Patriots Rally For America - Live Report

Dave Dilegge - Live From DC | 20 April 2002 | Mustang

[Mustang]

Received two cell calls from Dave. The stage is set. The flags are waving. The weather is great. They're ready to Roll! Around 0945 the crowd was 50+ including Kristinn, sauropod, Leadpenny, Angelwood, Exit 148, GoreWarVet, Dutchy, Congressman Billy Bob, Black Agnes, TaxMan, TGSL DeComa, WhoKnowsWhatEvil, FireBrand, Country Dummy, Stan Waite, Pro2aMom, 0351Dog. (please pardon any mispelled "names" or omissions. The cell connections were poor).

Around 1015 the crowd was continuing to grow, with some spill over from the Peacenik/anarchist nitwits. Dave reports that it was the port-o-potties that attracted them. But our fearless Freepers labelled the doors "Patriots" and Patriot Women". It seems to be turning them away.

More to follow. Mustang sends from Florida.

[who knows what evil?]

Dave reports that the biggest attraction for the radicals is our port-o-potties.

The 'port-a-potties' war was pretty interesting. There were about five or six of us trying to restrict access to the 'port-a-potties' that had been paid for out of pocket by Patriot Rally organizers, and we had legitimate fears that they would be vandalized by the knuckle-dragging, unwashed communists across the street. It got nuts around noon, as it became evident that ones who had been turned away were sending ten times their number back across the street to harrass us. It was like trying to manage an out-of-control ant colony; they were swarming EVERYWHERE! Their next tactic was to bring along their pro-terrorist buddies in the college media; to take pictures of those "heartless conservatives" denying access to our port-a-potties. (I suggest they have Ramsey Clark and PFAW pony up some more cash for more of their OWN port-a-potties at their next rally.) As a result, I missed a number of the speeches I had driven six hours to hear. Oh, well...

One of the best bits was with a forty-ish unshaven blond who tried to push by me to get into a port-a-potty. She kept screaming that we were on "public property". That we were, but the potties were "private property"; and she wasn't getting access. She kept screaming that "she had to PEE", and that she had the RIGHT to use our port-a-potty, because it was "public property". I fanned my arm around; indicating that there was PLENTY of "public property" around for her to 'pee' on, and that, as a 'taxpayer', she was welcome to use it. I thought for a moment she was going to go for it, and I was cursing myself for leaving my camera with my wife. However, she turned away with a curse that so typifies the left, and she returned to her unwashed brethren. Hysterical.

[estrogen]

If my secretary hadn't had her wedding yesterday I would have been there. Without a doubt.

In all fairness, however, we only had 4 weeks notice. I'm talking about a HUGE rally with not just Free Republic members, but other conservative minded organazations. That takes a bit more planning.

I was very impressed and inspired with Kristin on CSpan and with the turnout yesterday. I just wish that someone like CSpan would have shown our side.Good job yesterday !!!

[who knows what evil?]

Dave stated that these "peace people" are extremely violent.

No question about it. When these people got in my face during the 'port-a-potty' wars, you could SEE the hate in their eyes, and HEAR it in their voice. At one point, around one or so, the word got out to "get the women out of here, because a riot was about to break out". Several ladies started to gather their things, but then several black vans pulled up, and armor-clad SWAT teams poured into the street. Any threat of a 'riot' was QUICKLY neutralized by their presence. ("Yay, Washington Police!!!")

Let no one tell you otherwise...these people preach "tolerance", but ONLY if you agree with them. It is the LEFT who has utterly NO TOLERANCE for opposing points of view, and I have little doubt there there are those among their numbers who would just as soon kill you as look at you if you support America or Israel. You could see it in their eyes. Folks, to truly appreciate what our friends go through during a 'Freep' event, you HAVE TO BE THERE. You will gain a stronger appreciation than ever for what they endure. G-d Bless them all; north and south; east and west; wherever they stand up for America and for Freedom!

[Cultural Jihad]

The 'port-a-potties' war was pretty interesting.

There is something so archetypical about leftist misfits massing together for a group tantrum and then wanting to use the conservative's private porta-potties.

[ValerieUSA]

Seattle P-I article - Police make arrests as hundreds march on downtown streets
I wouldn't be a citizen or a police officer in the liberal hellhole called Seattle for anything. The place is going to explode soon. It's such a shame.

[cake_crumb]

"To all those who were within a day driving distance, I have to ask the question that MrConfettiMan asked so long ago about another outrage in the US, we were there - where were you?"

Home, nursing a persistant illness. And suffering great guilt.

If I understand right, there is to be another partiot rally in DC, the beginning of this June. I can't make it to THAT, either. June is graduation time, and we have another daughter graduating this year.

[tgslTakoma]

It's very interesting to read back through the comments on this thread posted live while we were all away working the Rally.

Also, reading Dave's live phone call reports help me to know what was going on in the areas he was working. We didn't get to spend too much time jaw-boning with one another yesterday, if you know what I mean.

We had a great Rally, with fantastic speakers. And the hardiest FReepers I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. It was a great day!

[Bob J]

To all those who were within a day driving distance...we were there - where were you? I know many folks had good reasons that kept them away, but what about the others?

It was my impression one of goals of this event was to show support for the war on terror and our armed forces. Whether you had 10 or 10,000 people, it seems to me this was accomplished. What were the measureable goals for this event as decided by the organizers prior to deciding to proceed and were they achieved?

BTW - Criticizing others for not being there will not help attendance at your next event.

[diotima]

My comments pertained to the media's bias when reporting numbers at the event. If you read all my comments on the thread, you would see that I accurately predicted the media would distort the numbers to reflect badly on your opposition to the America Haters. The numbers went from 100 (which was reported a few times) to 60 to a "handful" (Fox News) to whatever they are now reporting, it might very well be 100 again.

I am sorry you interpreted it in a different light.

[ironman]

What¿

[Concentrate]

Yes, but the left has over 30 years experience at organizing massive rallies. A big additional advantage is that they advertise on college campuses, where they get near total support from the entire institution. Conservatives don't.

And when and if Conservatives do, they are censored. Try posting fliers in a college for a conservative cause. Even if you can get student government permission to post them, which is unlikely, the fliers will be torn down by the leftist radicals with impunity.

Most of the bodies at the Leftist rally were probably college students. Recapturing the universities is the key to success.

[cake_crumb]

"The numbers went from 100 (which was reported a few times) to 60 to a "handful" (Fox News) to whatever they are now reporting, it might very well be 100 again"

Foxnews.com reports that "In a counterdemonstration, a few hundred people gathered on the mall to show their support of U.S. policies. Some carried signs that said 'Peace through superior fire power.' "

IMO, "several hundred people" would have been better wording than "a few hundred people" , but it's better than "a handful" or a hundred.

[diotima]

I watched Steve Centani (sp?) report live the number "handful." I was watching different coverages and the CSPAN coverage as I could stomach.

Mainly, my point was how the media plays fast and loose with the numbers to their (liberal) advantage.

[Concentrate]

Demographics should also be kept in mind. Of those protesters who are not college students, being leftists, many of them have no children to attend to, since they've killed them before birth. For an overnight trip, they only need to leave extra food out for the cat.

[Militiaman7]

Militiaman7's Rally Album

We had a wonderful rally with lots of great speakers.

While our attendance was low our spirits were HIGH.

There is really nothing I could add to the comments and descriptions of the other FREEPERS and PATRIOTS at the rally.

EAGLES UP!

[VaMarVet]

You know, I was very proud yesterday - of those that came, of those that donated hard earned funds and couldn't attend, those that gave us a whole lot of moral support in the weeks leading up to the event and yesterday. Frankly, what I witnessed yestereday at the rally and read on this thread and the CSPAN thread upon returning home last night was truly inspiring. So much so that the thought process on my part is already planning out the next event and the one after that. Wars are not won by winning every battle - and we did not lose yesterday - hands down. Remember - Every Patriot FReep adds up. And BTW, we learn from each experience also. That is why the military trains so hard - because you learn each time you go out there and are better prepared for the next event - be it another training exercise or the "real one".

We are the base should conditions get to the point of outrage over the left/anarchist/whatever's shenanigans or another terrorist attack. There now is a "base" of expertise that has arranged press conferences, arranged permits, hired infrastructure (stage, generator, sound system, porta-potties, etc), understsands rally logistics - and the list goes on. Never, ever, through out the baby with the bath water. We are in this for the long term and we hope many of you will be there with us.

[Bob J]

It's very interesting to read back through the comments on this thread posted live while we were all away working the Rally.

Those of us who couldn't be there showed our support by keeping your Rally Thread bumped!

[cake_crumb]

"Mainly, my point was how the media plays fast and loose with the numbers to their (liberal) advantage"

I understand, and sympathize.

Speaking of C-Span and liberal advantage, they had a call in thing this morning on the subject of....

RIGHT WING MEDIA BIAS!!

Sounds to me like C-Span fell right in with Dashless and GetaHeart.

With the exception of a few 'startling' opinion polls, right before the 2000 election, indicating the the American voter - translation: viewer - believed the media had a LEFT WING BIAS...WHEN during the 8 years of Clinton's reign did major media outlets bother agonizing over media bias OF ANY TYPE???

That's a rhetorical question. I know you ALL know the answer.

[VaMarVet]

"throw" - geez..