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Posted on 12/08/2001 6:09:45 PM PST by Diver Dave

Blue skies with a slight haze and temperatures in the 50's greeted 20 FReepers and concerned citizens at 16th and J Streets in downtown Modesto this afternoon. The national and local media were out in droves on Friday evening when Congressman Gary Condit (D-CA) strolled into the Elections office of Stanislaus County in downtown Modesto. Accompanying Condit were his daughter Cadee and son Chad along with Condit Chief of Staff Mike Lynch. His task last evening was to file papers with the election office before the 5 PM deadline declaring he is indeed a candidate for the 18th Congressional District of California.

There are already 12 plus threads running the story, so this thread will tell the story of the reaction of the people of Modesto to the news concerning the world's most famous congressman, our very own, Gary Condit (D-CA).

Today, the media were nowhere to be found as we gathered once again to demand Rep Gary Condit's (D-CA) resignation or expulsion from the US House of Representatives. As has been our message since our first FReep on July 17th, we continue to demand resignation or expulsion and to keep the tarnished name of Gary Condit before the citizens.

Chandra Levy is still missing, as is Gary Condit's character, integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness.

Today's FReep included twenty FReepers, Lurkers and concerned citizens. FReeper roll call today:

ontherightside
The Real Deal
HDRider
FXRDeb
Saundra Duffy
SiFiPattie
Cali 5
Cali 2
Cali 4
Diver Dave
Sifi's dad and friend Chris were with us today as well as Cali5's cousins. My apologies if I missed someone. Please add your comments if I did.

I arrived at 11:55 am and sounded my horn as I turned the corner in front of 3 patriots who arrived earlier. HDRider and FXRDeb and ontherightside arrived as I unloaded signs and stuff from the trunk. We knew exactly when ontherightside was within a block of our location because of the sound of his horn. As soon as he climbed out of his car, his voice took over for his horn. His shouts of "We Have Not Forgotten - Gary Condit's Rotten" reverberated off the walls of the surrounding buildings. It was LOUD, and he didn't stop until he left at 1:30. He got even louder when SiFi gave him a megaphone.

When I arrived, a young family had parked their mini-van near the front of Condit's office. They walked to the storefront glass windows of his office which bear his name and title. They were decked out in Santa hats and took a position in front of the name on the glass and began to take photographs. Perhaps they were creating their Christmas greeting cards for family and friends.

I took a position north of the corner with my sign, allowing space between all the others with signs. This would allow the passing motorists to read multiple signs and an opportunity to hear horns sounding for longer periods of time. The strategy worked beautifully. Horns sounding today were the most we've ever experience in our nearly five months of weekly FReeps.

I noticed one guy park his vehicle across the street from us and then began to take pictures. He then moved his location and took some more. He stopped and talked with Saundra and commented that Jay Leno has had lots of comments about Condit in his monologues. He said he was going to send a photo to the Tonight Show of Saundra's sign which followed the same message of his monologue.

Cali5 and family announced their arrival with the horn blasting as he turned the corner. Between Cali5 and ontherightside with their BOOMING voices we and the people within 2 blocks, heard their shouts. Cali5 took the megaphone and began to sing "Hit the Road Gary, and Don'tcha come back no more, no more...."

We debated the idea of traveling across town to Condit's campaign headquarters. The campaign office is located in the back of an office complex on private property. The office itself is about 2 blocks away from the frontage steet. We decided that with the support we were getting from the passing motorists, and the volume of traffic, it was probably a good idea to stay where we were.

Saundra called a few of the television stations on her cell phone to let them at least hear what they were missing by not covering the protest. The combination of shouts and honking horns was no doubt deafening to them. She then called Condit's campaign headquarters, identified herself and FReeRepublic.com and treated them to the same sounds.

SiFi's friend Chris shouted out that "Condit is so blind, a white cane wouldn't do him any good." Now before anyone suggests that that is being insensitive to blind people, it must be noted that Chris himself is blind.

Today was by far the loudest FReep we have had to date. Condit's announcement last night no doubt prompted the citizens to "voice" their opinions. We will continue the task before us to keep the name of Gary Condit before the city of Modesto. "We Have Not Forgotten - Gary Condit's Rotten" will be heard on the streets of downtown Modesto for many weeks to come.

ontherightside and I took photos today, but I'm without a scanner and my camera is not digital. Hopefully otrs will post his pics. Til next week, FReep on Dudes and Dudesses.

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