The response was not just anemic. There was a considerable amount of outright booing. Clearly someone dropped the ball in advising Crist about both his audience and the conditions on the ground.

On another note...
Congratulations to the OC GOP for putting together an program. It was well organized, fast paced, and on time. Good job guys!

The most notable thing about the evening was there was not one mention about "Flag Day" and what it represents. No wonder we are floundering as a Party! As I sat there wondering why no one in leadership made a reference to Old Glory, it hit me - none of the people on the executive committee have ever served in the military and have no respect for our Flag except for photo ops. I was very disappointed in last night. How sad when the Republican Party can't even recognize the reason for the event.

There was a lot of outright booing last night...I was there. Too bad our party is still stuck in the 1980's. Unfortunately Governor Schwarzenegger is going to be the last Republican Governor we have in this state for a long, long time. Maybe one day we (Republicans) will be tired of the endless cycle of electing somebody we really like in the primary only to watch them lose in the general election.

Committee Member at 123PM.
I am sorry you have had such a striking revelation about your party and its leadership. I am happy to report to you that the Flag Day event at the Elks Lodge in Garden Grove was organized, staffed by, fundraised by, and attended by several Democratic Veterans of Orange County.

I’m also happy to report that the event was a smashing success in our fundraising goals. The moneys we raised at today’s event went to support two charities that help wounded veterans and their families from Afghanistan and Iraq.

These two charities The Soldiers Project in Los Angeles and the Fisher House in San Diego help veterans with PTSD, and to help veteran families travel to and stay free of charge with their loved ones in the VA hospitals in LA and San Diego.

This year our donation will be even more significant as the event was sponsored with donations of food and beverage by Costco Assistant Warehouse manager and Veteran and my good friend Pat Minns of the Garden Grove Warehouse.

Additionally, the charities were assisted by the generous donation of the facilities, and canopies by the Elks Lodge 1952 Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Jim Faulkner.

Many speeches about the flag and what Flag Day means were made by Loretta Sanchez, Assemblyman Jose Solorio, and members of the Garden Grove City Council.

So Committee Member, I invite you next year to celebrate Flag Day with us and actually help wounded veterans from the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To Stuck in the 80's:
Our last Republican Governor was Pete Wilson. If we get behind RINO's like Arnold and support him, "because he can win" well then I guess we get what we deserve.

Last night's Flag Day dinner was my first event with the OC Republicans and I must say that I am extremely disappointed. I left last night with no feeling of inspiration nor encouragement for our future. What a let down, but I am assuming it was all a set up to prepare us for the many years of "let downs" to come.

It's not just me that feels this way. I have received many emails from others who either had the same experience as I or didn't even bother attending the event due to the lack of faith in the current crop of (so called) Republican candidates.

Paul Lucas,
Congratulations on having a successful event that actually included Veterans. Please thank the Democrat Party of O.C. for supporting our Veterans and their familes. What a crying shame my Party didn't do the same

Committee Member at 906AM;
It is a common misconception that our annual Flag Day event is a DPOC event. On the contrary it is an event organized and produced by active Democrats of the 67th, 68th, and 69th AD Committee's. The DPOC has never been a major participant beyond purchasing of tickets for the event.

Our annual Flag Day event is the manifestation of what active community members can do in the absence of leadership. They become the leaders, and the change we want to see.

This event has always been and always will be a NON-Partisan Event in nature and application. We have always encouraged the participation of elected Republican's and rank and file people from all walks of life. The purpose of this event is to help Veterans. That is our sole purpose. To that end, I extended invitations to all local elected Republicans in the area to address the crowd at our event this year in Garden Grove. Only one elected Republican accepted this invitation and I applaud her for putting partisan ideology to the side to join us on this day.

I would encourage everyone to thank the Elks Lodge 1952 in Garden Grove, And Costco Assistant Warehouse Manager Garden Grove Pat Minns, for donating their facilities, equipment, food, beverages and general good will to help this event be more successful an reduce our costs in order to provide more aid to the Fisher House in San Diego and the Soldiers Project in Los Angeles. These to charities help bridge the gap where the Federal Government has failed in helping our wounded Veterans recovering from physical wounds as well as severe PTSD.

If you are interested in joining the Elks Lodge in Garden Grove, or helping with next years event leave me a message here and I will contact you with how to do just that.

Committee Member,

Were you at the same OC GOP Flag Day that I was? There was plenty of honoring the flag and most importantly what that flag represents: this great country of ours. Each speaker talked about what makes America so special (for example, Dino Rossi's story about rising from poverty to success and the story of Charlie Crist's grandfather). We also discussed how we, as a Party, have a duty to work together to preserve what is right with America and improve that which needs to be made better.

I can't think of anything more appropriate to do on Flag Day then to join together with like minded citizens and discuss how we will work to make sure that our American flag still flys over a country that is "a shining city on a hill."

Great job OCGOP on a stellar event!

My favorite part of Governor Crist's speech was when he said that President Reagan was from OC. Who proofread his speech?!?