When John Kerry was staying overnight in Cocoa Beach, we were out there with signs and flags the night before. Several local Freepers were in attendance. There was a wheelchair-bound Swifty there with us. When the USSS arrived, they came right over to him. Standard practice, I am sure [but they could also be surreptitiously thanking him for his service, prior and currrent.]
We were back out in the morning and another Swifty was there. We easily had over 100 people out there for hours awaiting Kerry's departure [Brevard County is reliably red]. The local GoP guy was dressed up as flipper in honor of Kerry's infamous "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it" quote.
Shortly before Kerry's bus drove out onto Highway A1A, 3 or 4 SEUI purple shirts showed up and, of course, the news cameras focused on them, not the 100+ of us. The standing Swift Boat Veteran was so stoked afterward, because he claimed Kerry flipped him off. I'd call that a success.
God Bless the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and also the retired Command Sergeants Major of the Minnesota NG. Duty, Honor, Country is strong in them.
A success indeed! Yes...I heard the “Who the f*** does he think he is?” sentiment expressed quite often.