Posted on 04/30/2006 4:24:44 AM PDT by sauropod
Honor roll for tonight's FReep include: Jimmy Valentine's Brother, Mr/Mrs Mason-Dixon, bstein80, Doctor Raoul, staytrue, kristinn, tgsltakoma, angelwood, billf, sauropod, exit148, DollyCali, Wheelbarrow, bert, albion wilde, christopher lincoln, bufordp; dinasour, hellinahandcart and gunsareok.
Compared with other years, this year's WHCA FReep was no disappointment. The theme of our counterprotest this year was "Pulitzer Prizes for Treason" given that Dana Priest and others are receiving Pulitzer Prizes for reporting illegally leaked information. There were several signs that alluded to what is going on (only in America), including this brilliant one by BufordP:
This point was further reinforced by our very own Doctor Raoul appearing in front of the Washington Hilton as Boris Badanov and asking the partygoers in tuxes, wrinkled noses and furrowed brows where his Pulitzer was, since he had been working so long to help bring down America, just like them.
Kristinn used a sign to illustrate a point about what the MSM selectively chooses to emphasize. The sign had a picture of Cindy Sheehan and SGT Paul Smith on it. The sign asked, "Why are these two people notable?"
Kristinn's point was that everybody knew who Sheehan was, but very few people knew who SGT Smith was (Only Medal of Honor winner in the current action, died in battle at Baghdad Airport). Kristinn started asking partygoers this pop quiz (with a prize of a $5 Starbucks coupon as a reward for the correct answer). One fellow from the Boston Glob said he did not know who SGT Smith was. When Kristinn told him, he remarked, "Oh yeah, I wrote a story about him."
Think about this. The reporter that wrote a story about a true hero couldn't remember who he was.
There was only one winner for the evening, FoxNews' Bret Baier, who answered correctly immediately.
We saw quite a few other luminaries strolling up to the Hilton. They included Joe DiGenova and Victoria Toensing, James Rosen (FNC), David Schuster (PMSNBC), Bill Plante, Michael Barone (US News and World Report), an infobabe from ABC (could not place her name), Steve Doocy in a cab, and Julian Bond (NAA of Some CP).
I was holding a sign that showed a picture of Dan Rather and Katie Couric (with middle finger extended) and it simply said, "Different hosts, same bias. See BS." Doocy gave the thumbs up from the cab when he saw the sign. I had my camcorder along for the FReep and think I have this on tape.
When I saw Schuster crossing the street, I was trying to man the camcorder and did not ask him about his excreble reporting on Chrissy Matthews show. However, I did score a personal best when BufordP spotted Julian Bond on the opposite side of Connecticut Avenue. I had enough time to get the camcorder fired up, and when Bond reached the median strip, I asked him "Hey Julian, how's the race hustling business going?" I also told him that if we were really the right-wing Taliban, that we had a burka just his size waiting for him. I think i got this on video also.
Bond didn't respond and stonily looked the other way.
We had FReepers attending from some distance away. Here is Bert from Tennesee:
GunsareOK currently resides in very southern Virginia and came up to Dee Cee just for this event.
Staytrue did his usual stellar effort with posters for the counterprotest. Here are a couple he put together:
Danish Cartoon and Nascar
Our local yokels were in attendance as per usual. Here is Jimmy Valentine's Brother.
We had a couple of folks from Protest Warrior attend. One guy dressed up like David Gregory.
He had a lot of fun directly in front of the Hilton, greeting Our Rulers were arriving to attend the dinner.
Now, the piece de resistance' (as they say) was Doctor Raoul's brilliant idea of obtaining a bunch of large binkies for the White House Pimp Corps because they complained one day on Air Force One about the TV always being on Fox News. Here is the relevant exchange (posted on exposetheleft.com and originally attributed to The Hotline):
The "Q" making a big deal out of this is Washington Post’s White House Correspondent and frequent Countdown guest, Jim Vandehei:
Q It’s come to my attention that there’s been requests--this is a serious question--to turn these TVs onto a station other than Fox, and that those have been denied. My question would be, is there a White House policy that all government TVs have to be tuned to Fox?
MR. McCLELLAN: Never heard of any such thing. My TVs are on four different channels at all times.
Q Because you have four different TVs. But every time I’ve ever been--
MR. McCLELLAN: Every TV in the White House also has channels every--has a split screen, where they can--
Q Well, they always seem to be tuned to Fox, and there’s been requests, and these are paid for by taxpayer dollars. And my understanding is that you guys have to watch Fox on Air Force One. Is that true?
MR. McCLELLAN: First time I’ve ever heard of it. First time you’ve brought it to my attention, meaning the first time the press corps has brought it to my attention. In fact, I’ve watched other channels on here.
Q There’s one--
MR. McCLELLAN: Hang on, Jim, come on. I’ve watched other channels on here, so I don’t know where you’re hearing that. But it’s the first time anyone in the press has raised that question with me.
Q You’ve watched other channels other than Fox?
MR. McCLELLAN: On here, yes, sure.
Q I’ve never seen--they’re always turned to Fox, which a lot of people consider a Republican-leaning network.
Q Scott, is it one--on the airplane, is it one for all? I mean, if it’s tuned for Fox here, is it Fox everywhere?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think that certain areas may be interconnected, but I’ll have to double-check which.
Q Is yours off, wherever you are?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the conference room, or the senior staff office, the staff office, they’re different TVs, and you can switch to different channels. I’m not sure if some of these in the back are connected to some of the others that are watching right here, right now. It doesn’t look like it to me. I’ve never known anyone that’s raised a complaint about a request from back here to watch a different channel.
Q I’m officially raising it and officially complaining about it.
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I’m going to go see if we can change the channel for you. Have you called up?
Q I was the Fox victim, and I was told--the quote was, "No," when I asked for CNN.
MR. McCLELLAN: I don’t know who you talked to, so--it didn’t come to my attention. You don’t know who you talked to either?
Q Well, the magic people at the other end off the phone.
MR. McCLELLAN: The magic people at the other end of the phone. Well, I’ll see if this cabin is--
Q I was told, "We don’t watch CNN here, you can only watch Fox."
MR. McCLELLAN: As I said, it’s hard to respond to something when I don’t know who it is you talked to.
Q I used the phone back here.
MR. McCLELLAN: I find this all quite amusing, to tell you the truth. I mean, there are a lot of people on this plane that do watch that channel.
Q I’ve never been told, no. They’re such nice guys up there.
MR. McCLELLAN: First time you brought it to my attention. I’ll go see what we can do on it.
* * * *
MR. McCLELLAN: We just called up. They’re going to be changing it, at your all’s request, to the channel that you requested, which is CNN —from the press corps.
Q Thanks, Scott.
What a BUNCH of WHINERS! To institutionalize this, Doctor Raoul developed the Jim Vandenhei award. The WH Press Corps were quite taken with these:
A close up.
We oughta use these every year!
Binkies!
ROFLMAO!
You guys rock!
Most excellent freep and most excelent AAR. Thank you all a million million times over.
If I hadn't worked 17 straight hours, (from 11:30 Frday night to 5:30 Staurday afternoon), I would have been there.
Just couldn't find the energy.
I'm moving to DC.
Did I say that out loud?
bump
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith United States Army For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith’s extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division “Rock of the Marne,” and the United States Army.
Great Report your podnus! I went down Conneticut to see if I could entice attendees to take a binkie with a cry "Hurry, hurry, hurry get your CNN pacifier. Stop trantrums on the press plane."
BTW the President killed in the after dinner activities. Those that can need to watch the CSPAN rerun.
Thank you all who participated!!!! Great job!
Stay in the 'burbs. Northern VA.
There's something funny in the water in Dee Cee.
I'm hoping I'm not the only one who makes a call to this so called "American" reporter! ~!@#$%^&*()_!@#$%^&*()
We miss you guys. It was a good time.
While taking a cold shower yesterday I realized the water tank broke. There went my trip to DC.
Wow, what a distinguished group of Freepers. Just like old times.
"Boston Glob"... heh heh! That works.
A "Hugh" FReeper Salute to you all! Those signs were GREAT! Loved the David Gregory costume!!
A great job as usual, DC Chapter!
How could anyone write a story about Sergeant First Class Smith and need prodding to remember it? Spit.
Great report as usual.
I've got a lot of funny stories and photos to add, including things that happened after you left. However, I have to go somewhere and it won't be done until, at the earliest, later tonight.
I would add lurker Lauren to the honor roll. Also, DollyCali and Wheelbarrow are from OH, Dinasour is from CN, and another FReeper made the trip down from NJ. DollyCalli also has some photos so watch this thread for them to be added.
I'll try to add the info and photos when my real life stops interfering with my FReeping. :)
Nice work guys. The Gregory costume is great. I hope the jerk head saw it.
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