Jackie Speier Townhall in Montara

Several of us went to Speier's "Townhall" today (Sunday, August)

I want to particularly thank Camele, Janey, Jim (sorry we didn't say good-bye!) Sean, Pete, Priscilla, Nunzio (forgive me if I missed anyone) who showed up to support our side.

Happily, we met several other great people who agreed with us, and have signed up with "We The People".

We arrived at about 10:30 for an 11:00 meeting (I was lucky enough to get one of the last parking places in the school parking lot.)

As we walked in, there were tables and other Jackie/Obama supporters signing up people and handing out pre-printed signs and stickers in support of government run health care.

There was a virtual sea of supporters...so much so that all the chairs in the school were used and still a LOT of people were left standing. Priscilla and I, who found seats, saw a few people in the back of the crowd, standing with one or two signs opposed, so so I dragged her to them, and ended up standing for the whole meeting. (Sorry, Priscilla).

I was surprised at the turnout until we talked to a man who said there was a huge organized union phone tree that sent out the word to come to the meeting...to make sure to drown out us opponents.

Though we were vastly outnumbered, I have to admit, several of the questioners were not exactly cheerleaders for Obamacare, and one or two were determinedly against it.

We stood for almost 2 hours, holding our signs, listening to the mostly vapid nonsense spewed by Speier who is clearly not conversant with the free market, basic economics or the Constitution.

Or the truth in several cases.

No surprise there, of course. But it's one thing to know it, and another to have to listen to it that long at one time!

(I did love her white jacket, though. Very chic. I want one.)

There were two interesting incidents that are worth sharing.

1) A black LeRouche supporter showed up, holding a big sign with that picture of Obama with a "Hitler" mustache. He came to the back of the group to stand among us until a couple of us sort of shooed him away. There were lots of cameras and that's just not something we need associated with us. He and his companion soon found a suitable place in the empty front of the building, at an abandoned "Jackie" table...and spent the meeting sitting alone out there with their silly sign.

2) A particularly nasty little-old-lady, who apparently decided it was her job to snottily scold us every time we reacted to a statement or question or commented in a way she didn't approve of, was finally told by one of us that we have the right to speak as we see fit.

There were two policemen standing very close by, and the white-haired harridan declared that'd she'd shut us up, and marched over to them to demand they tell us to stop talking.

They declined to do so.

She was not a happy camper.

And the degenerate language that came out of her prim little mouth after that...rather surprised us all. Of course, she never realized that she was more entertaining to us than otherwise. Her vitriol took its toll on her, leaving us quite unscathed.

Poor old thing.

The Lesson: Always retain a sense of humor, even while they're shooting at you. That kind of bitterness is so unattractive. Pinches you up even more than age does.

So...while we suffered for the cause —did I mention it was OUTSIDE in Montara...on the coast—in summer....COLD. We came away having made new friends, and a new appreciation of "Union Organizing", and a renewed commitment to beat them at their own game.

Power to "We The People"!

wtp