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The weather was brisk but sunny as more than 80 enthusiastic conservative thugs gathered at the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon to support an end to the election nonsense.
We assembled around 1 p.m. in front of the building. Eventually, several protestors went over to the other side of Grant Street (the sunny side, demonstrating to all which were the smarter among us, considering the 30 degree temperatures).
We chanted, our cries echoing in the concrete canyons of the big city. (How's that for melodramatic writing?) Several "Honk for Bush" signs were greeted with a great deal of horn-blowing from passing cars. We received a few single-digit salutes and one "idiots!" but, for the most part, spectators were behind us. Oh yes, and a few Pittsburgh police cars passed, the officers beeping and giving us the thumbs-up!
Please contribute your reports.
I stood all by myself with a honk for Bush sign across the street from the city/county building until the sun came out. Then all of a sudden I had plenty of company. While the sun was nice on the other side of the street, the wind was blowing harder. The estimate of 70 is a little consrevative, at one point we were well above 100. My favorite scene was the lady who reached across the cart to honk the horn because her husband would not.
I attended the rally today and what a great turnout! I recoginized a lot of folks who attended the rally last week and the same die hard "thug" protestors were there again, plus about 60+ more people. I hope someone has pictures from the event. What I enjoyed the most was the looks of shock from people who were driving past with Gore/Lieberman bumper stickers. They couldn't believe that we were out there. Who would have thought Republicans/conservatives knew how to protest! Looking forward to the Pittsburgh chapter.
Here goes nothing (I've never posted pix before):
rats. I'll keep trying with those pix.
Bttt.
5.56mm
Congrats on a great job! I'll be out at Gore's house tomorrow, yelling my head off! :-)
IT WAS A FANTASTIC FREEP.
150+ FReepers on the move!
We'll all have lots more reports later but for now here are a couple of my pics.
BTW QUality is really low because the batteries ran out (again) And the camera really isn't suited to this kinda stuff. But there were lots of cameras clicking away, so I'm sure we'll have better pics later.
The rally was a huge success! Lots of honks from passing cars, including some from Pittsburgh Police cruisers.
A VERY freindly and well behaved crowd. Chants ranged from "No More Gore" to "Give us a beep, Al Gore's a creep" to "Get out of Chaney's house" and more.
The signage couldn't have been better. Incredibly creative. I especially liked the one showing the difference between a vote and a dimple. The example of a dimple used a drawing of clenched buttocks! I tried to get a picture but It didn't turn out.
Anyway I have to go to work, but here are a few pics.
We actually lined BOTH side of Grant street!
LOTS of honks and thumbs up from passing cars. Only a few people gave us thumbs down or seemed upset. Most of the Gorons looked as confused as a Palm Beach voter. They aren't used to FReepers on the march, especially here!
FReepers Hugh Akston and cyn plot the revolution while prisoner6's #2 son wishes he was warm. Temperature was around 30.
Madeline Zapeezda's (sp?) hilarious vote/dimple sign. Too bad my camera wasn't up to it.
prisoner6
Bush rally report from St. Louis. I attended the rally which started in front of Dick's office in south St. Louis. We then moved to Lindbergh Ave, the nearest thoroughfare. There were an estimated 150 people standing in the cold and chanting. Most of the response we received from the passing motorists were the "Thumbs up" signs. A couple of police cars arrived and the occupants stood on the Denny's parking lot behind us and observed. It was a lot of fun! We chanted and waved to everyone and held up numerous signs. We stayed about an hour. Several "Sore-Loserman" signs were used with the Free Republic copyright clearly visible.But there were also a lot of people there who are not Freepers.
A person there told me that last Tues there were more than 400 protesters in front of Dick's office.I enjoyed it tremendously and was totally amazed at the turn out and how well we were received.
Great report - fantastic signs. Terrific turnout! Way to go!
Thanks to all the Freepers who braved the cold weather. Honks for Bush outnumbered thumbs down by a margin of 10 to 1. The Goron motorists, IMHO, were surprised and disappointed that there are people who will not go along with the media spin. Again let me express my thanks for all those that came out.
Proud!!! Proud!!!!! Proud!!!!!!!
I see the're still doing the tree at the court house. What a beautiful backdrop to a beautiful protest. Thank you people for making this Pittsburger proud.
Thanks for the after action report.
You should have started a thread for St. Louis, unless there is one already.
5.56mm
I should add that there were no Gorons "on site" - apparently, despite multitudes of union types and the terminally dependent in Democrat-controlled Pittsburgh, no one from Crime Central thought to bus them in to counter the GOP thugs. Thank goodness for that. As for media coverage, one or two camera folk showed up - I have no idea how long they photographed us, but no one was interviewed.
Unfortunately Mountaineer your pictures aren't showing up on Netscape, but I went to your link on reply #8 and saw all the pictures. Thank you for your great work.
post #8 link does work - it takes you to a photopoint page - then click on small pix to enlarge them. Please forgive my computer illiteracy.
We even had a friend on the sunny side carrying a telling sign. "Another Dem for Bush," it said.
I carried a Sore Loserman sign, downloaded in eight sections with many thanks from FR. On the other side my wife, who's a bit too pregnant to be chasing Old Bore from Dick Cheney's house, skillfully crafted another slogan: "If the DemocRATS had really wanted Al Gore to be president, they should have vote for IMPEACHMENT."
My neighbor, who boasts of being a lurker for the past three years and who, if truth must be told, delivered me to this forum a few months ago, carried another Sore Loserman sign, on the back of which read: "Gore 2000 = NASDAQ 2000." As a bonus, his dear mother, up from Maryland, stood with us, holding Al in a straight jacket. It was a beautiful sight to have them both there.
I remember hearing many honks for our cause. Often, a car would slow to a crawl and read every sign along the way. A few lame liberals shouted one-word salutes, but they moved on to overwhelming chants of "Lo-SER."
BadRay brought a heaping box of bumper stickers he purchased for the event from Gorestickers.com. My favorite: "If Al Gore is the answer, then the question must be Chinese."
Friend Woody led many chants of "No More Gore," as our voices bounced off the City-County building granite. Cyn shameless plugged FR with her sign. You can bet more than a few passers-by asked what it meant.
Finally, it was my public debut as an activist for and with FR, and I must admit it felt wonderful. There is great comraderie within this community. It was a fine affair, one I'm sure we'll be duplicating in greater numbers next weekend, should our nemesis not conceed. And you know he won't.
Thanks tons for the photos. Did you get your folks from WV and Ohio?
Dave from Pitt
Hey, prisoner6. Nice working with you today.
RE: Bush honks vs. Gore dirty looks.
That was the amazing part. I had an epiphany today: There are a lot of closet conservatives in this town.
Bumperoonies!
It was great meeting everyone!
The Pittsburgh FR chapter is off to a fantastic start.
From now on we keep the pressure on. Give NO quarter.
It's time to take our country back.
Thanks and congratulations to everyone who turned out!
And mountaineer your pics at photopoint turned out perfectly! I urge everyone to check 'em out!
prisoner6
I see the're still doing the tree at the court house
Right, and it's still quite the liberal town. The tree is now officially called a "unity tree." But we're working on everyone. The Freep today was a fine example.
bump
There are a lot of closet conservatives in this town.
You got that right. My Grandmother is probably rolling around in her grave knowing that I attended a Republican/Conservative rally in the heart of FDR populism country. But that perception is being nibbled away. Just look at W. taking West Virginia. No non-incumbant Republican has taken West Virginia in the last century.
I think we're going to use one of my pix in Monday's paper to accompany whatever AP election story we pick up. Yippee.
The Pittsburgh FR chapter is off to a fantastic start.
Yes it is. When you can get 100 people to come out in the freezing cold to make a point in the heart of Murhysgrad(Pittsburgh aka. socialism central), there is a very strong heart beating.
Thanks for attending, I'll be there next saturday(unless psycho case(Gore) concedes).
It was a GREAT day to be in Pittsbutgh.
I arrived about 1:15PM and shouted out the window, "We'll be right THERE!", as my friend (driving), my 14 yr. old son and I drove off to find a parking place.
The first parking lot in sight was the one right across the street .. $5.00 1/2 hour .. yeah, RIGHT! So we found an alley just a half block away and parked there.
I had brought some posterboard and a marker, and we hurredly made signs. My friend, Tim, wrote, "Don't go away mad .. just go away!" and taped an 8" X 11 1/2" "Sore/Loserman" poster on the bottom.
I wrote "Gore LOST, 4 times!" and taped another "Sore/Loserman" poster to it.
Arriving on the scene, I noticed most everybody on the shady side, on the steps of the Court House.
Tim and I looked at each other and said ... "Naaah .. " and stayed on the sunny side.
Many, many thumbs up signals, and beeping horns were to be seen and heard from the passersby.
I quickly learned to write "BUSH WON 4 TIMES!" on the other side of my posterboard and flashed it when I got a thumbs up and or a beep ... the "Gore Lost, 4 times!" side would be flashed to the single digit saluters.
When a police car passed, we'd shout, "ONE BLUE LIGHT!", a 'campaign' started by Jim Quinn to show support to the police. (Put one blue light somewhere in your Christmas light display)
We had ONE sort-of disruptor walk pass us and mutter "He (Bush) stole it."
I lost count at about 30, the 'minority' Honkers for Bush. THAT was/is encouraging.
I, more now than before, question how Pa., with a Republican Senator (times two), a Republican Governor and a Republican Senate could put them ALL (except Gov. Ridge) back into office but 'elect' Gore over Bush.
Too late for a re-count now, I guess.
EXCELLENT FREEP!
Hey, glad to hear you made it! BTW, we parked at Mellon Square Garage for $2.
I'm SO fired up I literally can't wait until next week!
prisoner6
And a great time was had by all...
Great meeting many of yins today!!!!
Now, we must stay the course....
Oh yeah...no one has mentioned the three Nebraskans that were going downtown to do some shopping, saw us, then started pulling their "Bush/ Cheney" bumper stickers off of their car so they could join us!!!! They were briefed on FR, and I would expect them to be joining us soon!
Is it just me or does it strike anyone else how interesting it is that so many frequent contributors to FR are living in democRAT dmoniated areas like Pittsburgh?
Look at the FReeper names we saw at today's rally. Hugh Akston, cyn, mountaineer, dane, dukie, madeline zapeezda, knarf, Joe 6-pack, and so many more that I can't quite recall at the moment.
Maybe the reason we have The Passion is because we have close up proof of how creeping socialism works.
prisoner6
Looks like a beautiful city. I especially love the building with the big tree and wreath!
fyi
Excellent report and pictures. What a great day in the 'Burgh. Penguins were playing the Buffalo Sabres in town today so there were a good many cars riding by.
Some people toot their horn and then some people TOOT their horn .....all the way down the block. They toot with conviction. What a fuzzy feeling this brings.
Biggest disappointment of the day......the ignoramuses who flipped the bird. They know nothing else. Best reply to this: "Sore Loserman!!!!!"
Knarf, BTW, the parking lot across the street was $5.00 for the entire day .
Great meeting you all.
Let's try this:
Looks like a beautiful city. I especially love the building with the big tree and wreath!
thanks! FYI the build in background is the City-County building. Shared logically enough by the city and the county.
It's a very old an architectually interesting building. It was a winning design by an unkown (at the time) architect.
Inside there are over 30 fluted brass columns as high as the arch that you see us in. They line each side of the main hallway. Behind the columns are huge glass paned windows running the length of the hall.
But the most amazing thing about the building are the glass floors. Behind the arch at each end of the building the floors n the hallways above are made of glass. You can look up and see people walking above you, or you can look down and see people below.
This was built before they had to think about women being in the building, especially on the upper floors. I don't know if it was originally this way but today the glass floors have small grooves that distort the image so you can see people moving but the image isn't clear.
Still considering the age of the building -1890's I think- it was a pretty amazing piece of architecture.
prisoner6
GREAT ! Keep up the excellent work. Look at our Cincinnati Pics when you have time.
Here's BadRay covering the right side of the street.
Great Jobs FREEPERS
Lineup from left: starlite, prisoner6's son, prisoner6
Photos by mountaineer
Thanks so much for info on the building for all of us transplants.
Had a great time at the Rally and am looking forward to carrying another sign next week after my toes thaw and my arms stop aching.
Great to meet so many like minded people.
Mayor Caliguri gets a Sore-Loserman sign
More great photos courtesy of mountaineer
I think we're going to use one of my pix in Monday's paper to accompany whatever AP election story we pick up.
Great. I'll be looking for it.
FYI for next week: The farther away from Grant Street you park, the cheaper the parking.
Oh yeah...no one has mentioned the three Nebraskans that were going downtown to do some shopping, saw us, then started pulling their "Bush/ Cheney" bumper stickers off of their car so they could join us!!!! They were briefed on FR, and I would expect them to be joining us soon!
And the ministry expands.
Maybe the reason we have The Passion is because we have close up proof of how creeping socialism works
How correct you are.
You guys are gorgeous!!!!Cyn, I'll recognize you now when I see you next time. Everything good to you all. I'm glad to see that Mayor Caligiuri still shines brightly in Pgh.
Good job! I love to read the rally reports! We ARE making a difference!
I will let others in attendance - prisoner6, cyn, MadelineZapeezda, starlite, BadRay, et al. - add to this report. If I can figure out the technicalities, pictures will be posted.
Arrrrgh - I was in NYC all day Friday, and didn't get word of this until Saturday!
Good job, everyone!!!!
Good job! I love to read the rally reports! We ARE making a difference!
And the beauty is that no one has ever seen anything like it.
BTW, I thought I'd let you know that I got a call from the alumini office at Wheeling Jesuit College. They were asking me if I'd be interested in making a donation, and I said I could not because of Janet Reno being invited as commencement speaker. They said they completely understand.
"If the DemocRATS had really wanted Al Gore to be president, they should have vote for IMPEACHMENT."
I love that!!!
I have to admit I stole it from someone here.
I've been reading several of these after action threads and it is painfully clear that the democrats were missing in action today. They are giving up because they lost and even if algore does'nt understand it, the democrats do.
WOO HOO! Great job! You guys look great!
Earlier I found this on Yahoo News.
Let's all say thanks to the Denver folks!
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Wonderful post & photos. It surely WAS a good day in the entire country, FOR the USA. We can't let up; we must take our country back, for our children's future.
They are giving up because they lost and even if algore does'nt understand it, the democrats do.
That's why I think we're doing the right thing. They're all sitting back, with incredulous stares, thinking: Since when do REPUBLICANS demonstrate?
And when Alwhore's left standing alone, our efforts will be making W's that much more legit.
XXX THIS JUST IN...
KDKA DID run a piece on us as the second story on the eleven o'clock news. It was a short tag to the main election story. Only about 15-20 seconds in length and no ID of Free Republic other than the signs (they called us Bush supporters), but all in all not bad coverage.
I caught it on the TV at work, Wife missed it at home. Don't know if it was on the 6 pm news, but I did tape that.
prisoner6
Oops! Forgot to mention that KDKA estimated the crowd at around 200 which is pretty much what Hugh Akston and I figured.
And I made a confusing statement in the previous post. I taped the 6 pm news, don't know if that included the coverage I saw at 11pm.
prisoner6
Aw man, I miss all the good freeps.
This was fabulous. Wow, 80 people.
I hope to join in soon.
Back Atchya!
prisoner6
Thanks for the ping and for posting the fantastic pictures. Being a shift-worker, my schedule sometimes interferes with the ability to attend a FReep. I'm working the third shift throughout this weekend and second shift next weekend. Hey, someone has to work and pay taxes that allow the Jesse Jackson rent-a-mob to do their thing during the week.
My better half and I did attend the prayer vigil in front of the Westmoreland County courthouse on the day that SoS Harris certified the count in Florida. The Tribune-Review reported approximately 200 people were in attendance.
I hope that there does not have to be a next week and that Gore concedes (I am sure we all do!). It was great to see so many freepers and other concerned citizens on Grant Street this afternoon. Two things for next week if we have to do it:
1. Somebody remember to turn the heat on! it was bloody cold today!
2. Get more songs on that CD player that someone brought! Nothing against Kool and the Gang - but "CELEBRATION" got old. May I suggest KC & The Sunshine Band's "BABY GIVE IT UP" - just for the line: naa naa naa naa naa naa naa NOW - AL GORE GIVE IT UP!"
But it was good to hear all of the drivers that honked their horn in support of us & W.
Did everybody catch the HIT piece in the PG today (yeah - I still get it - though the TR subscription should be on the way soon) on Chief Justice Rehnquist by Dennis Roddey. He is a lib - but at least usually tries to give the appearance of fairness - but this election must have pushed him over the edge. Here is the link:
http://www.post-gazette.com/columnists/20001202roddy.asp
Roddy accuses the GOP of having THUG SQUADS - yeah - that's right AND GET THIS: he says that in 1964 that Rehnquist was intimidating voters at a polling place until Roddy's friend (source) had "...a group of 20 iron workers..." get rid of him. WHAT BS!!!!! (and if it did take 20 union thugs to get a Republican out of a polling place - more power to that Republican). I wonder if we can expect more US Supreme Court bashing in anticipation of them throwing out the FLSC bogus ruling? Am sure that Begala and Carvilla are already working on it!
What a great FReeping day it was. From last week's small success to this week's grand and exciting "mob". All I can say is "WOW"
When I arrived half an hour before the scheduled start of the rally, there was already a larger crowd than last week. I had hoped we could at least triple that crowd to about 100 and we exceeded that. Next week, how about 250 people? If every one brings one, I think we can do it.
But the terror of it all. Everywhere I looked, there were hints of aligators, penny loafers, and I'm sure under the winter wear...tennis sweaters. Yep, I was totally surrounded by mild mannered, polite, conservative-American types outrageously holding signs telling all the world what the lamestream media should be reporting - that George W. is the President-elect. He won. He won again. And then he won again. What is it now, 3 or 4 times? But you'd never know it by watching ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN.
Our new friends from Nebraska have already been mentioned, but we also had quite a few from West Virginia. One young lady made the trip from New Castle PA which is about an hour and a half north of Pittsburgh. She brought her absolutely darling 2 year old daughter. I wish that I had brought a camera to capture her youth and beauty. I almost hate, no I really hate to use their terminology, but we really do have to do this for the children. We cannot let the left continue with their death grip on everything that has made this country great. But everyone was terrific and enthusiastic despite the biting cold. The passing motorists provided lots of encouragement too with their horn honking and thumbs up signals to us. Again, WOW!!! I, too can't wait until next week. Do you think algore will cooperate and hang in for another week?
Let's hang a sign next week on the tree that says
'It's a CHRISTMAS tree!'
just so people remember.
WELCOME, mrtuttle -- glad to see you here! GREAT to have you on forum.
I just wanted to say it was an honor meeting and freeping with so many of you on Saturday (as 'Another Dem for Bush'). Who knew there were so many in Pittsburgh willing to turn out for hours in freezing weather for Bush and conservatism?
To the Freepers I missed meeting yesterday, I'm looking for a repeat performance next Saturday; We can only get better & stronger...
"Let's hang a sign next week on the tree".....CHRISTMAS
That would be nice but that would probably upset someone big time because it has the word CHRIST in it. I think we have to remember during these times what our number one mission is..............to get back our goveronment in the WH by putting Bush in there. Heck, the man won. Period.
By putting up a sign on the tree starts another fight that should be left for another day. Just my opinion.
Wow, what great pix since I looked in yesterday. Proud!!!! Proud!!!!!! Proud!!!!!
I am so proud, I guess you can tell, to have IC in my veins.
I used to write for the Trib; Dennis Roddey was always publishing out-and-out lies about us. Understand this, he is NEVER fair -- because everything he writes is filtered through that liberal funnel in his skull.
Let's hang a sign next week on the tree that says 'It's a CHRISTMAS tree!'
IT IS DONE.
By putting up a sign on the tree starts another fight that should be left for another day. Just my opinion.
You are right, but it wouldn't hurt to hang the tree, say, on the column in front of the tree -- just so we can REMIND people -- for a few hours at least. We can take it with us when we go. We certainly wouldn't want to cause too many liberals pain when they came to work on Monday, now would we. (sarcasm)
BadRay, you are the man.
I'll admit