Tea party protest at Southfork Ranch falls short of estimated 50,000 attendees

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: Dallas Morning News

It was more than the heat that had people hot under the collar this Independence Day at Southfork Ranch. A range of issues from taxes to universal health care brought a crowd out to America's Tea Party.

Organizers billed the gathering as the largest tea party in the nation, saying crowds could reach 50,000. Tea party organizers said any crowd estimates would come toward the end of the event and were likely to be done by local police.

As the event kicked off at 3 p.m., only a smattering of people had gathered in the grassy field in front of the stage. Organizers attributed the sparse attendance at that point to the 100-plus degree heat.

Jim Cooper of Mansfield, who was sitting with his wife under one of Southfork's few shade trees, said he wasn't able to attend a tea party that was held April 15 and wanted to find out what the tea party movement was all about.

"Government control is increasing," he said, listing health care legislation and the economy as some of his concerns.



Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localn...

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“America’s no longer free” and “save our constitution” was the call of the protesters who came in some wearing tea bag designed accessories.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/tea-party-pro...

[Hawkeye-X]

1. So how many people showed up?

50?

[Jade Fox]

7. The artcle says about 7500.

The responders in the comment section claim 10,000. Still not much for what is a major political movement in the minds of supporters. This was in Texas, after all.

[geomon666]

18. Yeah that's a little short of 50,000. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

26. 100 degrees in July, and people did not show up???

Smart of the no shows.
Not too bright for whoever scheduled the event.

[Aragorn]

31. 100 degrees

Keep in mind it was 100 degrees July 4 whether you went there or not. The comments made on newspaper websites seem to indicate that common sense didn't figure in to the decision anyway.

It's never too hot to hate?

[struggle4progress]

8. New Round Of Tea Parties Held Across North Texas (CBS)

... One of the largest, dubbed America's Tea Party, was held at Southfork Ranch in Parker ... Organizers expected 50,000 people, but by early evening only a few hundred had showed up ... http://cbs11tv.com/local/tea.parties.north.2.1071764.ht...

[bleever]

24. "A smattering". The photo shows two.

Many of those who were there were vending.

[Mythsaje]

2. And where were they during the worst abuses of the last ten years?

Oh, never mind. Nah--this has nothing to do with a mixed-race President.

These folks really disgust me.

[pattmarty]

15. No, no, no, it's not mixed-race. The new word for the old word is: Socialist.

[tridim]

3. The Freepers are claiming 25-35k attended

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286017/posts

[shanti]

4. i'd halve that at least

[lamp_shade]

6. Dallas police (in the article) estimated less than 10,000.

[struggle4progress]

9. Most came for the fireworks display:

... Dallas Tea Party will host America's Tea Party, a free rally and fireworks show, from 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Southfork Ranch ... http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/st...

Sunday, July 5, 2009
Celebrating Fourth of July in Dallas-Fort Worth
By Pegasus News wire
... we got much more than we bargained for with Parker’s show at Southfork Ranch. It was perhaps one of the longest fireworks displays I’ve ever seen, lasting for at least another 25 minutes after we arrived ... http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/jul/05/celebrating... /

Other links in this thread say only a few hundred people had arrived by early evening -- so the tea party itself was a bust. Perhaps, if one polled the fireworks crowd, one would have found it largely conservative -- but it's a conservative area

[AlphaCentauri]

12. probably most people didn't know they were attending a tea party

they were celebrating Independence day

[pattmarty]

14. Did you read some of the "comments"? Holy shit!!!!! I'm moving to Canada.

[marshall]

33. At least Canada already has its health care system straightened out

Now if we can just do the same, once the haters get out of the way.

[marshall]

32. The local paper reported 37,000 attending

Maybe it was tied in with July 4th celebrations?

[patrice]

5. Right, Mr. Cooper, increasing TransNationalInc. control is far preferable to a republic controlling

itself!

[mtf80123]

10. You should have seen the "Tea Bagging" party here in Denver...

9News was showing it and it appeared to me there were less than 40 attending in front of the Capitol.

[nealmhughes]

11. One would reckon teabagging for fun and profit to be lot like religious snake handling.

It might be interesting to see one event, but frankly, after the freak show is over and the dogs and ponies are cleared, does one really need to see another again?

[pattmarty]

13. I went to the one in my town for shits and giggles and stayed for................

..........about half an hour. In the Arkansas town I live in with a population just over 11,000, my estimate of the "attendees" was around 1500 tops. Just Obama bashing and a huge freak out over "socialized" healthcare. Just more entertainment for the liberals.

[DesertFlower]

16. you've got guts.

i wouldn't be able to be around that many RWers.

[Alcibiades]

17. They make the claim that the Texas economy is

the only thing keeping the US afloat, and they claim they want their own country. Go ahead! Texas ranks # 2 in total federal expenditures. We would save money if we cut them loose.

[rpannier]

25. They are free to pool their money together and buy an island somewhere

Maybe in the Grand Caymans

[tomm2thumbs]

19. 'fair weather patriots' -and a CLASS SYSTEM - lookie the VIP-only section

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xbsWXDiHWc

Lots of empty chairs in there too -and Everyone ELSE gets to sit outside the fence. I guess if you are part of the Tea Party Movement, you are encouraging the 'Elite' to get a better seat at the table than the rest of Americans. How appropriate that they shat on their own folks who weren't 'elite' enough to get inside the fence.

[and-justice-for-all]

20. The stupid!!! it burns!!!!

"Government control is increasing,"? Uh, where? Shrub Co was positioned to be quite the fascist regime and they now want to try to clime that NOW Government control is increasing?

[Blandocyte]

21. Hey, Teabaggers

Yes, Obama was elected. No, you didn't vote for him. Eff off with your pouty little get togethers and get an effing LIFE.

sorry. breaking my resolution.

[TxVietVet]

35. Janine Garafalo called them what they are ........ RACISTS...

that got the KKKonservanazi haters on Fox Noise all pissed off.

Well, it is the truth.......... something KKKonservanazis can't stand...... truth....

[Odin2005]

22. My god, what idiots.

War is Peace, Slavery is Freedom, and Ignorance is Strength to these dimwits.

[many a good man]

23. Did they have more Port-a-Sans than people, again?

No doubt.

[pepperbear]

27. Sounds like Marcia still couldn't get Davey Jones, but she did manage to get Micky Dolenz.

Entertainers include Mickey Dolenz, lead singer of one of America’s all-time favorite bands – the Monkees.



http://dallasteaparty.org/2009/06/americasteaparty /


Color me shocked.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

36. That sucks. He was my favorite, too. Guess I'll have to "dump" him.

Sell out.

[brooklynite]

28. So, personal comfort is more important to the RW'ers than fighting for America?

[Honeycombe8]

29. I'm sure Fox will report "tens of thousands - we couldn't count 'em all" showed up. nt

[Downtown Hound]

30. LOL. "Twas too hot to save America from Godless communism!"

Freeps, left wingers braved tear gas, rubber bullets, jail cells, batons, pepper spray and tasers for eight years under Bush. And you punks can't even handle a little heat? Yeah, you do the old American Spirit proud.

[Why Syzygy]

34. Heat stroke is a very real concern.

Then they would have required medical care. Insurance or no insurance ...