We saw The Bat Lady on T.V. Can't remember what channel but Blastus reported that to me.
I am rather disappointed in the Fox News channel coverage. They led their 9:00 p.m. news with the header "Thousands gather at Capital for Pro-American rally". Then the reporter jerk came on for the story and said, "Hundreds gathered". Well, since we know it was thousands (I understand at least 2,000) then why belittle it with "hundreds". Just makes me mad.
Okay, when do we do it again so I can mark the calendar?????!!!!!!
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, March 31, 2003
Some painted their faces red, white and blue. Others held up signs that showed their support for President Bush. One woman even dressed as the Statue of Liberty. But almost everyone at the south steps of the Texas Capitol on Sunday afternoon came for a single reason: to show their support of the troops overseas and the war in Iraq.
Organizers and state troopers said that 1,500 to 2,000 people attended the "Rally for America" sponsored by the Young Conservatives of Texas at the University of Texas.
The turnout made it the largest pro-troops rally in Austin in recent months.
"The goal here is to show the men and women who are fighting that we support them and that we think they are right," said Brian Bodine, spokesman for the group.
Alan Sager, chairman of the Travis County Republican Party and a lecturer at UT, was the emcee.
"What a great day in Austin, Texas," he said with cheers of "U.S.A." in the background.
The rally lasted about 75 minutes and included five speeches from people supporting the war. Rick Green, a former state representative from Dripping Springs, encouraged everyone to be patriotic all the time, not only after events like the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"We need more than renewed patriotism; we need informed patriotism," he said. "People need to come out here because it's the right thing to do, not because it is fashionable."
Law enforcement officials said it was a peaceful rally with no arrests. About 10 war protesters stood at the entrance to the Capitol with signs against the war and for peace.
"These are a bunch of mindless people, led by other mindless people," peace protester Dave Neff said, referring to people at the main rally. "I think we should be giving peace a chance by helping with love and not fear."
Jaughn Jackson, who attended the rally and served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, said he thinks the peace protesters need to move on.
"Most people like me have jobs and don't have time to lay in the streets," Jackson said. "These people need to understand how they got their freedom."
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said he was expecting to see more demonstrators against the war at the rally.
"I don't know if I am qualified to be here," Patterson said. "I don't have orange hair. I don't have body piercings. I'm not laying on Congress or beating a drum."
Patterson spent most of his time complimenting Bush and the decisions he has made.
"This is not about popularity, and this is not about polls," he said. "We hired a commander in chief to make tough decisions, which sometimes are not popular. That's what we have in George W. Bush."
Sager concluded the rally by thanking the Young Conservatives of Texas, who he said are part of what makes teaching worthwhile.
He also criticized college students who rally against the war.
"They don't have a moral education," Sager said. "They think that Saddam Hussein is like you and me. They can't imagine someone using children as human shields; they think we made it all up. Your job is to educate the children around your home. Some of the kids just don't get this."
jgilbert@statesman.com; 445-3658