Replies

Bill Simon, Bill Jones and the slate of statewide candidates were welcomed to the Fresno Victory Rally by Saundra Duffy, Lager (as SuperSimon), me, Chris and several other FReepers and several hundred very enthusiastic Simon supporters. We enjoyed great speeches, chants and singing. Was a great rally! We also enjoyed patriotic songs by a young group of singers from Christian Home Educators of the Fresno Area (CHEFA).

Ping for pictures from the Bill Simon Victory Rally in Fresno.

Goodness, y'all had a MUCH larger room than us. We were SRO; packed in like sardines ;-)

As Saundra would say...For Freedom & Victory!

Bill Simon, Bill Jones and the slate of statewide candidates were welcomed to the Fresno Victory Rally by Saundra Duffy, Lager (as SuperSimon), me, Chris and several other FReepers and several hundred very enthusiastic Simon supporters.
We enjoyed great speeches, chants and singing. Was a great rally!
We also enjoyed patriotic songs by a young group of singers from Christian Home Educators of the Fresno Area (CHEFA)." - Jim Robinson
What a GREAT sign! :o)

What aWONDERFUL choir!
Good show, Fresno FReepers!
We will greet them in Los Angeles (at Olvera Street) at 1:30 pm today.
See also, from the Fresno Bee:

GOP swings through Fresno
Schwarzenegger, state slate of candidates in city to rally supporters.
By John Ellis
The Fresno Bee
(Published Sunday, November 3, 2002, 8:53 AM)

Fresno was a stop Saturday for two prominent Republicans -- one who is running for governor and another who many believe would like to be governor someday.
Actor and budding politician Arnold Schwarzenegger hit town first as he barnstormed the state in support of Proposition 49, the ballot initiative that would create after-school programs in every elementary and middle school in California.
In the evening, gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon Jr., along with the other Republican candidates seeking statewide office, rolled into town to rally supporters before Tuesday's general election.
About 300 people came to Corporate Aircraft at Fresno Yosemite International Airport to cheer Simon and the others.
The group included GOP candidates for lieutenant governor (Bruce McPherson), attorney general (Dick Ackerman), secretary of state (Keith Olberg), controller (Tom McClintock), treasurer (Greg Conlon), insurance commissioner (Gary Mendoza) and superintendent of public instruction (Katherine Smith).
A children's choir serenaded the attendees, and GOP activist Debbie Poochigian whipped up the crowd with a series of cheers. The key message, delivered again and again: Vote Tuesday.
Statewide polls show Gov. Davis with a wide lead on Simon. As the crowd at the airport chanted "We've had enough," Simon noted that was the rallying cry of Ronald Reagan's 1966 California gubernatorial campaign.
But David and Dorothy Hubbard of Madera said victory won't be easy.
"The Democrats need to be overconfident and the Republicans diligent about going out and voting," David Hubbard said. "That would be the only hope."
Schwarzenegger, by contrast, rallied a different type of group at River Park shopping center: starry-eyed celebrity watchers.
Crowds surged toward the action-movie star. They snapped photos, rolled camcorders and sought autographs.
When Fresno Mayor Alan Autry introduced Peter Szego from the AARP, an impatient crowd of about 350 let out a collective moan -- it wasn't Schwarzenegger.
When the actor did step to the podium, the crowd cheered. He responded by urging everyone to vote yes on Prop. 49 -- and peppered his speech with well-known lines from his movies.
"Let's say, 'Hasta la vista, baby' to the problem" of children having nothing to do between the end of school and when their parents get home from work, he said.
Everyone interviewed said they support the proposition. They also said they were there as much for the star as for the initiative.
Many political watchers say Schwarzenegger is padding an already impressive resume of public service as he gears up for a 2006 gubernatorial run.
Fresno residents Tom and Laura Hardwick like the idea. They've already voted by absentee ballot -- and left blank their vote for governor.
"Not much to choose from," Tom Hardwick said.
Both Hardwicks cited Schwarzenegger's public service work and said they would consider backing him for governor.
Pat and Robert Vannoy of Big Creek are not registered to vote but said they would register and cast votes for Schwarzenegger if he runs in 2006.
Terry McCracken isn't waiting. She held a sign that read: "Why waste your vote on Davis or Simon? Vote Yes on 49. Then write in Arnold for governor. Why wait?"
"If he's half as good as Reagan, we'd be better off than with Davis or Simon," McCracken said. She intends to write in Schwarzenegger's name on her ballot Tuesday.
The star seemed content -- for now -- to push for Prop. 49's passage. Still, he gave a possible hint of the future with his parting words: "I'll be back."
The reporter can be reached at
jellis@fresnobee.com or 441-6320.