Liveblogging GOE: Hour one; Update: 1:30pm Eastern; Update: 5:00pm Eastern “Fuck Bush,” “Oink Oink!”; GOE leader Col. Harry Riley: “We’re not going away.”
Update 5:45pm Eastern. Here’s the AP’s dispatch mentioning some of the arrests of demonstrators who jumped the fence at the base of the Capitol. We were up the steps in the middle of the crazies who started barking “Fascism!” when the police took away the fence-jumpers.
Update 5:00pm Eastern. Well, they came, they spewed, they cursed. Several thousand Soros marchers descended on the Capitol yelling “Fuck Bush” and “Fuck you” at Gold Star Families. As Capitol Hill police arrested the “die-in” participants, young peaceniks shouted “What does a pig look like? The Capitol police” and “Oink! Oink! Oink.” Others shrieked about “Fascism!” and gleefully performed “Sieg Heil” salutes. We’ll have video from the midst of the moonbats. Across from Taft Park, some anti-American demonstrators waving a large, upside-down American flag and pulling a coffin with Army boots got in a scuffle with Eagles. We’ll have that video of that as well.
It’s difficult to make any crowd estimates at this point. The Eagles were spread all along the protest/counterprotest route. From our vantage point, the Eagles were several thousand strong. And many will be back tomorrow and throughout the week lobbying on Capitol Hill. As Col. Harry Riley told me just now:
“We’re not going away.”
Stay tuned.
WaPo spares a few paragraphs for the Eagles here. More from Pam at Blogmeister USA.
Update 3:17pm Eastern. I’m hearing that the peaceniks are throwing eggs at the Eagles.
Naturally, by the way, the Yahoo! News photo gallery is full of anti-war protest photos, but none I see so far from the Walter Reed Freeper/Eagle rally last night or the Eagles’ gathering this morning.
Update 3:15pm Eastern. The Associated Press gives the moonbats top billing in this piece on the protests today. Here’s the brief mention of the Eagles:
About 13 blocks away, nearly 1,000 counter-protesters gathered near the Washington Monument, frequently erupting in chants of “U-S-A” and waving American flags.
They planned to line both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue to confront anti-war protesters as they marched by and follow them to the Capitol.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson, speaking from a stage to crowds clad in camouflage, American flag bandanas and Harley Davidson jackets, said he wanted to send three messages.
“Congress, quit playing games with our troops. Terrorists, we will find you and kill you,” he said. “And to our troops, we’re here for you, and we support you.”
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., made a surprise visit to the counter-protest, which was organized by the group Gathering of Eagles. The group was created this year by veterans who wanted to challenge war protesters.
“We’re a people of faith, courage and fidelity,” said Hunter, a 2008 presidential candidate. “It’s for this generation that we will win this war on terror.”
There are counter-protesters spread everywhere along the route, FYI. Still no sign of the ANSWER crowd here at the Capitol yet.
Update 2:15pm Eastern. Hanging with the Eagles at the foot of the Capitol. No sign of the Pinkos and the Answeristas, but there were still MORE young leftists cruising on their Segways.
Update 1:40pm Eastern. A few photos up at Victory Caucus.
Update: 1:30pm Eastern. I’ve just finished interviewing several Gold Star parents who are here to ensure that their children’s names are not used and exploited by the ANSWER thugs preparing to hold a “die-in” at the base of the Capitol. The ANSWER mob is on its way here from the White House. They’ll be marching some 25 blocks to get here. The Eagles have thanked Capitol Hill police all along the route. There have been only a sprinkling of moonbats along the way. The weirdest sight so far:
Anti-war activists riding around on Segways in groups of 5 or 6.
Soros Segways, perhaps?
Photos coming.
Update 10:35am Eastern. The anti-Cindy Sheehans are here! Blue Star mom Deborah Johns: “Cindy Sheehan doesn’t speak for me. She has never spoken for me. And she will never speak for me! We are winning this war. Now let our troops finish their job!…We are not going to let the domestic enemies at home defeat us like they did [during the Vietnam War.]…No retreat, no surrender. Not now. Not ever!…We are not 50 red states or blue states. We are the United States of America…These colors don’t run.”
Debbie Lee, mother of the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq, Mark A. Lee, speaks. Describing her son’s heroism. “You can’t ‘take’ someone’s life who gives it…and Mark willingly gave his life….God redeployed Mark to heaven.”
Singer Diana Nagy performs.
***
9:45am. The Gathering of Eagles are on Madison Ave. and 7th in front of the Capitol. Melanie Morgan of Move America Foward and Kristinn Taylor of FreeRepublic.com have just addressed a growing crowd. A priest ends his invocation: “Surrender is not a word in our vocabulary.”
Larry Bailey and Chris Hill of Gathering of Eagles have welcomed the activists. Hill: “What happened in Vietnam will not happen to this generation.” Hill mentions a 9/11 survivor who brought a large American flag flying on stage. “That’s what we fight for.”
Hill pumping up the crowd: “All across the country people are yelling at the television sets when they see Code Pink. They are looking for us. Yell loud enough so they can hear us. Yell loud enough so our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan can hear us.” Crowd is chanting: “USA, USA, USA!”
“It’s time for us to yell back…We’re not taking it anymore.”
Pete Hegseth of Vets for Freedom:
“I figured I’d seize this opportunity to quote a man best known for his $400 haircut. He claims there are two Americas in this country. For once, he’s right. There are two Americas…on display here today.
One America here today to desecreate our war memorials…those who want to retreat from the battlefield teeming with Islamic extremists
On the other hand, there are those who are here to defend our memorials, who understand the threat we face. This America. Our America…We cannot let a bunch of sign-waving, slogan-chanting protesters…speak for us.”
Hegseth mentions the MoveOn.org ad. “Stand up to the voices of defeat and retreat….As an infantryman who fought over there, I understand the difficulties…al Qaeda has drawn the line in the sand…I understand that Gen. Petraeus is working with American soldiers, brave Iraqis, to turn the tide in Iraq…Americans are saying, ‘We want victory.’”
“History will judge us not by when we leave, but by what we leave behind…Tell Congress to have as much courage on Capitol Hill as our soldiers have on the front lines.”
Brad Blakeman of the newly-created Freedom’s Watch now addressing the crowd. “Message to Code Pink: There’s a new sheriff in town and we plan to be around a long time.”
Military of the Order of Purple Heart commander Henry Cook on stage welcoming the crowd.
Popular singer Lloyd Marcus performs, “Remember 9/11.”
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A bomb threat against the Gathering of Eagles Update: Meet the IVAW jerk ; Update: More threats to “waste” counterprotesters
March 10, 2008 05:59 PM by Michelle Malkin
139 Comments
Rallying for recruiters–and gearing up for next ANSWER paroxysm
March 9, 2008 10:47 AM by Michelle Malkin
24 Comments
A rally in Times Square…while anarchists cheer the bombing
March 7, 2008 09:36 AM by Michelle Malkin
41 Comments“You do realize that Malkin is a C.F.R member made to be a puppet for the Globalist agenda right?”
September 18, 2007 12:30 PM by Michelle Malkin
49 CommentsPhotoblogging Gathering of Eagles 3: Us and Them…plus bonus Rolling Thunder vs. Code Pink video…and more photos added
September 15, 2007 10:18 PM by Michelle Malkin
73 Comments
Photoblogging: The Gathering of Eagles at Walter Reed
September 14, 2007 11:56 PM by Michelle Malkin
30 Comments
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Go Eagles!!! I’m with you.
Wish I could be there!
Please shake someones hand for me today.
Nothing on tv covering this. I remember back in March they covered it on CSPAN but this time nothing. All of the cable news networks continue to pound OJ and the moveon, giving them way too much free publicity, but nothing so far on the pro military gathering.
They did have somebody from ANSWER and Gathering of Eagles on this morning on CSPAN. The majority of the callers however were of the moonbat type. They are much better at this activist stuff and of course they have more then a little bit of help on the inside to promote their message.
Keep going. Everybody that is not there notify your local and the cable news networks. Bug them enough and maybe, just maybe the GOE can get about 10 seconds of mention. If Fox wants to be “Fair and Balanced” they would have to devote the rest of the day to covering the GOE to counter how much they have devoted to moveon.
Just a grunt, I saw that also and CSPAN said they were taping it to be shown tomorrow.
Michelle, Bryan, we’re praying for you and all Americans! Have fun, stay warm (it’s chilly up here in PA).
AMEN!
I’m Michael, Terri’s husband and returned from Iraq in Feb. Our daughter is recovering from surgery but we are with you in spirit. This time next year I will be stationed at a post in the DC area. Thank you all for going. God Bless you all!
michael g
Not directly on topic but check this out. Very scary.
http://www.glennbeck.com/news/09142007b.shtml
Schools Next???
The one disturbing part of the CSPAN discussion this morning was that the guy from GOE mentioned that Code Pink and ANSWER were running anti war and anti American ads in the Iraqi newspapers. This is the first I have heard of this and if true this definitely puts these groups in the terrorists camps. I think they should be handled as enemy combatants. It is one thing to oppose the war here but to take an active part in encouraging the insurgents and terrorists on the battlefield is totally despicable.
Damn, I wish I could be there – God Bless the Eagles, and all who share the pavement with them today, either in person or in spirit!
( Probably warmer there this morning than here too… brrrrrrr )
Keep up the great work!
Hey Michael, Welcome Home! and thank you, best wishes to you’re Daughter.
I wish Michelle would give us a crowd estimate for GOE.
The Answer “rally” looks like a bust – maybe a couple of thousand people from what I saw in Lafayette Park.
I seem to remember something about that a while back – running anti-war ads in the Iraqi media…
Someone needs to recheck that claim and see if it is true, was ever true, and if so, if they’re still doing it.
That is completely dispicable.
If that is not treason, I don’t know what is.
Just a grunt , I missed that part, they should be expelled from our country. Today.
I’m there in spirit!
God bless you all.
lol Rick on CSPAN this morning the witch said they were not enough buses and it would be in the 10′s of Thousands.
I can’t recall a diplomatic success where talk stopped a terrorists bullet. No recall where flag waving leftists stopped a terrorists bomb. No MSM ‘report’ that intervened to create a cease fire whereby guns, rockets or explosives were willingly given up; Where pink banners and surrender talk kept Islamofacists from killing innocent persons. The thought that dialogue will create peace is a wonderful but non-realistic idea when confronting radical Islam. Our wonderful men and women in the military are our country’s future. Bless them all and curse the day our politicians surrender us to Islam.
witch being the ANSWER liar. she also spewed that 650 thousand number of civilians killed.
On September 15th, 2007 at 11:04 am, ajmontana said:
witch being the ANSWER liar. she also spewed that 650 thousand number of civilians killed.
Tell them to prove it with pictures and DNA …
I am so proud to be a member of this part of Amercia. I truly wish I could be there. My heart is. God bless America.
drillanwr,
They can all jump off the Golden Gate bridge for all I care.
Wish I were there. I hope to go one time at least. GOE are in my prayers.
Traitors, they are putting our troops in peril with this kind of garbage. Who will put their sorry a$$es in peril?
Granee had this posted in comments section of rightwingnuthouse.
code pink ad
Unbelievable this “bullcrap ” can happen in time of war.
Go Michelle and Eagles!!
I’m with everyone in spirit also! Thanks for the liveblogging!
I’ll be thinking of you all with our Barbecue and cold beer later!
USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!!
That’s 25 blocks of pavement that will need sanitizing after these germs are finished marching on it.
The Leftists always say Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11. Despite the proof of his ties with terrorists, that is true but not the point. Afghanistan was about 9/11. That was dealt with. Iraq was about Saddam. That was dealt with. The original cause for attacking those countries is over. We are victorious.
It is the terrorists who are interfering. They’ve long since “moved on” from the mere taking of airplanes and cruise ships just for the hostages.
I honor our troops, and their mission. Those two things cannot be separated. I will go to my grave believeing that the Iraq War was legally and morally the right thing to do.
As for the contemptible human beings that make up Moveon.org, I suggest they move to Venezuela or Syria right now so that they can see how fantastic we have things in America.
May God Bless the Eagles.
http://blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com/2007/03/31/the-iraq-war-legally-morally-right-then-now/
Respectfully,
eric
Howdy gang!
GOD Bless our troops and GOE!
Thanks you for another great job Michelle. Stop by the local car wash when you are done. You will need high pressure to get all of the slime off of you after going into the belly of that beast.
I pray GOD’S covering over you and may a special angel be assigned to you this day in JESUS’ name!
Howdy Soap!,
Go Eagle’s!!!
Wow!!!
Flashback 1970:
6th Cav out of Ft. Meade, MD. riot control duty in DC every weekend.
Was that John Kerry and Jane Fonda I just saw again. Fix Bayonets!
Wow, bad idea, these lamebrains are definetly not Phi Beta Kappa.
I pray that is not true.
If it is, I pray they have those rotten tomatoes I sent!
P.S. tomaotes is spelles right.
Pour me a cold one aj, this could get interesting!
More like:
Che buncha crappa
How peaceful of them. Shows them for the hypocrites they are. Once again the left is showing its intolerance. Why would anyone want to be governed by people with these values and lack of love for their country? So much for the entire Democratic candidates. If the candidates don’t speak out against these people then apparently they support them.
lol, soap you got it, I’m steppin out, beware of the trolls.
lol, feeb, was the one but it’s
Tomato and Tomatoes plural. Watch out for flying eggs, They should have enough eggs their all chickens.
Thanks for the updates, Michelle. Any idea on the total turnout, both sides?
Just came if from doing 4 hours of honey do’s in the yard. I am beat, but still wish I could be with the Eagles. Just viewed the pictures at the Victory Caucus and the pictures appear to show a pretty poor showing for the surrender monkeys and moonbats. The GOE gathering appears to be very impressive and my thanks to Congressman Duncan Hunter for taking the time to drop-by and address the crowd. One of the few in the beltway that actually represents us and in my opinion would make an outstanding President.
Boomer:
Same here for the yardwork….
All in all, I’d rather be in DC.
Keep up the updates, Michelle – would love to get an estimate of the headcounts from someone OTHER than AP.
Cursing at Gold Star Families?
They have NO shame!!!
Sickening to say the very least…
You’re doing great, Michelle – we appreciate it.
My son, daughter, her boyfriend (prior service and enlisting in the Navy), and I just got home from GOE III. It was fantastic. My sign, “Che is Dead, Get Over It,” was a big hit with both the Eagles and the Hippies!! Its posted at Victory Caucus already. Some idiot lefty kid came up and told me that Che had “died for [my] sins”! Heh! If there are any leftist trolls, and you were offended, Get Over It, I had a wonderful time.
While the Eagles turn-out was less than the March turn-out, it was still fantastic. My thanks to all who came, and all who supported GOE if even they couldn’t come. EAGLES SOAR.
Thank YOU 509th Bob, as well as your son, daughter and her bf…
99% of us posting here were there with you in spirit and thank God for the Eagles and all those who walked with them today.
Ouch, course language in the headlines.
Thanks to all who are there and plan to be there this week! Godspeed. Stay safe.
I was wishing I was there to show support, but now I’m kind of glad I’m not. I would not be able to restrain myself if I saw Gold Star families being abused like this.
I would have loved to be there!!!!
After 5 PM, FNC had a segment, mostly balanced, said there were about a thousand counter protesters, no numbers on the anti-war kooks, showed small groups. Showed the little die in party and a few of the tame Marxist’s signs. Showed the GOE lines and flags. All in all, looks like the GOE had a good day.
It’s Gathering of Eagles vs. nitwit marchers
Tom Knott
September 13, 2007
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 America, they refuse to leave it. By the way, Alec Baldwin’s private jet is still parked on the tarmac. He apparently is too busy cussing out his daughter to make good on his long-ago vow to leave the United States in the event of George Bush taking up residence in the White House. Mr. Baldwin no doubt is carbon-neutral, not unlike every other fuel-guzzling phony on the left. Plant a tree. Cop a ride on a private jet.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070913/METRO/109130061/1004/metro
509th,
I would consider it an honor to one day shake your hand. Thank you and your family for your service. Just know that there are so many people supporting you.
As for the peaceniks, they contribute nothing to peace. Was there verification on whether or not they were throwing anything?
My 99 year old grandmother and I are relaxing indoors today (she lives 300 miles from me, I fly home tomorrow), and men like 509 are the reason I will grow up in a better world than she did.
Let the Eagles Soar!
Respectfully,
eric http://www.blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com
Hey, Michelle, any word from Ricky Bobby of the Parks Service’s Janitorial Department on how many attended the Flock of Seagulls’ counter-protest?
So, let’s see if I have this straight. Liberals do not want to fight or condemn Islamic fundamentalists, who murder 2996 of our fellow citizens on 9/11, and are fighting our soldiers in iraq and Afghanistan, but are actively looking for confrontation with Americans and using foul, despicable language towards Gold Star Families, among others.
Feel the love of America. Can we question their patriotism yet? I KNOW we can question their sanity.
Rick Moran said:
My brother went in my place. He estimates 20,000 peace nicks and 5,000 from the answer rally.
/s/
jose
Just got back! What a great day, but got a bit too much sun. I couldn’t believe the mass of communists, atheists, anti-Jewish protesters, which made up a huge part of the “peace activists.”
I was by the good man, Adrean?, with the painted face and megaphone. We had a string of pro-PLO activists in kaffiyehs chanting “how many more?” So we asked, “how many more Jews must die!?” Their response: “ALL OF THEM!.”
Yes, it was that bad. God bless our troops!
WOW, Sounds like a Democratic commercial gone bad, this little display by the nutcases will hurt them more than anything. Way to go 509thBob! and all the Eagles! Michelle and company!
“Can we question their patriotism yet?”
This question implies that the issue of liberal Democrat’s patriotism is in doubt.
It. Is. Not!
They are NOT patriotic. They are UNPATRIOTIC to the point of being treasonous.
Why am I not surprised that liberal peace activists are also spreading antisemitism.
Here are some of my fave cliches, recycled yet appropriate.
1) Dems want to party like it’s 1968…bring on Operation Ineptitude
2) Liberal Jews needs cranial-glutial extraction surgery
3) Moveon, Daily Kos, and the Huffington Post are the Axis of Antisemitism
I am going to get a Coney Island Hot dog from the original Nathans in a couple hours, and when I get back, I hope to read reports about left wing protesters getting tear gassed.
They can kiss my hebrew rumpus.
They are loud and shrill in speaking, but there are more normal Americans in numbers.
eric aka The Tygrrrr Express
Patriot Guard Rider Greg Bowman, a husband, father, friend, and attorney, was united with the Lord today, in Princeton, IL.
The “reverend” Phelps (or members of his “family”) did indeed show up as they threatened. They were kept at least one block away and the church’s carillion insured that they did not add to grief of the family.
In addition to family, friends, fellow attorneys and representatives of the Illinois State Bar Association, at least 300 PG riders (my estimate) from as far away as Minnesota and Indiana were present as well.
NPR had a glowing report about the anti-war protest this afternoon on the poorly named All Things Considered. Then an worshipful piece on a Moonbat from Madison who is going to drive Halliburton off campus.
No balance.
I cannot fathom yelling FU at Gold Star Families. Are these the people who claim they are against the war but support the troops? These animals aren’t patriotic and they don’t love their country. They are vermon.
I will wait to hear the Dems condemn this. I am sure it will be a long wait.
I’m glad I couldn’t make it to DC today. It wouldn’t look good for a retired cop from that area to be arrested for kicking the a$$ of scumbag who cursed out a gold star mom.
God bless our troops. God bless America
Thanks to 509 and all the others who did make to the GOE.
Just got back from the Gathering of Eagles. What an incredible day, being surrounded by a tremendous group of incredible people! It was absolutely inspiring. I urge everyone who can to attend the next gathering–you won’t regret it.
Now for the moonbats. What can I say? It was a total freak show. Lots of “F” words on their signs, Che Guevarra shirts, Arafat scarves as well as anarchists and marxists. Pink hair, purple hair, multiple piercings, grandmas in string bikini tops, a handful of people in burkas, the typical Abu Ghraib prisoners in orange jumpsuits, giant papier mache masks, mercedes benz “peace symbols” (idiots), Malcom X fans and even a contingent from the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society). What a nightmarish crowd! Some moonbat looked at my sign which read “God Bless Our Troops” and threw an egg on it. Another moron hissed at me and told me I was the devil. But we just kept shouting “USA, USA” and laughing at them. (Did a fair amount of taunting ourselves–lots of good fun.)
Met tons of great patriots as well as Michelle and Bryan and HA commenter Bigfoot. I’ve got pictures I’m going to try to post online (have no blog of my own.) Flicker? If anyone would like to post them, let me know.
It’s become a pathetic scene, these 60′s-throwbacks in appearance only, wearing the tie-dye clothes but having no love of country, preaching peace but no longer quoting Jesus, throwing eggs, wearing pink bunny outfits and making complete asses of themselves. The 60′s/70′s hippies (what little I can remember, having been young) were no great role model for the country, but it seems to me that no matter how misguided, they had some basic core values and walked the walk for their own particular brand of talk. This new breed is just a pile of America-hating, aethiest-because-they- can’t-believe-in-anything-greater-than themselves, obnoxious, egg-throwing creeps.
The problem is, once again as always, the media coverage. No ad is disgusting enough, no act vile enough and no appearance absurd enough for the media to cover the left honestly. Always the left is the hero and the right the rigid and insensitive enemy. And somehow that has to stop.
I’m guessing most of the moonbats never read the 1st Amendment, particularly the part about “protest peaceably.”
God Bless you, Irish, and all the Eagles. Like most everyone else posting here, “circumstances” are preventing my physical presence in D.C. Thanks to all of you who could make it, for letting the leftwing apes, monkeys, and clowns know that there are people in this country that do not buy their act!!!
The local (Denver) media coverage is pathetic. Giving only the slanted leftwing point of view. Doing their best to be good little propagandists, and make it seem as though the left point of view is mainstream. Not one single mention of the Eagles!!!
I am really angry that Fox News Sunday w/Steve Centanni, host, showed the protesters lying down in front of the Capitol and not one mention of the supporters there. Does anyone have an e-mail address that Fox News will actually read? Any information would be appreciated. Gramma is ticked!
That makes two of us, Gramma.
One is beginning to get the impression as of late that Fox has been listening to the vile spin about itself from their left-wing competition. One thing everyone including Fox needs to know: the left will never return the good will in kind. Not ever.
If Fox thinks that by showing one side of the protest that they’re being fair and balanced, they should immediately remember who their core audience is and not become assumptive as to the loyalty of that audience. There are plenty of deep-pocketed investors out there ready to steal Fox’s right wing audience if Fox starts to slip.
Fox had better tread gently on the one-sidedness if they don’t want to find themselves sharing ratings points with MSNBC.
To all of you here that support the the GOE Thxs! We had a great day on Saturday without getting arrested unlike our moonbats. These people just don’t get and they keep recycling the same rhetoric they did in 60′s and parroting whatever they hear on MSM…..
We need your support come join GOE!!!!