I am submitting this vanity for all Freepers to show how much of a different every one person can make. I call this a “Freepers Tale.” Please read the whole thing because I sweated over this.
I am a conservative attorney from New York with a strong accent who was so furious this past year, that I contacted the RNC to do my part. I attended a meeting in September in NY where lawyers were asked to sign up to volunteer to go to the battleground states to support the President. The reason for not staying in New York is obvious.
I considered this election to be personal. I live around too many liberal jerks. I live in NY and know about 9/11. I was so upset over Michael Moore and lies. I broiled in anger about the unfairness towards GWB. I knew in my heart that GWB was the right man for this job and that I had to do something. Additionally, I was fearful about the message a Kerry victory would send to our veterans and soldiers alike, not to mention the terrorists and Europe. Therefore, I considered this election to be my chance to contribute to the effort.
Anyway, around October, 2004, I received notification from the RNC that I was going to Duval County in Florida to gear up for a contested race. This New Yorker has never been to Duval County before, but was eagerly waiting my chance to do my part.
On October 29, 2004, I flew down to Jacksonville Airport to meet some of the other attorneys who I would be working with in Duval County. These were Charlie (Atlanta GA attorney), Phil (Attorney from Atlanta and Fellow Freeper), and Gene, a paralegal from Alabama. We all met and were excited for the days ahead.
On October 30, 2004, we went to the Duval County Canvassing Board to monitor the counting on absentee votes and ballots with disputed signatures. Upon our arrival, we met with Chris (DC Attorney), John (DC attorney, and Margaret (Florida attorney). We monitored the counting and kept tabs on the angry Kerry/Edwards people. There was also Ryan (Freeper lawyer from Atlanta), Marty (local counsel), Olivia (Texas attorney and Freeper), and one other great lady whose name escapes me right now.
Later that day, we attended a meeting and got to know each other better and made plans for the days ahead. We had another meeting on Sunday, where we got “Voting Rights Counselor” shirts, buttons, and hats. These looked very official and were given to attorneys to where. I thought we looked extremely professional when compared with the Kerry Edwards people.
We took a ride by the Duval County headquarters to get ID’s and get more instructions. At a minimum, I was extremely impressed by the people volunteering for the Republicans. There were many many college kids there. There were even college students from Texas who came in to volunteer. They were awesome and went door to door and gave out signs, etc.
A group of people from Texas came to volunteer for the Republicans as well. They called themselves the “Texas Strike Force.” They were great and seemed to have an affinity for this NU YAWK “Yankee” who was working with them side by side. Particularly, “Glen” and “Skipper” were my favorites.
On Monday, November 1, 2004, myself, Phil, and Gene, traveled to the “Regency Library” to monitor the early voting. We wore our “Voting Rights Counselor” gear and brought a bunch of signs etc, to give out. The headquarters told us to expect heavy democratic turnout in this area.
We arrived at the site and the Kerry Edwards people had already set up shop right at the 50 foot line. They looked sort of surprised to see us, but we went and introduced ourselves to them nonetheless.
As voters arrived, we greeted them nicely and gave out GWB items. The Kerry people gave out buttons and fans. They also gave out water as if it were a marathon or something. As the turnout increased, the Kerry people brought in some additional bodies. Although they initially outnumbered us, the office sent us Skipper and the Texas Strike Force. They blew me away with their enthusiasm and Skipper had a huge sign that all voters could see that read “Who would Osama Vote For?” The other Texas people gave out B/C items. The people took as much as they could get and were very positive towards us.
Phil was great too as he mirrored the Kerry/Edwards guy giving out sample ballots and countering every statement made the Kerry guy. Gene, who is a female, laid on the Alabama charm to the people waiting in line.
Myself???? I am a big guy, very muscular, and seemed more like security and crowd control.
We completely demoralized the Kerry people. We outnumbered them, out charmed them, out spent them, and out politiced them.
After the day was over, we had another meeting, and all agreed about the great reception we received and how meager the Kerry people were. I am convinced that their claim of 10,000 lawyers was fabricated to scare us. It backfired! We had the manpower in place for anything they had, times three!
Ok. Now it is Tuesday, November 2, 2004, the big day. The local attorneys were stationed inside the polls and us out of state lawyers were part of roving quick response legal teams. I was teamed up with “Glen” a member of the Texas Strike Force. Although the two of us could not be more different, we both got along great and I think I made a good friend.
Unfortunately, we had to respond to an accident that one of our volunteers got into. I can’t give details for obvious reasons, but it took up some of our time. Glen and I responded to a number of problems with voters, mostly minor and nothing worth writing about. What is notable is the fact that our “Voting Rights Counselor” gear had a huge impact and made us look very official, organized, and professional. Some mistook us for actual election officials. I think that was the intent.
Throughout the day, the headquarters was busy with activity. There were many people being dispatched to places with little presence. It was great - it seemed like we had people all over the place!
I must admit, at one point during the day I got a chance to look at Drudge. I was very nervous and in fact was expecting the worst. Others were too.
As the day came to an end, we went over to the party arranged by the Republican party to watch the returns. It was a job well done on our part, and now hopefully would prove it. Once Florida was called for GWB, we all went nuts. It proved that average people can make a huge difference! In fact, Duval gave GWB a tremendous amount of votes to counter South Florida. As the night wore on, the mood increased. I became a little buzzed from too many beers, but we all knew we were sharing a great moment. I worked hard alongside the efforts of so many others with the same zeal and passion to keep our nation strong and get GWB re-elected.
I am so impressed with the caliber of the people of Duval county. After being somewhat down on the average voter, my faith and opinion has changed. The Duval County folks all came together and each contributed in his/her own way. Don’t get me wrong, Liberal New Yorkers are still scum and deserve Dante’s Hell.
My point is this, get involved! Your contribution will make a difference. This election has taught me that if we come together we will never lose, Never! Only if we get complacent will we lose.
I had a great experience and thank God GWB is our President. Although he is not perfect, he is a fundamentally good decent man and has only the USA as his priority.
Freepers - I love you all. This board has helped GWB and this nation!
Awesome! Thanks for the hard work!
Well done, you should be proud. Be sure to tell this to all your liberal friends. They'll think you went to Mars or something.
Chirs, thanks for coming down and helping out here in Florida.
The conservative minority here tried to keep from gloating. Somehow, I think if the shoe were on the other foot, it would not had been this way.
Great account, Chris1, and thanks for all you did.
I live in Alachua County (near Duval County) and we worked our little fingers to the bone, too. My county, heavily Dem because of the presence of the University, almost went for Bush! Dems outnumber Republicans 2-1, but the vote was almost 50-50. It's truly amazing what volunteers can do.
Incidentally, I found out that many of the people who worked for the Kerry campaign were not volunteers, but had been hired to do things that were being done for the GOP by volunteers. That was pretty revealing.
As for the attorneys, we had a ton of them here at the polling places, but that's because there's a law school at the U, and liberal attorneys with spare time are easy to come by here.
Thanks for bringing New York lawyer toughness to our occasionally too polite GOP here in Florida!
The great thing about folks in the South (and in Texas which considers itself a separate republic still :-D ) is that they will meet you and evaluate you on a one-on-one level. Always the benefit of the doubt. If you're an honest, decent, good sort you can't have a better friend (if you're not - you can't have a worse enemy.)
(Of course, you do have to put up with a little bit of "you know, you're not such a bad guy for a Yankee" . . . but they don't mean any harm by it, just acknowledging that you don't fit the stereotype!) :-D
As they used to say in the old days, "Welcome South Brother."
I was amazed and heartened by the number of closet conservatives that have identified themselves to me in the past few months. I also found out that among my cashiers (19-23 year olds with facial piercings and what I thought was a neutral attitude toward politics), 100% of them were Bush supporters. In fact, in a state where Kerry won by 10 points, 5/7 of my employees are Bush supporters. One of the Kerry supporters admitted to holding his nose while he voted, and the other is a whacked out leftist conspiracy nut whose mother is a Yale professor (that one explains itself).
Overall it dawned on me yesterday that I underestimated my Fellow Americans, and that I am VERY proud of Republicans and especially Freepers.
Thank you for your hard work chris1, you should be very proud. I cannot wait for the day that the state of New York reclaims her heritage and turns red. So many good, decent people so richly deserve it!
A lovely post. Thank you chris1 for your efforts. Those of us without your skill set are indebted to you. The GWB volunteers were amazing. Congratulations for a job well done.
Excellent and inspiring report from the ground. Thanks for you work.
I was thinking back what compelled me to get involved actively and recall it was all the money the democrats were pouring into their campaign. George Soros for one outraged me. Looking closer on FR, I realized the outright deceit and slander they were mounting against the President and more... people were buying it!
I know now that I have to stay involved at a state and local level. NJ democrats are the worst of the worst. From this last campaign process, I know that selfless volunteers motivated by fair play will prevail. We've all learned that if you do something... compelled to do something because it is right the rewards will be beyond anything imaginable.
And on FR, we have an opportunity to find out who we are and what we believe: the article really states the NYC has isolated itself from the rest of the country. The truth is there in the NY Post. Terry McAuliff called it 'the Mad Magazine of Journalism'.
Thanks.
Everyone has to know that they have a part to play. I got out the Republican vote in rural Ceres Township,PA. The organization of the Bush camp was amazing. Mr. Tabor, a Texas attorney, co-ordinated the effort.
I think it's important that Freepers realize that there are many people in "enemy" territory(be it Europe or NYC) who agree with us. There are many more conservatives in NYC than there are in McKean County, PA.
Thanks for your hard work in a difficult environment!
Thank you, chris1, for volunteering to help America and President Bush. We are more alike than different, no matter where we're from. This victory is another example of true teamwork. It's amazing what a team can accomplish when no one cares who gets the credit.
Ditto! When I found this board I felt like I had found some deep, underground social club where everyone felt free to loudly proclaim what I'd been secretly thinking all my life. I'd fell for the lines that if Id didn't believe in affirmative action, then I was a racist. I believed that if I felt that the homosexual lifestyle was hurtful and wrong then I was a homophobe. Homeschoolers were overprotective parents and whackos. FR taught me that my beliefs were NORMAL and correct. The wonderful, intelligent FReepers helped me find the vocabulary to express the logic behind these beliefs.
THANK YOU FREE REPUBLIC!
I saw your post this morning but didn't have time to sit down and read it until this afternoon. But I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed it, and you are right about getting involved. I'm glad you did and had this experience. I am not as young and free to travel as you are, but I have been involved locally since moving here 6 years ago. I feel strongly that the conservatives have failed in educating the public as to the differences in the parties, what we stand for, etc. I know we wouldn't change everyone's minds, but I believe we would change many. Thanks again for your post.
Great vanity, Chris. You should put your Freeper's Tale on your FR homepage. :)
Awesome post. Many thanks and blessings to all who helped make this happen.