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Home Front: Politix
Up to 2 million march to protest Obama's spending
2009-09-13
Check out the photos at the link.
WaPo refers to 'tens of thousands.' The NYT refers to a 'sea of protesters' but later calls them 'tens of thousands'. The NYT also notes that the magnitude of the rally took authorities 'by surprise'.
ABC news: DC officials say 60-75,000
What says Old Patriot after he looks at the photos?
Demonstrators waved U.S. flags and held signs reading "Go Green Recycle Congress" and "I'm Not Your ATM".

Many protesters said they paid their own way to the event - an ethic they believe should be applied to the government. They say unchecked spending on things like a government-run health insurance option could increase inflation and lead to economic ruin.

Terri Hall, 45, of Florida, said she felt compelled to become political for the first time this year because she was upset by government spending.
I received an email from a neighbor with the same sentiment -- in which he announced a tea party to be held in our little community. I got the impression he went from a standing start to organizing the thing. I don't think the Democrats are going to much like what real grass-roots community organizing accomplishes.
"Our government has lost sight of the powers they were granted," she said. She added that the deficit spending was out of control, and said she thought it was putting the country at risk.

Anna Hayes, 58, a nurse from Fairfax County, stood on the Mall in 1981 for Reagan's inauguration. "The same people were celebrating freedom," she said. "The president was fighting for the people then. I remember those years very well and fondly."
Invoking Reagan, explicitly denying Obama's on the side of the people .... this is getting interesting.
Saying she was worried about "Obamacare," Hayes explained: "This is the first rally I've been to that demonstrates against something, the first in my life. I just couldn't stay home anymore."

Like countless others at the rally, Joan Wright, 78, of Ocean Pines, Md., sounded angry. "I'm not taking this crap anymore," said Wright, who came by bus to Washington with 150 like-minded residents of Maryland's Eastern Shore. "I don't like the health-care [plan]. I don't like the czars. And I don't like the elitists telling us what we should do or eat."
An apropos Reagan clip:

Posted by:lotp

#18  Thank you for bringing your expertise to bear, Old Patriot. All right, people, the number we use from now on is quote estimate of 400,000 to 800,000 by a trained professional unquote.

Rantburg is indeed a wonderful place.
Posted by: trailing wife   2009-09-13 23:12  

#17  I think if they'd count those of us who were there in spirit, the number would be in the tens of millions.

Shhh...don't tell the Dems.
Posted by: Woozle Uneter9007   2009-09-13 22:10  

#16  TW, I'd estimate, from all the photos I've seen, that there were at least as many people there as there were at the free Beach Boys concert I attended July 4th, 1980 (400,000 - lots less pot and cocaine use, however). There were probably between 500,000 and 800,000 people there all told, but that's just an estimate. I couldn't see all the crowd. I hope it was enough to get Congress' attention. If not, we may have to do it again, but this time armed to the teeth. The way I read the Declaration of Independence, terminating a government that wishes to significantly curtail our freedoms is a duty, not an option.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2009-09-13 20:59  

#15  But you're right, he mis-stepped WRT the vet claim.

I agree. However, Durbin and Teddy Kennedy did call those putting their lives on the line for us Nazis.

Bman Thank you for your service. My brother served in '68 (Marine).
Posted by: Woozle Uneter9007   2009-09-13 15:01  

#14  While I agree with a slice (very small) of what MoreScotch4Me said, where were the large-size counter-protests before the war was won, the rest of it is garbage.

When my unit came home through VT, there was a huge showing at the airport at 0300hrs. Vietnam Vets, WWII vets all lined up to greet us and welcome us home. Families with children as young as 5 y/o showing up at that time of the morning to welcome us back.

Little bit of dust in the air just to recall it.
Posted by: Jame Retief   2009-09-13 14:38  

#13  One of the more subtle trolling attacks we've had here in a while, I'm thinking. Take a look at all his comments together and ask yourself what the impact of them is intended to be.

But you're right, he mis-stepped WRT the vet claim.
Posted by: lotp   2009-09-13 14:36  

#12  He's a fraud.

If he was not a fraud he would know that you try not to mention being a war vet in America nowadays. It is uncomfortable if you do. People buy you meal, they send drinks to your table, they come over and say thank you, they stand you up at concerts and sporting events, they applaude when they see you in uniform at airports, women come over and hug you. I'm not sure where this so called vet is hiding but the America I'm living in is not what he' talking about!
Posted by: 49 Pan   2009-09-13 14:31  

#11  #10 Hey lotp. ROFL!!!!!! Best comment of the day by far. Love it.
Posted by: Canuckistan sniper   2009-09-13 14:24  

#10  Long way to Texas from New Zealand, MoreScotch4Me. Hope you get a good rest on the flight.
Posted by: lotp   2009-09-13 12:56  

#9  Well Mr. Iraq war veteran thank you for your service. I believe that the Gathering of Eagles supported the troops, I have read many reports of receptions at airports, and when my nephew returned to Fort Sill the streets were lined with flags and people. I could also ask "where were the crowds when 55,000 soldiers were KIA in Vietnam?", they were there alright protesting the war. They didn't show during your service because counter protests by vets that said that: "Never again will our fighting men and women be dishonerd, spit on and rebuked by society". So enjoy Texas, the home of "W" a president that allowed you to win your war.
91B
82nd. Airborne
Vietnam 68-69
Posted by: bman   2009-09-13 12:38  

#8  "I don't like the health-care [plan]. I don't like the czars. And I don't like the elitists telling us what we should do or eat."

Hussein will be on 60 Minutes tonight, describing the above sentiment as 'coarse'. Maybe he can pull it off without giggling this time.
Posted by: Woozle Uneter9007   2009-09-13 11:14  

#7  I'm sorry to post such a negative thing, but as an Iraq vet, have to wonder where this sort of support was during the war, before we F*ckin' won? During the times when the NY Times was posting Treason, and various blogs and congressmen were proclaiming Sedition? Where were they? Where were the crowds? To hell with America and it's problems. You made your bed, sleep tight in it. I'm heading for Texas. Hope you bought enough bullets to get your point across.
Posted by: MoreScotch4me   2009-09-13 11:04  

#6  If that's the measure used, Glenmore, then according to reports of the place being clean when the crowd left, there wasn't anyone there to begin with.

For one example, check "a reader e-mails" at the bottom of this Instapundit post from yesterday. I saw comments about the cleanliness of the crowd (from those there) at other sites, too.

No surprise, but you can bet the MSM won't deign to mention it.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-09-13 10:32  

#5  Interesting compare and contrast between Daily Mail article and the others. There were definitely a lot more than 75K yesterday.
Posted by: IG-88   2009-09-13 10:25  

#4  I figure they used the New Orleans Mardi Gras crowd size estimating technique - a pound of garbage left behind equals one attendee. Nah, that can't be right either - crowd had to be bigger than a few hundred.
Posted by: Glenmore   2009-09-13 09:42  

#3  America to the losers in Washington. "Dont make me come up there!"
Posted by: Carolyn Brown   2009-09-13 09:27  

#2  The Forest Service is the official counter. They had pictures of the million man march. I wonder how they compare to the Tea Party gathering?
Posted by: BrerRabbit   2009-09-13 09:25  

#1  "I'm as mad as Hell and I'm not taking this anymore." ---- very appropriate

Posted by: Jack Chaiting7559   2009-09-13 06:33  

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