"There are those Texas FReepers again!"
Posted on 03/22/2003 3:10:21 PM PST by HHFi
Just got back from the Dallas Pro-America rally. I could only stay for an hour or so, and I live about half a mile away, so I figured I'd get it started. Sorry I don't have a digital camera, but there were lots of cameras there, so I'm sure you'll see plenty of pics later.
There was a constant rain and chilly temps, which I was afraid would keep the crowd down, but it didn't. HUGE turnout, including Freepers, moms with strollers, Texas Guardsmen, Kurdish immigrants, you name it. The rain didn't dampen the spirits; I could hear the shouting, cheers, chants of "USA! USA!" and "Bush! Bush!" from over a block away as I was walking toward it. I'm no good at estimating crowd size, but the area in front of the Old Red Courthouse was packed, as was the sidewalk all the way down the block, with more people hanging out on the grass and around and inside the JFK memorial.
The rain did make the lettering on some of the signs run. I got a laugh from a Kurdish man whose "Get out, Saddam!" poster was dripping a bit by telling him, "I like your sign because 'Saddam' is running."
Tons of media there: vans from all the local TV stations, so there should be plenty of video. It'll be fun to watch, too, because conservative women are so much better looking than peacenik chicks. Somehow, they can look scrumptious even in a rainstorm. Especially those in damp T-shirts. But I digress.
There was the requisite turnout of pathetic peaceniks safely ensconsed across the street, unwilling or unable to admit they were on the wrong side of both history and the street. They were holding signs designed to demonstrate their lack of reasoning ability, such as the irrelevant cliche, "No Blood for Oil," and one that read, "Bush didn't fight in Vietnam, don't fight for him," a sentiment I never saw any of them express when Clinton was bombing the bejeezus out of people. At least Bush flew fighter jets in the National Guard. Clinton was organizing peace protests at Oxford in between puffing the reefer and raping the co-eds.
Peaceniks always complain that nobody gives an accurate count of their turnout, so for once, I'd like to do that for them. It was easy: there were 32 of them. Not 33, not 31. 32. They'll probably claim there were 100,000 of them, but all that proves is that they not only skip history and current events classes to go to protests, they also skip math class.
All in all, a big show of support and a heartwarming day, despite the rain and the chill. I think everyone was thinking what I was: "If our troops can face what they're facing, I can certainly deal with a little cold rain." Way to go, Freepers!
Okay, I know there are lots of complaints about the sound system, but the only way to guarantee one in rainy conditions like today would be to buy it myself. lol. We had a powerful sound system planned. The guy with the platform and speakers showed up, but the guy with the electronic components chickened out because of the rain. He was afraid of ruining his equipment. We would have let them set up on the porch, but he couldn't be convinced.
The Associated Press is saying around 3,000 at the rally! I only saw the two lesbian, socialist, atheist protestors. Guess their friends couldn't stick around once the rally started.
The media that I know of there with cameras and reporters were:
ABC
NBC
CBS
CNN
FOX
The Associated Press
Univision
WB33 (Warner Bros.)
KRLD AM 1080
KLIF AM 570
WBAP AM 820
ALL of our scheduled speakers showed up, including the congressmen and few other elected officials, and all did a fine job of speaking, even if they were a bit hard to hear over the PRO-AMERICA honks from passerbys and responding yells from the crowd! :)
We had a great Freeper turnout, but I had expected to see some freepers that either didn't make it, or it was just too packed for me to find them. The Freepers I know were there include: Clinger (rally organizer), SerpentDove (rally photographer - he'll be posting a thread later tonight), LurkerNoMore!, Ron H., PetroniDE, MeeknMing, Conservative, littlebit (rally organizer), cowgirlcutie, erkyl, Slyfox, Concerned, Swake, Stultis, Houmatt, ANTI-LEFT, "Tony" Aguilar (rally organizer), HHFi, Ben Chad, TaqueriaFanatic, eBay Artist, Shooter 2.5 (I'm assuming since he had pictures posted above)
I'm sure I missed some. Thanks to everyone who came. It was a wonderful rally, rain or not.
And I mean....cheering for America, our troops, our President, our victory.
You're the greatest, guys and gals!
Leni
"There are those Texas FReepers again!"
Ain't Texas great!!!
I wasn't able to get there until about 4:00, so I missed all of the formal parts, but I brought my BULLHORN and some signs with "THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BUSH---12 years was long enough" and "SCREW THE U.N." on them.
We thanked President Bush and the troops, and pledged allegiance to the FLAG and to the REPUBLIC (NOT democracy) of the United States. (BTW, I didn't see even ONE U.S. flag across the street among the RADICAL, LEFT-WING, LIBERAL EXTREMIST SOCIALISTS, whereas our side was LINED with people and their flags.)
We sang God Bless America (I tried, but was horse by that time). We denounced the U.N. and told Saddam Insane "Bye Bye, Saddam!" I was kind of surprised no one else had brought a bullhorn (actually I finally saw someone with one AFTER the rally was over). Shy one that I am (NOT!), I walked up and down the street getting cheers started. Thankfully, I had my yellow rain suit in my car or I would have been drenched. Actually, since I took my hood off, my hair WAS soaked. Fortunately, I have short hair!
There are supposed to be a couple of busses going down for an Austin rally on Sunday, 03/31/2003. We need more FReepers to bring bullhorns. Mine is a Radio Shack "10-watt Powerhorn with Handheld Microphone" (Cat No. 32-2038A) and it works VERY well. It SEEMS like it cost about $100 after taxes and batteries (I bought it during the Impeachment hearings so I don't really remember the actual cost any more). In any event, I don't attend a rally without it. It is a MUST.
Summing up, it was GREAT FUN!!!
The Anti-war Side.
I honestly don't know the numbers of people present but it far far exceeded the "3000" number reported by the media type. S/he apparently left before things really got started. It was double or even perhaps triple that number. I believe pictures will back this estimate much better.
Any way it was a pleasure to rally with all you Big "D" FReepers today and hope to see you all in Austin next Sunday.
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