FReepers counter Downing Street Memo Rally

DC Chapter ^ | June 17, 2005 | BillF

[BillF]

FReepers from the DC Chapter conducted a FReep of the Downing Street Memo Rally  at Lafayette Park next to the White House on June 16. The DSM Rally was sponsored by Code Pink and Progressive Democrats of America (the outfit of William Rivers Pitt of DUmmie FUnnies fame) in an attempt to refight their crushing defeat in the last election. The leftists, including John Conyers (D-Michigan) and other members of Congress who spoke or attended, are trying to impeach President Bush by using a triple-hearsay, ambiguous memo (read great National Review article here) of a lower level British Foreign Office bureaucrat.

(Here is the announcement thread for the FReep.)

The honor roll of those in attendance on this absolutely beautiful spring evening: kristinn, Jimmy Valentine's brother, Sauropod, Hoodlum91, Christopher Lincoln, agreatper, trueblackman, our Iraqi friend Nofel, and BillF. 

In addition, several people just passing by joined us to hold signs. Numerous others, tourists and military, came up to thank us for being there. The most touching moment was when a soldier in civilian clothes was thanking us for being there and we were thanking him for his service. Nofel then thanked the soldier for helping to free him and his whole country.

Let me know if you want to hear sound files. If there is sufficient interest, I'll go through and sort out some sound bites for posting later.

We initially set up in the closed off Pennsylvania Ave section next to Lafayette Park and about 200 feet from the leftists stage. Maybe they only got about 200 people to attend, yet one leftist assured me that the "neo-fascists" would not win and impeachment was taking off. Right, taking off like a lead balloon.

We chanted FRY SADDAM NOW and YOU NEVER MARCHED AGAINST OSAMA, YOU NEVER MARCHED AGAINST SADDAM. Jimmy Valentine's brother and kristinn were among the FReepers interviewed by the press. At the end of an interview with local channel 7, kristinn was asked if he had a message for the opposing side. He said, "swim to Cuba, you'll be happier there."

Various arguments broke out as leftists came over to confront us. One gave us the finger, a sure sign of a successful FReep. Unfortunately, my camera didn't click fast enough to get it.

After a couple hours, we saw commotion over at the White House gate a few hundred yards away.  We walked over there as leftists also converged. Conyers was apparently trying to present a petition to the guard there. We chanted TRAITORS AT THE GATE and CONYERS IS A PHONY. We also shouted something like CONGRESSMAN CONYERS, BE RESPECTFUL, THAT'S THE MONICA GATE, fondly recalling our days protesting the impeached one.

We moved back to our first location after the gate festivities ended. We chanted some more and again there were pitched verbal jousts with the leftists.  Fortunately, all was peaceful thanks to the ever present and watchful members of the U.S. Park Police and Uniform Division of the U.S. Secret Service.

As the leftist rally broke up, Congress members John Conyers, Maxine Waters, and Sheila Jackson Lee separately walked by quickly. When trueblackman and kristinn shouted at Conyers, he just kept walking. Waters waved the back of her hand and then shook her booty as she slipped away, as sauropod videotaped the Congresswoman's antics. As Jackson Lee passed by, kristinn tried to get her to talk to Nofel about what Iraq was like with Saddam in charge. She agreed to talk if Nofel walked along with her as she had to hurry back for a meeting or vote. Nofel then walked along with her as sauropod also went along to videotape the discussion.

Another time a leftist came up and said do you have any relatives who've served in Iraq. He was quite disappointed when I truthfully told him that my brother had served over there.

One leftist tried to tell me that President Bush had killed more Iraqis than Saddam. The leftist' jaw dropped when I called Nofel over and said "this gentleman is from Iraq and he has a different story." It was perfect.

CLICK ON A PHOTO TO OPEN A LARGER VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW. Click on another photo and its larger version should open in the same window that the first enlarged photo did.

A lot of DUmmies were there in spirit. It was unclear how many were among the bitter-enders in person.

Leftists getting ready for the rally.   Leftists rally point was about a couple hundred feet back of the continuous long term anti-Nuke protester, who is known to some FReepers from their 1998 to 2001 anti-Clinton White House protests.

I didn't have the heart to tell this woman that the pants-less President moved out of the White House over 4 years ago.

FReep line: kristinn, sauropod, Nofel, BillF, agreatper, Christopher Lincoln, and Jimmy Valentine's brother.

kristinn interviewed by local channel 7

Leftist Luke, who bikes to all these events, debates the assembled FReepers with only Jimmy Valentine's brother visible in the photo.

I guess hooded guy was supposed to be an Abu Ghraib re-enactor, but I couldn't find an extension cord to plug him in.   These school children were chanting GEORGE BUSH RULES. Jimmy Valentine's brother (blue shirt, back to camera at right) and agreatper (back to camera in middle, yellow shirt) went over and chatted with the kids and their teachers. Kids were thrilled to hold one of our signs.

This guy laughed when I repeated Doctor Raoul's line: NO OIL FOR PROTESTS, WALK HOME!

This gentleman wanted a photo of him holding a sign. I agreed to email it to him.	This gentleman, a Navy vet, was also happy to join in with us.
Jimmy Valentine's brother, trueblackman, kristinn, Nofel, and Christopher Lincoln.	Traitors at the gate. Leftists assemble at Monica's gate.
Nofel near the gate standing next to a Code Pinko.	Hoodlum91 at right watches as sauropod is interviewed.
It was amusing to have this "Impeach Bush" guy explain that Bush stole both elections and would somehow be impeached. I said "how do you get up every morning knowing that Bush is President." He replied, "no, he's an imposter, not really President." I said "shouldn't you be out on a ledge somewhere?" When the guy claimed that Bush was a fascist, sauropod challenged him to define the term. He could not.   At this stage, we had been in the sun for over 3 hours. I told Jimmy Valentine's brother that a fascist was someone who kept you from getting a beer when you were hot and tired.	In a first in FReeper history, Jimmy Valentine's brother held a die-in to protest other FReepers' extra-innings arguments with the leftists that were keeping us from beer. His protest paid off as most of us soon withdrew to an undisclosed location for food and drink.

[DollyCali]

Hi Bill.. loved the thread/pix/report.. wish I lived closer. please add me to the DC ping list if a "foreigner " is welcome..

[BillF]

Thanks for your kind words.

I'll add you to the DC Chapter ping list.

We have many on the list from outside the DC area because they want to read about our activities.

Anyone can ask to go on the ping list by sending me a reply or by FReepmail.

[Ditter]

Freeps are so much fun, I am envious. Thanks for being there for those of us who couldn't and thanks for reporting.

[Incorrigible]

Bump and thanks!

[lentulusgracchus]

That was a really funny photo -- a "die-in for a beer". LOL!

Talk about keeping your priorities straight!

[lentulusgracchus]

Concurring media bump.

Way to Alinsky the Alinskyites.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Lucky for you, we practice euthanasia.

ROFL!!!!

[dstarr]

The knucklehead in the black hood and outfit needed a pair of undies on his head if he was portraying an Abu Graib inmate.

[buffyt]

It was amusing to have this "Impeach Bush" guy explain that Bush stole both elections and would somehow be impeached. I said "how do you get up every morning knowing that Bush is President." He replied, "no, he's an imposter, not really President." I said "shouldn't you be out on a ledge somewhere?" When the guy claimed that Bush was a fascist, sauropod challenged him to define the term. He could not.

EXCELLENT!!!!

[buffyt]

Liberals now seem to want to CUT & RUN in Iraq. I would rather CUT & SHOOT!

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Thank you to everyone who FReeped these crazies!!!

Have you all seen these great shirts over at Rush's website? The tropical paradise one plus two others are funny, too!