View from Someone "Right"
“I left God’s country,” said Leon Mosley of Waterloo, Iowa, co-chairman of [the] state [Republican] party. “They could use a bunch of people from Iowa to come here to show New Yorkers what life is all about, what being patriotic is all about, and what country is all about.”
Oh, to be in New York this week…! More from that bastion of conservatism, the New York Times. (Don’t forget about BugMeNot if you don’t want to register with the Times.)
Comments:
I was there all day Sunday - what a zoo! Photos and stories forthcoming.
SWEET. (And why and I not surprised? Well done.)
Speaking of patriotism we have been invited to a party tomorrow by a former Swift Boat captain in Vietnam. Yes, it is a fundraiser. I’m looking forward to hearing the story from one who was actually there.
They could use a bunch of people from Iowa to come here to show New Yorkers what life is all about, what being patriotic is all about, and what country is all about.
People from Iowa were definitely in the demonstration yesterday. We had a lot of out-of-towners. In any case, it’s not like these windbags are seeing anything remotely like the NY where people actually live and carry on with their lives. And it makes me sick to see Guiliani and Bloomberg encourage these good ‘ol boys. Apparently, they don’t like winning elections.
Sarah and I were there during the float-burning. IMHO, the cops let it happen. Protesters were clearing out of the way, us included, and the anarchists were obviously up to something prior to that, because everyone was giving them the wide berth. So why didn’t anybody do something? They were all gung-ho about running in after everyone had taken pictures of the float on fire. Why didn’t someone do something beforehand? Probably because thing-on-fire makes for better photograph than seveteen year olds in cuffs.
Just what the Republicant’s need - another moron spouting off (isn’t the one they have in the oval office enough?).
Yeah, I’m sure New Yorkers don’t know the first thing about patriotism - what with 9/11 and all.
Maybe if a few airplanes had take out the Des Moines Hyatt, that putz from Hooterville might have a different perspective - but I doubt it.
We arrived at 14th street and 7th Ave. around 10:30 Sunday morning and slowly wandered North, through an ocean of signs, buttons, t-shirts, costumes, performers, musicians, drum circles and cardboard coffins draped with American flags, and were near 23rd street at noon when the march kicked off. During most of the march we were completely surrounded. 7th Ave. was packed curb to curb with protesters of all ages, races, religions and sexual preferences; at times it was impossible to walk without bumping into someone. The area around Madison Square Garden was VERY heavily guarded. There were police on foot lining the barricades, police on horseback behind them, police on top of the Garden marquis. There were even a few secret service agents. But everything stayed peaceful and civilized and we finished the 40+ block march without incident.
Checking the news in Connecticut Sunday night, the march was still going strong. I didn’t know that we were close to the front; there seemed to be many, many people ahead of us. Apparently it was just that massive.
I had the opportunity to participate in the RingOut ceremony (see http://www.ringout.org/) — quiet and solemn, a powerful response to the madness around the Garden.
My photos will be up tomorrow; in the meantime, Gothamist has some great links to galleries and posts continuing through the week.
Cool.
Thank you so much, Rachel and Evan and all for putting in the words for those of us that can’t join you. Please do stay safe.
Pictures (out of order) here:
http://gallery94759.fotopic.net/c273596.html