Thanks to Riley for updating with my tweets during today’s McCain/Palin Rally. The rally exceeded expectations. It really energized Northern Virginia. I had some concerns going in, considering the attitude and lack of enthusiasm for Republicans in Northern Virginia. However today’s rally turned all that around. The crowd was huge and enthusiastic. McCain and Palin were on!
The lines were long, but everyone was in good spirits. Thank you to the residents of Fairfax City for allowing this event to take place. Especially to those who live on the streets the lines stretched through. Also to the moms and dads who were just trying to drop off their kids at school. I’m sure the household at the corner Old Lee Highway and Old Post Road is thankful as well. They are ardent Democrats and have a huge Obama sign a couple of Warner signs and others. Not a single sign was touched even though nearly 30,000 Republicans stood in line and walked past their home. I just wonder if the same would have been the case if it had been a Dem rally and Republican signs.
There were a few protesters out, as to be expected, but they were pretty much unnoticed. Code Pink was there with all of about 6 ladies in dresses. Can you give it up already? You are really not helping yourselves. The Democrat committee was there with protesters. I think there were maybe about 30 of them across the street from the park entrance. Really couldn’t have much of effect considering they were blocked by traffic from actually being seen. I would give praise to Green Peace. They had two teenagers/20 somethings handing out global warming fliers and a guy in a polar bear suit (poor guy in the suit – he probably had some global warming going on today). They were being very respectful to all, even when some of the rally attendees weren’t being respectful back. Job well done guys – very atypical of the standard M.O. of Green Peace.
I shot some video – hopefully I’ll be able to make some time over the next couple of days to slice and dice into something decent for posting.
Update: Here’s a little video tribute to today’s rally!
Filed under: 2008 Elections
[...] Hirons of Virginia Virtucon, who live-Twittered the rally while he was there, has this report: The rally exceeded expectations. It really energized Northern Virginia. I had some concerns [...]
Scott, great report. Your point about how 30K enthusiastic GOP’ers can walk by an Obama sign without incident is very telling about the true strength and decency of Republicans. Same thing in Boston 4 years ago and Denver this year. But NYC 4 years ago and Minneapolis this year were full of Democrat crazies with bomb threats and smashing windows. Quite the contrast, which so often plays out in policy and deed.
Lastly, who’s seen how poor Obama was under pressure from O’Reilly? I just keep cringing when I picture that guy going to talk Ahmadinejad out of building a nuclear weapon. Actually, scares the hell out of me.
[...] the mean spirit, anger and out right outragous behavior by Obama supporters. Back in September I reported on the McCain/Palin rally held in Fairfax City. As I reported then a home that the line to enter the rally passed in front [...]