Report from KC protest today

[MidwestMomma]

It was a beautiful day in Kansas City except for the foul stench that is the Resident 'n Thief. Thought we had a good turn out but the protestors were split between 2 different locations so hard to tell. I'm guessing a couple of hundred but I'm not a good guesstimator like the W.

Surprisingly, they let the protestors stand on the street corners directly across from the entrance to the Municipal Auditorium. The motorcade of evil passed right in front of the us on the way in so Bush had to have seen the protestors. My daughter said the people in the motorcade were all waving at the crowd but maybe they can't read so good.

There were people there from every walk of life and signs addressing every problem Bush has created for this country. I said to my daughter, How can one man be so wrong on so many issues? (I think that sounds like a good campaign sound bite....don't you?)

There was a woman with her baby there and the baby was holding a sign the said, "Grow up Bush". There was a man that circled the block in his pick up truck with a flag-draped coffin in the back with a sign on the back that said "At what cost". One sign said "Are you HIGH?" So many good signs.

The chants were good too...."AWOL, where were you in 72?" A man next to me said "Snorting coke and sniffing glue". The old standard, "Bush lied, people died" (that seemed to be the crowd favorite). "Bush is a liar" and many more.

We moved to the west side of the auditorium after the motorcade went by and waited for the the speech to be over. When the crowd from the speech started coming out the protestors started the "Bush lies, people die" chant to get our message to them. We could see the presenditial limo on our side of the building and waited for the W to exit. We were with a crowd standing on the corner directly across from the auditorium at the entrance to a parking garage. You could tell when he came out because of the LOUD boos that started. And then guess what...the motorcade turned right in front of us and cut through the garage so Bush got to see the protestors AGAIN! Yeah for KC!!!

I have to admit I got a little worked up when the limo went by and as the crowd was yelling all our various slogans all I could come up with was "Fuck you Bush". Boy, did it feel good to yell that.

So that's my report on the protest. I already have a sign in mind for the next..."HELL for the Commander n Thief" Peace to all.

[Plaid Adder]

1. Thanks, MidwestMomma!

Excellent report! It brought back happy memories of booing W's motorcade in Chicago not so long ago.

Any news on his trip to Indy tomorrow? I can't be there, but would be happy to spread the word if anyone has details.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[never cry wolf]

2. yeah, thanks for the report MM n/t

[Racenut20]

3. Not in Tampa

They never let us get that close. Good work KC, and I will see you on Oct 3 for the bbq feast, and the races at Kan speedway on the 4th.

[shirlden]

4. Thanks for the report.

I personally loved your salutation to Whistle Ass. That really must have felt good.

:bounce:

[cmd]

5. Way to go, KC

I love that you got to protest for the invited guests. Let's keep the ball rolling wherever he goes.

[soup]

6. Love this

"AWOL, where were you in 72?" A man next to me said "Snorting coke and sniffing glue".

That is soooo good!

Where were you on 911?
hiding in Nebraska, on the run.

(0r something that scans a little better)

Thank you for going and the excellent report.

By the way- the reason all you could come up with was to yell, "Fuck you Bush"? I was sending you subliminal messages. :evilgrin:

feels good just to write it.

Way to go Kansas City!

[zeemike]

8. How about

Where were you on 911?
hiding in Nebraska, sipping Segrams 7

[catmandu57]

7. Dammit I wanted to be there

Three things, 18 year old car with problems, cost of gasoline, no fu**ing money, well four actually, mobility is a bitch. It sounds good though no damn first ammendment zone.

[Plaid Adder]

12. I got it: Where were you on 9-1-1?

Cowering on Air Force One!

It rhymes one with one, but what the hell.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[Duncan Grant]

9. Thanks for the update, MidwestMomma!

Congrats! I hope pResident * had a temper tantrum in the limo!
:kick:

[disgruntella]

10. How can one man be so wrong on so many issues?

I agree, excellent sound bite. Many creative possiblilties!

[damnraddem]

11. Wow, two 'focus groups' in two different locations.

And they brought the WH Resident right past the focus groups, yet.

I wonder: did he focus?

[catmandu57]

13. I just saw the early news report

they interviewed a woman who had a somewhere in texas a village is missing it's idiot sign. They're supposed to go into greater detail tonight.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. Yeah, he focused.

Searching for employment.

[MidwestMomma]

15. I heard the initial protestors wouldn't stay in the designated zone..

I got there late but some others were saying that initially they were going to try to corral the protestors in some taped off zone but the protestors just started walking, cause it's not illegal to walk on the public sidewalks, and then they just kind of settled on the 2 corners and the police let them stay there. Anybody on the board know the whole story?

The police were pretty cool. They liked it when some of the protestors started some chants like, "No to Bush, yes to better Police Pensions". Somebody told them we had good police officers, not like the ones in Portland and that got a smile too.

KCTV-5 was interviewing alot of protestors but they only had a short blurb way at the end of the 4:30 news. I was starting to think there wasn't a protest today based on the news but maybe there will be more coverage at 6:00. Lewis W. Diuguid, a Kansas City Star columnist, was out working the crowd and talked to quite a few people so I'm hoping for a column tomorrow showing the opposition's view.

Wanted to send a public thanks to DU'er graphixtech for her/his encouragement in the activism forum to attend the protest. It was everything you said it would be! Thanks...

[graphixtech]

19. Yes, that is correct

I was nearby and witnessed that important issue firsthand.

As people initially started gathering, two policemen told the largest line of protesters on the sidewalk that the SS directed them to move up, to atop the Ellis Park area. That area was a nice boarded in area, pretty well out of bothersome sight.
The two men who were first appoached said that they would rather stay put and refused. I have a couple of photos of that exchange.
A splinter group began to march up and down the first side street, which was directly across the street from the "invited guests" line. Some stayed there, some went to the other side.

Some of the young folks cursed the police a lot, and it seemed they showed some restrainst in not responding. One foolish guy must have wanted to go to jail because he ran after the limo after it drove past.

I guess most of the KC police were decent, but I do have serious concern about one incident I witnessed. Spoke with the afsc head, and may follow up with looking into it with someone.

I flipped through the coverage and thought that Channel 4 had the best protest coverage. Channel 5 seemed to take a strange angle that we can still have 'fun' with politics. The protesting angry citizens did not strike me as funny.

Lewis will probably have a future article about this protest (his typical style) . Look for a good one in the next week or two.

Was this your first protest midwest momma?

I had taken the Metro bus downtown, walked a mile in the morning, another mile or two in the hot afternoon. I am pretty wiped out.

edit: Thanks for your great post, midwest momma!

[graphixtech]

21. also,

forgot to mention that there were many UNION men there.

My best Union guy photo sign is
'UNIONS BUILT AMERICA,
WHY are you Trying to DESTROY THEM?"

I know the guy who stood his ground and refused to move (an old aquaintence). Wonder if that might make an excellent issue interview for someone.

[MidwestMomma]

25. Yes, this was my first protest

And like I said above, thanks for your encouraging words about going that you posted in the thread in the activism forum. My daughter and I took your advice and just went down and hung out. You were so right. It was great to hang out with a group of people that feel the same way you do and who don't get offended when you call Bush a whistle ass! A very energizing day to be sure.

With Missouri being so important, I'm sure the W will be back many times in the next year. Next time, I'm bringing a sign!

ps Can't wait to see your pictures. We took a camera but the batteries were dead. There were so many great signs and so many great people.

[graphixtech]

16. 350-400

is my estimate. I walked around on both sides of the U shaped park and made a specific effort to get an accurate count. Never seen so many cops and men in black in one place. We listened to the cowboy speak on portable radios outside.

I will write a short report and share a couple observions, tonight or tomorrow. Lots of photos.

[jafap]

22. really?

I was guessing less than 100, maybe a dozen or score with Dean signs. We were way out numbered by the people lining the block to see him. Also we did not get nearly the media coverage, which to me is the whole point. KCTV 5 was about 4-1 against, not even including the speech and run-ups. What is the point of letting JR know that we hate him, especially when our numbers are so small? He is reaching way more people with his media and his money.
I was the first one there, as far as I know, but I did not try to do a head count. I stayed on the square because I had no desire to look at him, nor did I care if he saw me. The western group seemed more confrontational with the police, so I went and joined the eastern group after I thought he had passed. Then 15-20 minutes later after an argument with a fat Coulter reader (I did not engage in the argument) suddenly here comes the motorcade, driving like a Janklow out of hell. I did not know what to do - turn my back, flip him off, or what. Later, I decided that I should have given his motorcade a Nazi salute, and just so they would not take it the wrong way, I could fly the bird with my left hand.
Anyway, I wish I had used my time while I was waiting to prepare a speech. Then the crowd could have heard something besides "Bush lied". Of course, one guy was going with a bull horn, and he probably was a better speaker than me anyway. He did not make the evening news though, some star-struck 9 year old did. She probably felt the same way I would have about Nixon in 1973. Only when is JR going to be held accountable?

[graphixtech]

30. this was the FIRST protester,

and a very BOLD one, I might add.

This brave young man arrived early and continuously marched up and down with this sign "Bush Lies", quietly alongside the growing line of people waiting to see Bush.

I thought him bold and excellent.


Tonight, I will post a thread for website of photos for anyone who may be interested in seeing KC Bush protest photos. These would have been finished and posted by now, if not for a family crisis on Friday.

After looking at the photos just now, I am reminded of a few things and may write a short compilation about a couple factors I witnessed.

(p.s. My digital camera was giving me fits that day. For some reason, the resolution is not as fine as it should be. Regardless, I plan to post them anyway because, for those interested, the photos are much better than nothing.

Peace.

[MidwestMomma]

35. Can't wait for the photos and your thoughts

It was a good day. I only saw one Support the Troops/Support Bush sign. I thought that was a good sign that maybe people are starting to question their blind loyalty to the scum of the earth.

Two guys did walk down the street in front of the protestors yelling "We like Bush!" But they did not get all ugly or anything with the protestors. Just had a little parade of their own.

[pstokely]

36. all of the Chimpbots must have been inside

at least 75% of them were white

[graphixtech]

37. more like . . .

95% were lily white (witness).

A long night with my photo discovery – looking through my Bush protest photos underscores the need to send a couple photos to locals involved US civil liberty legal issues.

plus (ongoing) teen crisis. 3 am now.
If anyone cares, I will post a photo link tomorrow. (most pics are prepared)

wonder- Is it worth the effort - does anyone care to see KC protest photos anyway?

[graphixtech]

38. duplicate

n/t

[Neecy]

17. it was great!

I'm still shocked the cops allowed us so close to Bunnypants. And kudos to the KCPD for their courtesy and professionalism.

I got to flip off the motorcade...my day's work is done.

It was also fun taunting the sheep filing into the auditorium to hear their Human God.

Great job, Kansas City! Let him know that carrying MO is '04 won't be a cakewalk.

[BuelahWitch]

18. I was there in a Pink Slip!

Three of us from Lawrence, KS took our cue from some LA ladies and dressed in pink slips to signify Bush needed a pink slip. We had one for him AND for Dick, but no one came over to pick them up. Wonder why???? :shrug:

[MODemocrat]

20. My husband really enjoyed the signs at the protest in Kansas City

He said he saw one that said "Crawford Texas is missing an idiot".

Surprised me that the tv stations here would show the protestors.

[MissouriTeacher]

23. Good work everyone!

Wish I could have been there.

There's even a small picture of you on the Kansas City Star's homepage.

www.kcstar.com

[MissouriTeacher]

24. See if this works

[Fleshdancer]

26. Allowing the protesters to get that close to the entrance...

...makes me think Missouri is trying to apologize for that whole john ashcroft situation.

[graphixtech]

27. misspoke?

another KC thread on DU:

http://democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=277132

I wonder if Bush made the Kansas reference because many of the audience were big wigs who drove over from Kansas. I also watched a couple busloads of suits dropped off and then wait in the long line to get in.
Johnson County is home to some BIG players, and I think they extremely infuential around this area.

[reachout]

28. Coverage

There is a good AP wire story about the protest, giving a count of 300 and containing several good quotes from people attending.

I'm growing increasingly disgusted with NPR where they tossed out a line about a "handful of protestors" at the end of a report on Bush's speech.

[spooky3]

29. Terrific report and I love your campaign slogan suggestion.

[buddhamama]

31. way to go!

thanks MidwestMomma and all the good people who were there with you :toast:

[AnnabelLee]

32. Thanks for the reports,

MidwestMomma & graphixtech! To everyone who turned out to protest bunnypants: :yourock:

[Skittles]

33. THANKS MWMOMMA

I LOVE THESE TESTIMONIALS. :thumbsup:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

34. thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you MMomma!

:yourock: :grouphug: