That looks like the same amount of people that provided 'tens (if not hundreds) of thousands' for anti-war protests. It'd be interesting to get an ACCURATE count - I'm estimating about 70-80 people wide (visible) by about that same number deep, so you could be looking at over 5000 easy... depending on what's to the sides you could double that.

Maybe that TV station took a still shot from the air, and we can get a better idea...

How many of these people actually earn over $250,000 facing possible federal tax increases are there? Folks under that would get tax breaks with the Obama plan, if congress passes it.

I think most folks earning $250,000 are too busy doing something worthwhile than screwing around on a workday like Wednesday holding some silly sign. Who are these folks that can take the day off?

I think most people realize by now that $250k boundary is pure fiction, Paul. Kind of like Obama's idea that he can cut deficits by spending even more money we don't have.

Have any of your renters ever complained "I don't know why the check bounced - I can't be overdrawn! I still have checks!"? Would YOU tell them to bounce three more of the same size, and the bank would magically make it all better?

Paul, since you lefties are kinda thick, let me explain again. They are protesting the wasteful spending from our taxes. You guys just don't get it. These people actually had to take a vacation or PTO day to do this. Unlike you, I admire them. You hold them in contempt which is half the problem with liberals. ww

Hello, JLawswon, certainly some of my renters are having a very difficult time right now. That's why I'm working on a real estate deal today to buy a grocery store and get out of some my rental property.

Wildwillie, I'd like to hear exactly what these folks would propose to cut to save taxes. Specifics. I don't hold them in contempt. If anything they have my sympathy if they're having a hard time making ends meet. I understand that many people are in those straits now and angry about that fact.

newsok.com is reporting 5,000. I found your site looking for photos of the event, looks like a great turnout. Wish I could have gone, but couldn't get away from work for a lunch hour today.

Paul, you sound like a tired liberal who's running out of arguments. These aren't rent-a-mobs like ACORN. They're real people who are concerned about the massive spending and government growth. I have a feeling many of these people decided it was worth it to spend a vacation day come out and participate in today's rallies.

Kim, I just wonder who can spend a day screwing around holding a sign instead of being productive, that's all. But if a lot of these folks are unemployed, etc. then they have my sympathy.

Michael, what a great turn out! It must have been a blast to be with like minded people who care about the well being and health of our country. These are people who want to live a life of self-reliance without interference from the government. These are not people who are demanding the paychecks from other Americans, unlike the ACORN folks, who are getting billions in taxpayer dollars from Obama.

I was there and it was a great (and fun) event.

I think it's great to see American's doing things like this.

I'm seeing a lot of leftwingers all bent out of shape over the tea parties and don't get why.

Just stopped by one blog who said it was because "right wingers" have suddenly gotten the idea that their taxes are too high.

I think he's missing the point. It's like WildWille said, it's the spending and out of control government erasing freedoms that I think has all these Tea Party goers upset.

hooson - "How many of these people actually earn over $250,000 facing possible federal tax increases are there? Folks under that would get tax breaks with the Obama plan, if congress passes it."

Better question; How many of these people will lose a portion of any potential tax rebate as a result of deductions for charitable giving being reduced by your one true luv obama?

If you don't know the answer your a lot further in the "Tank of Obama" than I ever considered.

And the nonsense re hooson continues: - "Kim, I just wonder who can spend a day screwing around holding a sign instead of being productive, that's all. But if a lot of these folks are unemployed, etc. then they have my sympathy."

Can your point to a similar hooson quote that relates to the many anti-war, anto-Bush protests over the last 8 years?

I was there (used a vacation day to go) and I saw a LOT of homeschoolers with their kids. I spoke with a State Trooper and he said his guess was between 4k & 5k on the crowd size.

I expected a big turnout. Oklahoma had the highest % vote for McCain and for the first time since statehood has a Republican controlled Congress (state level)

Shit fire.... I missed this classic hooson quote: - "Hello, JLawswon, certainly some of my renters are having a very difficult time right now. That's why I'm working on a real estate deal today to buy a grocery store and get out of some my rental property."

And I bet they are thankful at the possibility of losing you as a landlord.

And BTW, that's "mighty kind" (if kind means greedy bastard) of you to be thinking so much of your renters.

On the other hand you COULD really help them and lower their monthly rent during these hard times. Instead you're fleeing like a cockroach as the light is turned on.

arsehole!

It will be an indication of the strength of the movement to see the sizes of the crowds the next time there is a call to rally. Does this movement have the staying power of the "Ban the Bomb" crowd or the "Save the Trees" group?

Time will tell.

I attended the rally. It was from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, so I took a long lunch hour. A day off was not necessary, just a couple of hours.

I'm back at work now.

hooson, another question for you.

Why is the White House saying obama knows nothing of the tea parties?

Is he really that detached from the real world or is the WH lying?

It really is a shame, some so called Americans will accept a trillion or more dollars in debt, will accept big corporations being bailed out while a single mom struggles to get food to the table, they will accept all of this and more, and worse yet, they will argue when someone does not accept this, you want to argue about it, go to a rally, show your ass, go to the rally and tell the crowd that you think what is going on in America is ok, it's fine, there's nothing wrong with the finacial downfall that America is being put through, you are fine with everything that is going on now, cause that, from what I gathered from being there today, is what the rally is really about.

So when you start to care about what America is going through, then make a post, other than that, sit on your hands and watch as the real people who care....do something about it.

And furthermore, this is not about the president, this is about ALL of our so called government officials who think we, as a people, don't care about America anymore and will allow them to do what ever they want....and to me, that is just not true!

"Why is the White House saying obama knows nothing of the tea parties? is he really that detached from the real world or is the WH lying?"

Both

Paul Hooson has left because he had his ass handed to him for his inane and insane comments. If anyone used a hard earned vacation day for this revolt, I respect them very much.

When Gibbs said Barry did not know about the tea parties, well, that shows how easy the lies roll off their tongues.

I have not met many people who are NOT fed up with the way our government is being run. By either party. They are, in their words, sick of it. This is only the beginning.

Now Barry puts out a very non specific DHS report about racists and hate groups, etc. This is the kind of stuff people are sick of. ww

I won't speculate but it's interesting who stopped the D.C. tea party by tossing a box of tea bags over the WH fence.

The obvious perps would be an extremely tone deaf nut from the right, or someone form the left attempting to discredit the rally.

I assume the guy in the hat is the ExxonMobil "handler/organizer"? Or was CAT running this one?

;)

....and he is spinning in his grave. He was KIA 56 years ago. His country was something to stand for back then, but would his death be worth it today? I would hope so, and methinks we will find out by 2012.

marc,

Nice dressing-down of Paul Hooson. He really deserved that one.

I'll second your comments -- if Hooson really believes what he and his Blue cohorts preach, then he should be slashing rent, regardless of whether or not he loses money out of his own pocket, not bailing out of his rental properties.

In fact, if Hooson is forced to spend his own money subsidizing low rent, then won't America be a better place? Wouldn't that mean that "wealthy" Hooson (if he is buying a grocery store, then he is obviously "rich" and not a "working American") is finally paying his "fair share"?

It's always amazing when liberals admit (even inadvertently, which was probably the case here) that they put their own pocketbooks ahead of the welfare of those less fortunate than themselves (like Hooson's renters).

Paul Hooson really is sole the voice of reason over at Blue. Perhaps this slip-up shows that he is also human, just like the rest of us.

"tossing a box of tea bags over the WH fence."

If thats all it takes to scare them.... Stock up on tea bags and we'll drive the leftists into the harbor and back to England to live under Kings and Queens like the subjects they want us all to be.

As a liberal "troll", I say a hearty congratulations is in order to the Tea Party attendees for expressing their opinions, as is their 1st Amendment right.

Perhaps from this movement a leader will emerge who can articulate conservative principles in a way that the public can embrace. That'll be a good thing.

'Cause right now, you guys got nothin'. And a healthy, loyal, opoosition party is important in a democracy.

Give it time Bruce. These things go in cycles. Republican leadership lost their way and tried to mimic democrats with the spending. Now they will go back to our conservative principles. ww

Hello Michael and Marc, I've not only been allowing some renters to slide along with owing me back rent, which I'll never seriously attempt to recover, but I've also been offering financial help to a number of friends and neighbors who are in serious financial straits. But you have to put a limit on it. When a neighbor shows up at my front door and asks me to loan them $10,000 or they'll lose their home to foreclosure, it pains me. And I have to seriously think it over. But when a friend calls and needs just a $1,000 not to be kicked out of their apartment. Then that's a much easier call to say yes and write them out a check.

But I guess what I can't really understand about this Tea Party movement is that it looks like sort of an umbrella movement for a bunch of antigovernment kooks to me. For example, former porn star Marilyn Chambers was once arrested for dancing nude in a San Francisco movie theatre during the late 1970's on the orders of former Mayor Feinstein on a crackdown on some strip clubs. So Chambers became an antigovernment activist and was the 2008 Boston Tea Party candidate for vice president this past November. Other Tea Party movement members show up today protesting wearing kooky hats or costumes. The Tea Party movement looks largely like a bunch of antigovernment kooks to me, with no realistic views of the role of government. Am I wrong?

From one anti-government kook (me vs Obama) to another (PH vs GWB)

I'm on my way to a Tea Party! (my work day is done having started at 6 AM and run straight through to 4 PM). WIll I see you there?

M L - "Hooson (if he is buying a grocery store, then he is obviously "rich" and not a "working American") is finally paying his "fair share"?"

Not to mention his business acumen isn't of the highest order. The grocery retail business has one of the lowest profit margins in the entire retail industry.

Of course my assertion is supported by his own admission of having been the owner of 7 of 8 different enterprises over the years.

That indicates one of two things, 1) many of those failed, or 2) he thought a change to "greener pastures" would work but had zero ability to determine what would be a going and profitable concern in the future.