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RALLY REPORT - Kaloogian and Tancredo ROCK Republican Convention in California!
Howard Kaloogian for U.S. Senate ^ | 02/22/2004 | Me

Posted on 02/22/2004 11:15:39 AM PST by Impeach98

WOW!


COngressman Tom Tancredo (Left), U.S. Senate Candidate Howard Kaloogian (R) (Center), and KSFO AM 560 Talk Show Host Melanie Morgan (Right)

Yesterday's rally against giving drivers' licenses to illegal aliens (as proposed by Democrat Gil Cedillo's SB1160 which Repub. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he supports) was a H U G E success.

The rally planning had been going on for several weeks. It was set to take place Saturday, February 21st at the Burlingame Hyatt, where the California Republican Party Convention would be taking place.

Since Governor Schwarzenegger has said he thinks giving drivers' licenses to illegal aliens is a "fantastic" and "excellent idea" (after he made conservatives very happy by repealing an existing law by Gil Cedillo that Gray Davis had signed that did the same), the thinking was that Arnold would get the message when Republicans turned out to say "WE DON'T WANT IT - NEITHER DOES CALIFORNIA."

The location had to be changed a couple times because officials with the California Republican Party establishment were offended that Kaloogian has rallied Republicans to oppose Bush's amnesty/guest-worker plan and Schwarzenegger's "sell out" on the illegal alien drivers' license plan.

With Kaloogian's opponents for U.S. Senate uncomfortable with challenging either the Bush plan or the Schwarzenegger-backed plan (they will speak to vague policy but not these specific proposals for fear of alienating Bush or Schwarzengger and their establishment suppport), the rally united immigration reform advocates and Kaloogian campaign supporters.

A little after 10:00 AM people began gathering outside, right in front of the Hyatt Hotel. Kaloogian for Senate staffers and volunteers were handing out Kaloogian signs, bumper stickers and lapel stickers.

People were simultaneously streaming towards the Kaloogian for Senate table inside of the convention and were being directed to join the now-growing crowd outside.

At the same time, last minute preparations were taking place at a giant tented pavillion located next to the hotel's pool at the back of the hotel complex. A stage with blue-curtain backdrop and "Kaloogian for Senate" wall would serve as the dais. Approximately one-dozen Kaloogian volunteers were assisting in the set-up effort. People seeking out the rally location began arriving at this location too.

By 10:20 AM things were crazy!!! There was now a crowd of a few hundred people outside that was growing fast. More and more people were running up to the Kaloogian table inside the hotel to find out the rally location and at the poolside pavillion (site of the rally) supporters were being directed to join the crowd at the front of the hotel.

Melanie Morgan and Donald LaCombe of the Kaloogian campaign were now firing up the crowd with chants over a megaphone. There were a handful of reporters and cameras covering the mass of people out front who were shouting "Enough is Enough," "No License for Illegals," and "Stop Them at the Border."

Finally at 10:30 AM, with the crowd now a giant sea of people, completely fired up, we opened the front doors to the hotel and Melanie Morgan chanting "Enough is Enough" into a megaphone led the procession of people through the hotel, down one of the main corridors to the back of the hotel where the crowd would exit, walk the pathway towards the poolside pavillion and assemble for the rally.

A number of interesting things took place. First, the procession passed right by the press room and reporters were shocked to see this massive and boisterous gathering of people streaming through the hotel screaming and chanting. Also, liberal Republican Vice Chair of the CRP, Mario Rodriguez, was conducting a seminar teaching Repubs. how to reach out to Latino voters and was horrified to see the protest march... apparently he is unable to distinguish between the difference of "illegal" individuals and legal citizens of the United States.

The throng of people was so wide, two sets of double-doors had to be opened to allow the crowd to flow in. But then the final mass of people who had gathered in the lobby in front of the Kaloogian for Senate booth formed a third 'feeder' stream to the procession. There were so many people now marching towards the rally location in the back that people could not enter the rally tent fast enough... we had a human traffic jam and this 10 foot wide hallway that runs several hundred feet was now completely jam-packed with participants.

People contiued streaming into the giant tent and tried to squeeze in to allow as many people as possible in. But there were so many people that not everyone could fit... there were dozens of people flowing out the side entrance, straining to see over the heads of those inside, and an even larger group of people at the back end of the tent who could not get in because of the overflow crowd.

Melanie Morgan and Brian Sussman of KSFO AM 560 - San Francisco were the emcees and had the crowd fired up... it wasn't hard. The energy in the room was electrifying. They introduced Kaloogian who received a hero's welcome from the crowd.

Kaloogian was on fire and delivered one of the best speeches I've heard him give on the stump so far. And the crowd responded with passion and energy. The tent was rocking folks!!

Just as Kaloogian was finishing his remarks, we got word that Tancredo was arriving in the back entrance (having been picked up by one of our Kaloogian staffers at the SFO airport). So Kaloogian then transitioned into welcoming Congressman Tom Tancredo, a hero to our cause, just as the Congressman entered the facility.

The place exploded.

Tancredo bounded up to the stage and grabbed Kaloogian's fist. They raised their hands into the air - pumping up and down. The crowd was hooting, hollering, screaming, chanting. Melanie Morgan and Brian Sussman were up there on stage still and were themselves cheering and beaming from ear to ear. It was a moment of magic and the energy was incredible.

Now during all of this time there was this steady stream of television camera crews arriving. While we had worked the media over pretty heavily to tell them about the rally, and who would be there, they had been dismissive. They weren't interested in covering a bunch of right-wing kooks complaining about immigration policies. So at the start of the rally we only had a handful of print reporters, 4 or 5 television cameras and 2 or 3 radio reporters. But by the end of the rally news organizations, learning of what was happening, had rushed over scores of additional reporters, camera crews, and microphone-carrying radio techs and reporters.

Tancredo gave a great speech. He explained that a series of events had led to him almost not making it. Delayed flights, cancelled flights, being held up on the tarmac, having to change connecting flights and airline carrier. Everything was a mess and a mass frustration (he was supposed to arrive at 9:30 AM so we could get him settled, instead he didn't make it until about 10:55 AM).

Tancredo told this story and explained that he would go through this kind of hassle every single day between now and Election Day if this would help to elect Howard Kaloogian to the U.S. Senate.

Again, the crowd exploded.

Tancredo went on to explain during his speech that he had NOT ONE immigration reform friendly member in the U.S. Senate... and that without an ally in the Senate to join him in leading the charge on the immigration issue that we could not bring about the change in our failed policies that we need.

Tancredo was funny, gracious, passionate and simple but eloquent. At the end of his speech he again urged those in attendance to go to work to get Kaloogian elected to the Senate and announced he'd be doing all he could till Election Day to propel Kaloogian to victory. Tancredo and Kaloogian raised arms again and the crowd cheered and the camera flashbulbs flashed.

Tancredo and Kaloogian webt out back for a press conference/media avail.

Over the course of the next 45 minutes, Mike Spence, Founder of "Save Our License" (the group that collected signatures to repeal the original drivers' license for illegal aliens bill, SB60), Rick Oltman of FAIR, Ron Prince - author of Prop 187 and Proponent of Save 187 all addressed the crowd.

Crowd estimates have varied. I heard one person say 600-800 but I think this was high. Maybe 500-550.

All the press reports have said several hundred people.

Realize that there were only 1400 delegates listed for the CRP convention, so maybe 1200 were actually at the Hyatt. But while Marin and Jones could generate rallies of 50-75 people, Kaloogian had a massive crowd of cheering and raucous supporters who would then linger throughout the convention for the rest of the day - wearing Kaloogian t-shirts, carrying Kaloogian signs and bumper stickers.

It was an awesome day!



TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 2004; aar; alien; aliens; cedillo; cralosers; drivers; electionussenate; howard; illegal; immigrantlist; immigration; kaloogian; ksfo; license; melanie; morgan; mrninepercent; sb1160; tancredo; votebilljones; zzzzzzzzzzzzz
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To: Impeach98
From Lou Dobbs Video - Statement by California Republican Party Chairman, George "Duf" Sundheim
"We allow people to have demonstrations, we encourage debate, but to take the actions of a few people and to blow it up as some sort of major rift, frankly I think, is irresponsible."

Maybe "a few people" should tell Duf what they really think

Duf Sundheim: chairman@cagop.org

281 posted on 02/23/2004 5:06:29 PM PST by calcowgirl (No on Propositions 55, 56, 57, 58)
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To: Impeach98
Some pics of the rally outside...


KSFO's Melanie Morgan on the bullhorn


KSFO's Brian Sussman on the bullhorn

The rest are all inside and the photo quality isn't too good so I'll just link them...

And since Bill Jones had a rally a half hour before Kaloogian's, I took two shots of that too
282 posted on 02/23/2004 5:58:55 PM PST by CounterCounterCulture (RINOs ... the OTHER white meat)
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To: CounterCounterCulture
We're preparing our website and email tonight with our own rally pics - we got some great ones :)
283 posted on 02/23/2004 6:08:25 PM PST by Impeach98
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To: calcowgirl
I am so glad Duf Sundheim is allowing us to debate the issues. Especially since FairOpinion isn't :)
284 posted on 02/23/2004 6:29:20 PM PST by Impeach98
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To: calcowgirl
I am so glad Duf Sundheim is allowing us to debate the issues. Especially since FairOpinion isn't :)
285 posted on 02/23/2004 6:29:20 PM PST by Impeach98
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To: calcowgirl
I am so glad Duf Sundheim is allowing us to debate the issues. Especially since FairOpinion isn't :)
286 posted on 02/23/2004 6:29:23 PM PST by Impeach98
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To: FairOpinion
If the government is not securing the borders of this country in a time of war, The government is not discouraging the terrorist, it is not stopping the entrance into this country, of terrorist sleeper cells. If the government is not securing the border, but instead, at the same time, IS pardoning 12 MILLION illegal alien criminals, it is not helping America.

If we can deploy 120,000 troops overseas to guard Iraq, we can deploy here, 20,000 and a fence - to guard America.

No Border - No Vote
287 posted on 02/23/2004 7:09:10 PM PST by TomasUSMC
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To: FairOpinion
Some folks say that all of you seem to have a problem with such a simple thing that we have a choice between A or B. You choose the best between A or B. This is true. If A self destroys, like his father did, and doesn't choose to stay true to conservative principles, you WILL GET B.
288 posted on 02/23/2004 7:16:01 PM PST by TomasUSMC
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To: FairOpinion
The article should have read: "Hundred PRETENDING TO BE GOP loyalists booed the President". NO REAL "GOP LOYALIST" or even any half-sensible Republican WOULD EVER BOO PRESIDENT BUSH.

REAL Republicans would never support illegal immigration. The true Republicans were booing a bad idea. That's what they were booing. Get over it.

289 posted on 02/23/2004 7:35:02 PM PST by tame (Are you willing to do for the truth what leftists are willing to do for a lie?)
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To: 4Freedom; FairOpinion
Driver's licenses and amnesty for illegal aliens are not traditional planks of the Republican Party platform. You'd know that, if you bothered to pay attention.

AMEN!

290 posted on 02/23/2004 7:40:20 PM PST by tame (Are you willing to do for the truth what leftists are willing to do for a lie?)
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To: RonDog
RonDog,Bump.
291 posted on 02/23/2004 7:53:43 PM PST by fatima (Karen ,Ken 4 ID,Jim-Karen is coming home from Iraq March 1st,WooHoo)
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To: tame
Great post. I find it incredulous that any regular FReepers could think that those who sell out the conservative position on an issue like illegal immigration (giving up American sovereignty and going against 70% or more of the voters) are the ones who should be defended.

Instead of lecturing US about how we should feel, shouldn't FairOpinion and Poobah be contacting the White House and saying how destructive it is in an Election Year to give the people of your party the middle finger on an issue like this?

292 posted on 02/23/2004 8:51:26 PM PST by Impeach98
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To: Impeach98
Instead of lecturing US about how we should feel, shouldn't FairOpinion and Poobah be contacting the White House and saying how destructive it is in an Election Year to give the people of your party the middle finger on an issue like this?

Yes, they should. But I would not count on it. Look of the definition of RINO in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of Poobah.

293 posted on 02/23/2004 9:41:41 PM PST by tame (Are you willing to do for the truth what leftists are willing to do for a lie?)
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To: Impeach98
GOOOOOOO, KALOOGIAN!!!
294 posted on 02/23/2004 9:43:02 PM PST by tame (Are you willing to do for the truth what leftists are willing to do for a lie?)
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To: Impeach98; Poohbah
He lacks testicular fortitude...

I assume you know this by personal experience, Poohbie.

295 posted on 02/23/2004 9:50:27 PM PST by tame (Are you willing to do for the truth what leftists are willing to do for a lie?)
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To: Impeach98
I am so glad Duf Sundheim is allowing us to debate the issues

No, no, no.... He ENCOURAGES it! We must remember to let FO know!

296 posted on 02/23/2004 10:04:33 PM PST by calcowgirl (No on Propositions 55, 56, 57, 58)
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To: Poohbah; JustPiper
(I think she was just saying Rummy is a follow-through guy. And making a joke.)
297 posted on 02/23/2004 11:02:41 PM PST by sfRummygirl (www.constitutionparty.com)
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To: Impeach98
Got the latest Kaloogian e-mail and now see the latest report and pictures from the rally. Good job.

http://www.howardforsenate.com/Documents/RallyPage.asp

298 posted on 02/24/2004 1:08:56 AM PST by CounterCounterCulture (Who wants to be the bug to my windshield?)
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To: tame
I assume you know this by personal experience, Poohbie.

No, a$$wipe, I just know it by a description of the events in question.

BTW, if you're going to insult me, maggot, have the testicular fortitude to ping me to the post.

299 posted on 02/24/2004 4:48:04 AM PST by Poohbah ("Would you mind not shooting at the thermonuclear weapons?" -- Maj. Vic Deakins, USAF)
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To: Impeach98; FairOpinion; hchutch
Instead of lecturing US about how we should feel, shouldn't FairOpinion and Poobah be contacting the White House and saying how destructive it is in an Election Year to give the people of your party the middle finger on an issue like this?

Instead of behaving like a spoiled brat in public, how about writing a reasoned letter to President Bush?

Oh, wait, that sounds too much like work. It requires the ability to THINK, and folks like you tend to be unwilling or unable to engage in thought.

BTW, it's really rather chickens**t to go around insulting people without pinging them to the post, chickens**t.

300 posted on 02/24/2004 4:51:44 AM PST by Poohbah ("Would you mind not shooting at the thermonuclear weapons?" -- Maj. Vic Deakins, USAF)
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