It was 2001. I remember now. Because I remember the executive director of NY County saying, “Two people!” And I told her you guys gave me a lot of help with the Bush rallies in Times Square and she agreed immediately.
Zelig and I were able to spend a fair amount of time in NYC back in those days. I was SO angry that Hillary was trying to horn her carpetbagger self into that NY Senate seat, I desperately wanted to volunteer for whoever ran against her, somehow, from 130 miles away.
I was volunteering at a Lazio campaign office - near the World Trade Center - one day in Fall 2000 when the Lazio staff asked if I wanted to volunteer to hold a sign at that "Welcome Gov. George W. Bush" rally outside of David Letterman's studio. That was around the same time I had just discovered Free Republic.
Several Lazio staffers and I arrived at the corner near Letterman's studio... I saw the giant RAT (LOL), and the Teamsters shouting in my face. Silly me, I thought this was going to be some quiet peaceful "rally". At the time, I had no idea what the giant rat symbolized.
Then I met a few FReepers... you were there! Zelig arrived a bit later after a business meeting and grabbed a sign.
My first "FReep" ever... loved it! Even with that crowd of scary-looking guys shouting and swearing at us just a few feet away. I remember you said one of those Teamsters popped a balloon you had with his cigarette.
I'm pretty sure the date of that rally was October 19, 2000. (My father's birthday is Oct. 19)
*sigh* Those were the days.... :-)