For those who have adopted the slogan "Boycott Austin - Boycott ROT" you're sentiment is half misplaced.  The rally is NOT inside the city limits of Austin.  The only way attending the rally will benefit Austin is if you go into the city limits to spend your money. 

There is lodging in biker friendly towns all around Austin.  To keep your money out of Austin you can stay in Round Rock, Bastrop, Pflugerville or Georgetown .. or even tent camp on the rally site and not miss any of the party. :)

Austin's stance on Arizona's new imigration bill has emotions running deep on both side of the issue.  However, taking out frustration over Austin's stance by boycotting ROT is just robbing you of a good time and punishing the rally and rally vendors for no reason because ROT is not held IN Austin.

This whole issue has generated a firestorm of activity behind the scenes and all but drawn the rally into the controversy just by benefit of the timing of the rally.  And the protest march against Austin's boycott during the rally.

I think Jerry Bragg, ROT's owner, summed it up best in an email yesterday "Hell! this is a bike rally, we are not a political organization, we are in it for the party!"

Y'all know ... I'm the last person to be political....  But I think it is funny as Hell that there is a prostest march to Boycott Austin's Boycott.............LMAO!!!!!

Is that redundant..

     You can say that again...   LOL

BTW..... I'm not Boycottin' ROT ... I'm in it for the Party Too!!!!

Bebop said:

I'm not Boycottin' ROT ... I'm in it for the Party Too!!!!

Thats right!!!     PARTY!!!

I consider myself fairly political, like to blog about things and debate when the opportunity is there. I agree with Spirit 100%....there's a time and place for everything and this site and ROT aren't really the place for these debates. It seems to me that ROT is the ONE place that you come to ONCE a year to leave everything behind. It's the time to forget about our jobs, problems, ex's or whatever else has happened throughout the year and wash those things down the drain with copious amounts of alcohol and swapping good stories, laughter and sharing some awesome times with some great, fun loving people!

LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monster said:

Bebop said:

I'm not Boycottin' ROT ... I'm in it for the Party Too!!!!

 

 

 

Thats right!!!     PARTY!!!

ditto

baloo said:

 

Monster said:

 

Bebop said:

I'm not Boycottin' ROT ... I'm in it for the Party Too!!!!

 

 

 

Thats right!!!     PARTY!!!

 

 

 

ditto

Me too! Yahoooo....Baloo's coming too!

Maxx said:

Me too! Yahoooo....Baloo's coming too!

Did you think I would miss it????

baloo said:

 

Maxx said:

 

Me too! Yahoooo....Baloo's coming too!

 

 

Did you think I would miss it????

Should certainly hope not!!!

Tim2749 said:

I consider myself fairly political, like to blog about things and debate when the opportunity is there. I agree with Spirit 100%....there's a time and place for everything and this site and ROT aren't really the place for these debates. It seems to me that ROT is the ONE place that you come to ONCE a year to leave everything behind. It's the time to forget about our jobs, problems, ex's or whatever else has happened throughout the year and wash those things down the drain with copious amounts of alcohol and swapping good stories, laughter and sharing some awesome times with some great, fun loving people!

LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Support our Troops! Support ROT. If you want to protest Austin, don't go on the ride to 6th St. Spend your money at the ROT grounds.

boomer you are right on! I am looking forward to having fun with friends and making new friends. The top discusions should be about bikes, beer, and babes.

I certainly agree with the above statements. ROT is about bikes, not policitcal

agendas from certain people.  " Having a protest over a boycot is just Austin's

Part of "Keeping Austin Weird"....as the slogan goes.

I say Who Cares.......Let's Party!

Airdog22 said:

I say Who Cares.......Let's Party!

I agree!!  Unfortunately, the high volume of contact to complain about the rally's location and to cancel registrations/rv sites/etc. makes it necessary to address the issue to some extent. 

Everyone who is up in arms over Austin's actions - and there's a LOT of people that are fuming - need to know that coming to ROT doesn't put money in Austin's coffers.

If not for that message, this topic would have been left off limits. :)

Spirit said:

the high volume of contact to complain about the rally's location and to cancel registrations/rv sites/etc. makes it necessary to address the issue to some extent

WoW! Whoever is cancelling registrations over this must be pretty SQUARE!!!!!!!!!

It's a party not a political agenda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ededoreddie said:

 

Spirit said:

the high volume of contact to complain about the rally's location and to cancel registrations/rv sites/etc. makes it necessary to address the issue to some extent

 

 

 

WoW! Whoever is cancelling registrations over this must be pretty SQUARE!!!!!!!!!

 

It's a party not a political agenda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

People who feel strongly enough about Austin's actions are willing to sacrifice their good time and enjoyment to not support a town they feel s wrong.   Sometimes punishment is as hard on the punisher as it is the punishee.  Remember when you'd ground the kids, but it grounded you too and it sucked?  Its the same prinicipal...and it takes a lot of character to stand by your principals that way, imo.

I just want those people to know that contributing financially to Austin is still their choice.  Attending ROT will not have a positive affect on Austin.  But they might want to think about the fact that if they don't come, somebody who will gladly spend in Austin will be waiting to take their place.   Attending ROT will actually make a bigger statement than not attending.  When the financial data comes in, if the number of ROT attendees stays the same, yet Austin's revenue goes down and the surrounding towns have gone up.  That sends a message loud and clear.

If all those supporters boycott 6th St. Friday night that could have a big impact.  Or it may make no difference at all.  

I'll say this much, the timing really sucks....and that's all I have to say about that.

Let the party begin.

Talk about weird! I find it difficult to believe that someone would actually cancel going to ROT as a protest to the City Councils actions. All you would do is hurt the individual businesses. To effect the City Council you would need to vote them out.

I agree support the troops

USMC8412 said:

I agree support the troops

You said it USMC8412  We still need all the support we can get!!!!!  Mine and Tankergods Bro LES will not beable to make it this year (he is down range) IRAQ!!!!!

Don't for get all you ladies out there you need to support my bro's so make it a great ROT for those guy's and gal's Fighting so we can do this and Party our A$$ off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im lost....... Is Austin boycoting Arizona because of the new imigration stuff going on there? Is it really going to make a change? Some how people can get together over this but they can't boycot a gas company for jacking the prices up! Ok sorry Spirit I know we aren't supposed to talk about this stuff here. I'm done.

Did someone say??????????????

PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!BEADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BEER!!!!!!!!!!BIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IMHO, if people want to cancel their registrations and open up some RV spots for those dedicated to the true meaning of ROT, let them. I agree whole heartedly that ROT is about the commeraderie and sharing your love of motorcycles and BOOBs. Let them boycott and let us have fun. Drink up.

Baggerman2010 said:

IMHO, if people want to cancel their registrations and open up some RV spots for those dedicated to the true meaning of ROT, let them. I agree whole heartedly that ROT is about the commeraderie and sharing your love of motorcycles and BOOBs. Let them boycott and let us have fun. Drink up.

WELL PUT Baggerman2010 well put PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bottoms up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  apparently city council does not know about beads for boobs program!!!!

ya, did they forget if they give up there RV spots have fun renewing them next year!!!!!

liferider said:

ya, did they forget if they give up there RV spots have fun renewing them next year!!!!!

Who could forget that? lol 

Sometimes a boycott hurts the one boycotting as much as the person being boycotted ... just in a different way.  Thank God we're in America, where we're all free to choose. :)

hay councilman   

Way too much bullshit about this dumb-ass boycott. 

Folks, I mean fellow bikers [all sex(es)],  I was born and raised in Texas and plan on staying and doing what I want, and I will not listen to a bunch of assholes in any town that want to tell me where I can spend my money, have fun with fellow bikers, and enjoy the party at ROT. Period.

Boycotting ROT is about as dumb as anything I have ever heard.  What the hell good is boycotting ROT gonna do for ANYONE - be it Arizona, or Australia. 

My wife and son, both Marines, have served to protect the freedom that we ALL enjoy and I intend to honor their service by partying my ass off at ROT.

Nuff said.