Wow, what a trip. I need to eat and relax. When you get on the Metro miles from DC and see cars and trucks from Texas, to Florida and on out to Missouri, you know you're going to meet a pretty big crowd. I'm assuming the numbers can be found via Michelle. Check Instapundit and Memorandum, as well.
I heard multiple reports from Cops on the ground just covering the deal who said they had never seen a crowd this large. One claimed to have been working DC for twenty years.
The bulk of my time was spent just talking to people that were part of the crowd. I'll have more to say on that later, or may just write it up tomorrow. I want to eat, look around the blogs and get some links up.
My last conversation was actually in the Metro parking lot coming back. We must have spent 45 minutes with a handful of people from different states. They were fine people from young to old and they were first and foremost conservative in their hearts.
Just imagine what a trip that was, knowing they were part of a sea of people that went to Washington for nothing today. They didn't want a new program, didn't want the government to help. They just wanted to keep more of their hard earned dollars and to be left alone.
Really, is that too much to ask?
To a person the other thing I heard was, this isn't the culmination of anything. This was only a first step for a mass of people that intend to be heard. And while their manner was pleasant, their behavior in check ... what they were when they wanted to be was very loud.
I'll be back. And so will they.
DAN, HERE IS AN ARTICLE AND SOME "GREAT" PICS OF THE 9-12 PROJECT, TEA PARTY MARCH ON WASHINGTON DC TODAY. They say it was huge crowd also.
http://bit.ly/wE534
Wish I could have come but I have 3 dogs. They are like kids.
Too bad Obama had to leave town. He should have been there. LOL. As the ole saying goes...If you can't take the heat, then get out of the Kitchen. Guess he could'nt take the heat. LOL.
Glad you got to go !! :o)
Posted by: WBestPresidentEver | Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 09:29 PM
Thanks for your efforts. It must have been something incredible to witness.
Posted by: mike farmer | Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 09:49 PM
DAN HERE IS ANOTHER ARTICLE FROM SOME OTHERS THAT JUST GOT BACK.
http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/
http://americangrandjury.org/march-on-dc-draws-2-million
Posted by: WBestPresidentEver | Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 10:11 PM
I have yet to see any reports anywhere about cars overturned. Teargas used. Red pant splashed. Cars burned. Windows broken.
How can that be? Sureley sombody was beaten or something!
Posted by: Larry Sheldon | Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 10:37 PM
"I want to eat, look around the blogs and get some links up"
Shameless opportunists such as I... claim it's a Reagan revolution thing.
http://ifyouseekpeace.blogspot.com/2009/09/ronald-reagan-is-dead.html
Yeah, Larry, I was looking for the reports of us biting-off peoples' acorns 'n stuff.
Posted by: Ran | Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 10:56 PM
There was about 30 million people there. Honest.
Posted by: Jaime | Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 11:42 PM
60-70,000.
Thats the only official estimate - from DC Fire Dept.
nice try though...
Posted by: JoeCitizen | Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Got a link, Joe? Man, those fire departments. Such geographical boffos. Hey, Joe, got an official estimate from the DC Fire Department on gold futures? Cod stocks? wingtip velocity of a swallow?
Jaime... get some fresh diapers, son. Your pals at CNN, too, estimated between 1.5 on the low side and 2 millions on the high side. Sucks to be you, son.
Posted by: Ran | Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 12:30 AM
It’s ABC (TV, radio? Not sure.) that pegged the crowd at two million, not CNN. Official estimate is 1.5 — but those numbers always sound inflated. Settle for a million and call it a damn fine day.
http://pajamasmedia.com/vodkapundit/2009/09/12/they-will-be-heard/
Posted by: Dan Riehl | Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 12:31 AM
There's plainly more than 70K just looking at the pics.
Posted by: PA | Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 12:35 AM
Fire Department estimated 70k? They must the the firemen who failed the Exam that Sotomayor ruled in favor of.
Posted by: Dennis D | Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 01:04 AM
If there were really 1 million people there in person...there were 10 million easily, who would have been there if they could get away. Small children, expensive air fare, motel rates and food...kept me home. I might even venture to say that maybe as many as 100 people were there in spirit, for every 1 who attended in person.
Posted by: Angela B in Seattle | Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 02:27 AM
Thanks Dan, was woundering earlier if you would venture out. You did,amd I trust you and your reporting, more than the MSM.
Posted by: cindi | Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 02:31 AM
If the Mall and the west lawn we full as reports and footage suggest, then there were easily over 1 million people there...much more if the crowd was backed up all the way to Pennsylvania Avenue. However, I could see how wild ranges of estimates could occur from specific vantage points of people in the crowd or on the street -- not being able to see the whole scope of the crowd, or not being in its core. Compare the photos and footage with known crowd numbers such as those from presidential inaugurations or MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech -- you can get a reasonable estimate from those.
P.S. Obama supporters/liberals hate when people other than themselves stage rallies (especially massive ones) -- they cannot comprehend after so many years of Bush-bashing that people would actually be doing the same or worse to them and their ideas.
Posted by: Mark Turner | Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 04:30 AM
I understand the Capitol Police don't estimate any more ever since the "Million Man March" where Farakhan threatened to sue them for saying the crowd was very low in numbers.
Posted by: Lala | Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 08:38 AM