Rally For America in Denver Feb. 16, 2003

Colorado Chapter of FreeRepublic.com ^ | 02/16/03 | Tom Buchanan

[fivetoes]

WOW!It was an extraordinary Rally for America.

Freepers that I ran into were:
CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC and family
MollynMe
beaversmom and family
weldgophardline and family
stopthepress
fivetoes

I thought I would get this thread rolling. I am going to post some pictures from today to whet your appetite. Freepers can give their reports and some of us were interviewed by the Denver papers. We will include press coverage as it appears.

This is a picture of some of the crowd.

Here is CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC, his sister MollynMe and their whole family. What a FReeping wonderful family indeed.

Here are a group of FReepers. It is welgophardline and his family and beaversmom and her family.

[Jen]

Wonderful job FReepers! Many thanks for the ping.

[maestro]

All,.....Great report!

(Thanks for #54-56,.....and MORE.)

"Love that Flag!"

Great Pictures!

"Just Do It!"

"Love That Flag!"

[Smile-n-Win]

AWESOME freep bump!

Brad Hagstrom and his wife Mariana came down from Fort Collins and came to the rally thinking it was an anti-war protest.

I guess they were just a little bit ... um ... disappointed to find it was actually a freep, eh? ROFL!

[RandallFlagg]

Aw hell! We had some lady at the FReep in Longmont Saturday stand around our side after asking for a sign for about 10-20 minutes thinking we were with the peaceniks! All that time holding a "Bomb Saddam" sign before she ran embarrassingly to the other side. That was soooo priceless!

[radu]

LOL!! I'd stumbled on this just a while ago and have just now finished sending pics overseas. Great rally in Denver!!!

Too many rallies and not enough me!! But I want those serving overseas to see the support they have "back home". They love these rally threads!

I haven't heard a word from any of them for several hours now...it may be one of their "silent" times. As soon as I hear from them I'll have replies.

Off to bed. I've been at this 'puter for 19 hours now and my eyes are crossing.

[Smile-n-Win]

Priceless indeed! Gosh, are these people stupid! ... Still laughing ...

[RandallFlagg]

G'Night!

[fivetoes]

The Denver Post checks in.

Bush supporters rally at Capitol Hundreds back Iraq confrontation
By Matt Larson and George Merritt
Special to The Denver Post

Monday, February 17, 2003 - Hundreds gathered on the west steps of the state Capitol on Sunday to show their support for the Bush administration's stance on Iraq.
Post / Kirk Speer Hundreds rally on the west steps of the state Capitol on Sunday in support of the Bush administration and a possible war with Iraq.
Amid growing opposition both nationally and abroad, participants waved signs proclaiming "Saddam, bin Laden - two Branches, one Tree," and "A war against terror is a just war." Others waved American flags while local politicians and religious leaders spoke.
Colorado Senate President John Andrews, R-Centennial, delivered an impassioned plea for Americans to support the actions of the government.

"Defense is not duct tape, continued inspections, misguided peace marches, and empty U.N. resolutions," Andrews said. "How about a little air power, how about some ground troops."

Andrews criticized the anti-war movement and the recent wave of protests.

"Some of them don't remember Sept. 11," he said. "We remember Sept. 11."

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., also condemned the protests.

"They are not anti-war rallies, they are anti-America rallies," he said.

Anti-war protesters do not think there is any evil in the world or think any particular culture is better then another, Tancredo said.

"But raise the gates all over the world and find out which way people run," he said. "They run here."

Tancredo also noted, however, that Sunday's rally was by no means pro-war.

"I don't know a soul who is pro-war," Tancredo said. "The people are gathering for a pro-America rally."

Down the steps from the Capitol, Lincoln Avenue became a boundary line between war supporters and anti-war demonstrators. About 150 protesters on either side hurled slogans, insults and gestures across the traffic.

"Why don't you go to Iraq and see if they like your liberal policies over there," yelled Chris Montoya of Denver.

"Bomb Islam," shouted Dann Dalton of Aurora.

"Fascist," returned a call from across the street.

Troy Evitt, whose sign read "Eat lead Iraq," said war is better than letting a totalitarian leader control a country.

"I am for a lot of liberal issues," Evitt said. "But the bottom line is I'm more annoyed at radical Islam and terrorists than I am with the far right."

Activists on either side of the street prompted honks and cheers from passing motorists on Lincoln. As many as four Denver police cars and two mounted officers watched the banter.

"We are here to balance things out and support our troops," said Pat Jasper of Westminster. "It was the troops that liberated Europe (in World War II), not the peaceniks."

Siobhan O'Keefe and Amra Tipura, both college students, said they were studying in the public library when they heard about the rally. They decided to show their opposition.

"They have a right to say what they want," O'Keefe said of the war supporters. "But we can say what we feel, too. There have been some pretty nasty insults here today."

[bluesagewoman]

This was the best rally! Thank you in Colorado for your dedication. With you putting forth all the effort, this has to catch on.

Freedomworks, your post was incredible. That is what so many keep forgetting. You are such an asset to mankind, bless you, and thank you from the bottom of my heart!

[fivetoes]

I might remind you all that this was not a FReeper event. We just got wind of it and decided to show up. It was put on by a rather new group of individuals called Americans Against Terrorism. They have no web site as of yet. We are going to get up with them for future events. The founder of AAT is scheduled to be on Hannity & what's his face tonight. Be sure to watch. And emailing Hannity wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Off to work I go

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the ping.

Way to go Denver!

[zip]

I am so proud to be associated with such a great group. You all have my heart felt "Thanks" for standing up FOR our Country. I think it shows the troops that real Americans love, honor and respect them for all that they do.

THANK YOU MILITARY PERSONNEL, PAST AND PRESENT, AND YOUR FAMILIES AND THANK YOU PATRIOTS FOR LETTING THEM KNOW WE CARE.

[zip]

Siobhan O'Keefe and Amra Tipura, both college students

Good American names, huh? The scariest part is that their attitude is the rule in our colleges not the exception.

[SassyMom]

WAY TO GO COLORADO!!!!!! I'm glad to hear that the Post did this article. I wish that MORE of the media would pic up reports about the AMERICANS that support our President and support our TROOPS and this war. I'm getting SICK of the liberal media and their slanted view points. (ok, I'm off of my soap box. LOL)

[MeekOneGOP]

Way to go, folks !! Good job.

And here is a big HOORAY for Tony Blair for his staunch support in the War on Terror !

Tony Blair: The price of my conviction

Excerpt:

But there are also consequences of 'stop the war'. There will be no march for the victims of Saddam, no protests about the thousands of children that die needlessly every year under his rule, no righteous anger over the torture chambers which if he is left in power, will remain in being.

I rejoice that we live in a country where peaceful protest is a natural part of our democratic process. But I ask the marchers to understand this.

I do not seek unpopularity as a badge of honour. But sometimes it is the price of leadership and the cost of conviction.

If there are 500,000 on the [Stop the War] march, that is still less than the number of people whose deaths Saddam has been responsible for. If there are one million, that is still less than the number of people who died in the wars he started.

So if the result of peace is Saddam staying in power, not disarmed, then I tell you there are consequences paid in blood for that decision too. But these victims will never be seen, never feature on our TV screens or inspire millions to take to the streets. But they will exist none the less.

President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair of England walk out to address the media in Cross Hall at the White House Nov. 7. "We've got no better friend in the world than Great Britain," said the President during his remarks. White House photo by Paul Morse.

[Ron H.]

Congratulations from a Texan. You guys have your stuff together when it comes to getting your supporters out. The rest of us needs to sit up and take notice and learn from your efforts.

[beaversmom]

Way to go Mr. Blair. I don't like some of his liberal ideas, but on this deal he has been great and courageous. Many cheers for Tony Blair.

[beaversmom]

To all the great FReepers I met on Saturday and Sunday--it was definitely a pleasure to be with like minded folks. I'll try post some impressions later tonight. It was a fun weekend.

[StopThePress]

Hey Fivetoes! Great to meet you and the other Freepers yesterday! Thanks for the PIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"No Iraqi BLOOD for French Oil"!!!!

[RandallFlagg]

The Rally made 9NEWS...

Rally on capitol steps shows support for force against Iraq, President Bush Written by Web Producer Susan Wells

February 17, 2003 - 12:35 PM

DENVER – The day after millions around the world took to the streets to protest a strike against Iraq, 300 people in Denver gathered on the steps of the state capitol to show their support for President Bush and war, if necessary. The Coloradans, waving American flags and holding signs saying “war is bad, evil is worse” say those who oppose war are not using common sense and in some cases are lacking in patriotism. “There's a whole bunch of individual human beings that are apt to have to lay their life on the line, and they need to know that we're behind them and we care about them,” said Steve Calvert, Vietnam veteran. Pam Pearson came to the rally to support troops because her two sons are in the Navy. "I support our president and I support my sons. This is the only option," she said. "I'd rather force Saddam (Hussein) out than have to play by his rules." Some residents came dressed in colonial costumes and as World War II fighters. Others held signs that said "remember 9-11?" and "self defense is always just" as state legislators and religious leaders expressed support for President Bush. State Senate President John Andrews, R-Centennial, told the crowd war was forced upon the U.S. after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and Bush has no other choice but to attack Iraq. "Defense is not duct tape and endless inspection," he said. "Defense is not misguided peace marches. How about ground troops and some air support?" The rally, sponsored by Americans Against Terrorism, drew a handful of protestors against war in Iraq, who lined the street opposite the Capitol. Some carried signs that read, "no blood for oil." Brad Hagstrom and his wife Mariana came down from Fort Collins and came to the rally thinking it was an anti-war protest. "I can't understand why people are so eager to kill," Mariana Hagstrom said. At a rally against force in Iraq in Colorado Springs Saturday, police fired tear gas at demonstrators and hit at least one with a rubber bullet after a demonstrators spilled out of a park and blocked a major thoroughfare. At least two people were treated at a hospital for minor injuries and released after the rally at Palmer Park. Thirteen people were arrested after they forced the closure of a half-mile stretch of Academy Boulevard, police spokesman Lt. Skip Arms said. A second rally at Peterson Air Force Base ended with 21 arrests but no tear gas. Peterson is home to the Northern Command, the joint military command in charge of homeland security. Similar protests occurred in Durango, Breckenridge and Grand Junction.