RICHMOND VA TEA PARTY/Vanity

[pantherskincreek]

Just in from the Richmond Tea Party. A big crowd (somewhere in the thousands, total?) gathered under dark skies and a light rain fell but did not dampen spirits....so many people I couldn't get close enough to even see the speakers. Tried to get a Tea Party bumper sticker but they were SOLD OUT. Diversity and transparency....hmmmm....it was evident that society was well represented at all levels....there were swarms of kids, young people, business people, students, housewives, retired people, foreign people, white, brown and black people, short tall fat skinny young old gray ugly pretty you name it....no less than four mounted police on horses and other policeman hung together while monitoring the crowd. All three stations were covering the event. LOTS of signs, particularly liked the kid holding one that proclaimed CORK THE PORK and also the giant pitchfork with tattered oversized dollar bills hanging from the tins. Oh, and overheard James Monroe introducing himself to a lady while George Washington looked on - George, standing head and shoulders above everyone, was beautifully dressed in a dark blue cape, boots and breeches, powdered wig and curls, every inch a leader; and Monroe, quiet spoken and also well dressed in knee hose, buckled shoes, tricorn hat and a dark long jacket.....sheesh, those costumes did something to me....at one point the crowd began chanting THOW HIM OUT and messages on signs touched every topic....Fed Reserve, Taxes, Bailout, Big Government, Socialism, Healthcare, Term Limits....all in all a well behaved crowd...with a lot of messages for Washington.

[Wingy]

I spoke to a policeman and he said probably 2000 to 2200 people. He said the parks capacity was 3000 and while close to full, not quite. It was shoulder to shoulder 100 to 200 feet from the stage. I never got closer than that as it was too packed. My guess is 2500 to 2800, from what I saw. For a cold and rainy evening, not too bad.