The first of these rallies was held at the Paragon on the Hyman Avenue Mall. The rally was one of the first public events involving Thompson for a long time, and turnout was enthusiastic. Former Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis and former Aspen Mayor John Bennett flanked Thompson at the table.

“We will beat them like gongs, sending them running like stupid rats across the frozen tundra. We don’t have the power; we don’t have the money. But we do have the ballot, by God,” he said. “We’re here for a public beating, and for a change it isn’t us.”