COngressman Tom Tancredo (Left), U.S. Senate Candidate Howard Kaloogian (R) (Center), and KSFO AM 560 Talk Show Host Melanie Morgan (Right)
Posted on 02/22/2004 11:15:39 AM PST by Impeach98
WOW!
Yesterday's rally against giving drivers' licenses to illegal aliens (as proposed by Democrat Gil Cedillo's SB1160 which Repub. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he supports) was a H U G E success.
The rally planning had been going on for several weeks. It was set to take place Saturday, February 21st at the Burlingame Hyatt, where the California Republican Party Convention would be taking place.
Since Governor Schwarzenegger has said he thinks giving drivers' licenses to illegal aliens is a "fantastic" and "excellent idea" (after he made conservatives very happy by repealing an existing law by Gil Cedillo that Gray Davis had signed that did the same), the thinking was that Arnold would get the message when Republicans turned out to say "WE DON'T WANT IT - NEITHER DOES CALIFORNIA."
The location had to be changed a couple times because officials with the California Republican Party establishment were offended that Kaloogian has rallied Republicans to oppose Bush's amnesty/guest-worker plan and Schwarzenegger's "sell out" on the illegal alien drivers' license plan.
With Kaloogian's opponents for U.S. Senate uncomfortable with challenging either the Bush plan or the Schwarzenegger-backed plan (they will speak to vague policy but not these specific proposals for fear of alienating Bush or Schwarzengger and their establishment suppport), the rally united immigration reform advocates and Kaloogian campaign supporters.
A little after 10:00 AM people began gathering outside, right in front of the Hyatt Hotel. Kaloogian for Senate staffers and volunteers were handing out Kaloogian signs, bumper stickers and lapel stickers.
People were simultaneously streaming towards the Kaloogian for Senate table inside of the convention and were being directed to join the now-growing crowd outside.
At the same time, last minute preparations were taking place at a giant tented pavillion located next to the hotel's pool at the back of the hotel complex. A stage with blue-curtain backdrop and "Kaloogian for Senate" wall would serve as the dais. Approximately one-dozen Kaloogian volunteers were assisting in the set-up effort. People seeking out the rally location began arriving at this location too.
By 10:20 AM things were crazy!!! There was now a crowd of a few hundred people outside that was growing fast. More and more people were running up to the Kaloogian table inside the hotel to find out the rally location and at the poolside pavillion (site of the rally) supporters were being directed to join the crowd at the front of the hotel.
Melanie Morgan and Donald LaCombe of the Kaloogian campaign were now firing up the crowd with chants over a megaphone. There were a handful of reporters and cameras covering the mass of people out front who were shouting "Enough is Enough," "No License for Illegals," and "Stop Them at the Border."
Finally at 10:30 AM, with the crowd now a giant sea of people, completely fired up, we opened the front doors to the hotel and Melanie Morgan chanting "Enough is Enough" into a megaphone led the procession of people through the hotel, down one of the main corridors to the back of the hotel where the crowd would exit, walk the pathway towards the poolside pavillion and assemble for the rally.
A number of interesting things took place. First, the procession passed right by the press room and reporters were shocked to see this massive and boisterous gathering of people streaming through the hotel screaming and chanting. Also, liberal Republican Vice Chair of the CRP, Mario Rodriguez, was conducting a seminar teaching Repubs. how to reach out to Latino voters and was horrified to see the protest march... apparently he is unable to distinguish between the difference of "illegal" individuals and legal citizens of the United States.
The throng of people was so wide, two sets of double-doors had to be opened to allow the crowd to flow in. But then the final mass of people who had gathered in the lobby in front of the Kaloogian for Senate booth formed a third 'feeder' stream to the procession. There were so many people now marching towards the rally location in the back that people could not enter the rally tent fast enough... we had a human traffic jam and this 10 foot wide hallway that runs several hundred feet was now completely jam-packed with participants.
People contiued streaming into the giant tent and tried to squeeze in to allow as many people as possible in. But there were so many people that not everyone could fit... there were dozens of people flowing out the side entrance, straining to see over the heads of those inside, and an even larger group of people at the back end of the tent who could not get in because of the overflow crowd.
Melanie Morgan and Brian Sussman of KSFO AM 560 - San Francisco were the emcees and had the crowd fired up... it wasn't hard. The energy in the room was electrifying. They introduced Kaloogian who received a hero's welcome from the crowd.
Kaloogian was on fire and delivered one of the best speeches I've heard him give on the stump so far. And the crowd responded with passion and energy. The tent was rocking folks!!
Just as Kaloogian was finishing his remarks, we got word that Tancredo was arriving in the back entrance (having been picked up by one of our Kaloogian staffers at the SFO airport). So Kaloogian then transitioned into welcoming Congressman Tom Tancredo, a hero to our cause, just as the Congressman entered the facility.
Tancredo bounded up to the stage and grabbed Kaloogian's fist. They raised their hands into the air - pumping up and down. The crowd was hooting, hollering, screaming, chanting. Melanie Morgan and Brian Sussman were up there on stage still and were themselves cheering and beaming from ear to ear. It was a moment of magic and the energy was incredible.
Now during all of this time there was this steady stream of television camera crews arriving. While we had worked the media over pretty heavily to tell them about the rally, and who would be there, they had been dismissive. They weren't interested in covering a bunch of right-wing kooks complaining about immigration policies. So at the start of the rally we only had a handful of print reporters, 4 or 5 television cameras and 2 or 3 radio reporters. But by the end of the rally news organizations, learning of what was happening, had rushed over scores of additional reporters, camera crews, and microphone-carrying radio techs and reporters.
Tancredo gave a great speech. He explained that a series of events had led to him almost not making it. Delayed flights, cancelled flights, being held up on the tarmac, having to change connecting flights and airline carrier. Everything was a mess and a mass frustration (he was supposed to arrive at 9:30 AM so we could get him settled, instead he didn't make it until about 10:55 AM).
Tancredo told this story and explained that he would go through this kind of hassle every single day between now and Election Day if this would help to elect Howard Kaloogian to the U.S. Senate.
Again, the crowd exploded.
Tancredo went on to explain during his speech that he had NOT ONE immigration reform friendly member in the U.S. Senate... and that without an ally in the Senate to join him in leading the charge on the immigration issue that we could not bring about the change in our failed policies that we need.
Tancredo was funny, gracious, passionate and simple but eloquent. At the end of his speech he again urged those in attendance to go to work to get Kaloogian elected to the Senate and announced he'd be doing all he could till Election Day to propel Kaloogian to victory. Tancredo and Kaloogian raised arms again and the crowd cheered and the camera flashbulbs flashed.
Tancredo and Kaloogian webt out back for a press conference/media avail.
Over the course of the next 45 minutes, Mike Spence, Founder of "Save Our License" (the group that collected signatures to repeal the original drivers' license for illegal aliens bill, SB60), Rick Oltman of FAIR, Ron Prince - author of Prop 187 and Proponent of Save 187 all addressed the crowd.
Crowd estimates have varied. I heard one person say 600-800 but I think this was high. Maybe 500-550.
All the press reports have said several hundred people.
Realize that there were only 1400 delegates listed for the CRP convention, so maybe 1200 were actually at the Hyatt. But while Marin and Jones could generate rallies of 50-75 people, Kaloogian had a massive crowd of cheering and raucous supporters who would then linger throughout the convention for the rest of the day - wearing Kaloogian t-shirts, carrying Kaloogian signs and bumper stickers.
It was an awesome day!
Being opposed to the President's policies is one thing.
Showing gross disrespect for a President who's done more for your pet issues than any of the alternatives is sure as hell no way to gain favor.
By the way, Rep. Shadegg (R) came down to Rep. Kolbe's (RINO) district in Arizona Saturday night as the special guest speaker at the GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. During his remarks he mentioned that he "respects" Kolbe. He was met with an unexpected hail of loud boos and hisses from what is usually a polite crowd. He didn't chastize the crowd.
Shadegg's a pantywaist, then.
Should he lose the Primary too?
Yes. He lacks testicular fortitude, and he's running in an area that has no respect for basic elements of civility.
He's lucky he didn't bring up his support for the Bush/Rove amnesty plan or he might have had things thrown at him.
My daughter quit throwing food at me when she was 18 months old. Thank you for telling me your ilk's average maturity level.
Hoping you can keep the momentum! This sort of strong grass roots surge is the one thing that can still reverse the idiotic trends that will otherwise destroy us.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
And while the present turmoil in the Republican party is regretable, you ought to focus your disdain on the cause; which is the inept and wrong-headed advice which Karl Rove has been giving the President for the past 4 years. (See Karl Rove--Dysron, Quack or Mole.) The day the President sends Karl packing will be the day that the Party starts to come back together.
As for people booing to relieve their frustrations: Take a deep breath. That has always been part of American politics. If you cannot accept that, find another avocation. Those of us who have never been booed, have probably never made any commitment to anything.
William Flax
I've always shown seditionists the appropriate level of respect, especially when they use 100% BS arguments to advance their cause.
Let's put it this way - Marin bought LA radio stations and rocketed from 2% to 12% in the PPIC poll. And she is a pro-choice, pro-amnesty Latina Republican.
We'll be on a lot more than just LA Radio stations and we have a candidate whose views are in sync with Republican voters. We still believe we have a good shot to win this thing!
ABSOLUTELY! And the party according to Skelton's column in the LA Times today (Monday) deliberately attempted to keep the press from covering this rally. Funny how the establishment of the party believes they can try to suppress those who believe in the IDEAS and IDEALS of the party, so that they can instead prop up those who are in it for the power, the ego, and the choice seat in the party apparatus and ruling structure.
Gosh I really dislike those who sell out our principles in exchange for their ticket to the A-List parties. What souless people!!
The polarization was evident Saturday at a Republican state convention in Burlingame, where hundreds of delegates were whipped up at an anti-illegal immigration rally staged by former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian, a candidate for the party's U.S. Senate nomination.
Delegates protested President Bush's plan to offer legal status for undocumented workers and Schwarzenegger's intention to reach a compromise that would provide driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. "Enough is enough," they chanted.
...
Annoyed party leaders — trying to reach out to Latinos offended by Prop. 187 a decade ago — attempted to detract reporters from the rally. They wouldn't allow notices about it to be left in the press room. And they staged an unrelated news conference about the time the rally started. But they couldn't deter delegates from attending or reporters from covering.
I N D E E D!
I like to remind everyone here (when they do the McClintock attack drill) that McClintock was the TOP Republican vote-getter in the state in 2002, and outpolled Bruce McPherson and Gary Mendoza, two very liberal Republicans who also ran for statewide office.
Dang I hate that McClintock lost by less than 1% of the vote... I just wanna punch my computer screen when I see people sneer that "Tom McClintock can never win statewide office, that's why we need to support people like Arnold Schwarzenegger."
Yes, you really are a model of civility! Also hypocrisy!
Those of us who disagree with the President's stands on a lot of issues, do not accuse him of sedition, nor suggest that his arguments, however flawed are 100% BS. You need to stop lecturing others on conduct, and reflect a bit on your own.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
Yeah, no doubt. By those who defend the Bush plan in our party (well, they don't defend the plan, they defend the right of the plan to go uncriticized) and by the liberal media which can't understand why we don't think just opening the borders up to open immigration is the way to go.
B R A V O
Considering that Tom got NO SUPPORT from the Party in that election, and the way Simon got screwed by the same "team," I can't blame you for your anger.
If the RINOs had done what they expect of conservatives, Simon would be governor, and we wouldn't be having this conversation.
And we've shown Rep. Kolbe (RINO-AZ) the appropriate level of respect - absolute, unadulterated, and vocal disdain. All of his recent town halls in his district were protested by REPUBLICANs. Any mention of his name sets Republicans into rant mode. His Cochise County office has been trashed (bags of illegal alien garbage left leaning against his door) by Republicans on at least two occasions. Two years ago he feared stepping foot into the Cochise County Republican headquarters. He sent his aides instead and their visits were extremely brief - only long enough to drop off his campaign literature and bumper stickers. His most vocal critic is the former chairman of the Cochise County Republican Party who maintains a website which disparages Kolbe (and his "ilk") on a daily basis.
In actuality, the appropriate level of respect for Kolbe would lead to his being tarred, feathered, and ridden out of Cochise County on a rail but we do display SOME civility down here -- for the time being, at least.
I suggest you go defend someone who is defensible. You're wasting everyone's time trying to defend Kolbe and bad talk his critics and their lack of "civility". Further I suggest you stop underestimating the seething anger of some Republicans at some of Pres. Bush's more questionable policies. Your time would be better served putting some pressure on him to abandon the amnesty proposal and to start promoting more Republican, more fiscally conservative spending. Looking down your nose at the noisy, unwashed rabble is not going to get you anywhere.
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