Posted on 10/10/2002, 5:36:16 AM by kristinn
Honor roll for tonight: Doctor Raoul, staytrue, leadpenny, BillF, Dave Dilegge, Angelwood, Jimmy Valentine's brother, tgslTakoma, 3-D JOY, BufordP, FreeTheHostages, Ben and friend (College Republicans from American University) and kristinn
The DNC Circus came to town tonight and the D.C. Chapter of Free Republic was there to greet them. The occasion was a musical fundraiser at the Warner Theater headlined by disgraced former President Bill Clinton called "Every Vote Counts."
Dave Dilegge was first on the scene, at 5:30 p.m. I didn't arrive until almost an hour later so he'll have to fill in the beginning.
The weather was cool and overcast with a trace of rain--perfect freeping weather. Angelwood had some difficulties with the D.C. police about the location of our demonstration. They wanted to move us across the street from the theater, but we had a permit for the sidewalk in front of it. After negotiations and a promise not to block the sidewalk or entrance to the theater we were allowed to set up just down the block from the front of the theater.
The Democrats had a large group of young people at the entrance to the theater all holding the same sign: DNC, Every Vote Counts, in red, white and blue.
The 'Rats started chanting slogans such as, "Hey, hey, hey, protect your vote today (repeat); What do we want? Democrats! When do we want them? Now!" (repeat).
They also chanted, "Every vote counts!" (repeat) and something about urging (Republican Florida Governor) Jeb Bush to "Count every vote."
Their last chant was, "RNC, where's your diversity?"(repeat).
For ninety minutes, that's all we heard from them. Over and over and over. We toyed with their chants by shouting on the downbeat and, of course, we came up with chants of our own on the spot.
The only thing they accomplished was to wear out our voices, while we chipped away at their morale.
When they started the "hey, hey, hey," bit, we inserted "SELL your vote today".
When they yelled "What do we want?", we yelled "CHINESE MONEY". "When do we want it" was stretched to "SMALL BILLS."
When they yelled "Every votes counts," we added "ONCE," or "Except the military!"
We didn't really answer their call for Jeb Bush to count every vote because we'd rather he count the votes than the Democrats. We had fun with some Florida references, though, such as "Learn how to vote!" and "Plug in the machine!"
Their, "RNC, where's your diversity?," was answered with "DNC--Terrorist Diversity" as we held signs listing all the terrorist groups Bill Clinton did business with or, in the case of the FALN, pardoned.
We ragged on the 'Rats about the recent Iraq trip by three of their members, calling out, "Baghdad Bonior!" and "McDermott for President--of Iraq!"
There was one chant we agreed on. When we started yelling, "One person, one vote!, " the Democrats joined in. I walked across the short divide between the sides to tell their leader that at least we agreed on one thing. He insulted me instead of acknowledging that.
With the event scheduled to start at 8 p.m., we noticed at 7:15 that there weren't that many attendees showing up. So we did a chant to mess with the 'Rats: "It's almost eight o'clock, where are all the donors?" Sure enough, they all looked at their watches and gave us puzzled looks.
Another chant we employed was, "Global Crossing. Eighteen million. Ask Terry how!"
DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe did show up tonight--in his Cadillac Escalade. We greeted him with cries of, "Terry is a crook! Terry is a crook!"
He stood smiling and waving at us like he was at a Hollywood premier, before he went inside.
Some attendees who pulled up in chauffer-driven sedans were welcomed with shouts of "Limousine liberals!"
As more donors arrived on foot, the 'Rats were getting royally ticked at our presence. We were getting cursed and flipped the bird by well-dressed men and women.
Maybe it was our chants of, "Where's Torricelli? The whole world is watching." Or maybe it was when we pointed at the theater and cheered, "The rich are in the house! The poor are in the street!," at the well-heeled Democrats.
At one point, a homeless man mingled with the "Party of the People" at the entrance, rummaging through the ashcan and trashbin there looking for cigarette butts and food scraps. We called attention to the irony of the scavenging man in their midst and beseeched the 'Rats to help him. Only one of them did--he gave him a cigarette.
The homeless man came over and hung out with us for awhile. In fact, he joined us in our chants about the military votes. He said he was a troubled vet who was having a hard time getting construction work because, in his words, he doesn't speak Spanish. We gave him some money to help him get a few meals and spoke with him for a while before he left.
Several busloads of donors were driven up to the theater close to 8 p.m. Two buses were full, while the third had only about a dozen people on it. They were greeted in fine fashion by us.
We did have some brief conversations with a few congressmen and liberal reporters. Rep. Charlie Rangel told us he hadn't decided how he would vote on the Iraq resolution, saying he was still listening to the discussions.
Ellen Ratner came over and had a friend take a picture of her with us.
Juan Williams, asked when he was going to reach over and slap Brit Hume one Sunday morning, laughed and said he's wondering when Brit is going to slap him!
Rep. John Conyers came over and looked at our signs for a minute. BufordP asked him how he was doing. That started a conversation that led to an invitation from Mr. Conyers to meet him in his office after work this week for a discussion of our views.
Joe Lockhart was late arriving and chose not to talk with us (I wonder why:-)
As showtime drew near, we concentrated on reminding those attending about the nature of their guest of 'honor,' Bill Clinton: his history of being a sexual predator and how he disgraced the presidency.
It was noted that none of the women were wearing blue dresses. Well, one woman did. Cries went out of, "Oh my God! A blue dress!" Looks of embarrassament could be seen on the faces of some of those waiting to get in as they made the link to Monica Lewinsky's infamous blue dress and Bill's role in staining it.
The crowd was also urged, "Don't touch the sink! Bill's in the house!" That brought looks of disgust as they remembered how Bill would finish the job in the Oval Office bathroom after Monica had left him 'unsatisfied.'
We did a few rounds of the "Cops Cheer" to add to their remembrances of their hero.
Bill slipped in the back door, as usual. But that was okay. Our freeper voices were loud enough to be heard in the lobby and inside the theater.
EAGLES UP !!!
The US Marines proudly presents Dave Dilegge
Young Democrats - maybe they can be educated
One of Jimmy Valentine's brother's signs
JVb's other sign. Dems didn't care too much for it.
Buford P's favorite sign today
BufordP and Angelwood were on a roll tonight.
Angelwood and 3D-Joy held their own countering the boring chants of the Dems.
BufordP, staytrue, BillF, Angelwood...
Bottom of sign cut off... read "thief"
I have more photos, but I have to get to sleep... my eyes are crossing and I have to get to work in 5 hours. I'll post the rest tomorrow. I promise.
We'll be busy through election day keeping the heat on 'em.
Only ten on this bus. Two other buses had offloaded apparently full loads
The angry guy on the phone who tried to argue with us, even when we turned our backs on him. Police had to remove him, for repeatedly touching DC Chapter members.
Angry Democrat trying to explain to police why he kept placing his hands on DC Chapter members.
Ellen Ratner, just before BufordP told her that Sean Hannity could whip her
"Don't touch the sinks. Bill Clinton's in the building."
OK, now I really have to get some sleep. More to come tomorrow, folks!
He gave me his card. I'll call his office tomorrow and see what happens.
Oh by the way, I am wondering what would happen if we ever referred to his people as "those people".
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