There are few things more fun than spending a sunny afternoon pissing off Republicans. And today I, along with around 30 – 40 other folks, did just that. Joe Barton had a little fundraiser on a train. As annatopia calls it, the Gravy Train. Hee hee.
See, Smokey Joe decided to get his money makers together for a train ride/buy a congressman trip across Texas. So we all got together and gave them a fine farewell. Too bad they will eventually come back. That said, it was a hoot.
Most of the protesters were of the baby-boomer generation, which I like to see because they are harder to write off then a bunch of kids. And we all had our signs, because what is a protest without signs. Mine said “Democracy For Sale”. But the best sign of all was the one brought by the man who will replace Barton as our next congressman from district six, David Harris.
Annatopia has more on the event, so I’ll just add my two cents. First off, I got there around 2 pm (because I have no life) and apparently the rethugs tried to pull a fast one by getting most of their people on the train around 1 pm, even though it wasn’t leaving until 4 pm. I spoke with a lady who had the fore-thought to show up even earlier and she told me that when she got there cops were everywhere and the bomb squad was sweeping the area. She said she got harrassed by the police, they tried to run her off, and that Joe and most of his cronies had already boarded. Luckily for the rest of the protesters who were told to be there around 3 pm some of the rethugs were running late, so we still got to heckle people. Oh, and the fuckers even pulled a second train in front of Barton’s so they wouldn’t have to see us while they were getting comfortable. But they still had to walk through us to get on the train.
Most people at the protest were cool to talk to. However, I really can’t stand the lady from Code Pink who shows up at every event around here. She is annoying and was purposely trying to get the police pissed off. Stupid, just stupid. Anyhow, what we did get to do was make some of the rethugs feel very uncomfortable. And hopefully we embarrassed Smokey Joe. All in all it was fun.
There were media folks too, so hopefully I will be able to link to some footage of the event later.
Update- annatopia has links to the news threads picking up the AP piece on the protest, but I just wanted to link to this thread from Trains Magazine because it is, well, weird:
Thought I’d try and get a date and named train set on this Texas rail adventure between Fort Worth and San Antonio which is a fund raiser for Joe Barton. Me being very naive thought a phone call would do it, well not so…
Before I continue, the fund raiser train will depart Fort Worth on the 20th of January 2006 per the Joe Barton campaign office.
My efforts described here:
Well I called Joe Barton’s Washington phone number, which is 202-225-2002, the fellow that answered the call referred me to Joe Barton’s campaign office in Texas. I called that number, which is; 972-875-8688. I explained that I was a railfan, and interested in the train ride. Was told that it will take place January 20th. I then asked about equipment, then it got busy according to the call screener, she then ask for my number so the office could call me back. They haven’t called back yet, I tried to call her back, no one answers now…
I then got her back on the phone, I then asked her who was providing the train set for the Fort Worth – San Antonio train ride, she then accused me of being too aggressive, she then stated I must be a reporter. I told her I was not, I was just a railfan. She then gave me a number of Murphy Turner Associates; 817-226-5551. I apologized for being too aggressive about three times, this to placate her, at no time was I aggressive.
I called Craig Murphy of Murphy/Turner Associates, they have yet to call me back…
So, looks like this passenger move is scheduled for Friday January 20th. Train set provided by, I don’t know because they would not tell me, so its got to be either Union Pacific or BNSF?
If by some miracle this Craig Murphy calls me back with information about the train set, I’ll pass it along to the group. Also, if someone is better connected with Joe Barton’s campaign and can tell us about the train set used for this fund raiser, I bet everyone would be appreciative. Thanks in advance…
Jim Bryant
——————————————————————————
SP
The route you mention is the ex MKT which is now UP..As far as the train itself the provider will probably be Amtrak..Unless UP wants to provide their vintage equipt.
Most political whistlestops like this one are Amtrak specials…Thanks for the heads up…Danny——————————————————————————–
SP
It will be a spl train if if follows the UP route rather than the Amtrak Eagle route.(BNSF)Barton’s district includes Ellis Co. which is not on the Eagle route so I guess it depends on which way he chooses to go..I dont think his ditrict includes some of the counties on the Eagle route…Im not staking my life on this but I guess we’ll know more later next week…Have you cont. Amtrak P.I. officer?Danny———————————————————————————
I read about it in a Washington Post article, the article didn’t have any details. Joe Barton’s campaign web site had no information about it either. Well, thought I get some information about the fund raiser, to post a heads-up. Wanting to see photos of this train is my only interest.
Jimmy B
Train nerds.
Meanwhile, here is the pic from the Star-Telegram:
Sharon Austy holds a sign Friday protesting Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Barton’s chartered fund-raising trip to San Antonio. Supporters paid $2,000 per person or $5,000 per political action committee to spend seven hours with him on the train.
just another vet 