Posted on 09/12/2009 2:21:15 PM PDT by Zakeet
Edited on 09/12/2009 4:03:43 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Huge crowd, yes. But not two million. Even DeMint has now changed his first boast on this. Malkin is wrong because the police do not give estimates.
We were there and have seen a lot of crowds on the mall for inaugurations, July 4th festivities, marches, etc. Two million would not fit on the Mall in its two mile stretch.
Best estimate from experience? - 200,000 plus. For those familiar with the Capital and the Mall, the crowd filled the Capital west lawn, the area around the Grant reflecting pool, and west to Fourth street. It started encroaching on another group’s permit west of the Grant statue. It could be another 100,000 to 200,000 because they were forced to spread out along the sides of the rally because of the permit limits and the loudspeakers’ range.
It was a very large crowd, far beyond expectations, but too many groups inflate the numbers (mostly libs). It was NOT “tens of thousands” as the CNN NBC crowd are trying to say, but more like hundreds of thousands. BTW, the DC or Park Police do NOT make estimates, so anyone saying so is wrong.
Not bad for a rally organized by amateurs with no coordinating megalith like unions or the NAACP. Just real people. Almost ALL of the thousands of signs were handmade, not the fancy pre-printed ones handed out by liberal groups like MoveOn and SEIU.
I posted this on earlier threads. Now reports coming out are backing up my estimate. 200,000 (up to 400,000 because many were off to the side in the nether reaches of the Capitol lawn) is a HUGE number - four full Yankee Stadiums. Let’s not get carried away with the 2 million claim and give the left an opportunity to refute everything else.
And it was true grass roots. Almost ALL the signs were handmade, not the product of SEIU and DNC printing presses that characterize liberal rallies.
What a great day. Never expected such a big turnout. I’ve been present when the media announces that the anti-war protestors number 50,000. Today, we were 10 times that number.
Its a shame that we cant get that same kind of turnout for a support the troops rally. Imagine what our men and women in uniform would think if they saw 500,000 citizens marching in their support.
There was not a million people there. Probably between 200,000 to 400,000. Compared to other events, it looked about as crowded as the million man march. Still an amazing showing.
One of our freepers posted this video from the point where they get off the metro and to where they find the massive crowd:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhzWkYAnNG8
This was in the greatest recession (I consider it a depression) since the Great Depressio. Gas is high, home prices falling and people are out of work. Looking at the context of the times, this is VERY impressive.
A new party....hmmmm....how about the “Tea Party”!?
It ain’t today, unless somebody blew upthe Indian Museum.
Several of us noticed that the mall area was left very, very clean. Leaflets were being handed out, but they were tucked safely away or disposed of properly. One of our "neighbors" went looking for a trash bag. I initially thought he was preparing for possible rain, but later saw that he was securing overflowing trash beside the nearby trash bin. On the way back to our bus we saw that our fellow citizens were very carefully stacking and weighing down trash that didn't fit into bins to prevent it from blowing around. This crowd was just a joy to be with - even when waiting in line. There was no pushing or shoving, and the many people in wheelchairs were accommodated with adequate space. It felt like the America of my childhood.
As we left the capitol building, the crowd dispersed in an orderly fashion, with one gentleman describing it as though we were all in Catholic school, walking peacefully down the hall. There was a great deal of laughter, spontaneous friendships, and trust. I went to find the "ladies" and left my backpack with a new friend and realized that I'd just left everything with someone I'd only just met whom I knew only by a first name . . . and it was perfectly OK. I can't remember when I've had such a positive experience in a crowd of complete strangers. Even the bus ride was enjoyable - funny and upbeat. A great day.
I'm sorry to hear about all the porta-potty lines. We used the restrooms in the botanical gardens - quick lines, polite security personnel, and soap & water. Very civilized.
“Probably between 200,000 to 400,000.”
Michelle Malkin is reporting that the Metro police estimated about 1.2 million and D.C. parks and rec estimated 1.5 million.
Wasn’t it a blast. Wasn’t the march awesome?! We we’re fired up. I remember them telling us to clear the roads for emergency vehicles. I was thinking - and just how is that supposed to happen? We were shoulder to shoulder.
On a funny note: Someone standing near me said - “Did you hear that NBC is reporting that there are 100 people here?” I was like “WHAT?!” But, he started laughing and said “Just kidding?” Because these days - you just never know what to expect from reporting.
That is probably what he said as he flew over the crowd today on his way to Minnesota.
I nominate Rick Perry!
I wasn’t sure since there wasn’t a real source.
ROTFLOL Right Click SAVED!~
Up to two million march to US Capitol to protest against Obama’s spending in ‘tea-party’ demonstration
You’re wrong. That’s a still photo taken from a live traffic cam earlier today. I saved a similar photo to my photobucket account, and I’d be happy to post it here for you if you don’t believe it. It’s similar, but different enough that you see that the photos were taken at different times.
“Yes, the picture is real, nutroots” - Michelle Malkin
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/09/12/yes-the-picture-is-real-nutroots/
Thank you for that link!!! LOVED the video at the opening.
lmao
I think Michelle Malkin just called “Maceman” a nut.
was there with friends and family...
great crowd... great people...
videotaped a little... i was overwhelmed by the patriotism....
and a big difference inthe people, when the trashcans were full, the trash wasn’t thrown on the ground, but piled around the can.
teeman
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