I'm pleased to be on site at the Gathering of Eagles rally on the mall in DC. Great folks and a great crowd. Here's a few quick photos that I've taken; check back for more throughout the day...

NZ

After-Action Update: See also...

Folks Who Were There 

• Michelle and more Michelle
• Age of Hooper
• A Newt One
• The Redhunter

 Blog Commentary 

• PowerLine
• Free Republic
• Military.com
• Murdoc Online
• The People's Cube
• Gateway Pundit
• Chickenhawk Express 
• Wake up America 
• Atlas Shrugs
  

MSM 

• The New York Times
• The Washington Post 
• The Hill
• USA Today 
• ABC News
  
• CNN
• Associated Press

Obligatory plug: If you haven't already, sign the petition!

(click to enlarge) 

Update: Decided to start adding new photos at the top.

Final Update: OK, I've given up waiting for the "die-in". The anti-war crowd marched to the Capitol and camped on the lawn, but there wasn't any dying, far as I could see, just a lot of standing around. Be sure to also check in with Michelle's coverage .

Look! It isn't just lefties who can be nut jobs:

 Because this message worked out so well the first time:

 Click here to see the full craziness!

 Upside down American flags: check!

It's the Partridge Family! 

That poor bus.

At the Capitol: 

The Capitol Police held the line at the steps: 

 Lots of milling about: 

Lotta empty space in there!

Update from the Other Side:

Checking in at nice capitalist coffee house after touring the antiwar demo in front of the White House. Wackiness below!

I'd comment, but it would be unprintable:

ANSWER as usual:

Whatever:

Given the signs of progress in Iraq, ever think the antiwar crowd is crawling out a limb? No, really:

Classy:

If you're going to do something, be the best at it: 

Dude,  lay off the Ben and Jerrys:

Look! It's a pair of nice old 9/11 Truth ladies!

A real live Marxist!

Obligatory sorta naked chick. Work on the abs though babe --- we should get this chick together with Ben and Jerry's guy and sign 'em up for yoga or something:

"God, please forgive me for being such an idiot."

Don't ask me. I have no idea:

So we're versatile, got a problem with that?

What, you couldn't afford the two more letters to spell "for"?

Yes, it is. But I do not think that means what you think it means:

More Truthers!

"I gave my love a flower..." Where's Bluto when you need him?

Truthers! Everywhere!

Does this conspiracy theory make me look fat?

And the grand prize: Bush as Hitler!  Score!

Previous updates:

I've now left the GoE rally, and am travelling into the belly of the beast. As I near the moonbat rally, the signage starts to change:



Final shots from the GoE rally:

 The crowd:

My favorite sign:

A surprise appearance by Congressman Duncan Hunter:

Comments (44)

...
written by Terry Gain, September 15, 2007

Duncan Hunter is a stalwart. He will make a great Vice President.

...
written by Carol Black, September 15, 2007

Wish I could be there! Thank you for what you're doing.

Thanks
written by DD877, September 15, 2007

Wish I was There

Great job much love and support
written by Mojack, September 15, 2007

I wish i could be there but i am with you all in spirit.

God bless America
God bless the troops
And God bless the patriotic Americans standing up to the traitor’s pos moonbats.

...
written by Joyce Leeder, September 15, 2007

Thanks for EVERYTHING you do to help true Americans

Auntie
written by Ali, September 15, 2007

Eagles up from the prayer and support threads at FR. Thanks for the pics.

FYI, Host Channel A Newt One live in DC

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?show_id=96022

...
written by John Blake, September 15, 2007

By "Rule of 36" the Boomers' Class of 1968 peaked in 2004. Now comes their McGovernite echo in 2008. Cowardly and duplicitous as ever, these treacherous dolts drain from their collectivist Statist cesspools with every passing day.

We date the onset of this spoiled-brat narcissistic generation from the Port Huron Statement in 1964. By some miracle, Albert the Gore bit dust in 2000 (spare us imagining Big Al's response to 9/11). Just as 1864's Copperhead "Peace Democrats" (sic) would cheerfully have dissolved the Union, embraced Confederate chattel slavery as Dixiecrats effectively did for a full century thereafter, so today's rancid, slophead disciples of Big Turnip and his Larry Flynt admirer, MzBill, seek out Ahmadinejad, Castro, Chavez, Mugabe, Kim Jong-il --any brutal, stupid despot they can find-- to bluster and threaten American democracy.

And yet... the Eagle spreads his wings. Old Glory floats above those trampling out the vintage where gutless Boomers board. Forty years and counting, but forces gather that will carry all before us.

Eagles Up!
written by Chrissie, September 15, 2007

God bless these people who have the guts to stand up for our country.

God bless America!!!

Cheese-eaters of the World, unite!
written by Mister Snitch!, September 15, 2007

What's wrong with eating cheese? You want to call them mice or rats, come straight out with it. No need to drag cheese into all this.

I do like 'surrender monkeys', however. Nice and direct, with no banana-slander.

Laughing at the jackals
written by js, September 15, 2007

Thanks for covering the events today.

I went to the gathering in Lafayette Square to see these a**hats at work. It was certainly entertaining in a driving-by-the-accident-scene sort of way.

And, I noticed once again that the thing they most detest is somebody laughing at them. These self-important half-wits can't abide it when you laugh at their foolishness. It makes them just go ape-sh*t.

That must be why I keep doing it.

My main question for the protesters is: with it being such a beautiful day, can't you get some more hippies together? I mean, is this the best you can do?

...
written by smellycat, September 15, 2007

We were honored to stand with the Eagles in March, it was a day we will never forget. We were unable to attend this rally but are there in spirit. God Bless the Eagles and most of all God Bless our troops one of which is our son.

...
written by Star, September 15, 2007

God bless you for what you're doing. Hug a soldier for me, and
tell him/her "Thank you dearly!" .. and that we pray for them
daily. Give 'em hell, Eagles!

Hippies
written by Denny Gill, September 15, 2007

I remember hippies: do they still stink as bad as they did in the '70s? Just wondering. Great posting; thanks.

God Bless America
written by Rob Ward, September 15, 2007

May Our Blessed Lord show mercy to this divided nation and elect a true Christian conservative as POTUS in 2008 !

...
written by Bleedredwhitenblue, September 15, 2007

Add more pictures from the Eagles crowd. I don't care about the lefties.

...
written by GREG FARRELL, September 15, 2007

GREAT JOB FELLOW PRO AMERICANS KEEP TAKING THE FIGHT TO THE MOONBATS HERE WHILE THE TROOPS TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE "FOREIGN" ENEMIES THERE

CHE, STALIN, MAO, HO, ARAFART, STILL DEAD
written by YOCHANAN, September 15, 2007

DEFEAT is not peace

Iran nukes = WW3

...
written by Jim Tuttle, September 15, 2007

I surely wish I was there. Thanks to you all for being there for me. Please kick some moonbat butt for me while you are at it. God Bless America, warts and all.

...
written by GroovyLady, September 15, 2007

YOU'RE AWESOME!!! THANKS FOR THE PICS!!! :D :D

My experience
written by Jason Reed, September 15, 2007

4th picture after heading "Lots of milling about": I'm smack dab in the center with the black bag being chewed about by a nasty woman. I even got a parting F*ck you. She had asked me why we were in Iraq, and so I attempt a logical breakdown of events from 1991 to resolution 1441... how foolish of me. She instantly turned red and spewed the expletive. Classic.

Kill a commie for mommie
written by Commie Killer, September 15, 2007

President Bush N0.1 You leftist traitors must go!

Thank you...
written by Richard Wood, September 15, 2007

Couldn't be there... BLESS YOU for being there.

Well, I had fun
written by JoAnn in VA, September 15, 2007

I got to talk with like-minded patriots, and when the moonba- I mean the loyal opposition groups finally, after a very very long wait started coming down the street I cheerfully refused to comment or fight back or insult them. All I did was stand there with my "God Bless our troops" sign singing "God Bless America" over and over. *grin* Taking the high moral ground is rather fun. I have yet to see me on any photo blogs though! Oh well, it is early still. :o)

...
written by Lord Whorfin, September 15, 2007

As far as estimating crowd size (for both sides) could it be possible to get overhead photos at various times, and count heads?

How do non-politicized Americans see all this?
written by Bookworm, September 15, 2007

Great photo essay. Looking at it, I wondered, as I always do, how ordinary Americans, those who are not riveted by political news and who don't have strong opinions about the war, view the sight of these anti-War protesters, with their dated appearance (do they also smell as bad as they did in the 1960s?), and their paranoid, hostile signs. As it is, I hope that the Americans who are not as tuned in as we are feel as we do: namely, that these people are so weird, their views must be weird too.

By the way, I love your Princess Bride reference.

Hehe
written by SPC Michael K, September 15, 2007

As an American infantryman in Iraq, let me say, this link brightened my day when a friend back in the states sent it to me. I love defending the rights of stoned, ignorant hippies to protest their rights being protected. Maybe they'd feel different if they had lost a family member on 9/11 or had a son or daughter in Iraq. Hell, maybe if they got a first hand look at the situation and people of Iraq everyday like I do. I like how Palestineans can't be subjugated, but to hell with Iraqis. Sigh, slowly going into rant mode. Thanks for the great pictures. Someone do me the favor of buying an ACU patrol cap so you can laugh at some hippies for all us deployed guys loving what we are doing. Let em know it's from a soldier.

...
written by Pvt Joker, September 16, 2007

Maybe they'd feel different if they had lost a family member on 9/11 or had a son or daughter in Iraq.

Maybe, unless they are like Cindy Sheehan or the Jersey Girls, in which case the Coulter-Right will slime them.

I've been debating with a Victory Caucus signatory and Gathering of Eagles supporter on another site - he believes we should nuke Baghdad and Terhan and build casinos on the new glasstop Middle East. He hadn't thought of a clever way to put this on a sign for the counter-protest.

LOVED IT!
written by Flying Tigress, September 16, 2007

I love the "Che is Dead" sign! I hope that it is available in a shirt! It'd be great 'casual Friday' attire in my government-sector job in the People's Republic of Seattle.

SPC Michael K. Thank you for your service. To all the "Eagles" who were there who've worn the uniform, "Well Done".

Kris L.

Duncan Hunter
written by Amy P, September 16, 2007

I'm starting to really admire Duncan Hunter. He's popping up in the right places and saying the right things. We have a great Republican field.

...
written by Wesley Cannon, September 16, 2007

Thank you guys and gals for the good work getting in these defeat monkey's face! I am sick to death of these clowns that think we can all sing kumbayah and Al Queda will just forgive and forget and we "can all just get along."

Oh, and to Flying Tigress above, there are Che is Dead Get Over It shirts at PeoplesCube.Com

FANTASTIC time it was indeed!
written by Mark L Harvey, September 16, 2007

The moonbats stunk as usual and quite frequently ran away.

The tide has turned and the Conservative Tsunami is rising and will soon crest.

The next few days, I will stand with my brothers with Vets For Freedom!

...
written by Texas, September 17, 2007

I'm disappointed that the Pro Troop Rally didn't get more coverage.

I can't believe how there are so many communistic, anti-American anti-war signs. It makes me shutter to think that's the kind of "change" they want.

Duncan Hunter is a good man for coming to the rally! He's got my vote. You guys did a great job getting the Pro Troop Rally together.

God Bless the Troops!!!!

Photos of GOE III
written by Tantor, September 17, 2007

I was there at GOE III and much more and took photos of all of it:

http://conprotantor.blogspot.com/2007/09/gathering-of-eagles-iii-part-1.html

GOE III
written by T&B, September 17, 2007

One of the Eagles I was standing next to said to a young tattooed, pierced moonbat who was taking our picture that she would look better when she was covered with a burka. She didn't get it and admitted she didn't know what a burka was. I told her she needs to sue her college for not teaching her to read. She didn't get that either. As we were leaving for the day there were some aged hippie retreads parting ways and as one was skipping away I blurted out that she should really consider wearing a bra now that gravity has done its work. She (understandably) was not feeling peaceful at that point and screamed "f*** you." I was so bad and answered "No thanks, I'm not into same gender sex." I didn't look back and immersed myself into a flock of Eagles. Such a circus, I just couldn't help myself! But on the other hand, we did have some really good, civil discussions with some who were curious why we were there. We left with a sense there might be a glimmer of hope.

How Many Attended?
written by ET USN 71-78, September 19, 2007

Just curious about approximate numbers for each group. The photos didn't seem to show many large crowds, but the anti-war protesters' site claimed 100,000. I'd be interested in your best guesstimates for both the pro and anti groups.

Nice - GOE III pictures
written by GOE NC CLT, September 19, 2007

I made it to breath another day at GOE III- Glad it was not cold as GOE I- Great pics and keep up the work- See you next time- GOE IV

the people's ex-princess and chief bottle washer at the Cube
written by the tsarevna, September 21, 2007

Awesome pictures, and even better captions. "Does this conspiracy make me look fat?" lol.

Decent Americans
written by Claire, September 23, 2007

"Decent Americans don't ask their children to die for greed" was one of the signs that caught my eye. My son is currently in Iraq fighting in the war on terror. When it comes to freedom and Democracy we are a very greedy family -- my husband serves too. We can't get enough of those wonderful freedoms we enjoy everyday, and we are so greedy we want those freedoms everyday, all day and forever. We are so greedy that we want so much of that Freedom that there is always plenty to go around for every single law abiding American citizen. So, I guess we are guilty.

Actually in my opinion decent Americans don't sit on their butts in the park on a sunny day bashing the troops who are fighting in the sand to keep them free.

Glad to see Americans Exercising Freedom
written by Don in Boston, September 23, 2007

Hello - I applaud those in BOTH the pro-war and anti-war crowds for making the effort to make democracy work.

GOE Thugs Beat Father of Slain Service Man
written by Non-Eagle, September 23, 2007

How very odd that the pictures of the "brave eagles" along with Chris Hill observing the beating of Mr. Arrendondo, whose son was killed in the mideast. He was pulling a makeshift coffin with a flag on it, pair of boots, and his son's picture. He had the picture pulled from him and destroyed and then was knocked to the ground and kicked by several obsese eagles.

How very proud you all must be. How very dishonest that you hide the truth of this.

You mean the non-beating of the ANSWER-sponsored, Sheehanesque protester ...
written by Rich Casebolt, September 25, 2007

... that is being spun up by the defeatists like it was made by Pratt & Whitney?

The protester that was HUGGED and comforted by one of our senior Eagles?

Two sides to every story ... but you only toe the Party Line, comrade.

Check back when your own honesty systems are engaged.

Great pictures, N.Z. ...
written by Rich Casebolt, September 25, 2007

Thanks for capturing the scenes of the day.

The captions are great ... as I found out with Protest Warrior in Dallas a while back, wit is a great weapon to utilize in preventing the spread of moonbattery. There, one of my favorite memories was walking behind the moonbat infestation on the Halliburton front lawn, holding up a sign that could be easily seen by drivers passing in front of the infested area ...

HELP! I'M SURROUNDED BY AMERICA-HATING IDIOTS!

On the 15th, as I was standing out on the Mall (for the first time ever) that morning, I turned and looked at the Capitol, thinking "such a beautiful building".

Then, I remembered what has been going on there ... and the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars Episode 4 came to mind ...

You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany

Of course, after listening to Ahmedinijad in the doctor's office waiting room (raising my BP by 30 points!), methinks that the Congresscritters have been upstaged in the "scum and villany" department.

Peace Through Strength!
written by Underoath, September 27, 2007

Duncan Hunter has my vote. Victory is the only way!

Duncan Hunter Stands Alone
written by anonymousJim, January 25, 2008

He's got what we NEED in a president. He makes the rest of the GOP candidates look like dhimmicrats.

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