[mountaineer]

Okay, that's one account. Here's mine. I arrived at Wheeling Park's White Palace around 8:30 a.m. and stood near the main driveway with my signs. One had photos of waffles and said, "Where do you stand today, John?" The other said, "John Kerry said, 'Our Democracy is a Farce,' Nov. 2, 1971 at Bethany College. Maybe he should run for president of China - or France?" I also had an old pair of flipflops, which I smacked together for effect.

Shortly after I set up, fellow freeper sonsofliberty2000 showed up with a fine sign with a drawing of flipflops and a related message. We stood in the cool, damp weather for a while before deciding to to closer to the building. We received a few rude remarks and middle digits (Democrat IQ readings).

After a little while, a woman approached and asked whether we'd seen the kids from the local Catholic high school, as they were going to bring pro-life signs. We said we hadn't, but it wasn't long before about two dozen fine young people arrived. Also joining us were some Bush campaign people, including one young man dressed as the dolphin Flipper (get it? Flip flop? Flipper?) Some moms with small children also joined us a little later, and they made pro-life signs.

One of the guys had a bullhorn, and we regaled the assembled Dems (mostly union) with various chants. Kerry was at least 45 minutes late (emulating Bill Clinton), and we couldn't see him sneak in the back way. At our peak, we had about 40 on our side.

The event was supposed to last from 10:30 a.m. - noon, but it was well after noon before the attendees started leaving. Kerry was taking his time, even though he already was late for his next appearance in Washington, Pa. Our GOP operatives told us that he's really getting upset at the protesters greeting him wherever he goes, so keep up the good work, freepers and others!

Finally, we saw that one of the three or four full-sized buses (gobs of diesel fuel burning!) was about to get going, so we resumed chanting with vigor. Finally, he snuck out again - I think I may have caught a glimpse before he boarded one of the buses - and drove right by us at about 1:45 p.m. as we yelled and showed our signs, and we know he saw us.

More to follow ...

[mountaineer]

Before coming to Wheeling's White Palace, Effin' visited a coal mine in Marshall County, just south of Wheeling. Here's an excerpt of the newspaper account:

MOUNDSVILLE - Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Kerry began his campaign stop in the Wheeling area early this morning by going 900 feet below ground in the McElroy Mine No. 10 of Consolidation Coal in Moundsville.

Kerry met with officials of the United Mine Workers of America and spoke with miners during a 30-minute trip down into the mine to get a view of what miners on the job encounter. The mine visit was an opportunity for Kerry to showcase his proposals to utilize technology to burn coal in a cleaner way that is safe on the environment while helping to promote the use of coal as a source of energy.

"We've got to get scrubbers on some of those companies (that burn coal) to help them burn clean," Kerry said to a coal miner.

The coal policy of Kerry involves investing in technology to make coal burn cleaner as one way to help keep coal mining jobs in America.

Before going down into the mine, Cecil Roberts, international president of the UMW, met with Kerry to officially present him with his union's endorsement. Roberts said that last week the various UMW Coal Miner Political Action Committees from around the country as well as the UMW executive committee voted unanimously to endorse Kerry.

A prepared statement by Roberts said one of the primary reasons for the UMW endorsement of Kerry's campaign is because, "they want someone in office who can end what they say has been a recent systematic rollback of health and safety protection for working coal miners by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration."

Roberts also gave Kerry a gift of a replica of a miner's lamp used in earlier times. When Roberts told Kerry that today was the beginning of turkey season Kerry said, "If you would have told me today was turkey season I'd be out (hunting) with you." rest of story

[Norb2569]

Good freepin' job, guys! Kerry gets rattled REAL easily!

[areafiftyone]

Our GOP operatives told us that he's really getting upset at the protesters greeting him wherever he goes, so keep up the good work, freepers and others!

What a wimp he is. Can't take the heat!! AWWWW Poor baby!! Bush has liberal protestors following him where ever he goes and he just admires our freedom of speech he doesn't get upset. Great Job!

[ride the whirlwind]

Nice work at the "Jobs First (No Second, No First, No Second, No First) Bus Tour,"!

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Great FReep! You are my hero (heroine...you know what I mean)!!! Send good vibes across the border tomorrow for Pat Toomey, neighbor!

[RippleFire]

Anyone seen my medals?

[goldstategop]

In the good old days West Virginia was considered safe territory for Democratic presidential candidates. No more. Ketchup Boy's repeated visits to a state that should in his column shows he's far from having locked down his party's base. You know a Democrat's in deep trouble when he's trailing in a state with overwhelming Democratic voter registration.

[sonsofliberty2000]

More from another Freep at the event:

I went to school, having to leave around 11:30 and when I got there a liberal profressor (but a nice one) said she thought she had spotted me there. I told her I was there, and had spotted her laughing in front. Well, she stated she was not laughing, but instead was upset. So many VIPs had shown up they would not allow any more supporters in, due to a fire hazarrd, even though she had a a ticket! I explained to her this was typical Kerry.

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Patriot Paradox

[MJY1288]

GREAT JOB!

[smiley]

Excellent!!!!!!!

[Las Vegas Dave]

NE Ohio bumps!

[ChadGore]

I love FREEPERS !

[NewLand]

Menu at Kerry's Diner:

Breakfast

Waffles a la Vietnam

Lunch

Waffle Family SUV Sandwich

Dinner

Tossed Medals Salad w/ Waffle on Defense Roast

Dessert

Waffle Pies w/ Lotsa Lies

[oceanperch]

And while this administration seeks every year to gut the funding for fighting abusive child labor standards and promoting internationally recognized worker rights, I will increase those efforts by 50 percent in my first budget," Kerry said in the statement.
  Additionally, Kerry said he will work to increase the trade enforcement budget "to actively pursue our trading interests and aggressively file cases with the (World Trade Organization) where appropriate," and he said he would create a Small Business Advocacy Office to aid small businesses in accessing trade laws.
   "These new trade enforcement policies won't build a wall around America," Kerry said.

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Child labor enforcement spending up,create a Small Business Advocacy Office these new trade enforcement policies will help? Uh Don't we already have these types of advocacy and enforcement laws in place? More bureaucracy and tax dollars for already existing programs.

I went in to see about starting a small business and boy the State or Oregon was very helpful even setting me up with an advocate in our town to walk me through the laws,regulations ect. So what new advocacy/bureau is he talking about.

[JulieRNR21]

BRAVO BUMP for your outstanding FREEP of Senator Flip-Flop!

Glad to hear that you clapped those flip-flops!

Feel free to use this graphic to make a poster in case Hanoi John returns to your area.

Image created by JulieRNR21
www.FreeRepublic.com

[oceanperch]

Sounds like a great Freep!
Love the Pro Life Catholic youth showing up and King Vanity got a kick out of Flipper.

I have a question though. If Kerry is so delicate out on the campaign trail how is he going to deal with the extreme pressures and responsibilities of being President?

Another thing I was wondering, if he did bow out of the race how is it decided on who takes his place?
Could Hillary slip in and take his place? I have a feeling he is not going to make it out on the trail due to his own lack of stamina and shortcomings. IMO his weaknesses show to much and if I can see them I can't imagine what those closer to the picture can see....

[Qwinn]

"From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia...
Rode a Dem with another's medals in his hand...
And his daring life of treason...
Made him a Senator beyond all reason...
North and east in liberal laaaaand..."


Eternal hat tips to Billy Joel.

Qwinn

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

and middle digits (Democrat IQ readings).

No. They're showing you their condom sizes.

[Darlan]

Thanks so much for posting!! I really wish I could have went, being from Wheeling. I am glad so many people showed up that were for Bush.

I noticed in today's paper, there is a poll question:

Did the United Mine Workers make the right choice in endorsing Sen. John Kerry?

Results so far:

http://www.theintelligencer.net/
Yes-35.2%
No-64.8%

This may reflect the opinions of the people around here. :-)

Darla

[sonsofliberty2000]

My wife went and scanned the picture from the front page of the Register:

I'm the one on the left, and Mountaineer is shrouded in mystery behind waffles :-)

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Patriot Paradox