Posted on 04/20/2002 7:56:53 AM PDT by Mustang
Received two cell calls from Dave. The stage is set. The flags are waving. The weather is great. They're ready to Roll! Around 0945 the crowd was 50+ including Kristinn, sauropod, Leadpenny, Angelwood, Exit 148, GoreWarVet, Dutchy, Congressman Billy Bob, Black Agnes, TaxMan, TGSL DeComa, WhoKnowsWhatEvil, FireBrand, Country Dummy, Stan Waite, Pro2aMom, 0351Dog. (please pardon any mispelled "names" or omissions. The cell connections were poor).
Around 1015 the crowd was continuing to grow, with some spill over from the Peacenik/anarchist nitwits. Dave reports that it was the port-o-potties that attracted them. But our fearless Freepers labelled the doors "Patriots" and Patriot Women". It seems to be turning them away.
More to follow. Mustang sends from Florida.
The 'port-a-potties' war was pretty interesting. There were about five or six of us trying to restrict access to the 'port-a-potties' that had been paid for out of pocket by Patriot Rally organizers, and we had legitimate fears that they would be vandalized by the knuckle-dragging, unwashed communists across the street. It got nuts around noon, as it became evident that ones who had been turned away were sending ten times their number back across the street to harrass us. It was like trying to manage an out-of-control ant colony; they were swarming EVERYWHERE! Their next tactic was to bring along their pro-terrorist buddies in the college media; to take pictures of those "heartless conservatives" denying access to our port-a-potties. (I suggest they have Ramsey Clark and PFAW pony up some more cash for more of their OWN port-a-potties at their next rally.) As a result, I missed a number of the speeches I had driven six hours to hear. Oh, well...
One of the best bits was with a forty-ish unshaven blond who tried to push by me to get into a port-a-potty. She kept screaming that we were on "public property". That we were, but the potties were "private property"; and she wasn't getting access. She kept screaming that "she had to PEE", and that she had the RIGHT to use our port-a-potty, because it was "public property". I fanned my arm around; indicating that there was PLENTY of "public property" around for her to 'pee' on, and that, as a 'taxpayer', she was welcome to use it. I thought for a moment she was going to go for it, and I was cursing myself for leaving my camera with my wife. However, she turned away with a curse that so typifies the left, and she returned to her unwashed brethren. Hysterical.
In all fairness, however, we only had 4 weeks notice. I'm talking about a HUGE rally with not just Free Republic members, but other conservative minded organazations. That takes a bit more planning.
I was very impressed and inspired with Kristin on CSpan and with the turnout yesterday. I just wish that someone like CSpan would have shown our side.Good job yesterday !!!
No question about it. When these people got in my face during the 'port-a-potty' wars, you could SEE the hate in their eyes, and HEAR it in their voice. At one point, around one or so, the word got out to "get the women out of here, because a riot was about to break out". Several ladies started to gather their things, but then several black vans pulled up, and armor-clad SWAT teams poured into the street. Any threat of a 'riot' was QUICKLY neutralized by their presence. ("Yay, Washington Police!!!")
Let no one tell you otherwise...these people preach "tolerance", but ONLY if you agree with them. It is the LEFT who has utterly NO TOLERANCE for opposing points of view, and I have little doubt there there are those among their numbers who would just as soon kill you as look at you if you support America or Israel. You could see it in their eyes. Folks, to truly appreciate what our friends go through during a 'Freep' event, you HAVE TO BE THERE. You will gain a stronger appreciation than ever for what they endure. G-d Bless them all; north and south; east and west; wherever they stand up for America and for Freedom!
There is something so archetypical about leftist misfits massing together for a group tantrum and then wanting to use the conservative's private porta-potties.
Home, nursing a persistant illness. And suffering great guilt.
If I understand right, there is to be another partiot rally in DC, the beginning of this June. I can't make it to THAT, either. June is graduation time, and we have another daughter graduating this year.
Also, reading Dave's live phone call reports help me to know what was going on in the areas he was working. We didn't get to spend too much time jaw-boning with one another yesterday, if you know what I mean.
We had a great Rally, with fantastic speakers. And the hardiest FReepers I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. It was a great day!
It was my impression one of goals of this event was to show support for the war on terror and our armed forces. Whether you had 10 or 10,000 people, it seems to me this was accomplished. What were the measureable goals for this event as decided by the organizers prior to deciding to proceed and were they achieved?
BTW - Criticizing others for not being there will not help attendance at your next event.
I am sorry you interpreted it in a different light.
Yes, but the left has over 30 years experience at organizing massive rallies. A big additional advantage is that they advertise on college campuses, where they get near total support from the entire institution. Conservatives don't.
And when and if Conservatives do, they are censored. Try posting fliers in a college for a conservative cause. Even if you can get student government permission to post them, which is unlikely, the fliers will be torn down by the leftist radicals with impunity.
Most of the bodies at the Leftist rally were probably college students. Recapturing the universities is the key to success.
Foxnews.com reports that "In a counterdemonstration, a few hundred people gathered on the mall to show their support of U.S. policies. Some carried signs that said 'Peace through superior fire power.' "
IMO, "several hundred people" would have been better wording than "a few hundred people" , but it's better than "a handful" or a hundred.
Mainly, my point was how the media plays fast and loose with the numbers to their (liberal) advantage.
We had a wonderful rally with lots of great speakers.
While our attendance was low our spirits were HIGH.
There is really nothing I could add to the comments and descriptions of the other FREEPERS and PATRIOTS at the rally.
EAGLES UP!
We are the base should conditions get to the point of outrage over the left/anarchist/whatever's shenanigans or another terrorist attack. There now is a "base" of expertise that has arranged press conferences, arranged permits, hired infrastructure (stage, generator, sound system, porta-potties, etc), understsands rally logistics - and the list goes on. Never, ever, through out the baby with the bath water. We are in this for the long term and we hope many of you will be there with us.
Those of us who couldn't be there showed our support by keeping your Rally Thread bumped!
I understand, and sympathize.
Speaking of C-Span and liberal advantage, they had a call in thing this morning on the subject of....
RIGHT WING MEDIA BIAS!!
Sounds to me like C-Span fell right in with Dashless and GetaHeart.
With the exception of a few 'startling' opinion polls, right before the 2000 election, indicating the the American voter - translation: viewer - believed the media had a LEFT WING BIAS...WHEN during the 8 years of Clinton's reign did major media outlets bother agonizing over media bias OF ANY TYPE???
That's a rhetorical question. I know you ALL know the answer.
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