Inaugural Parade & W2 Ball Report, Audio, and Photos (large file warning)

January 23, 2005 | BillF

[Flora McDonald]

Sorry I didn't get to meet you in person nutmeg. Free Republic is home to so many fine people.

I hate to criticize the security efforts but there has to be a better way to funnel folks into public events. That wide open mob at 7th & D was a nightmare and potentially very dangerous.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

When I laughed at another skunk, he complained that he had a right to criticize "Bush," but said that I was violating his First Amendment rights. After laughing at that absurd comment, I said, "I'm not interfering with your rights. I'm just using my First Amendment rights to criticize and ridicule the way that you use your rights."

"Congress shall make no law" ... Did he think you were Congress? Why is it so hard for people to understand the First Amendment?

[Mr. Buzzcut]

The anarchists got a Protest Warrior on the ground and kicked him. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured.

I was half hoping one of the unwashed miscreants had tried something with me ... while I'm no ex-Marine, I am a hockey dude ... though i never really had to scrap with someone that wreaked of 5 day b.o. ...

BTW, can people who live in their mom's basement really be call "anarchists"? "Mom, I'm gonna stay out past 11 and there's nothing you can do to stop me, you fascist!"

Hehehehehehe ...!

[BillF]

Exactly, I'm not the govt.

Many people all across the political spectrum seem to forget that governmental action requirement before a violation of the first amendment or any other violation of the bill or rights.

It I had hit the leftist or threatened to hit him if he didn't shut up, I might be fairly described as interfering with his ability to speak (albeit, not a First Amendment violation since I'm not the government). The criminal charge against me would have been assault.

What was most funny about this guy's complaint had nothing to do with the government action requirement (i.e., before some action could violate the first amendment).

I kept my distance from the guy and never threatened him, let alone hit him. I sure didn't want to fight him.

The funniest aspect was that he went into victim mode when I laughed at him and ridiculed him. Boo hoo. It made him feel bad.

I half expected this thirty-something guy to tearfully call his Mother on his cellphone: "Mommy, he's saying bad things about me. Wah! Make him stop! Make him stop!"

PS. It was great to see you at the festivities.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

PS. It was great to see you at the festivities.

You too ... we had ourselves quite a time!

[BillF]

I was half hoping one of the unwashed miscreants had tried something with me . . [emphasis added]

Two problems here.

First, as DC Chapter co-leader always emphasizes to us, the police often see the retaliation and not the first punch. Therefore, we try to back away from any aggression or threat by the other side. (Yes, it's tough to do sometimes.)

[Some leftist grabbed my forearm at the wait. He was not in a fighting mode, but did it as a "let me talk" gesture, I just shouted at him to keep his hands off me, even as I was tempted to take a lot stronger action.]

Second, and especially if it was the anarchists, it would be 3 or 4 of them who tried something with you, not one. The anarchists like the odds that way.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

First, as DC Chapter co-leader always emphasizes to us, the police often see the retaliation and not the first punch. Therefore, we try to back away from any aggression or threat by the other side. (Yes, it's tough to do sometimes.)

ESPECIALLY when you're 100% Eye-talian! ;)

Second, and especially if it was the anarchists, it would be 3 or 4 of them who tried something with you, not one. The anarchists like the odds that way.

Just like a hockey brawl ... I 'd be right at home ... ;)

Still, I suppose I wouldn't have wanted to risk arrest and miss the shindig!

[mack98]

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[Dan from Michigan]

I am a hockey dude ... though i never really had to scrap with someone that wreaked of 5 day b.o.

It's been a while since I've seen someone get a jersey pulled over his head...LOL

[Mr. Buzzcut]

It's been a while since I've seen someone get a jersey pulled over his head...LOL

I was wearing a tear-away leather jacket! ;)

[Cindy]

Note: Dropping these links in here for archival purposes.

MICHELLE MALKIN.com (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE): "DEMS GAVE CODE PINK DISRUPTERS TICKETS" (January 21, 2005)

BRAIN-TERMINAL.com: "STOP BITCHING, START A REVOLUTION (Washington, DC - 20 January 2005 - Inauguration Day)

January 20, 2005: "Inaugural.Senate.gov - THE 55TH PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL"

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "A CAPITOL HATEFEST" by Ben Johnson (January 20, 2005)

On The 'Net..."counter-inaugural.org"

[BillF]

Cindy, thanks for the links.

And thanks to StayAt HomeMother for this additional link.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....01-26-05....Inauguration and W2 Ball Pictorial Review
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1328732/posts

[Cindy]

You're welcome.

I really appreciate this thread.

[BufordP]

Nicely done, Bill!

[DollyCali]

WONDERFUL thread, commentary & pix. Just back online since Inagu with computer & power problems. Will get my pix/thoughts on a thread soon & will ping you .... will be much more humble ..

Thank you for the work here .. it is great !

[QwertyKPH]

Clearly, a labor of love. Thank-you very much.

[BillF]

New FReeper Green-eyed-lady was a lurker when she attended the pre-inaugural dinner, the parade, and the ball.

She emailed the below photos to me last week for posting, but my old computer was having problems running the program that I use for image processing. I'm just posting these now following the setup of a new computer.

Click on any photo and a new window should open with the larger, higher-resolution version.

Green-eyed-lady and DCBryan1 at the parade.	Thank you Marines!
BufordP and Green-eyed-lady.	Kristinn and Green-eyed-lady.
Green-eyed-lady at right.	Green-eyed-lady and Hey Lady.
Green-eyed-lady with Governor Huckabee.	Green-eyed-lady and DCBryan1.
Unknown FReeper, DCBryan1, and Green-eyed-lady.	Two unknown FReepers on left, Green-eyed-lady, and jtmac40.

[BillF]

Click here to see DolliCali's great photos, just posted earlier today.

[BillF]

Pinging you to above photos. See also link to DollyCali's photos above.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Last Green Eyed Lady photo "Two unknown FReepers on left, Green-eyed-lady, and jtmac40." the unknown freepers are wife of jtmac40 and our SC Chapter rep and all around good guy Stand Waite.