As I arrived some jerk got on me about how I should get a real job and about how Cheney is a great guy
because he made so much money at Halliburton.
This jerk said I should run for something, then he said he was a veteran and that I was a worthless s**t.
He said he had a Cadillac and other cars and a big house and I had nothing. I told him it was a shame
he turned out to be such an idiot.

The martini club is a fancy looking place with plenty of street-level windows next door to
the Hilton Nederland hotel.

I was outside the club about two minutes when this middle-aged madam and her somewhat younger helper
came out and ordered me to leave. The older woman got really nasty and offensive immediately, and her
sidekick piped up every now and then with some inane forgettable comment or other. The older woman
told me she was the owner of the business I was in front of and that I had no right to be on the sidewalk
"affecting" her business. I told her there was such a thing as "freedom of speech" in this country and
that she had no right to harass me on the sidewalk. She got so pissy she grabbed my sign and stayed
in my face, so I called 9-1-1 and asked for assistance.

Imagine her dismay when the very patient officer told her again and again and again that we have
freedom of speech in the U.S. and that as long as I didn't block the sidewalk I had every right to
hold my sign in front of her business, or any business.

Slowly, oh so slowly, she gave up and went back inside.

The police officer was very sympathetic. I looked up the club online (see link above) and found out the
owner is named Sandy Meyer. The website presents a grotesque vision of conspicuous
consumption. Home base for the haves and have mores, as president alfred e. neuman bush
would say.

As often happens at these things, another officer arrived. The two officers talked for a while.

Meanwhile, the $175 sandwiches were slowly being eaten. A few of the attendees mocked me and the
sentiment expressed by the sign.  

A little while later Van, a local guy, came by. We took each other's picture with the sign.

I'd intended to just stay till 5:30, but Sandy had been such a b***h that I decided to stay till 6:00.

There was a lot of support expressed by pedestrians and drivers. There were also a few mockers.

One small guy in a brown suit, coming from the fundraiser, seemed very amused by me and the sign, and
asked who I thought I was impressed, because I didn't impress him. I asked who he thought he impressed,
and he said he impressed me. I said I doubted it. Funny thought!

Officer Noe was there, too.

As I was leaving some middle-aged guy spat out the window at me, then yelled that I was a f****t.
I replied that he didn't have a clue and was clearly an idiot.

All together a great day to protest the current administration's disgraceful behavior.