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.
One also has to analyze the issue of safety. It's been pointed out several times that the situation was very tense and at times people were in fear for their well being. You can't plan on plopping 100 FReepers down in the middle of thousands of potentially violent leftists without some questioning their safety. FReepers are not like the leftists who attended the other rallies, who are primarily young, single, unattached college students who think they are going to live forever. FReepers have jobs, families, duties and responsibilities. Most could not afford getting arrested, which was a distinct possibility if altercations arose.
All of these issues must be considered when planning an event. If the primary goal was to oppose the lefties and not let them have DC all to themselves, than one must accept lowered attendance, considering conservative sensibilities. It appears this was the goal as intended by the rally organizers, so in that repsec, they were successful.
If the primary goal was to get as many people to attend as possible and make a big PR splash, it might have been better to hold the rally on a different day or in conjunction with the rally the previous week when you would have an additional 50k people (plus press) or so to draw to your stage and speakers.
It has been pointed out several times in these threads that the left is better at this than we are. It's not that they're better, it's that they have big head start, don't repeat mistakes and when they commit to organizing events such as this, they have very clearly defined goals and objectives that emphasis turnout and exposure. All their event decisions pivot around these issues. Right now, the opposition rally leaders, from the varying organizations, are having bull sessions analyzing what they did right, what they did wrong, and how to use what they learned to improve their impact next time. They know how to work together, even thought they may disagree on issues and strategy, because they realize there is strength in numbers and they increase the output of their efforts through cooperation. Free Republic, and conservatives in general, will never have the impact of the left until we learn to put our trivial ego and territory issues aside and work together as a team.
BTW - This is one of the goals of the FRee Republic Network.
Dio, you were right on wrt the media distorting the numbers.
Bob, you are exactly correct about if there were only 10 of us to be there, the point was made. I am glad that several hundred did come.
I do agree with tgslTakoma about caring enough to get out there. I know a number of people who think as I do, but they "have families" and "work jobs" and "don't have time for things like this."
Well, so do i. There have been a number of times where supporting FR's efforts have been a hardship.
I also have a family and a job and don't have time to do this stuff. Yet i do.
The difference between myself and some of my friends is that I make defending Freedom a high priority. Rectitudine Sto. Sauropod
I figured the media would decrease our numbers as they increased the lefts numbers. Some one reported 75,000 hate america people....not bloody likely.
I was proud that you took the time to help put this together and go down and participate. You are a true patriot!
ROTFLMAO!!! I'm cramping up...that's hysterical!
It was disheartening in that I believed we would have thousands attending our rally.
There will be others. Peace, my friend. Dave
Dave, from one of the leaders who worked so hard to pull the rally off, truer words were never spoken. The fact that we were there was enough to drive ANSWER and their minions crazy. They could not stand the fact that we were there. We gave a great rally. We can show our wounds and those who were not there will rue the day.
Perhaps next time when the call goes out ...
You got to love Bob Dorman. When he had given time to everyone at our site after his speech, he took off across the streert on his own to find some more flabby Lefties to lay into.
In an event such as this, without cosponsorship from 5-10 other major conservative organizations, you just have to raise the flag and see who salutes it. If things don't go as hoped, analyze the plan, see where strategic errors were made and don't make them again.
BTW - The previous was not meant to be critical of anyone associated with organizing this event. Post event analysis is important in not repeating mistakes while reinforcing what was positive. In fact, if I were involved, I would suggest putting up a thread asking FReepers for their opinions and suggestions, kudos along with constructive criticism. There is a wealth of professional knowledge and talent on this site, from PR to media to event management, etc. Might as well take advantage of it.
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