appearances to announce that he would give out the signs in front of the station's St. Paul headquarters Friday morning.

Business was brisk, despite weather that was even more brisk. Most of his customers took multiple copies, saying they had relatives or neighbors who would display them.

Richard Olson of Faribault took two signs because he has two sons already posted to the Persian Gulf.

Mike Keenan of Shoreview took five signs, saying his brothers each wanted one. Keenan's reason for wanting the signs reflected a sentiment common among those who drove up to Repya's stand: "I've been riding around, seeing the anti-war signs, saying to myself, 'This is crazy.' But I had no way to fight back -- until now..."

-- snip --

To: Gothmog

5 posted on 02/08/2003 6:06 AM PST by martin_fierro

CLICK HERE for more

[Bob J]

Sorry Ron, in bed with a virus this weekend.

[daviddennis]

I don't really have that much of a report - the event passed by in a blur, I came, I saw and I photographed and videotaped.

As always, it was a pleasure to see Ron in his new Saddam getup. However hot it may have been, it was quite an impressive outfit, and his toy missiles helped create a darkly festive image.

There was a lot of press. Lots of still and video cameras. It looked like most of the major news outlets were there - I saw News 13, CBS 2 and KTLA, and I know there were others I didn't recognize. There were also numerous print reporters, feverishly taking notes.

Did we get any press, or did they just show up and leave?

I'll bet nobody expected to see a homeless activist at a conservative rally. Ted Hayes definitely marches to the beat of a different drummer. I don't think he believes in every conservative position in the book, but there's no question that his sense of enterprise pushes him firmly into our camp.

It's hard not to admire someone who has the enterprise to lease land, putting his money where his mouth is, and create an entirely new type of housing for the homeless, one that requires personal responsibility instead of institutional control to work. His is probably the only homeless housing with high-speed Internet access to your unit, if you request it. He talks about how people can empower themselves through training to start Internet-based businesses, and you have to admire that.

He is getting a lot more support from conservatives than liberals. He told me that it takes a lot to convince a conservative, that they're hardened skeptics, but they will come through if you do convince them. Liberals, on the other hand, will tell you they believe in everything you're doing, but in the end they don't come up with the bucks. I think this is because his whole entrepeneurial attitude is the polar opposite of what the left wants to see. It's about independence, not eternal dependence. And that's great!

I don't know everything he does - and I'm sure he does some things many of us wouldn't approve of. But his sense of enterprise makes me think he's going in the right direction, and is actually supporting and empowering the homeless instead of making them a continuously dependent client base. Gotta love that.

And of course I have pictures. Visit them right here. (I'm sure RonDog will come round and put a few of them directly into the thread).

D

[daviddennis]

I have a very brief report, with the pictures, and you can now link to it and include text.

D

[RonDog]

EXCELLENT work, David!

I will post your after-action report in a NEW thread, shortly.

[RonDog]

See the NEW thread:

PICTURES! Orange County Young Republicans "Support Our Troops" rally at South Coast Plaza (2/8/03)
"Support Our Troops Rally - 8 February 2003" at www.amazing.com ^ | February 9, 2003 | RonDog, daviddennis, FIT-AIM-ACT and the Orange County Young Republicans

Posted on 02/09/2003 9:27 AM PST by RonDog

From the after-action report posted by daviddennis on www.amazing.com:

Support Our Troops Rally - 8 February 2003

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, time to once again counter the leftists and support our fine military forces in their upcoming liberation of Iraq.

Our group of about 100 charming, chanting people was united in the cause, and morale was sky-high. Support from the public was excellent, with almost constant honking from the cars. A few big trucks joined in with their mighty blasts, an impressive sound indeed!

Ron was there with his Saddam mask and toy missiles which he enjoyed flaunting. I think we need to get someone to dress up as a weapons inspector to follow him around!

Homeless activist Ted Hayes was there as well. It might seem strange to have a homeless activist at a Republican rally, but it was clear that he was with us all the way.

Ted is a very interesting person. He brings a welcome breath of fresh air into the homeless debate by actually doing something about it on a personal level instead of waiting for our creaky old political institutions to help him. He has created a dome village as an alternative living environment for the homeless. I'm not sure how it works, and the web page, sadly, is not much help. But I like the overall idea very much even if I don't quite get the details yet.

Most of the signs were designed by the Young Republicans on a central theme. Unfortunately, I didn't see as much creativity in sign design as I've seen in previous events. Particular thanks must go, then, to the fellow who invented the "Saddam is a Smoking Gun" sign. Great work, guy!

All in all, it was an impressive event. There was total harmony, with complete silence from the left. Perhaps they were off in a more supportive venue...

CLICK HERE for more

[RonDog]

Whoops!

Here is a link to the actual after-action thread itself:

PICTURES! Orange County Young Republicans "Support Our Troops" rally at South Coast Plaza (2/8/03)
"Support Our Troops Rally - 8 February 2003" at www.amazing.com ^ | February 9, 2003 | RonDog, daviddennis, FIT-AIM-ACT and the Orange County Young Republicans
Posted on 02/09/2003 9:27 AM PST by RonDog

CLICK HERE for more