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I had a great time, my girlfriend with me was moved to tears by the families of soldiers, and singing of god bless america.

Crowd estimation is such a tricky thing. But to help the locals along, the legal capacity outside at Stubb's is 2,400. That is when it fills up all the way back to the porta jons.

I do believe we had more than that, as the capital grounds is such an enourmous space. I did a sample, by counting the people around me in about a 10yrd by 10 yrd space, 30 people were spread out, which I think is normal dynamics for a crowd with such strong beliefs in the power of the individual. Socialist, and Communists stand closer together... ;)

Then looking back from my position near the front I counted the number of similar 10Sq Yard areas, and got around 100. (I actually just counted across and deep 10 and 10) That is my method for estimating a crowd, so I put it at around 3000. But people cycled in and out as well...

But more importantly, at all these rally's across the country you will find good, solid, honest, modest folk. Many of them, like myself, I don't think are comfortable gathering in public to rally around a political cause. They have strong beliefs, but that is countered by their modesty, and tendancies toward the strength of the individual. It is why they are known as the "silent" majority. It is not a normal social activity, and takes a much greater level of energy than the anit-war-bush-capitalism crowd. It takes a lot to get them together. Plus they have jobs ;)

In contrast, the anti-war-bush-capitalismc crowd, especially the young colleged aged and extreme group actually enjoy protesting. It is socially accepted and expected. In fact many are along for the social aspect, more than the socialist aspect of the protest. I back this up with the frequency of their protests. They are looking for any excuse to get out, beat drums, and block traffic.

I work downtown and a protests by these folks have happened nearly once a month for the last 3 years. Same signs, same tactics, same props, same people, different fake purpose each time. That has gone up of course now to highly aggravating levels.

I think that makes the troops rallies more important, and gives them more credibility. I know these people who are in the protest scene well. They are my peers I work with them, I hang out at the same clubs as them, many were, or are still my friends, many more frequent my social circles. (My favorite music hang out is Emo's, that will clue in locals Austinites to what brings close to their cliques).

You can trust in my assesment of them above. They talk excitedly at concerts, and keg parties about drawing chalk lines around themselves, and the last time they got arrested. And when the next one will be. With smiles on their face, not furrowed brows betraying concern for war, and their duty to destroy capitalism. They look like they are planning a party.

I have said too much ;)

-- lates

I have said too much ;)

Thanks so very much for your interesting and enlightening assessment. Have had a tendency to believe your "social" side of these protests for some of the folk don't even understand political issues nor can they discuss with any kind of knowledge base. I live downtown and have had occasion to try some dialogue with some of them, with little to no luck.

Just read some of their signs. Some are about F..ing, loving, anti Bush, and all types of oral, anal rantings, some with no relevance to their protest.

Thanks again. I check out their calendar freqently and notice that they have protests several times a week. You only see those that occur downtown.

Say, do these people ever work? What do they do?

Thanks again.