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The press is rolling in

Rally at capitol draws support for force in Iraq

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_1749933,00.html
By Colleen Long, Associated Press
February 16, 2003

About 300 Coloradans waving American flags and holding signs proclaiming "war is bad, evil is worse" gathered in Denver Sunday in support of using force against Iraq, in contrast to weekend rallies across the state deploring a possible war.

Pam Pearson, 49, came to the rally to support troops because her two sons are in the Navy.

"I support our president and I support my sons. This is the only option," she said. "I'd rather force Sadaam (Hussein) out than have to play by his rules."

Some residents came dressed in colonial costumes and as World War II fighters. Others held signs that said "remember 9-11?" and "self defense is always just" as state legislators and religious leaders expressed support for President Bush.

State Senate President John Andrews, R-Centennial, told the crowd war was forced upon the U.S. after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and Bush has no other choice but to attack Iraq.

"Defense is not duct tape and endless inspection," he said. "Defense is not misguided peace marches. How about ground troops and some air support?"

State Rep. Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, used the rally as a chance to push a bill that would mandate schools to display "In God We Trust."

"I have one thing to say to people who are not proud to be American," she said. "If you don't like this free land of America, feel free to leave."

Jeff Weaver, 38, from Golden, his wife and his two kids, ages 6 and 4, waved flags and cheered at the speeches.

"My kids are learning to love this country and the Lord," Weaver said. "I respect George Bush as a man of integrity, he's the first politician that I've seen who is actually standing up for what he believes in."

The rally, sponsored by Americans Against Terrorism, drew a handful of anti-war protesters who lined the street opposite the Capitol. Some carried signs that read, "no blood for oil."

Brad Hagstrom and his wife Mariana came down from Fort Collins and came to the rally thinking it was an anti-war protest.

Thanks for the photos Fivetoes! I might point out that on my left side in your second photo is my beautiful Freeper Widow who came along today on her very first Freep! She enjoyed herself, too. It wasn't until we'd left that I realized I hadn't introduced her to you. Oops! Sorry! You already know the other 5 of my family members who live around these parts, and so I just didn't think of it. ....... But anyway, I need to get some sleep (for a change), so just a very few random thoughts here .....

Our crowd was LARGE and LOUD! Especially when any of the speakers mentioned our troops. I never knew the leftists were there until after it was over.

The Clueless Ones on The Dark Side of the street looked to number only a few dozen. Someone on our side noticed that not a single one of them had a US flag, and so the chant went up, "Where's Your Flag? Where's Your Flag? Where's Your Flag?" Our side had PLENTY of Flags, even though we were missing our one and only Flagg today). Other chants included, "Get a Bath! Get a Bath! Get a Bath! .... etc. Some of use even started, "Bomb, bomb, bomb. Bomb bomb Iraq ....." but didn't know any of the other parody words so it didnt' get far!

It was a very pleasant surprise to see the number of practicing, conservative, Jews out there. I've heard that the training for the volunteer "marshalls" took place at a synagogue in Denver. There are so many "Identity Voting Blocs" - Jews, Hispanics, Blacks, etc. - who have blindly voted DemocRAT for so long out of sheer force of habit and because they have never sat down and really asked themselves, "Why am I voting this way? Are the reasons my [father/grandfather] voted for the Rats still good reasons for me today?" The large numbers of Hispanic voters Dubya pulled away from Gore, plus the growing Hispanic anger over the Rat's filibuster of Miguel Estrada, could help lead to a majority of Hispanics eventually favoring the GOP. I wonder how much influence conservative, practicing, Jews will have in the longterm over the Liberal and Reform Jews and the non-practicing Jews? I really like this growing alliance! I wonder how fast it will grow? Certainly seems to be growing a lot faster than conservative, GOP blacks. Well, that's all for now.......

The Denver Post checks in.

Bush supporters rally at Capitol Hundreds back Iraq confrontation
By Matt Larson and George Merritt
Special to The Denver Post

Monday, February 17, 2003 - Hundreds gathered on the west steps of the state Capitol on Sunday to show their support for the Bush administration's stance on Iraq.
Post / Kirk Speer Hundreds rally on the west steps of the state Capitol on Sunday in support of the Bush administration and a possible war with Iraq.
Amid growing opposition both nationally and abroad, participants waved signs proclaiming "Saddam, bin Laden - two Branches, one Tree," and "A war against terror is a just war." Others waved American flags while local politicians and religious leaders spoke.
Colorado Senate President John Andrews, R-Centennial, delivered an impassioned plea for Americans to support the actions of the government.

"Defense is not duct tape, continued inspections, misguided peace marches, and empty U.N. resolutions," Andrews said. "How about a little air power, how about some ground troops."

Andrews criticized the anti-war movement and the recent wave of protests.

"Some of them don't remember Sept. 11," he said. "We remember Sept. 11."

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., also condemned the protests.

"They are not anti-war rallies, they are anti-America rallies," he said.

Anti-war protesters do not think there is any evil in the world or think any particular culture is better then another, Tancredo said.

"But raise the gates all over the world and find out which way people run," he said. "They run here."

Tancredo also noted, however, that Sunday's rally was by no means pro-war.

"I don't know a soul who is pro-war," Tancredo said. "The people are gathering for a pro-America rally."

Down the steps from the Capitol, Lincoln Avenue became a boundary line between war supporters and anti-war demonstrators. About 150 protesters on either side hurled slogans, insults and gestures across the traffic.

"Why don't you go to Iraq and see if they like your liberal policies over there," yelled Chris Montoya of Denver.

"Bomb Islam," shouted Dann Dalton of Aurora.

"Fascist," returned a call from across the street.

Troy Evitt, whose sign read "Eat lead Iraq," said war is better than letting a totalitarian leader control a country.

"I am for a lot of liberal issues," Evitt said. "But the bottom line is I'm more annoyed at radical Islam and terrorists than I am with the far right."

Activists on either side of the street prompted honks and cheers from passing motorists on Lincoln. As many as four Denver police cars and two mounted officers watched the banter.

"We are here to balance things out and support our troops," said Pat Jasper of Westminster. "It was the troops that liberated Europe (in World War II), not the peaceniks."

Siobhan O'Keefe and Amra Tipura, both college students, said they were studying in the public library when they heard about the rally. They decided to show their opposition.

"They have a right to say what they want," O'Keefe said of the war supporters. "But we can say what we feel, too. There have been some pretty nasty insults here today."

Here are some pictures taken by Eagles Talon

BTW, I'm sorry that I didn't run into you.

Greetings Freepers, et al:

It seems the "most likely to have earned a section eight or alleged" veteran crowd, found a another brow beating tactic. Slimy Scotty Ritter often beat up newsies with a similar tactic; whenever a newsie would begin to question Ritter's 180 degree flip-flop. Questioning your right to counter-protest, since you did not serve in the armed forces.

If a "thanks for your service" doesn't calm them; you might want to respond with something like:

Tell me sir, what did you think about Al Gore disqualifying out our soldiers/sailors overseas absentee ballots? You've been hanging with the same crowd which supports the Gore military voter disenfranchisement scheme.

If you get any response other than agreement with you after that zinger, it is likely they are not a veteran. This veteran thanks you FReepers for supporting the young men and ladies of the US Armed forces. Don't forget to e-mail the troops with your FReep stories. They will love it. And consider the news source they suffer.
They're watching CNN.