Over 65 Feingold supporters razz Mehlman in Spooner

SPOONER, WI, March 23, 2006 -- In response to a fundraising visit by Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman and state chairman Rick Graber, over 65 area Feingold supporters gathered for a rally at the Northwest Sports Complex, where Mehlman mixed with local Republicans at a $1,000-a-head cocktail party. Feingold supporters gathered in response to the launching of a new ad campaign targeting Feingold for his effort to censure President Bush.

I made a diary entry last Thursday, trying to alert NW Wisconsin Feingold supporters that there would be a rally.  Considering the short notice we all had, and how out-of-the way Spooner is, I think it was a smashing success.  

Too bad the media decided to take a pass.  (Except for the Spooner Advocate, that is)

More below the fold.

In this photo, RNC cocktail partiers on the second floor gaze down at some of the picketers.

There wasn't much hubbub, just one elderly fool in a Ford F-250 who rolled down his window and shouted "Get a job!" at us.  Things remained civil between us and the shellacked, well-fed SUV drivers who filed in to hobnob with Ken Mehlman.

My favorite sign was a photo of Pres. Bush and the caption: "Like a rock . . . only dumber"  I'm not sure it won anyone over, but I'm sure it was cathartic to carry around.  In contrast, this gentleman was sobering:

He wasn't the Abu Ghraib guy, as I thought at first.  He was a member of CPW and had known Tom Fox.  So he was there in memory of Fox and in honor of the hostages, who had been freed that very morning.  

What do you suppose the sleek GOPers felt when they saw that hood?  What defense mechanisms keep them donating to a morally bankrupt cause?

I kept wondering about that as we all marched around.  And after we were done, we all gave the resaurant in the sports complex our business, and tipped the waitresses darn well.