Nor sympathy either - even with the ;-) You seem not to get what happened here and what we accomplished and what we plan on doing in the future because you were not involved in the planning process, the events leading up to this rally nor privy to the personal sacrifices so many made to make this happen. You showed up at 11th hour and "quickly" became involved. Moreover, I know you are well aware of the D.C. Chapter rules and those of you from the MD TRT have abided by them at all our functions. I really don't get why you bring up offensive tactics. Maybe because I come from a military background we look at those two words in a different manner. The last thing we need to do as we march on is to come across as a bunch of right-wing nuts chomping at the bit to get into a fight. Fight the good fight, as we would have in Sept. if they had attempted to remove the the National Ensign from the Navy Memorial. That said, everyone I saw on Sat. stood their ground without giving an inch and at the same time did not escalate matters beyond control. The U.S. Park Service Police did a great job and were our front, side and rear guards - hands down.
Dave
Every single previous post I have made has been postive, supportive and quite complementary regarding what the D.C. Chapter accomplished with it's rally. If you can document where I have ever been the least bit critical of you and/or this rally, then do so. You are the first, and the only one, of the organizers who even responded to my numerous posts of support.
"You showed up at 11th hour and "quickly" became involved."
I don't quite understand what you mean or imply by the above statement of yours. Would you have prefered the TRT not be "involved" at all, even at the "11th hour"? As was quite clear, we showed up in support of your rally.
"Moreover, I know you are well aware of the D.C. Chapter rules and those of you from the MD TRT have abided by them at all our functions. I really don't get why you bring up offensive tactics."
IMHO, the basic nature of most successful FReeps involve what some would rightly label "offensive tactics". The TRT is fully aware that the "Patriots Rally..." was not intended to be as such. However, given Bob Dornan's inflammatory speech and other such overtly aggressive actions displayed by OTHERS (non-TRT) "on our side" that day, we would hardly have considered your rally as a relaxing, family fun, Saturday afternoon in the park. This is not a criticism of your rally, but, just an opinion and impartial observation of what went down.
And finally, for the record, since most of the general public who reads these posts weren't there last Saturday, let me assure everyone here that the TRT is NOT "a bunch of right-wing nuts chomping at the bit..." as some (not necessarily you) make us out to be. We are a peaceable group of political freedom fighters just as much opposed to police state shills as we are to terrorists and others who would directly or indirectly contribute to the continuing curtailment of our freedoms, which includes our civil rights, civil liberties and U.S. Constitution guarantees. Therefore, we have just as many enemies and detractors, so-called "moderates", liberals, socialists, even among those who are "right-wing" and all others who are willing to give up essential liberties for the sake of so-called "homeland security". As President Bush said last September, "Freedom was attacked, freedom shall be defended", and the TRT takes that statement both figuratively and literally. And that, in addition to supporting our troops, was why WE were down there at the "Patriot's Rally" last Saturday.