Free Republic

Berkeley mayor announces re-election bid Tom Bates seeks third term By Doug OakleyStaff Writer Article Launched: 07/14/2008 05:35:31 PM PDT Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates announced his candidacy for a third term Monday on the steps of city hall surrounded by five other council members who are endorsing him.His challengers so far include former Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean and activist Zachary Running Wolf.Bates cited his record on fighting global warming, creating a "green economy," getting homeless people off the streets and supporting development near public transportation centers.He is endorsed by council members Gordon Wozniak, Linda Maio, Laurie Capitelli, Darryl Moore and Max...

Garrison Keillor tries to enjoy Memorial Day at the National Gallery, honoring our fallen heroes by going to an art exhibit ... ...on we went to show our patriotism by looking at exhibits at the Smithsonian or, in my case, hiking around the National Gallery, which, after you've watched a few thousand Harleys pass, seems like an outpost of civilization. There stood Renoir's ballerina in pale blue chiffon and Monet's children in the garden of sunflowers. And Mary Cassatt's The Boating Party, which I stood and stared at for a long time. A lady in a white bonnet sits in...

Three hundred thousand bikers spent Memorial Day weekend roaring around Washington in tribute to our war dead, and I stood on Constitution Avenue Sunday afternoon watching a river of them go by, waiting for a gap in the procession so I could cross over to the Mall and look at pictures. The street had been closed off for them and they motored on by, some flying the Stars and Stripes and the black MIA-POW flag, honking, revving their engines, an endless celebration of internal combustion. A patriotic bike rally is sort of like a patriotic toilet-papering or patriotic graffiti—the patriotism...

THE PRESIDENT: It's been a pleasure of my presidency to get to know the leaders of Rolling Thunder. For our fellow citizens who don't know Rolling Thunder, Rolling Thunder is the moment in time here in Washington, on Memorial Day Weekend, when thousands of motorcyclers come to the nation's capital to pay tribute to those who have died in service, to those who sacrificed, and those who serve. And it's a magnificent sight. We just choppered in, Artie, and saw your brothers and sisters cranking up their machines and driving through the nation's capital -- many of them have got...

John Amos, best known for his popular character role of James Evans in the hit CBS sitcom "Good Times", joined fellow bikers in D.C. to speak out for P.O.W.'s, M.I.A.'s, and support those currently serving. VIDEO

Thousands of motorcyclists cruised Washington roads Sunday for the 21st annual Rolling Thunder event to honor lost soldiers and their families. About 350,000 bikers gathered in the nation's capital to participate in the rally, which has attracted prestigious guests, including President George Bush, in the past, The Washington Times reported. "First thing, this is about supporting America and our folks in the military, past and present. It's about love of country, love of bikes. People have a calling to be here," said Pete Ries, who has been to the event at least six times. Money raised through raffles and other...

Rolling Thunder, Inc. 21st Anniversary Memorial Day Demonstration in Washington, D.C., May 23-25, 2008, To Include Families of Iraq War POWs/MIAs ROLLING THUNDER MISSION STATEMENT The major functions of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. are to publicize the POW/MIA issue, to educate the public of the fact that many American Prisoners of War were left behind after all past wars, to help correct the past, and to protect future veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners of War/Missing in Action. Rolling Thunder is committed to helping American Veterans from ALL WARS. • Rolling Thunder, Inc. is a class 501(c)(4) non-profit...

SITREP: What an incredible sight! Members of Run For The Wall XX (Southen Route) Several hundred motorcycles and their military veteran riders and passengers staged at the Salem, VA American Legion parking lot this morning ready to depart for Washington, D.C. where they will gather at the Vietnam War Memorial for the annual remembrance of POW's and MIA's. They had just finished a breakfast sponsored by local veterans groups including the American Legion Post and a military family support group. They sat waiting to depart at 0730 for the last leg of their 10 day cross country (southern route) trip...

Eagles Up and their supporting organizations are at The National Labor College, George Meany Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland. Right now there are about 50 Troop Supporters. ConcreteBob says while numbers are small now, that everyone knows who they are and why they are there. No sound yet, camera is in a fixed position, but periodically moved, and pics come in every few seconds, but it is a start. Live VideoOn Thursday, Troop Supporters, mostly Gathering of Eagles, were on Capitol Hill talking to and handing out the petition to NOT put any Winter Soldier II "testimony" into the congressional...

This event was the latest of many identical events staged by the local leftists of North Carolina. On several occasions in the past, this same batch of Moonbats has clogged the streets and sidewalks of Smithfield to present their anti-America, anti-military, Bush bashing carnival. On each of these occasions, they have climaxed their treason-fest by trespassing on Aero Contractor property and indulging in 'peaceful' vandalism.

Smithfield NC -- A large protest, and a larger counter-protest caused local police to be out in full-force today here. Yet, no violence occured. Harsh words were lobbied to and fro but in the end, the event ended just as it began, passion-filled and peacefully. Katy's Conservative Corner has a number of interviews, both with the Code Pink and Victims of Torture protestors, along with counter-protestors from a Gathering of Eagles and Rolling Thunder. Up to 40 different groups were represented.

The Cindy Sheehan-inspired dingbats descending on the city this weekend are infinitely more outraged by a pair of panties being placed on the head of a virgin-seeking terrorist than by a virgin-seeking terrorist placing a steak knife to the neck of an infidel, while chanting, "Praise be to Allah." This passes as a thoughtful position on the part of the losers, nut jobs, socialists, communists and revolutionaries aligned with ANSWER, Code Pink and the loony left of Hollywood. All they are saying is give a suicide bomber a chance. These wackos live with a conundrum. As much as they hate...

Congressman Duncan Hunter, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is a Republican candidate for president, will be coming to Carson City, Nevada to speak at the "Fight for Victory Tour" pro-troop rally.  The event takes place on Monday, September 3rd, 2007 at 9:00 AM at Mills Park in Carson City.The rally kicks off a historic pro-troop caravan that will travel 4,384 miles across the country.  Supporters of Operation Iraqi Freedom will conduct a nationwide caravan along with more than 2-dozen rallies across America calling for continued support of U.S. troops based in Iraq in the days leading...

Dont Tell Me that I am wasting my time and money traveling around making counter protests. Dont tell me that enthusiastic, cheering displays of Patriotism are outdated. Dont tell me that most Americans have no respect for our flag. Dont tell me that America's youth are anti war.

ATTENTION ALL OHIO PATRIOTS MARCH TO TAKE BACK AMERICA A permit is in the process of quickly being secured to hold a rally in conjunction with Let Freedom Ring America’s National “March to Take Back America” in Columbus, Ohio this June 16th, from 1pm until 5pm (EST) on the FRONT Steps of the Capitol Building (WEST side). Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join us in letting Senators Voinovich, Brown and the rest of our D.C. leadership know that we will NOT accept ANY legislation that threatens the very sovereignty and security of our Country! EFFECTIVE BORDER SECURITY AND...

This weekend was Memorial Day weekend and today's dose is a tribute to this special weekend in honour of America's fallen heroes. Rolling Thunder made their annual trip to Washington to honour the fallen on Memorial Day Weekend including visiting the White House on Saturday. On Saturday Vice President Dick Cheney delivered the commencement speech at West Point. Today the President attended Memorial Day ceremonies at the Arlington National Cemetery. In the Green Zone in Baghdad there were the first official high level talks between the US and Iran in 27 years. Americans celebrated Memorial weekend in different ways through...

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2007 – A chrome convoy of about 300,000 motorcycles driven by Vietnam veterans and their supporters blazed across the nation’s capital today in a deafening roar of solidarity. Spectators watch and show their support as motorcycle riders rumble by near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., during the 20th Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, May 27, 2007. The bikers ride to raise awareness about prisoners of war, troops missing in action and veterans’ benefits. Defense Dept. photo by John J. Kruzel  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. On the 20th anniversary of Rolling Thunder Ride for...

THE ponytails might have greyed, and they're not as lithe as they were 40 years ago, but for the Harley-riding Vietnam veterans who descend on Washington for Memorial Day, it's a chance to remember and reflect on the war that changed their generation. An estimated 400,000 motorcyclists swarmed the capital at the weekend for the 20th Rolling Thunder event. Many were veterans sporting leather vests advertising their platoon, their tour of duty, fallen comrades — and their devotion to their Harley-Davidson.Some had ridden across the US in a pilgrimage to "the Wall", the name given to the stark yet moving...

-- President Bush likes a serene White House most Sundays. Every now and then, though, he is ready for rumble. Leaders of Rolling Thunder, the motorcycling group that raises awareness about missing veterans, roared right up the mansion's driveway this Sunday. Bush, just back from a weekend at Camp David, stood alone outside the South Portico to meet them. No Memorial Day weekend in the capital is complete without the ritualistic rumble of Rolling Thunder. For 20 years now, the nonprofit group has led a ''Ride for Freedom'' along the National Mall, a full-throttle demonstration in support of soldiers held...

Quoted from a posting I found at DC Indy Media: "It would be a real shame if the expensive custom paint on one of these bikes ended up with, say, Inca's tag keyed into the gas tank and a lot of nice chrome accessories as well as the spark plug wires missing at 3 AM. Riding while drunk and literally "getting smashed" would be an even bigger shame!" http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/139196/index.phpEAGLES UP!

The Rolling Thunder/Gathering of Eagles Rally for U.S. Troops from earlier today is being aired right now on CSPAN1.

WASHINGTON, May 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released by Gathering of Eagles: When: Speeches from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 26, 2007 (Music from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Where: Lincoln Memorial facing the Reflecting Pool Who: Rolling Thunder(R), Inc. and Gathering of Eagles Gathering of Eagles, a non-partisan grassroots group of pro-victory veterans and other patriotic Americans, will be joining Rolling Thunder for the "Saluting Our Troops" rally this Saturday, May 26th, at the Lincoln Memorial. Rolling Thunder, which is hosting the rally, is marking the twentieth anniversary of their annual Memorial Day weekend activities demanding...

IF you traveled on one of the nation’s Interstates in these last few days before Memorial Day, you might have encountered an unusual sight: bikers by the dozens stretched half a mile down the highway, their motorcycles flying military banners

Dear Rolling Thunder and Gathering of Eagles members and participants: As our way of saying "Thank you" for traveling great distances to be in DC this weekend supporting our military and our great veterans, the DC Chapter invites you to a cookout - our treat. We will be at our usual Friday night Support Our Troops Freep spot - the main gate at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 7200 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, beginning at 7pm and we stay there until the buses of wounded warriors return from their dinner on the town. DC Chapter members who are "regulars"...

On April 29, 2007, 200 men and women with some 50 wounded, biked from Gettysburg, PA, to Washington, DC, in an event called Face of America. Soldiers Angels was on hand with banners and signs made for the riders from across the country offering sincere gratitude and praise for their sacrifices in defending our nation. These men and women inspire a nation - and inspired me to try my hand at producing a video for them. They honestly deserve better, but I wanted to show my appreciation for our American heroes. Please go watch the video now. Send the link...

'Thug' bikers have it all wrong By Mike Seate TRIBUNE-REVIEW Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Marie Malagreca wasn't looking for trouble when she traveled from her home in O'Hara to Washington, D.C., for an anti-war protest. But when the 79-year-old woman arrived in the nation's capital on March 17, she found her path blocked by a beefy, leather-clad biker with an agenda. "He got right in my face and started asking me what I thought I was doing protesting the Iraq war," she said, "and then he started calling me dirty names." Malagreca was one of several local protesters who shared...

The Gathering of Eagles rally and follow-up counter protest of the Moonbats' surrender parade was such a huge success that an item very near and dear to the DC Chapter members' hearts was lost that day.As the rally was winding down, I was handing out MOABs (each was disassembled and packed in a drawstring bag) to Freepers who offered to carry them over to the Lincoln Memorial for use as the Moonbat parade marched by. I also handed out the bags holding our many 3' x 5' flags, so that the Moonbats would be met with a sea of US...

Matt Maupin Scholarship Run - April 14, Cincinnati Ohio All are invited to participate in the annual Matt Maupin Scholarship Run on April 14th in Cincinnati. If you don’t ride, but would like to show your support we would welcome an honor guard holding 3 x 5 flags lining the road as we leave at the start of the run and lining the road at the end of the run.

Support the Troop Demonstration planned for May 26 in Washington The National Park Service has granted a permit to Rolling Thunder to sponsor a "Support the Troops" demonstration on the Henry Bacon Drive field adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday May 26, 2007. This is the same location which was occupied by the anti-Americans on March 17. GOE and all will be invited to participate.. Let's put on a show of support for our troops. May 26th gives us an opportunity to send a message to the world that the American people clearly support our troops and the war...

Echoes of the past are heard as vets gather in D.C. to back the troops, oppose war protesters. Chris Hill visits the Wall every Veterans Day. He follows the path to Panel 4W, Line 36, and stops at the name Curtis R. Smoot. It's the same name on the POW-MIA bracelet Hill has worn for 22 years. Hill picked up the bracelet at an ROTC recruitment table in high school. He didn't know Smoot, but the bracelet was a poignant reminder of service and sacrifice during Hill's years with the Seventh Infantry Division in the late 1980s. At Panel 4W,...

The fierce determination of the eagle shown through in our nation’s capitol. They came from near and far, some as far away as Canada to answer the calling to defend our sacred memorials on March 17, 2007 from anti-war protesters who have been known to get out of control in recent marches. Ordinary Americans supporting the troops, and proud Vets from past and present wars, met up in Washington D.C. under the banner of the Gathering of Eagles. Approximately 30,000 Eagles came together to show that the voice of the silent majority, those who support the troops and their mission,...

On Saturday, I was privileged to participate in the Gathering of Eagles in our nation's capital. The gathering was arranged on short notice, mostly via the Internet, as a way for American military veterans to stand and defend our national memorials against any efforts at vandalism by anti-war (and anti-America) protesters from the group ANSWER (Act Now to Stop the War and End Racism). Members of that group had defaced the U.S. Capitol Building with spray-paint in January. The Gathering of Eagles was designed to assist the United States Park Police in defending the Vietnam Wall and other monuments against...

Monday, March 19, 2007 Leftists Supporting the Troops Discovered by a reader at Indymedia, this was the scene yesterday in Portland, Oregon, as “anti-war” demonstrators burned not only a US flag, but a US soldier in effigy. http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24853_Leftists_Supporting_the_Troops&only

This is a video that I already mentioned in another thread here but it is buried now. And I didn't put in a very good title originally for people to know what the topic was and that it was a video. For those that have seen it already I appoligize... but hope that those that missed it will enjoy.

Memorial Day gathering in DC for Veterans, GOE, Rolling Thunder, Freepers

.... If a man's or woman's political measure is to be taken by constancy and resolve in service of heartfelt conviction (and we certainly think so), then the actions of these veterans and their supporters -- and countless others like them -- speak for themselves.

This is a one person's view of the Pro War Rally held in Washington DC on March 17, 2007 in response to the anti-war protest movement.

Well, it’s over now, the assembly areas for the Gathering of Eagles is an empty hillside of churned mud, the antiwar protest field is less muddy but just as empty. It was a long day, but a good one. It started for me last night, when I went to visit one of the principal motels for the GOE movement, a Holiday Inn in Ballston, just outside DC. A friend and I walked in the door and were struck immediately with the sight of a couple dozen men in various kinds of clothing and insignia that marked them as Viet Nam...

This is an AAR from the General Discussion Forum on AR15.com with some great pics. Just click on the links and you'll see them. "I was proud to attend today's "Gathering of Eagles" (GOE) counter-protest to the large anti-war march to the Pentagon and was pleased find the attendance by many loyal veterans and Americans. Those carrying American flags and backing our men and women in uniform arrived and participated in very large numbers. I was impressed and pleased. The dingbats were also in very large numbers and behaved shamefully. They didn't do so without direct, loud and clear commentary...

Post pics,news,speeches on the Gathering of Eagles - These Colors Don't Run, Pro Troop Rally

Today CSPAN decided: a) not to cover the Gathering of Eagles rally, and b) to cover the Workers World Party's rally against America.With this deplorable decision, CSPAN has spit on the American military veteran. How can CSPAN make such a blatantly biased decision? Will they defend their decision, saying that "our" rally doesn't have any celebrities like Gold Star mother, Cindy Sheehan?What about the Gold Star mothers on our side who will be speaking? They may not have the name recognition that Cindy Sheehan has, but CSPAN viewers have a right (and an expectation) that their voices should carry equal...

BERLIN - In recent years, veterans have felt disrespected as war and recognition monuments in Washington, D.C., have been defaced by individuals who have joined in the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) annual March, but several residents have said they won't let it happen again. This Saturday, a group of individuals led by former Marine and Berlin resident Salvatore Sena will go to Washington to protect the monuments and protest any attempts to deface the property by forming a human wall, joining hand in hand with others from across the nation and even Canada. "Word has...

Forty years after the March on the Pentagon that Norman Mailer wrote into history in his "The Armies of the Night," a group of anti-war activists is planning a war protest with a large crowd at the same location. Only this time, there will be a difference. A grassroots group of counterprotesters will be on hand at the Mall this Saturday, March 17, to defend soldiers and their service. The Gathering of Eagles, a grassroots group, launched its Web site, gatheringofeagles.org, on February 10. Since that time, it has received more than 200,000 visitors. Organizers say the origin of the...

A local veterans organization will roll to Washington, D.C., this week to stand against anti-war protesters and protect national memorials. Ken White, president of Rolling Thunder Chapter 5, said he and about 10 of his fellow members will leave Saturday by van, not motorcycle. But that doesn't make Saturday's trek any less important. Rolling Thunder has sent a national call to members to stand guard against anti-war protesters led by Cindy Sheehan and Jane Fonda. "I think they're getting responses across the country," White said. "We're going to be barriers and human shields."The reason word went out to the 80...

The National Park Service has issued a permit for the Gathering of Eagles demonstration and rally on March 17 in Washington, D.C. as illustrated on the Eagle web site “Maps” link under “Sections”. BOTTOM LINE: AS UNACCEPTABLE AS THE PERMIT GRANTED IS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL We view the permit decision unacceptable and will be taking immediate steps to appeal what we believe is an unworkable decision. If the National Park Service is unfavorable to our appeal, our legal arm will pursue immediate court action to acquire an equitable, realistic solution. The good news...

March 17 Weekend Weather Forecast as of Sunday, March 11Friday, cloudy, in mid 50s daytime, Friday night into Saturday, upper 30s. Saturday, cloudy, low 40s daytime, Sat. night into Sunday, upper 20s. Rain is forecast Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The rain forecast movement is towards Tuesday, not towards the weekend, so just expect cooler weather. Hopefully it will get a little warmer.

            FIRST SET OF CARAVAN PICTURES ARE IN! THURSDAY, MARCH 8TH San Francisco, California Lafayette, California Vacaville, California Sacramento, California Stockton, California Fresno, California Bakersfield, California FRIDAY, MARCH 9TH Bakersfield, California Los Angeles, California Palm Springs, California Palm Desert, California SATURDAY, MARCH 10TH Blythe, California Phoenix, Arizona

....and head to Washington, D.C. for the Gathering of Eagles next weekend.Freeper #1 Jim Robinson has joined the Move America Forward caravan and is making the cross-country trek to join the Eagles as they protect the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and rally for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.March 17, 2007 has the potential to go down in history as the day Vietnam veterans, veterans of other eras and their fellow patriotic Americans stood up to the anti-American left in overwhelming numbers.Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan know about the Gathering of Eagles and are cheering us on. Will you let them...

The communist, pro-terrorist group International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) seems to realize they are facing a hot LZ on March 17. ANSWER has made significant changes in their plans since their initial announcement that they would hold their ‘antiwar’ rally at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Last week they changed the location of their rally from Constitution Gardens (East side of the Vietnam Memorial) to a park one block west of Memorial on Henry Bacon Drive. Yesterday, ANSWER announced they are only going to use the Henry Bacon Drive park as a meeting point for their...

Join up with Move America Forward's “These Colors Don’t Run!” Caravan to Washington, DC, March 8th through 17th! Move America Forward invites you to join us as we launch a national caravan leaving from San Francisco, California on Thursday, March 8, 2007 to Washington, D.C. where we will join "The Gathering of Eagles" for a giant pro-troop rally on Saturday March 17, 2007. Caravan Route - “THESE COLORS DON’T RUN”Click here for detailed Itinerary of Caravan Route!Click above for the detailed itinerary, but here is an overview of the route: THURSDAY, MARCH 8TH: San Francisco, Lafayette, Vacaville, Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno,...