Posted on 08/22/2002 8:51:06 PM PDT by kristinn
Honor roll for today: BiggRedd and her #1 son; tgslTakoma and daughter of tgsl; FreeTheHostages; BufordP; Ligeia; dixies sass; Exit148; Taxman; Angelwood; Trueblackman; BillF; GunsareOK; and friend of the D.C. Chapter, holdonnow.
Sean Hannity received a boisterous welcome today at a promotional appearance in Washington, D.C. for the release of his first book, Let Freedom Ring (Winning the War of Liberty over Liberalism).
Over one thousand people jammed the second floor of the Borders bookstore, at 5333 Wisconsin Ave, NW, to see Hannity broadcast his radio show live from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and to get copies of his book autographed.
A friend of Sean's in the D.C. Chapter relayed a personal invitation from him for us to join him at the booksigning. We gave Sean a warm FReeper welcome, holding signs welcoming him and celebrating his book.
The signs we held said, "(D.C. Chapter (logo)) Welcomes Sean Hannity to D.C.," "Let Freedom Ring!"; "D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com Welcomes Sean"; "The D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com Says 'Sean Hannity is #1 in our Book!, Welcome to D.C., Sean! Let freedom Ring!'"; and "Sean and WMAL are #1 in D.C."
BillF, Taxman, FreeTheHostages and dixie sass stood off to the side of the table where the radio broadcast/booksigning took place, periodically holding up some of the signs throughout the 3-hour show. They also placed a couple signs in the second floor windows facing Wisconsin Avenue.
Sean opened the broadcast by saying, "We're here in Washington, D.C. at Borders Books. In the audience we have the Free Republic D.C. Chapter...." He introduced his guest and close friend, Mark Levin and announced that Lanny Davis would be joining them later.
About 60 chairs in rows were set up in front of the table for the audience. That was an exceedingly small number of chairs for those who showed up. Folks packed the part of the store where Sean was, trying to see him; while those with books formed a line that snaked its way all around the perimeter of the second floor.
Exit148 lucked into one of the seats up front, while the rest of us stood as a group towards the middle of the line. Except for GunsareOK who arrived much later and was way back in the line and tgslTakoma who was asked by the Borders area marketing manager to stay up front and take plenty of photos with her digital camera. Trueblackman, who is a friend and regular guest on Sean's shows, stayed with Sean at the table for the show.
Angelwood had a bag of D.C. Chapter buttons and found them to be quite popular with Sean's fans. Some of them were lurkers while others had stood with us at "Cheney's house" a year-and-a-half ago. Pretty soon it seemed half the people in line were wearing buttons that said, "Hillary Knew, but she can't recall"; "Never Trust Democrats with National Security"; "Remember 9-11"
tgslTakoma gave Clintonista Lanny Davis a FReeper-style welcome as he approached the broadcast table during a break. She told him, "Lanny I have a button for you--I'm from the D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com.," as she handed him the button. He smiled as he took it and read the message.
He said, "Isn't that nice," and turned to his assistant so she could see the button's message,"Clinton's Legacy: 9-11," as he said to her, "Ohhhh, look what they gave me."
He and his assistant giggled and Lanny tossed the button on the table, saying, "Now I have to wash my hands."
After Lanny's segment was over, he made his way outside and was stopped by a few well-wishers. I was outside having a smoke and taking a break from standing in the line.
When he was done glad-handing, I called out to him as he crossed the street with his assistant, "Hey Lanny!"
I paused for him to stop and look back. When he did I told him, "You really suck, man. You supported a rapist; a liar; a perjuror; and a man who sold out our national security to communist China." He just stood there and listened, wanly smiling. I could hear my words echoing up and down the street off the buildings as I finished by saying, "You should be ashamed of yourself, Lanny Davis," so folks on the sidewalk would know who was being told off.
It was a beautiful thing, LOL! Cheers of concurrence and jeers for Lanny erupted from those within earshot.
Back inside the bookstore, Laura Ingraham stopped by for a few minutes to greet her friend Sean and was warmly received by the crowd. Angelwood introduced herself as Laura was leaving and Laura noted that she had, "spoken at a Free Republic event last week."
Angelwood gave her one of her buttons and a D.C. Chapter pen. Laura graciously signed some autographs for some of her fans with the pen before she made a quick exit.
The D.C. Chapter group finally made it's way to the broadcast table around quarter after five. Mark Levin was still there, so we exchanged greetings waited our turn to meet Sean. The Great One, whom Sean acknowledge's in the book, was nice as ever to us and signed his name in Sean's book for those of us who asked him to.
Sean was very gracious to each of us as he signed his book. He announced to the audience during the next break that many FReepers were in attendance and proceeded to tell them about our "Get out of Cheney's House" protests and how much it meant to him that FReepers had taken to the streets then.
We were honored, and so should all our fellow FReepers who worked so hard during that era, that Sean commended us for our efforts.
When the show was coming to its end, Sean told those in line that he would stay as long as he could--another hour to an hour-and-a-half--to sign the books of everyone still in line before he would leave for his TV show.
Even though folks had to wait hours in line, I didn't hear anyone complaining. We all listened to the show and had alot of fun hissing liberals like Bill Press (who has a morning gig on WMAL, Sean's D.C. affiliate) and cheering Sean when he made comments we loved.
Apparently everyone involved in the planning of Sean's appearance vastly underestimated how popular it would be. The stunned staff had to send out for an extra shipment of books to handle the enormous demand. The manager was coy about how many copies of Sean's book were sold, but when asked if it was around one thousand, he said that was "pretty warm."
It looks like Sean Hannity will be the next conservative author to top the bestseller lists!
I've been rather apolitical for the the past two years and I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANY MORE!!!
I've put you on the DC Chapter ping list. You'll find that we keep pretty busy, lots of opportunities around this area.
Apolitical for two years? We'll fix that for you.
:-)
If your question hasn't already been answered on the Network thread (I think anymouse made some comments along similar focus) by the time I get around to catching up (again) with the posts there, maybe I'll have a few words to share.
There's a picture you have here that I'd like to copy. May I make a copy of it?
Most of us who take pictures for the DC Chapter copyright our work to make it less likely that someone will misuse our work, or use it to enrich themselves in some way. It also gives us some firm legal footing for those unfortunate situations. Because you're such a new person to FR, I know nothing of your history (here and elsewhere), and the fact that I have never met you in person, I believe that I'd have to say no. For my own personal and professional protection. Thanks for asking.
Oh lp, we missed you, too! Taking all those pics was fun but tiring work. And you'd better be there on Sunday.
BufordP is gooing to teach us the secret handshake. You hear that, Buford?!
Road trip?
Do some wrist strengthening exercises before Sunday. BufordP is going to teach us the secret handshake, and FreeTheHostages is going to teach us how to use big words to our strategic advantage.
Relax, FTH. Enjoy your notoriety as the woman whose keyboard is licensed as a deadly weapon. I see you had it on full auto earlier. I was at work all day, and found I have a lot of catching up to do. ;-)
Actually RFP, my daughter was doing some recon in the bookstore while we were watching Sean's show and waiting in line. She said that there were a bunch of people who were trying to shop for books and CDs who didn't know who Sean was; but as they pretty much had to listen to what he was saying (speakers throughout store piped Sean into every corner), she noticed some people were saying that he sounded pretty good... new converts perhaps? Let's hope, for the sake of our country.
You must be keeping pretty busy with Jay Wolfe's campaign lately. Working on a campaign is long, and tiring work; but when he wins it will all be worthwhile! Thank you for all you're doing in and for WV, RFP. We do miss you when you're not able to come to some of the DC Chapter events; and we love seeing you when we do meet up (last one on Whitehaven was great, wasn't it?)
At a discount.
I wish I could have joined you again.
We wish you could have been there. You would have had a blast!
On another subject: Will you tell me about that frosting on the cake you made for the last DC Chapter meeting/feast? FReepmail the secret recipe, please)
I checked this out last night while I was waiting for pics to upload online, and you are on the ping list. Right between RabidRalph and FRlurker, some other strong DC Chapter women. The DC Chapter - Strong women, good looking men, etc. And this isn't even Minnesota. ;-)
Your name doesn't show up on the message "to" line, but it's there, in the ... You can doublecheck by checking your "my comments/New posts to you" thingy in the upper right corner of the page.
I'd never forget you, young lady!
:-)
About GWV's jet-ski... I hope it wasn't in his truck when the DC cops lost it...
But from what I have read here lately (and I'm durn far behind), I think maybe he already traded it in on a shared ownership (with BufordP) in a Yugo. I could be wrong.
arghhh!!! I KNEW I should have stayed later.
Yep, that'll learn ya to run off early. ;^)
It is not called a secret handshake, it is known as the "grip." Also required is the secret sign of recogniton.
BufordP has his work cut out for him.
:>)
CAMPAIGN UPDATE: I was with Jay Wolfe last evening at the Jefferson County Fair as he met and greeted people. This went VERY well as people were receptive to the issues. County level organization continues statewide. I have been asked to expend my role from Berkeley County Coordinator to eastern panhandle campaign coordinator: five county region of Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Mineral, and Hampshire counties. We have activists in these counties and 66% of counties statewide. Please drop me a FReepmail if you can help. This is TOTAL guerilla-style grassroots!
PS: Look for a professional revision of the website, www.jaywolfe.net, within the next couple of weeks.
Isn't that interesting? I wonder if the manager of some tow lot, annoyed that he was ordered to give up your truck, might have done some self-help compensation.
Have you reported the theft to John McCaslin? He might be interested in the story. And it should not be too hard to track down a jet ski in a D.C. area pawn shop.
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