In Lakewood, Donald Trump Supporters Celebrate the Inauguration

LAKEWOOD, WA - In cities around Puget Sound, a region heavy with elected Democrats and Socialists, potentially tens of thousands of people are gearing up for a weekend of protest against Donald Trump's inauguration.

But in a casino here on Thursday night, more than 100 Donald Trump supporters and campaign volunteers gathered to drink, dine, and fantasize about how great America will soon become. On the verge of Trump's historic inauguration, the happiness among the Trump supporters here was visible, big league.

The Pierce County Trump Campaign and the South Sound Ronald Reagan Republican Club threw a pre-inauguration party at the Great American Casino, which has a 1920s New York theme, appropriately, along South Tacoma Way. As Lee Greenwood played over speakers, the Trump supporters - some wearing those iconic "Make America Great Again" red hats - discussed their hopes for the incoming president.

Richard Rabisa, of Lakewood, said that he couldn't stomach another four years of a Democrat in the White House. He's excited for Trump to "drain the swamp."

"He's not going to be able to do everything [he wants], but he's going to make a big dent in the corruption," Rabisa said.

Phillip Atwood, 21, of Lakewood, voted for Donald Trump in his first election ever. Dressed smartly in a full suit, he's very excited about Trump, in particular about what he's going do for U.S. energy independence. Atwood also likes Trump's rhetorical style.

"I would describe him as the unfiltered version of what I've been thinking," Atwood, who lives in Lakewood, said. He added that he would say some of the things Trump has said more tactfully. Atwood doesn't support silencing journalists, for example.

Sitting with her husband, Roger Westman, the deputy mayor of DuPont, Sharon Westman was proudly sporting her "Make America Great Again" hat. She works as a substitute teacher in University Place, and she made sure to show off her support of Trump at work. She was upset by talk of students in Seattle planning to walk out of school on Friday to protest the inauguration - she would resign in protest if her students did that, she said.

Retired Air Force lieutenant colonel Joe Ferluga, who lives in University Place, said he always knew Trump would win.

"He was going to win because he stood for the things people were always quiet about," he said.

Ferluga, a University of Washington grad, is excited for Trump to beef up military spending, and to fulfill his immigration promises. He wants illegal immigrants who are criminals to be deported, and the others, he said, need "to assimilate."

In between conversations, attendees read free copies of the New American magazine, whose cover story was about why Trump won. On a large projection screen at the center of the room - the event was in the casino's restaurant, Broadway Joe's - clips from Trump rallies played. There was also a Star Wars-like scroll of text describing the pains Trump supporters had endured during the election.

"The basket of deplorables won a great war," the scroll read, for example.

Cathy House was standing at the door wearing a cowboy hat in red, white, and blue, greeting attendees. She was unabashed about her love for Trump, who she described as an anti-politician.

"I love it that he's not a smooth talking, lying politician," House, of Tacoma, said. "There's no B.S., and he's for America!"

Mary Harmon-Penna, who lives in Roy in south Pierce County, was not initially a Trump supporter, she said. She came around to Trump after he became the nominee. But she likes his ideas for the Supreme Court, she wants criminal aliens out of the country, and she wants someone to get a handle on the federal deficit.

"I'm looking forward to it; he's going to do good things," she said. "He's surrounding himself with some good people."