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BACK AT 1:30 ....
Just read one poster's comment that cell phone service in the DC area may have been cut by feds (which might explain loss of live streams) due to concerns about hanky-panky and disruptions ....
If you haven't seen the photos being posted --- you need to head over to the FreeRepublic forum ..... Photos of flags and people shoulder-to-shoulder are chilling ....
I've scanned all cable channels and net streams ---- not an image at this time .... I'm disappointed in FoxNews referring to the GATHERING of EAGLES as "counter-protesters" ........... Those participating are MORE than "counter-protesters" --- they are legitimate Americans
not a pack of hired-protesters with their store-bought signs and international funding.
Back later.
1:43 pm back with cup of soup ..... which makes me think that the EAGLES must be getting cold .... bless them.
Soup reminds me of a star-lit night in 1968 on the perimeter at Tay Ninh. We had been under attack for 8-days .... Three of us decided to "do something," so we borrowed a coffee urn and brewed a pot to take to those on guard duty. As we crossed from PHILCAG to the TayNinh base, the rounds began to fall around us. No -- we weren't using headlights --- we were driving a "mule." It was just on of those "dr pepper" times when Charlie decided to lob a few mortars across the perimeter .... Anyway ---- we hopped into the closest bunker as a round pounded into the sandbags. Frightening, to say the least. It was a while before out hands stopped shaking and we could serve coffee ....
Today would be a good day to serve coffee to the guys 'n gals who are Eagled Up! in DC.
2:00 C-Span coverage .... Opening speaker blows her lines ---- guy steps up and blabbers something I couldn't understand. "Troops Home Now" is the chant -- I mean, A.N.S.W.E.R. (snort)
He's rasping about the troops who have lost their lives -- reference to Bush .... he references that he is a grad of an AF OCS ..... reckon? His mummy must be proud. Don't know his name. He has bronchitis or something. Cameras are scanning a yellow pocket of posters .... Can't read them. Must be a singer --- he's now calling for the small crowd to chant "hip hop, not war" ..... not many are responding. Now he calls on being united in the name of all children. Good call, bubba. Rev. Lennox Yearwood is his name.
Now someone is praying. Muslim Mahdi Bray at the podium to introduce a whiny- voiced Muslim leader --- a woman from NC ... talking too fast. If I can't understand her, no one there can, either. There are so few in attendance ---- blame it on Bush, I guess.
2:11 ..... she's still talking .... no more than a few hundred if that many appear present. Now cameras are scanning folks spread out on the hill .... lots of grass is visible.
Some beared guy in granny glasses (his bald head must be releasing lots of body heat) .... Ranting about stats from the war --- all Bush's fault. Talking about civil liberties and who is being denied such at home -- and at Walter Reed. He says not to trust the Democrat Party. Smart man.
He's Michael Letwin from NYC ..... sounds as if he has brought his own cheering section ----- others are simply huddled on the hillside ....
Now a woman is speaking ------ Cynthia McKinney!!!!! whoopie do. She's changed her hairstyle. Nice earrings. Still a big-mouth, though. She's just asked for some money back --- I'm not sure whether it's backpay or war $$$$.
2:18 ... Another woman introduces Michael Berg -- father of a contractor executed in Iraq. He's nice-looking .... well-spoken. Not sure what he's saying .... my neighbor came in -- and left. Polite applause ....
Next guy: representing appeal for redress -- Jonathan Hutto, co-founder .... the Navy guy, I think .... justice to America and the working class ... and the people ... and Katrina victims ... and civil rights organizations .... and join to end the war. He introduces a Marine ..... (scan to crowd with many leaving)
The marine Stg. Liam Madden, ret., talks about being NOT timid .... taking action .... gripling about congress. He's wearing a military shirt with beads ----- needs a shave. He ain't no marine! Crowd cheers. Not sure why. He keeps talking about passion, stinging signs, minds must grasp urgency .... show sincere love for peace. Show symbolic protest to tangible resistence. Huh?
Now a bearded wonder is at the mic ..... ugly beard -- Darrell Anderson leads a chant of 3.
He's followed by a sniper (former?) Named Garett Reppenhagen --- the guy who spoke on C-Span this morning .... Scrubby beard. Now he's reading to us (them?) .... not sure the sound-system is working .... folks re milling and talking amongst themselves .... boring? Guys on the stage are knodding in agreement. Crowd cheers as he exits.
Older man in beret tries unsuccessfully to start a chant about stoping war .... Elliot Adams. Older guy. Criticizing congress ----- "we will return" ..... oh, my! Referencing butcher, baker, candlestick maker. Wants us to talk with everyone so when we return, we'll reach from here to San Francisco. Corrects small crowd of chanters.
Someone's mom is now speaking .... Anita Dennis. Who knew? Bush killed someone who committed suicide. PTSD victim.
Moderator thanks the heroes who have spoken up. Not sure who he is .... talking about the coalition here today. He rattles off the names of a few, but they must be back at the hotel.
Someone with thick accent is now speaking .... something about 1968 .... war in Iraq is lost, etc., bring troops home .... naming candidates who are using the war (Obama and McCain) ..... Who is he? War is illegal .... bring'em home. Mounzer Sleiman is his name -- from the National Council of Arab Americans .... Hell --- let HIM go home.
Now speaking is Eric LeCompte from School of Americas Watch .... They need some canned cheers .... HA!!! He refers to the hundreds of thousands who are here today .... uhhhhh --- they're not standing with him! ROFL His hand gesture is not in sync with his words .... you don't jab your hand like a knife when you're talking about peace and love ....
Someone is talking about the size of the crowd ..... she's screaming into the mic .... introducing Ramsey Clark. Horns blowing .....
He looks cold and just lied. This is NOT the place to be today .... snicker. Don't care for him. International Action Center Founder .... former AG for Johnson. Do-little attorney who represents lots of Middle Eastern folks and countries. Talking about Iran's nuke power and how they couldn't hurt us if they had them .... We're the ones with the star war programs .... Hire the man to go back to the east. Send a mic with him. Let him rally some troops in the streets of Tehran. Now he's talking impeachment ....... miles to go before we sleep (literate, eh?). Impeachment is the first step --- blah blah blah.
Now some gal is leading a Impeach Bush/Cheney chant ..... She hyperventilating.
Man is now talking about the war machine ..... introducing someone .... muffled speech ---
Muslim American Society president Esam Omesh is speaking about the deaths ... #### of Iraqi deaths caused by Bush .... talking about voices of rationality, reason, morality, etc. .... and how Americans must join muslims .... uh huh.
Announcement: child is missing.
2:49 .... Katrina Orgainzer (speaking strange words) .... elderly black man Malik Rahim .... now in English speaking about Bush's lies and challenging Bush to find the truth about what happened in New Orleans .... This guy is an idiot. Wants to know why Bush didn't get the people out when he knew storm was coming ... in next breath, he's inviting troops down to NO for beer .... Gotta be on something -- his thin jacket is open!!! He introduces the woman with him.
Cindy will be next .... first, they pass the $$$$ buckets to pay for the event. Dang. I thought Soros paid for this!!! What about all those international donations? The online campaigns???? Watch it ------ somebody will steal one of those buckets!
Cindy Sheehan is greeted .... Ugly cuss. Freezing here or what, she asks?! Idiot. Of course it's cold. When is it going to stop, she asks. She doesn't want to be marching in her wheelchair. Wants to stop the bullshit NOW. (She can start with herself.) She's naming off something .... not sure what ------ but it's all Bush's fault. America is not the universe. It is part of the universe. (Good point, Cindy.) Strangers keep walking behind her and looking at her funny-like. Now talking about her son dying for the war machine. Wants to shut it down. Wants to stop paying taxes to fund the war .... If congress wont' stop the war, we must stop giving them money. .... reminding congress they work for us .... and we want GB and RC impeached .... she's having breathing problems or something related to coughing away from the mic .... she's going to be in PA on July 4th and Camp David (?) on Easter .... hummm .... strange lady. Reckon she'll be in a bunny suit on Easter?
2:59 .... same hyperventilating woman at the mic .... introducing someone who drove 14 hrs to get to DC .... appeal for donation into the buckets that they are passing around .,.....
National Committee to Release the Cuban Five (huh?) .... her name is Gloria La Riva ....
back shortly ....
3:03 ... La Riva is still telling us about the Cuban Five. Now she's chastizing the Bush administration for not freeing or not defending or not doing something .... Danged if I know. Danged if I care.
Are these folks fillers, or what????
I was expecting some good old-fashioned war protesting
all we have thus far are fly-by special interest groups..... Where are the Singing Fat Ladies in Pink? Where are the poster-girls? Buffy boys? Meanwhile .... La Riva is unsuccessfully shouting a chant ...
Here comes someone named Guiliana Sgrena .... Italian journalist .... Can't understand her .... saying something about Iraq and no electricity or fuel or water. Not sure what she is telling an unimpressed crowd. Didn't they hire cheerleaders? This is a poor excuse for a protest rally. I've seen better protests in the school yard.
Wonder what's happening back at the memorials? More folks are leaving .... talking amongst themselves .....
Eugene Puryear again ....
Rocky Anderson at the mic .... Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah ..... Calling for the impeachment of the Prez. Reckon he paid his own way to DC? I hope the good folks of SL didn't foot the bill for him .... His speech is slurred .... too many hot toddies? Using lots of 25-cent words .... Folks just standing in frozen silence. Literally. Now he's reading behind a chant of "no war" (or is it, "no more?") No more is more appropriate. Sit down, Rocky.
3:14 ..... Getting down to the meat of things now .... An anti-war spokeswoman is at the mic ...... someone's step-mother ..... Melida Arredondo .... Gold Star Families .... no jacket. Layered in sweaters, though. Talking about citizenship for soldiers ... how flag represents the blood of gold star families .... now talking about breast-feeding .... These folks are nutso. Now it's undocumented immigrants. Uh huh. Invites everyone to walk the halls of congress ----- poof.
Carlos Arrendondo is now speaking for Gold Star Families ... lost his son in Iraq ... cameras cut to hillside -- it is empty. Protesters have left the area ... a few remain in front of podium .... he's referring to the Constitution -- not sure what he is saying ....
World Can't Wait! rep rattles off a list of topics .... war, katrina, peace, etc., with call for impeachment .... condemns all Democrat candidates (even Hillary) .... calls for more protests and resistence .... warns we ain't seen nothin' yet (close) when troops refuse to fight blah blah blah .... crowd is getting weak .... signs can't be THAT heavy, can they?
Older lady at the mic .... demanding apology from Bush for something .... offers a list of other demands .... Efia Nwangaza from "Not in Our Name" --- where the hell do they find these people?????
A.N.S.W.E.R. coord ..... thanks those who remain for facing the cold .... Brian Becker. Camera is scanning the crowd .... some weirdos .... claim to fame: they're being broadcast live on C-Span and Arabian TV (spelling offered later).
Mahdi Bray is back at the mic ..... must have been some cancellations. Boring. Quotes words from an old song .... "I don't wanna be right" .... Guess what? You ain't right, brother.
Gonna surf and find out what is going on in the real world.
3:32: announcement ... someone lost his wallet .... I bet.
A very loud woman is shouting into the mic .... something about imperialists .... denouncing the war .... wearing a headband .... ears have to be frozen. Leah Obias of JusticeNotWar in Philippines .... It has to be warmer in the Philippines. Why is she on that podium freezing her buns off? No one can understand her. The crowd is leaving .... Talk about getting a cold shoulder. (snicker)
I bet I'm the only one blogging this flop.
Good. Someone needs to watch this. After all ------- C-SPAN thought it important enough to broadcast live. I'm sure the Eagle Gathering is more eventful. And it is definitely better attended!!!
How embarrassing for ANSWER et al.
Now someone from Haiti. Bet he hates being up there in that cold weather .... just said it was 80 degrees when he left home this morning. Ben Depuy. Former Ambassador .... not sure to what or whom. He's not wearing shorts, so he's probably not an actor from one of those blue water commercials. And he's having trouble with his words. White scraggley beard .... shades .... ball cap ... talking about money Bush pledged to his country -- now quoting Chavez. So let Chavez fund his country. Bastard.
Chuck Kauffman ... Nicaragua Network Co-Cordinator. What the heck --- did they have more cancellations? No wonder the crowd is leaving.
So am I.
3:45 .... Maria Magallanes ... Mexico Solidarity Network ..... why do women think they have to scream into the mic???? Voices go up three octaves and words are spattered ....
Larry Holmes .... Troops Out Now ---- suit jacket .... no coat ... immigration -- blah blah blah
Folks aren't even chanting now --- too cold ....
Youth For Truth (put stickers all over Arlington, VA) .... bet the city clean up crews are happy to know who did it. Maybe they'll dump the debris on the CC campus from which it originated. Jihan Hafiz is speaking about redressing greivances .... stopping the war .... confronting recruiters .... this is not going well. And it ain't just the weather.
OK, JIhan --- your 15 minutes of fame are up. Power to the hand-warmers and fuzzy hats.
Carina Garcia .... proud person who claims to have run the Minute Men off her campus .... right. Babbling without notes --- not a good sign. Made a few glitches, but no one noticed.
Final speaker (thank, God) ..... 3:56 .... from Partnership from Civil Justice .... Mara Verheyden-Hilliard. Whoever. Speaking for all of humanity .... peace, no violence, no hostilities. No hot water bottles. Oppps.
Right on. Race you back to the hotel! What a rally. Wow. oohrah. Damn, it's cold.