The ReDefeat Bush Rally -- I showed up.

[Virginian]

It was a misty, chilly day in Washington today, a day to match the mood of those who knew this was the day of final burial for the 2004 election.
My neighbor called and talked me into going to the Capitol to join the other mourners at the wake.
We wanted to hear the comments about the election dying of unnatural causes as many of us believe. We were releived to hear that Senator Boxer had chosen to speak the unspeakable -- that the election had not died a natural death, but had been poisoned by the deeds of some.
The election had been poisoned by too few voting machines in densly populated inner cities which caused some working citizens to choose between missing work or voting. The election was poisoned by Republican votes being counted twice, by Kerry votes being awarded to Bush. This election was dead, but future elections do not need to die the same ugly, painful death. The good Senator spoke up for future elections, that they may be healthy until it is their time to pass. Thank you, Senator.

* A sign at the rally, "Live free or DieBold."


I finally found out why orange.
1. It is the color of the Ukrane protest.
2. It is a traditional color of protest.
3. It stands out.
Those were the answers I got when I asked.

I looked for other DU people. Someone in front of me had DU written on the back of her orange sign, so I went up and introduced myself.
She had taken a vacation day from work, had flown up for the rally and was flying home this evening. THAT'S DEDICATION!!!

[Be Brave]

1. Orange...

is a Deaniac color, no?

Thank you for your efforts.

[ailsagirl]

2. I'm assuming David Lytel was there??

I'm glad you went-- thanks for sharing this.

And please, if you haven't already, read this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x258513

[Virginian]

8. No one was wearing name tags -- I don't know.

I don't know what David Lytel looks like. Do you have a picture?

One guy was in fatigues with his face almost completely covered. I don't think he wanted to be recognized.

We got there a little late. We missed the Lafayette Square part.
We walked half way around the Capitol grounds looking for everyone. We could tell we must be getting close when we came to an intersection with about a dozen police officers standing or sitting on horses. All this riot gear for a peaceful protest, it seemed odd. I wanted to tell the "Man," "These people oppose violence, do you really think they are going to get rowdy?"
I suppose some nut case could have infiltrated and piggybacked on this gathering to spew some type of hatred.

[glitch]

3. Orange was also the color to protest the FL 2000 theft. Just so you know

it's got a long US tradition too.

[SmileMaker]

4. I was at capitol too, we have a lot of work ahead, but I'm hopeful

Yes, It was chilly today at the Capital, but not unomfortably so. The crowd was smaller than I'd hoped, but it was glowing with passion. The color orange was everywere!

I just really enjoyed being up close and personal with the characters that have had their work grace the threads of DU since I entered here after Nov. 2. It's a beginning of a new movement that can only grow as the amazing people who worked so hard to document the fraud and who DID stand up today to make history. They will need the support by the thousands and thousands of us. We have all accomplished so much. More would have been great today, but one is all we needed. It's a beginning.

David Lytel spoke quite a bit. Susan Truitt, Clint Curtis, Wayne Madsen, Jonathan Simon, David? Phillips, Mike Levine - and others. I got to talk to almost all of these good people who have fascinated me with their various angles of research. Now I have faces and handshakes to go with my knowledge of their work.

Again, what I saw today was a beautiful display of orange passion. I hope that we can find some imaginative ways to shower them all with the most public displays of affection we can muster.

Well, I'm exhausted and I want to catch up with what the rest of the world learned today. Just got back to Princeton with two other people who carpooled with me from North Jersey. I'm glad we gave up our day at work to show up. Our presence was definitely needed to make the crowd a just a little bit bigger - but, I have to say that it was exciting for me to get up so close and personal with all of these people that may some day be heroes that my kids and grandkids will learn about in school.

It's up to all of us to do the work that most of our politicians are obviously incapable of doing.

Will Pitt... where were you?! I wanted to shake your hand and personally thank you. You are a hero too!

[Sydnie]

5. Thanks to both of you for being there for those of us who couldn't.

We were with you in spirit!

[Virginian]

7. Do you know Mike Levine's website?

I was impressed.

[Virginian]

6. Why today was important to me

In the 2000 primaries, I learned that the people who work elections are not full time employees of the electoral board or special selected people like the members of the electoral college or the delegates to the conventions. The people who work the polls are ordinary people who take a day out of their lives to work for democracy.
I applied for this low paying, high stress, part time job and was accepted. For one day, every election, I am a county employee, an election officer.
I took a vacation day from my regular job to work the elections before Mr. Bush's belief in outsourcing took its toll on my employment. I believe that democracy is too important to leave it up to someone else. I can now assure myself that there is no human mischief involved in the voting process at my precinct. I can't swear the machines are honest, but the people are.
I take my one-day job very seriously and it is a personal slap in the face that anyone could ever violate the system.
I may not know as much about politics as some of the rest of you out there, but I know I want my elections honest.