After-Action Report: Nashville, TN

Nashville | 3-20-04 | wolicy_ponk

[wolicy_ponk]

NRT's Report- Wolicy_Ponk, radu and Mr. radu; wardaddy with sweet virginia and their future Freepers, Reformed Beckite and myself had a great time standing tall for our service people and representing the face of civilized conservatism this Saturday while a few hundred A.N.S.W.E.R.-sponsored “Stop the War” activists marched by. Hippies and beatniks, obviously gay couples, misled elderly people: you name it and they were represented. Ragtag as we were, none of their parade stepped beyond the point of casting a few verbal barbs. Some looked downright ashamed to be seen by us as they walked behind the strange neo-tribal drummer and his chanting comrades who shared the same glazed expressions.

Time and again middle aged fellows stopped to tell us that they were also veterans and supported the troops. We did not shame them; we responded that no one wants war and we’d also prefer a peaceful world where our loved ones weren’t facing danger. This seemed to surprise a few who may have been led to believe we breakfasted on babies and were looking at them for lunch. We also supported their right to express themselves while pointing out why they have that right.

Nashville’s Channel 2 News got the jump on me for some stumbling comments. Fox 17 got far better responses from wardaddy that hopefully make up for that, so catch their broadcasts today if you can (he’s just that good). The Tennessean newspaper reporter took down a lot of notes; hopefully she will publish a fair and unbiased account.

Freeper wolicy_ponk saved the day by coming prepared with extra flags and signage, even giving a few American flags to some passing skateboarders. Not only does he fight fires in his hometown, he comes through for folks on his spare time.

I especially thank Mr. John Smith (real name), a non-member who came out on his own all the way from Clarksville to support the troops when he heard about the liberal’s march.

One of their protestors stopped to inform us that we surprised them with our open and friendly manner. Apparently a group of religious types on their opposite side got physical and had to be restrained by law enforcement. We made sure he knew we had nothing to do with that.

While it would have been great if more people would have attended I feel we more than made up for that on a quality versus quantity basis. Don’t flame us too badly if we get a hatchet job from the media; we did our best.
****************************************************************************************

Wardaddy's Report-
Quickie on the Counter Freep today in Nashville...kudos to New Rome Tacitus for the alert!

There were maybe 150 A.N.S.W.E.R. protestors here in Nashville today. They appeared to be about 85-90% professional protestors doing the circuit. Sort of a Deadhead/Rainbow People/Burning Man/Queer Nation bunch. There may have been 10-15% locals including a few Vandy lefties and a handful of conventional liberals.

We had a rather small group of FReepers to counter at the courthouse. There were about 10 of us including spouses. The marchers were fairly antagonistic and hostile which I always find comical since they constantly shout their peace and love histrionics. We all kept our cool and got some pretty fair media attention (I hope) including local FOX of course.

I confess I was surprised at the obvious ragtag professional agitator status of nearly all the marchers. I really expected more local normal looking folks. These folks looked mostly like young know nothing anarchists dopers, aging hippie dopers and a fair amount of fat lesbian couples and a few homosexual couples and a handful of normal looking "yellow dogs". And one or two blacks in the bunch in a city that's 20% black.....that tells you something about this gang.

We all got a lot more honks than they did and the police gave subtle sympathy nods our way.

My main point in the interviews aside from support for out troops and president was to plead with the local media to take a look at the sponsors of the marchers and to report on that.

I did get several reporters to admit to me that "yes, they did look like outsiders and chronic agitator types". The fact that the national media treats this "movement" like a real grass roots swell angers me. It is anything but that. It is the same old bastards we have been dealing with since Trotsky behind this.

Man, I am so glad I don't live in Santa Cruz or Eugene or Cambridge where I'd have to look at them all the time. IN Nashville, if we avoid Tower Records at Vandy or the coffee shoppes around Vandy or Belmont...we will rarely encounter the unwashed naive idiots.
**************************************************************************************

My report (Wolicy_ponk)

WKRN put footage with the images of our American flags (I knew they were ours because they had my 3/4" PVC poles with caps) with the anti-war protest segment.

Radu and I made the 5 o'clock news.
She stated that we were there to support the troops.
I was identified as 'Ben Freeping' and they did use the best part of my comments "They aren't anti-war, they're just anti-bush."
I almost wet myself from laughing so hard.
I wonder what the Tennessean will have about it tomarrow since the gal from there spent some time speaking to wardaddy and me and took copious amounts of notes. Oh well. That's about it, NRT and Wardaddy have said it better than I could with probalbly fewer words. I wish that we had some more people there too, but as a wise man once told me, 'It isn't Christmas every day'.

You guys that were able to make it did an OUTSTANDING JOB. I was proud to stand with each of you.

Salute.

*************************************************************************************

Oops, I almost forgot the obligatory comic relief photo:

The "Usual Suspects"

[Jim Robinson]

Way to go Nashville!!

[wolicy_ponk]

This is all your fault.

;-)

[ThreePuttinDude]

Great Job

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Ancient_Pistoll]

Hope you didn't break your camera taking the photo of the "usual suspects". : )

[Jim Robinson]

LOL. No, it's all Bush's fault.

[BobS]

Hey guy, nice family! But you're FAR too big for that car. You deserve nothing less than an F-250 V-10 4WD with a camper shell:):)

[Rabid Dog]

I think it is almost more powerful when there are a "few" standing up to the "many". Great photos and great after action reports(s). The "peace" people sound very similar to our "peace" people - out-of-town and dreadlocked or left-over liberals from the 60's.

[wardaddy]

Pinging with pics from our little giddy-up....I don't know why I have that stupid grin on my mug!

[cyborg]

The Queers for Peace look a little upset!

[cyborg]

You seem to get younger looking every time I see your pic. What's up with that?

[exit82]

Wow--what a great looking group you guys are! And what a great report!

Thanksfor standing for truth and honor today. I liked your observation of the "chronic agitator types". These people claim to have cornered the market on peace and love, and are the most hateful people when it comes to any who hold an opposing view to theirs.

[wardaddy]

My metabolism has tweaked up post surgery....I've lost 20 pounds or so and it keeps dropping and I eat like a pig.

I know....cry me a river.

Thanks..btw.


Not how oldest manchild Wade has the same goofy way of smiling as daddy...poor kid.

We are so glad we went.It felt good and was very very educational.

[Flora McDonald]

Thanks to all of you Nashville FReepers! You could almost do this report with pictures only. What a contrast!

Great job!

[WKB]

I don't know why I have that stupid grin on my mug!



Because you are still alive and here with us that's why!!

[stainlessbanner]

Brother, you are looking good! I'm glad you are feeling well enough to take on the "Queers against War" < spit >

There is such a contrast between your great family picture and the "usual suspects."

[nopardons]

Thank you for being there and making us all so proud of you. Way to go!

[stainlessbanner]

He has that grin b/c he just "breakfasted on babies"!!!!
< j/kidding >

[cyborg]

More like 'you little crumbcruncher you better smile or you'll get the switch!'

[nopardons]

Thanks for the ping.

You and your lovely wife and kiddos look FANTASTIC ! Wade is SO big now,as is wee Thomas. Thank you for being out there, your report, for being who you are and for being my dear friend. :-)

[stainlessbanner]

Just noticed the punk with Old Glory upside down on his back.

[stainlessbanner]

Ohhh....another reared on the switch?! You haven't lived til mamma makes you pick out the switch for a whoopin'!

[WKB]

Give me one good reason why MS Freepers can't do something
like this... JUST ONE............ ping

[Squantos]

Careful there stud muffin yer gonna rip a stitch....Momma ain't gonna let you out alone ya keep losing weight. In my case I'm left to free range I'm so damn ugly. Glad yer still with us Bro !

Stay safe !

[Twinkie]

Just saw ya'll on Fox a few minutes ago. You came across
as a clean cut bunch, the signs were neat and clear and
the interview was good. - The hippie protestors came across
pretty rough. The kid announcer seemed like he either had
something wrong with him or was possibly three sheets to
the wind. - My husband and I should have joined ya'll, but
I'm beginning to think we're getting too old and stodgy for
our own good. - I wonder if the alleged "soldier's" wife
opposing the war was for real or not. Wonder if we can find
out.

[onyx]

Give me one good reason why MS Freepers can't do something
like this... JUST ONE............ ping





'Cause I ain't there yet to organize yall.

[onyx]

It's not a stupid grin, it's wonderful.
Annette is beautiful and the lads are darling.

[ladyinred]

Great job guys and gals! You might have been less in number than the other side, but you stood taller than all of them put together!

I confess I was surprised at the obvious ragtag professional agitator status of nearly all the marchers. I really expected more local normal looking folks

The media kept saying that local families were gathering, just ordinary citizens, blah, blah, blah. I knew this was a lie from hell since I have faced these types many times here, and they are hard core protesters, and many of them are paid. If they can't get enough locals, they bus them in from other areas. These are anarchists, communists, and just plain thugs, not your average American Citizens!!!

[wardaddy]

The soldiers wife was for real. She has been on all the local news. She said that her views are not at all popular with her nieghbors at Ft. Campbell. She chose a poor group to associate with in my view. Many of "them" would have welcomed a confrontation, I thought they were incredibly rude, in your face and dirty. The rain that followed may have given them a bath that is sorely overdue. Our group was respectful to them and all others that were just passing by. A policeman across the street got my attention and pointed out his flag on the front of his car and gave me the "thumbs up". I am proud we went.

[NewRomeTacitus]

You know not what you mess with. This guy looked more like a pro wrestler than an invalid just out of the hospital last month. The girley-men protesters had stains spreading down their pants legs when they saw him while their wiser companions threw down their signs and fled in terror ;^)

Seriously, it's amazing! So good to know those tykes will have their dad for some time to come. Now if anything can be done about genetically inherited goofy smiles...

[Squantos]

LOL..........Ya'll Stay safe !

[cyborg]

Couldn't ask for a better dad IMHO :-) and yes the pink triangled ones looked a little 'unnerved'!

[GeronL]

hey good work, good pics... who dat pretty lady in the third pic?.. did I say that out loud?

[wardaddy]

LOL LOL LOL!!! It is Mrs. Wardaddy, he is busy at the moment. That was funny! I told him he could not be tough guy if any funny stuff happened today. I was ready for them, some woman came up to me to give some garbage and I declined, she questioned me about having my children present, I proudly told her they had as much right to be there and she and I did. Our oldest showed her our sign that Supports our troops! She left!

[NewRomeTacitus]

WADE RULES and they instinctually KNOW it.

I'm hoping redu can get some of her pictures of the circus on here.

[Bob J]

Great FReep Nashville!

[bluesagewoman]

Wonderful job!! The peaceniks are the same everywhere. Ours were actually fewer in number than usual, and better behaved this year. I am glad your city returns to normal after peacenik season.

[Bob J]

BTW - Keep your powder dry, we're planning another nationwide rally day ala "Rally for America" on Sept 11th! Look here!

[WKB]

'Cause I ain't there yet to organize yall.


Truer words were never spoken

Good nite

[Travis McGee]

Good job Wardaddy! Thanks for showing the flag, and standing up for the good guys!

[WVNan]

Wardaddy, I know you won't see this till the morrow, but I just want to say that you have a beautiful family. What I don't know is how an ugly mug like you got so lucky. :-)

Eagles up to you and all who braved the unwashed to stand up for the "right" side.

[MEG33]

You are terrific and I thank you for supporting our troops and our President!

[MEG33]

You and your family are wonderful representatives.I'm so happy to see you are doing so well!Thank you for supporting our troops and our President.

[norton]

Nice.

Just,
Nice.

[Soaring Feather]

WOO HOO TN FReepers, you're great!!!!

[Trteamer]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

radu, I'll bet you had a lot of fun, I know I did.

The lefties in your neck of the woods were totally outclassed. I'll bet you all are still grinning!!

All the Best

[Soaring Feather]

((((((PING)))))))) Nashville FReepers!!

[U S Army EOD]

Way to go guys, we did Atlanta.

[radu]

I honestly don't know what to add to the after FReep report. Y'all have done a fabulous job with it already!

I did notice that Channel 2 News didn't mention Free Republic in their report but FOX did! WOOOOHOOOO! Thank you FOX News!
I, too, hope the reporter from the Tennessean writes up a nice report. In talking to her, she seemed to have leanings more towards our side, not the "dark side". We'll see tomorrow, won't we?

My hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting fellow FReepers and standing with y'all in support of our troops. I was so excited about it all, I hardly slept last night. Whew! Do I ever feel it now! LOL!

I'm having a little trouble with my "closet" for some reason but managed to get two of the pics I took to show up. I didn't get many to begin with.....too busy holding up the sign for passers-by to see and kept forgetting about the camera! duuuuh! All the horn-honks and thumbs-up made my heart glad. Our troops have a lot of support in Nashville, that's apparent.

This is an early shot and not everyone had arrived. Here we have wolicy_ponk, my hubby (he's a "lurker" but we may get him to sign up yet. LOL), NewRomeTacitus, and the afore-mentioned John Smith. A very fine gentleman and it was a pleasure to have him with us. He's met several of the flights that have brought the troops with the 101st home from Iraq. He made a point of welcoming home the troops whose family members couldn't make it to Ft. Campbell to meet them.
And now for my comedy relief......

Look at the sense of panic of the useful idiots when they realized they were about to get soaked by the storm that was almost upon us by that time...."OHMIGOD!! We're gonna get a SHOWER!!" ROTFLOL!! Probably the first time the majority of them been wet in weeks! Sheeeeuuuuuu!

Again, it was great standing together this afternoon in support of our troops. A fantastic FReep!! Hopefully, when we do this again, more fellow FReepers will be able to join us.