Only 3 protesters in Lebanon, Ohio, today?

[Kukesa]

Our largest Dayton TV station, WHIO, just reported there were only 3 protesters in Lebanon today where shrub spoke at the Golden Lamb restaurant. There were hundreds and hundreds of white, affluent, folks adoring him and every word he said.

My understanding was that we (protesters) were supposed to meet at the public library on Broadway at 12:45 pm today. This morning's newspaper stated that Broadway as well as three other streets would be closed beginning at 8:30 am. How were we supposed to get to the library? I was discouraged and didn't attend; seems like a lot of other folks were unable to get to the library, too.

Anyone want to guess why those streets were closed and who closed them?

[MSgt213]

1. Sure Bush's people had them close you can't get any where near him

[FatSlob]

2. There were only three protestors...

...because most were "discouraged and didn't attend". Activism means activity.

[Kukesa]

5. Ticket?

See, FatSlob, I didn't have a ticket. The crowd was hand-picked and the questions were scripted. The Golden Lamb Restaurant is owned by US Rep. Rob Portman's - R-Cincinnati - family.

The tickets were distributed through Portman's office and they didn't ask me to come to their party.

Imagine that.

We'll get 'em next time.

[VolcanoJen]

12. The Golden Lamb is owned by Rob Portman's family!!?????!!?

I never, ever knew that!!! Absolutely fascinating! Is the Golden Lamb still owned by The Maisonette Group?

[Kukesa]

14. Portman's Restaurant.

According to the "Dayton Daily News" it is:

"The inn is owned by the family of U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Cincinnati."

Here's the letter I sent to the two women (and their boss) who wrote the DDN story this morning:


Ladies:

Your article in this morning's "Dayton Daily News" about President Bush's style fitting so perfectly in Lebanon left out what I consider an important fact: where were the protesters?


I'll tell you where -- they were at home because they couldn't get into the PUBLIC area -- they didn't have tickets. The streets were closed at 8:30 am and no access was allowed unless you were a ticket-holding-Bush-supporter. There was no "Free Speech Zone."


Rob Portman's office handed out the tickets to the event -- the crowd was hand picked; lots of white, affluent types, I might add. Hardly the "essence of America" you wrote about.


I suggest you do some homework and background before you start spouting about Kettle Korn and hotdogs, and antique shops in middle America. Free speech is an American right, too.


It boiled down to this: No Tickee, No Prezee.

Please try to be more objective in the future.

Kukesa
Dayton, Ohio

[VolcanoJen]

15. Well, well, well, isn't that interesting about Portman?

From his official bio, here:

http://portman.house.gov/Biography/

Rob serves as the statewide Communications Chair for Bush-Cheney 2004, ensuring that the Campaign's message is heard in the state of Ohio. During the 2000 Bush Cheney campaign, Rob served as a policy advisor and played the roles of both Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman and presidential candidate Al Gore in mock debates.

I was kinda scratching my head when I first heard Chimpy McFlightSuit was coming to Lebanon. What the hell for? Now, it's all clear. Thanks, Congressman Portman!! :puke:

And, by the way, that was one helluva great letter you wrote, Kukesa-Mom!! :D

[cmd]

16. Love your letter, Kukesa

we just have to keep hammering away.

[Kukesa]

6. Activism means activity.

I totally agree, FatSlob. I sent a letter to the TV station that reported "only 3 protesters . . ." and asked them to do some homework and background before they spout off like they did. I also sent an email to the local newspaper.

C'mon -- ya gotta give me a little credit, doncha?

[FatSlob]

7. Credit given!

[Kukesa]

8. Thanx.

N/T

[cmd]

3. He closed down I-75 ?

Just so he could ride through on his French Canadian buses?

[Kukesa]

9. I-75 Closed?

Yep, coalminersdaughter, that's what I heard on the radio; all entrance ramps to the interstate were closed, too, until after the motorcade passed.

Maybe he didn't want folks to see that Canadian-made bus.

He's such a copy-cat. It was Big Dog Clinton who originated the tour-America-by-bus theme (in an American-made bus).

[VolcanoJen]

4. Welcome to the Free Speech Time Zone!!

That's pretty tricky, but I gotta give 'em props. Wouldn't want to desecrate the flag-draped Bush-Boosting avenues of Lebanon with some dirty hippie protesters, after all.

About 200 showed up outside Cincinnati Gardens... it should have been 2,000, but, then again, we're talking about Bush Country when it comes to the 'Nati.

It's ok, really. Protesting is intimidating (the Bush intimidation tactics contribute to this fear, of course) to a lot of good-hearted Democrats who will vote in 2004 anyway... still, I would have hoped for a better turnout.

He'll be back... this is Battleground Ohio after all, and honestly, we Democratic Buckeyes need to strap our marching boots on.

Very illuminating report, mom!
Jennifer :-)

[FatSlob]

10. The crowd.

I must say, it seemed that the crowd at the Bush rally was very into it. The news coverage was very positive for his campaign, and local radio broadcast the stump speech. It was a very well orchestrated event, I feel it was better received in Cincy than Senator Kerry's recent visit, Bush certainly got much more press. That isn't unexpected here. The area, excepting the City of Cincy itself, is very Republican. I can't think of any suburban cities that even have a Dem majority on council. Norwood is the exception, but a Norwood Democrat is usually more like a Republican.

[VolcanoJen]

11. Cincy Crowds Gather to Support Bush

OK, I'm seriously, seriously kidding about that photo. Just trying to inject a little humor here; sometimes it's all we have. :D

Don't give up hope about Hamilton County yet. Republicans may be loud and proud in the county, but they still only managed to deliver 54% of the vote for Bush in 2000. 54%??!!? I certainly would have expected more, especially in the 'Nati.

I have to disagree with you a bit about Kerry's Cincinnati visit. It received heavy local press coverage; WCPO (Channel 9 - and don't forget "9 Stands For News" - carried his speech live, as it was in the afternoon and didn't interfere with prime-time programming) and 4,000 turned out to support him at Sawyer Point. Sawyer Point ain't the Gardens. 4,000 is onehelluva good turnout, and it definitely surprised me. Kerry supporters had to take the afternoon off work to see him; Bush's Gardens event was held in the evening.

There are far more Dems in this town than even we realize. 54% in 2000??!!?? That's the best they could do?? We can overcome that; in fact, I think it might be easier than we thought.

There's a good article, for a change, in the Cincinnati Enquirer about Bush's visit here; I do find it intriguing that the only photo gallery on the Enquirer's site involves the Golden Lamb visit. Did the Enquirer even send a photographer to the Cincinnati Gardens for the big rally? Or were the pictures... well... not so good....?

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/05/05/loc_bush05.html

Excerpt:

Present to show opposition to Bush was a contingent from the Hamilton County Democratic Party. Members held a large sign that read: "Mission Not Accomplished.'' The reference was to the May 1, 2003, Bush declaration that the major fighting in Iraq was over.

"We think it pretty much sums up the whole administration,'' said Adam Michael Rosenberg, executive director of the party. "While Hamilton County has a reputation for being conservative, there's an unbelievable amount of Democrats here, all of whom are angry and upset.''

Bush won Hamilton County in 2000 with 54 percent of the vote. The strength of his campaign in Ohio will depend heavily on turning out the Republican vote in Hamilton County and neighboring counties.

[FatSlob]

13. Surprised I missed the Kerry on TV.

I guess I was at work.

[Philostopher]

19. You know why that is, don't you, Jen?

It's because so many of the core Republican voters have flown for the suburbs and beyond. When 'those people' leave the city, what's left? Blue collar workers, minorities and the poor. Just a wild guess, here -- if they vote, they probably vote disproportionately for Democrats.

Also, if I recall correctly, there were some really hot GOTV efforts in Clifton/Corryville in '96 (we donated to several different drives friends were involved in). But you can't swing a dead elephant without hitting a Republican in Clermont, Brown, Warren, Butler or even Adams County. The surrounding counties didn't used to be that way when I was a kid. Sure, they were fairly conservative -- but it's like Mom (who still lives around there) says, she can't remember the last time a Democrat was elected for any office in Clermont County above dogcatcher.

To be strictly correct, I believe their current auditor's name is Carolyn Greene, and she is a Democrat, but I doubt anybody will misunderstand the comic license. It's almost that bad. The dogcatcher is probably a Republican.

[MsMagnificent]

17. That episode is VERY scary in re our Civil Rights!

I mean, OK so we still have Freedom of Speech, but if you can't GET to or have ACCESS to a PUBLIC PLACE to exercise that Right, then WTF GOOD is it?

Akin to the metaphor of 'a tree falling in a forest does it make noise'; if a person speaks up & uses their Right of Free Speech in an otherwise vacant house - does it make any difference?

VERRY Scary!

[Kukesa]

18. Verry Scary, indeed.

And what was just as scary is that I can't get the local newspaper or TV stations to give me the time of day.

Any ideas of what else I can do?

I can't afford to advertise on a billboard.