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To: RonDog
LOVED the THANK GOD it's W sign!!!

Thank God for California FREEPERS, too <!!!!

83 posted on 06/28/2003 12:37:39 PM PDT by Republic
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To: Republic
"Thank GOD it's...W"
Even the ultra-lefties understood our sign better than the dingbats from the Associated Press...

Note how THEY garbled the words from our sign in THIS report, from www.dailynews.com:

Bush raises $5 million in quick visit to state
By Jennifer Loven
Associated Press
President George W. Bush passed through four cities, delivered two speeches and spent eight hours airborne in a marathon day in which he was greeted by hundreds of West Coast protesters but also enough well-heeled Republicans to add $5 million to his campaign coffers.

Bush's two California stops Friday -- at a luncheon outside San Francisco and a dinner in Los Angeles -- were part of an efficient and lucrative two-week dash. The effort will allow the president's re-election campaign to file federal finance reports showing $27 million to $30 million for the three-month period ending Monday.

The amount is certain to dwarf the totals of the nine Democratic presidential contenders -- even though Bush started months after his rivals.

The lunch brought in $1.6 million. The glitzier evening event added another $3.5 million to the day's take, said campaign spokeswoman Nicolle Devenish.

But the president clearly had more on his mind than his re-election account. Eager to start a weekend stay at his Texas ranch, Bush opted out of an overnight in California, which he lost to Al Gore by 12 percentage points in 2000. Instead, he chose a schedule in which he flew from Washington to San Francisco to Los Angeles and halfway back across the country to arrive in Crawford, Texas, well after midnight.

Looking toward his final destination, Bush told his lunchtime supporters he couldn't wait to see his wife. But, he quipped, "She'll be the lump in the bed next to me since I get in at 1:30 in the morning."

He also rushed through the VIP reception before his speech -- a private picture-taking session with those who raised $50,000. Then, onstage, he impatiently signaled for California finance chairman and close pal Brad Freeman to wrap up his introductory remarks. Bush left San Francisco a full 45 minutes ahead of schedule.

Donors who gathered in the airport hotel ballroom paid $2,000 to eat grilled chicken salad with a strawberry and mango relish, wild mushroom ragout and a triple chocolate mousse.

They were also served pre-speech jokes by comedian Dennis Miller, who later earned a ride not only on Air Force One but also in the president's limousine. His well-received assessment of the Democratic White House hopefuls: "I haven't seen a starting nine like that since the '62 Mets," -- a reference to the New York baseball team that won 40 games and lost 120.

From Bush, the audience got a well-rehearsed, 25-minute summary of administration achievements and campaign promises.

"We have a lot on the agenda and what I want to tell you is that I'm going to continue to earn the confidence of all Americans, regardless of their political party, by keeping this nation secure and strong and prosperous and free," Bush said. "We have accomplished a lot, but our work is only the beginning."

The routine -- from the ticket price to the jokes to chicken on the menu to Bush's speech -- was largely repeated in Los Angeles. Guests there were treated to Johnny Mathis singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." But despite the $2,000 entry fee, donors had to go to the cash bar for cocktails.

"You're laying the groundwork for what will be a great national victory in 2004," Bush told them.

But traveling in this traditional Democratic stronghold had Bush sharing the spotlight with his opponents.

Outside the San Francisco hotel, about 1,000 protesters lined up behind barricades and a row of police in riot gear. They held signs proclaiming mostly anti-war messages; "Bush lies: Iraqi people & GIs die," read one.

An energized and seemingly even larger crowd gathered across from the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles as Bush wooed donors inside. Their chants and songs could be heard by fund-raiser guests as they made their way through the hotel, but not in the ballroom below.

Many protesters called for Bush's impeachment for what they called his misleading the nation into a war with Iraq.

"I think everything the president is doing is unbelievably ignorant. It's scary," said Elizabeth Elliott of Laguna Hills. "Ever since he's been in office the world has gone upside down."

Douglas Reed of Venice was among many in the crowd who said their opposition to Bush was fueled over the war. But ever since the bombing in Iraq began, Reed said, he avoided any rallies until now.

"I went into a depression," he said. "But today with the president coming in I thought I would start up where I left off. This is a bad time for the peace movement to slow down."

Not everyone in the crowd came to rally against the president. A few held banners praising him, and argued with protesters chanting, "Communists go home" and "God is for Bush."

"I'm here to support the president, support his actions and stand up to the groups that are here," said Deborah Leigh of North Hollywood. "It's a wonderfully empowering feeling to be able to come here and do that."

Staff Writer Ryan Oliver contributed to this report.


84 posted on 06/28/2003 1:41:02 PM PDT by RonDog
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