Orange County, CA "Support our President" rally - 8/23

oc-flyfish | 8/23/02 | oc-flyfish

[oc-flyfish]

Orange County "Support our President" rally - 8/23

President Bush was here in Orange County today to help raise money for Bill Simon's campaign.  Freepers were in attendance to show support for our President.

WillaJohns, SoAmerRepublican, and oc-flyfish (along with wife and daughter) were in attendance today.  In addition, a number of California Republican Party members were there with us.  

The unwashed minions of darkness (democrats, tree huggers, communists, hippies, and druggies) were there as demanded by their task masters.    It was quite funny as a number of their signs didn't even make sense.

Here are pictures from the event:

SoAmerRepublican and Mrs. oc-flyfish

WillaJohns

oc-flyfish (daughter) and Mrs. oc-flyfish

California Republican Party crew

Great Grey Davis sign

All the patriots

Police protecting our President

All in all we had a great time and enjoyed countering the efforts of the opposition.  Go Simon!

[oc-flyfish]

Please keep this thread in breaking news for a while if you can.

[oc-flyfish]

Orange County bump!

[oc-flyfish]

Can you ping with your list as well?

[oc-flyfish]

California ping!

[Howlin]

Great pictures and it looks like a great job today!

[janetgreen]

Big BUMP for the O.C. Freepers!

[DrDeb]

A big THUMBS-UP for making the time to support our awesome president!! We Pubs from Ohio are rooting for you (and Simon, of course)!!

[oc-flyfish]

Thanks, we had a great time.

We're off to get ice cream to celebrate our rally. Be back later to respond...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping and report!

Had a prior committment but I did see the 747 overhead heading into Los Alamitos about 1:20 and waved!

[RonDog]

GREAT JOB, O.C. FReepers!!!

The Hollywood Resistance Force will report for duty TOMORROW...

In Los Angeles:

7:00am - SATURDAY, August 24

The Regency Club
10900 Wilshire Blvd.
Westwood, CA

See:

WELCOME PRESIDENT BUSH TO CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23rd & 24th: LET'S RALLY!!!
Simon for Governor ^
Posted on 08/21/2002 12:50 PM Pacific by AnnaZ

[AnnaZ]

GREAT JOB!!!

 

(The signs looked great, and you guys looked FANTASTIC!!!)

 

BUMPTTT!!!

[AnnaZ]

Get inspired! (And get some sleep!)

 

See y'all around 7!

[SoCal Pubbie]

Where were those pictures taken? Anywhere near Fashion Island?

[oc-flyfish]

We in Dana Point on Nigeal (just up the street from Pacific Coast Highway). Fashion Island is about 20 miles north.

[oc-flyfish]

Good luck out there!

[WillaJohns]

Great thread. Thank you so very much.

The protesters were out in full force. As SoAmerRepublican and I walked to the freep site we passed masses of senior citizens, some who had signs that said "Nuns for Peace" (no kidding), others who had signs about Iran, but basically most of the protesters' signs made no sense.

SoAmerRepublican and I set up shop (so to speak) on the corner where all the cars and limos were turning into the hotel. In about 10 minutes the police politely asked us to move across the street to where the other protesters (the crazies) were. I asked a policeman if we could just move down the street in the opposite direction, as we didn't want to be next to the kooks because they might be mean to us. He got a strange smile on his face and told us that it would be okay if we moved in the opposite direction. I think the strange smile was something like: "You think they're nuts and you aren't?" LOL.

We finally ended up on another corner and since we had lots of extra signs I began to enlist some of the people who lived in the neighborhood who were standing around. Soon all my signs were taken and we had a nice line of pro Bush, pro Simon signs lining the corner. Then a young republican group came in with some great signs and our corner began to look quite populated. Also appearing was oc-flyfish and the lovely Mrs. oc-flyfish along with little miss oc-flyfish. I love that little girl. She's a real trooper and holds up her sign with the best of them. Also appearing was another OC freeper but I can't remember his name, shoot--JJ? Sorry, my brain is jello right now. He came all the way from Torrance in horrendous traffic. Thank you and please check in here if you will so I get your name right. I apologize for my stupidity.

Most of the protesters' signs were "No more war" and "Peace" types of signs. We had a large contingent who were from a union, very anti Bush/Simon who yelled out that Ashcroft had camps ready to put people into and that Simon was going to make everyone work 20 hour days and stuff along those lines. I guarantee that all the anti Bush/Simon protesters, if they were old enough to vote, had all voted for Clinton (I know because I asked many of them). The senior citizen contingent that were there were definitely Clinton kneepad wearers.

I asked myself why I was there, we were so few and they were so many. But as we stood there, and got a steady stream of honks and thumbs up, and yells from cars "WE LOVE BUSH!" it all seemed worthwhile. We have got to show ourselves so that others will not feel like they are alone.

Anyway, after about two hours, SoAmerRepublican and I gathered up our stuff and started the long trek back to the car. Some friends live right on the golf course by the hotel so we stopped to visit with them and ended up having dinner with them. They are jewish and we got to experience their beautiful dinner ritual with the lighting of the candles, the blessing of the children, it was really very special.

My friends' 18 year old daughter had snuck out earlier to stand with the anti Bush/Simon protesters (but I promised her I wouldn't tell her dad so let's keep this a secret among us). She's young and she'll come around, I have no doubt.

Later, as we were driving home, in pitch darkness, there were still masses of protesters holding signs on the dark street. I yelled out the car window, "Go home, nobody cares anymore," and they immediately roared something in reply but I couldn't hear it. I think they were just glad to get some feedback.

I'm really tired, sorry the writing is a mess. The pictures are FANTASTIC oc!!! Here's a great BIG THANK YOU to all for showing up!

[WillaJohns]

Good luck tomorrow AnnaZ. Expect a LOT of traffic and a LOT of protesters. I cannot figure out where they are all coming from but it seemed like three or four organized groups.

The pictures are great, aren't they? As I made my signs last night I kept thinking of our beloved Registered and how appalled he would be at my horrendous artistic talents. However, no one had any problem reading them from across eight lanes of traffic. Thank you for your great ideas for signs. I used "Luv Ya Dubya" and "Simon Save Our State." I think they turned out really well. It felt real good to be positive with all the negativity around us.

[oc-flyfish]

I was thinking about this Willa and I don't think the unwashed masses wake up until after 1:00 PM. The Hollywood rally is at 7:00 AM so I think they should do fine!

Ron, make sure you get some pics if you wear your tie and slacks again! :-)