"Welcome Cheney Rally" After-action Report

Puget Sound Chapter ^ | 12/23/2003 | Chad Fairbanks

[Chad Fairbanks]

"Welcome Cheney Rally" After-Action Report

I arrived shortly after 4:00 PM - a good size crowd had already gathered by the time I arrived. I parked, and my children and I joined the crowd. We handed out small american flags to people in the crowd who were without. I met up with eala who had already arrived, camera in hand. I also met up with sleavelessinseattle who was holding a large american flag.

During the course of the rally, our numbers steadily grew as "on-scene" reports to KVI 570 AM aired live. The police presence was quite noticable, with most of the officers stationed both at the entrance area of the hotel and on the Hippie side of the street. Honks, cheers, thumbs up, etc from passing motorists were in abundance - the show of support from passersby was great. LOts of American Flags, a "Don't Tread On Me" flag, and a Marine Corps Flag were prominently on display - I spelled one of the flagholders so he could use the restroom. My daughters were out front with their homemade "WELCOME VP CHENEY" and "BUSH/CHENEY 04" signs, big smiles on their faces, in their first-ever counterprotest of the leftists. A lot of children in our crowd, none visible in the opposition's ranks (unless you count the adults as children, in which case they were all children - especially the lady with the "SAVE HEAD START!" sign who had no clue who she was, where she was supposed to be, what day it was, how many fingers I was holding up etc... while trying to navigate across the street...).

I shot some video of a dirty smelly hippie dragging a tattered american flag in the gutter, then went and got another vid shot from his side of the street - if I can host it somewhere, I'll link it.

I got a few still shots of this guy doing so, as well as a few shots of the clever witty signs (did you pick up on the sarcasm?) they were displaying:

eala was busy wandering around shooting photos on both sides of the street. I then ran into American Sovereignty Defender, who had arrived and was taunting the leftists across the way - he sure looked like he was having fun with "LIARS SAY BUSH LIED!", and other choice chants.

A few Leftists showed up on our side of the street with some signs, causing trouble - one of the big brave leftists got into a scuffle with an old man - not sure what it was about, but they were quickly separated. That was the only real sign of trouble I saw.

Here is one of the leftists who came by - the one holding the "Dicking America..." sign is, I believe, the one involved in the scuffle...

I went back across the street to try and get a feel for how many of the opposition was present, and what types were represented in the crowd. The crowd was a mix of young nose-ring and leather types, old burnt out hippies, a few Lyndon LaRouche types trying to hand out literature, a few "Veterans for Peace" types, AND a National Socialist - identifiable by the White Power symbol patch on his sleeve. The majority of the crowd on the Leftist side of the street was comprised of Bellevue and King County police officers keeping an eye on things - and I wouldn't be surprised if a few arrests were made, based on the smell of marijuana that wafted by a few times, but I digress.

I had to leave around 5:30, so I never got to see how everything ended - however, as I was leaving Bellevue Square later that evening, I noted "Lyndon Larouche" literature that was scattered in various places along the street.

FReepers I saw who were present were Eala, Sleavelessinseattle, LibreOuMort, and American Sovereignty Defender.

Also, someone cried "Havoc!" and let slip the Miniature Weiner Doggies of War...

If I missed anyone, let me know!

[Chad Fairbanks]

If I missed anyone who was present, let me know - feel free to add your own observations, photos etc...

[Fledermaus]

Thanks for the report. God Bless Dick Cheney. He's a great man and a welcome solider in our war on terror.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Ping!

[Chad Fairbanks]

You are welcome!

[stands2reason]

I like him. He reminds me of my father. *sigh* And I was just thinking before I got back on FR how rotten this Christmas will be without him..he passed away last March.

I hope Mr. Cheney stays in good health....

[stands2reason]

So were are the Freepers?

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Also, someone cried "Havoc!" and let slip the Miniature Weiner Doggies of War...

LOL

[SaucyCranberry]

Thank you for the pix and commentary, it almost felt like I was there. How cool to get to see 007 Cheney while he wasn't off in the cave planning more strategery and covert missions. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[tkathy]

Bravo!

[Chad Fairbanks]

So I'm up wrapping presents, and I get to remembering - someone - a man and a woman came over from the hotel and began shaking hands with people, a small cheer erupted from the crowd at their appearance, but I never saw who it was (I was still holding the big flag during someone's restroom break) - anyone know who they were???

[ppaul]

Sure hope someone gave that scumbag dragging the flag a knuckle sandwich.

[noexcuses]

Thank you for the report and photos :-) I watched you all on the news and the funniest part was the women across the street in the hefty bags. I suppose they thought they represented bodybags, but as my son pointed out they just looked like garbage bags filled with leftist trash.

Great job Puget Sound freepers!!

[maica]

Glad to know that you had such a patriotic welcoming committee, and that your local TV covered it!

President Bush came to Baltimore a few weeks ago, during a snow storm, and the TV reporter assigned to cover the 'protesters' was all alone in front of the hotel. Watching her trying to 'share' her impressions of what the protesters 'would have said' was very amusing.

[USNFighting31st]

Thanks for the great report. Sorry I couldn't make it, she who must be obeyed, left me at home to babysit while she was stimulating the economy at the malls Christmas shopping.
Did listen to the live reports on KVI radio. WAY TO GO.

[Chad Fairbanks]

THey must have showed up after I had to leave. Bummer. I'd have probably walked up, asked them to dance for me, and then began stuffing candy bar wrappers into their costumes ;0)

[Chad Fairbanks]

You'll have to ask eala where the freepers are - he's the photo-shooting guy. I'm an amatuer with no skill ;)

[Chad Fairbanks]

And a Merry Christmas to you and yours as well, SaucyCranberry!

[Chad Fairbanks]

THe little dogs were too cute to leave out ;0)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Thanks tkathy!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Sure hope someone gave that scumbag dragging the flag a knuckle sandwich.

What would be the point of that? Let the left show their true colors - their hatred will do them all in one day... ;0)