Takoma...you are absolutely right....we need one or two costumed individuals at every FReeping event. My fear is/was we show up looking like a costume party rather than intelligent political activists. That's all.
I smell a competition....you wanna place a little bet who has better/more favorable press coverage, our FReep or yours??? :o) Just a FRiendly little *wager* between FReepers???? hmmmm???? I say we make better than 4th page...I bet we make at least 2nd page Tribune & Sun Times with good/favorable mentions. :O) BTW, Takoma, please don't think I'm being smug...I'm just very competitive and perform better with a good challenge on the line! :^D I LOVE a good challenge.....we can call in "The Sultan" as "wager judge"....he's from the Richmond,VA FReepers and I trust him. He's the best and very honest. No payout...just bragging rights.
And yes, DC FReepers do rule, I couldn't do what you do in DC, it's why I live here in Chicago and why I moved out of Liberal Land (California).