Was none other that "Melrose" Larry Green.
When I arrived - shortly after 6 am, he was already there.
I checked in with the police captain on duty (as we have been taught by the pros in the DC Chapter to do!) - and asked him where he would like for us to stand.
He said that they were blocking off the sidewalk directly in front of the building where the President would be speaking (on the southeast corner) - but that we could pick any of the other three corners.
Larry had staked out the southwest corner, which - as it happens - WAS the best place from which to greet the Presidential motorcade, and the best place from which to promote our cause to oncoming eastbound traffic.
.
DoughtyOne and Tony in Hawaii had arrived by 6:30 am, and we controlled that corner - with EXCELLENT sign positioning, while the riff raff dominated the northwest corner.
Just after 7 am, however, the mob began arriving in force. Some were rather pleasant. Most were clueless. A few were downright nasty.
They represented labor unions, "women's groups" and LOTS of bubble-headed college kids. (UCLA is just a few blocks to the north.)
First there were dozens, then there were hundreds.
Bob J and diotima thought that for the safety of our small group, it would be best if we mored to the - as yet - unoccupied northeast corner. Which we did.
All except "Melrose" Larry Green. (And, apparently, Doug from Upland.)
He bravely stayed at his position in the belly of the beast.
And he made the AP story.
.
Soon the rabble even surrounded us there - on our isolated corner, but we held our positions, at the FRONT of the mob on that corner.
Moonmad27 had a Texas flag, and a sign that said, "www.FreeRepublic.com welcomes President BUSH!"
Tony in Hawaii had several BILL SIMON signs, and I had my "W is for... Bill Simon!" sign.
Right behind us were feinswinesuksass, HangFire and his GIANT American flag, AnnaZ (and her two boys, hamlet and Indigo) with her "Lovya Dubya" sign, DoughtyOne and Bob J with bullhorns, and diotima with her subversive "Osama Fan Club" sign.
DoughtyOne was interviewed by the local NPR affiliate, KFPK, and I talked with a young woman reporter from a local college newspaper, Cal State Northridge, I think.
.
Not sure that the President and future Governor of California saw us, but we were there.
The NEXT time, we need to have greater numbers.