The Scene: DAWG Ken Blackwell & Fox News Host Sean Hannity Rally, Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park in Blue Ash, 4937 Hunt Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45242.

Activists from Labor and other members of the Progressive Community for Cincinnati assembled to begin ramping up the noise around how Ken Blackwell is just plain wrong for Ohio. Ohio needs a leader who will stand up and fight for the issues we care about: improved public schools, more affordable and better health care, attracting and retaining better jobs in Ohio, and raising the minimum wage.

There were dozens and dozens of signs all over the place when I arrived a little after 5 p.m., but few people.

There were some old folks sitting in a tiny VIP section in front of the stage, and the loudspeakers were blaring some lame BS from local fox radio "commentators" (you know, those folks with their heads up their you-know-whats).

This fellow turned out to be capable of vicious and profane language. He didn't like our signs and wanted us to be sure we knew of his opinion. Just one of many maroons (remember Bugs Bunny?) who couldn't keep themselves from showing just how ignorant they are of those principles and practices that are what make America good. I don't think he was a child molester, exhibitionist, or thief (we didn't get into that), but powerful and  recently-respected republican leaders have turned out to be just so lately, so one might reasonably suspect their supporters are into that stuff.

A lot of people harangued me and a few stuck cameras and videocams in my face. None could withstand the relentless logic, clarity, and compassion of my frontal assault throughout the event.

There wasn't much real media in evidence. A camera team from Athens, Ohio and some fellow making a documentary seemed legit, but a couple of seedy guys getting up close and personal with their little video cameras were probably shills for the politicians looking for things to distort in commercials. The seedy guys may have been you know what, but I wouldn't know. I'm not real big on trusting republicans, you see.

A stalwart row of protestors held the right flank.

By the time things were ready to get underway, the crowd had swelled to over a hundred. Most had been bussed in, but there were plenty of local codgers, too.

This blackwell operative busied himself taking individual pictures of each protestor. I told him that such behavior toward people he did not know, not having asked permission, was easily construed as rude at best, and insulting, provoking, or even assaulting at worst. Later we spoke and he disingenuously claimed to have been photographing only signs. He also claimed to have visited Canyon de Chelly, but had no idea of the customs or culture of the residents of the area (the Dine, or Navajo, people). He may even have broken the law by visiting parts of the canyon unescorted, but we didn't get into that. I don't think he was "you know what," but we didn't get into that either.

From the front he looked amiable enough, but his profile is unflattering, don't you think?

NOTE: This fellow's name is Steve Foust. I gave him my card so he found his picture and replied. See below for the transcript.

The blackwell team had well-rehearsed cheer leaders (parents: watch you children), but the big stars were the radio "personalities" and tired old Anthony Munoz. At it's peak, there might have been 200 people in attendance. Mean jean, sneaky phil, and clever ken got the warm welcome from the sycophants on and off the stage, despite the rain.

I stayed back from the crowd, but my boos, whistles, and calls of "liars," "the right is wrong," "character assassins," and "theocracy in America" were heard by one and all. People twice (at least) called the police and tried to have me removed, only to be told they were in America, where dissent is still allowed sometimes. One fellow tried to provoke me by backing into me with his umbrella and saying I struck him when I pushed it aside. As he was dialing 911 it was my pleasure to tell him he was invalidating his entire life and behaving like a Nazi. I told him to go ahead and trample freedom of speech and see what kind of world he wakes up in when they eventually come for him. He looked shaken by that and went away, along with a couple of other smart-ass umbrella wielders that had been trying to block the sign from view. I don't think any of them were child molesters, but you just never know.

The speeches were as bad as you can imagine. They didn't mention Foley or Ney or Taft, but they did try to paint blackwell's opponent as soft on porn. The radio idiots have been trying the gay bashing thing, too, but I didn't see anybody buying their bull. There was a definite smell of desperation, defeat, and bitterness in the air. There was a lot of rally-round the flag and bible thumping, but the average age of the crowd was way past 60, so except for the kids on stage there wasn't a whole lot of energy.

In the end, I think the rally had to be a disappointment for the organizers. They had a big national radio personality (the idiotic hannity), an equally big,  local radio personality (the equally idiotic cunningham), a major (if overused and nearly forgotten) local sports personality (munoz, from the furniture commercials), the sycophant mayor of blue ash, whats-his-name, and three of the supposed top local pols, mean jean, sneaky phil, and clever ken, and about two hundred spectators, many of whom were not supporters.

For me, it was good. I got to speak truth to power (albeit petty power).

So it goes.

Notice:
Today's sign event page is dedicated to the all the people who attend rallies in the rain, especially if they are there to protest insane, illegal, misbegotten wars and the fools that start or support them.

More fun later,

Ray

Written Oct. 19, 2006

SPECIAL BONUS!!! --- TRANSCRIPT OF EMAIL FROM SCOTT FOUST

Ray,

Your descriptions under my photos are what is disingenuous.  You knock me for 
taking pictures people (in a public place mind you) and then you proceed to put 
my photos up on the website without my permission and giving asinine captions 
that aren't true underneath them.  Did you see my photos I took?  No.  But yet 
you "truthfuly" exclaim I was being dishonest about saying I took them of the 
signs.  Secondly, Canyon de Chelly was a self-guided tour.  I took pictures of 
the canyon and the old navajo dwellings in the rocks at the bottom.  Nobody 
cared!  And you are incorrect saying I do not know the culture and customs of 
the Navajos.--I'd check under your bed for skin-walkers tonight!  Or perhaps we 
could enjoy some navajo tacos in a Ho-gon...

I couldn't care less if my pictures are up there, in fact, I encourage it -- it 
let's people know who I am.  

But, let's work on the hypocrisy...

Scott Foust
Conservative Ambassedor to
The University of Cincinnati