Here's yet another video! [Requires Flash] [NOTE: I've taken down the original Flash version and left up the YouTube version below ... too many bandwidth issues.] This one highlights the speakers at the Code Pink pre-Rally: [please NOTE: this is not the "main event" or the speeches you can see on C-Span. This was taken about an hour or more before that at a smaller, though related, protest at the Navy Memorial near the National Archives.] Maxine Waters (D-CA) Sean Penn Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) Jane Fonda Eve Ensler Dennis calls for some 9/11 "truth" ... Ms. Ensler rendered a new "monologue" for the event. I tried to make it more interesting with a few "flourishes" of my own. I hope you enjoy. **** UPDATE **** Here's the YouTube version: Keep scrolling down for more! I've put up about 4 posts all together on the protest ... lots of photos and one more video. Enjoy!

Here's the video! [Requires Flash] [NOTE: I've taken down the original Flash version and left up the YouTube version below ... too many bandwidth issues.] **** UPDATE **** And here's the YouTube version! The above video comprises scenes from the march itself.

PROTEST RALLY: Washington DC, 1/27/2007 I'll begin with puppets. I'll also probably end with puppets ... so stick around. If you're a puppet fan. Although the rest of the puppet "magic" may not make it into this particular "update". I'm still processing the video. It's all in real-time, my friends. Almost 2 hours. **** UPDATE **** Video is up. Click HERE. Almost 2 hours of this crap to filter and sort, so it'll take some time. Plus I have to relive two hours of my life that I'm not really that anxious to relive. And after that, I've got to edit it all down to 10 minutes ... tops. Then process it as a swf file and then as a YouTube file. This is all going to take some time but ... I assure you ... I am doing all I can to make sure it is worth the wait. In the meantime, I'll amuse with some photos. Let's stay with puppets, shall we? Now this is, actually, a somewhat unusual puppet as far as puppets go. It's manipulated by three (3) puppeteers ... one in the middle controlling the general aspect and direction of the puppet ... with two others manipulating the arms (basically just up and down with limited motion to the side). You can make out the sticks they use for that if you look carefully. It's also taller than puppets tend to be. The reason for that is that the puppet itself is completely flat if you view it edge-on and is, therefore, lightweight ... yet sturdy enough to achieve the requisite height. Kinda creepy. This rather peculiar puppet was ... at least at this stage ... simply a bookmark for a place people could contribute to the "effort". It does make an appearance later on. Here are those two puppets in the first image as seen alone. Frankly, I'm not entirely certain what they are supposed to represent. I think the dude may be wearing some sort of military cover ... though the rest of him is far from kosher on that issue. The chick ... well that's anyone's guess. Maybe they're supposed to be farmers or something. You know ... the "people". The ones in the red states who hate Bush. Or they would if they were properly "educated". Maybe. 911 "Truth" was a big subject at this rally. I didn't manage to get everything ... but it was very pervasive. This particular sign was just about everywhere. This is just getting, well, supernatural. It's almost a death cult. There's going to be stuff re the "truthers" on the video when I get it done. "When". This particular guy was of a type we find quite often at these events. He knows he wants to be here. He knows he's got something to say. Something important. And ... yet ... he can't quite remember where the Art Supply store is. So he makes a quick dash to the CVS ... buys a Sharpie pack (on sale) with and assortment of red, blue and black. Too late he remembers the poster board. No matter ... he's got some 8.5x11 in the old Epson. That'll do. That'll do just swell. This type of dude is harder to pin down.

You don't talk to these types.

You just don't.

OK, here next we have an assortment of borderline anti-Semitic tripe that is just all too common in this environment.

This is a fairly typical selection.

You don't talk to these guys either.

I mean ... just look at that hat.

Now here's a group of folks you don't see when the MSM covers these kind of events. But that's why I'm here. They're everywhere. They probably comprise the largest force in these protests. You'd never know it, would you? You might guess it, true. But watching Katie on CBS you'd never actually know it. Would you? G-d I love my job. And then there's the inevitable "keffieh clutch". How progressive.

Here's some stuff I simply filed under "insanity". You be the judge.

OK ... Let's get some of the obvious jokes behind us first. And, no, I don't mean Dennis Kucinich ... though we'll get to him later. No. What I mean is Sean Penn and his relationship (I use the term loosely [indeed! - ed.]) with Code Pink and "aspects" of the Code Pink milieu. [note: check HERE for updates] **** UPDATE **** Video is up. Click HERE. Now, before I begin let me reiterate here a moment. As I've said before: I like Code Pink. I think that ... in a "Protest" market ... Code Pink is actually quite brilliant. Mega kudos to Medea Benjamin and the rest of her sewing club. They've taken a long-honored American Tradition (the outraged pacifist) and put a Trademark stamp on it that would make John Deere envious. Bravo. I mean ... just look at this stuff! Could you find a better example of controlled chaos? Give your "followers" some simple rules and some simple examples and ... voila ... a coordinated protest rally. Purses, shoes and all. Brilliant. Masterful. So ... here's Sean (come to their rally [snap]) in all his smoky man-ness ... giving pearls of Penn manly wisdom in his manly measured tones. Hands swaggeringly (is that a word?) in his manly pockets before the manly mike in his manly shades. And ... you think this go unnoticed by these Code Pinkettes?? Just look at the photo on the left. "Click" it to get a better resolution. You tell me. I already have my own theory. And it's a darn good one. Ladies, ladies, ladies! Sure enough, after about an hour of this, Sean has just about had it. There there, Sean. There there. It will all be over soon. Ya know. I almost felt sorry for the bloke. Almost. One more thing ... a damned good-looking fellow. Some of these Hollywood types get kind of ... scary ... when you actually meet them and you see just how much the camera "forgives". Not Sean. And I got pretty damned close. Still. And that's just for the record. Also "just for the record" I'd like to say that Jane Fonda here ... aging moonbat loon that she is ... doesn't suffer from a close-up either. I mean, "Wow". And without that horrid pulled-back alien look of women who have had one face-lift too many and end up looking like the grasshoppers in "A Bug's Life". Nice. I think that the first movie I saw her in was "Cat Ballou". I was a pre-teen (all of 10 or 11 when it came out) and I fell instantly in lust. The toad standing next to her is Eve Ensler ("author" of the Vagina Monologues). Hence the wart. OK dudes ... hold on to your seats (or coffee mugs or beer bottles or whatever). This is Dennis Kucinich and ... his wife. How in the name of all that is holy and just did this happen? Dennis was a particular favorite with this crowd. I wouldn't count him out in the next Presidential race. Really. He's got a lot of appeal with the base. I was actually quite taken aback. And who ... who ... could complain about his wife? I mean I don't know if she's some sort of air-head moron or simply a gold-digging power leech. But all she has to do is keep her mouth shut and, like, who cares? Did I mention that the Code Pink rally was simply a sideshow of the Main Event? I didn't? Well ... it was. The title of this bit of a side show was (har har) "Women Say Pull Out!" I thought we where SUPPOSED to make love, not war. No matter. I have much video to get through and process (about 1.5 hours actually) with a lot of drums and puppets and stilts and other insanity I'm sure you will all enjoy. Please check back! Click HERE: Updates are up!