Radical Richard, Tea Party Deanie, Freedom Fighter and Laurence arrived at the Searchlight location at 4 am on the 27th. We expected to be first in line when the gates opened at 6AM. Surprisingly, the gate was open so we drove around in the dark looking for a place to park the RFA Motor Coach. There were already at least 300 RV’s, hundreds of cars, tents and even big semi trucks. Finally we were able to locate someone to tell us where to park. What a great job all the security volunteers did. They worked around the clock directing traffic.
Finally daylight rolled around. Although the rally did not begin until high noon eager Patriots began to awaken and the festivities were beginning. Despite the cold, windy, dusty day many took chairs, signs, blankets and coffee to the stage area hoping to get the best seats in the house. Never expecting this event to be as big as it was, we didn’t follow the others.As the endless line of cars, rvs, buses, semis, motorcycles and pedestrians entering the location, it soon became apparent the expected 1,500 to 2,000 participants were going to reach the 10,000 plus mark. Additional porta-potties and dumpsters were brought in.
I visited with many participants throughout the day. The excitement was contagious; these true Patriots were there to share their feelings and concerns about the direction our Country is headed. There were disgruntled Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Conservatives and Independents who were there to let the world know they are not happy with this Administration’s agenda. Although the weather was miserable, I never heard one complaint about the wind, blowing dust, cold or the long walks many people had to make. People were turned away at the gate no more vehicles could get in. One lady said she parked 3 miles down the road and walked in. Many people endured traffic lines for 2 hours or longer.
After Sarah Palin’s awesome speech people began leaving, the news said they left because they only came to hear Sarah. I spoke to many of those early departures and was told they were heading for Henderson to take in the Vegas rally where Ann Coulter would be speaking that afternoon. As those people were leaving, others were still pouring in, although Sarah was long gone.
9 to 14 thousand people were present according to members of the Press Corps, but the security and crowd control firm on the scene estimated 30,000 plus in attendance. CNN’s Fredericka Whitfield wasn’t quite prepared to give the rally credit it was due as far as participation. She estimated that hundreds, but if not, “at least dozens of people” were in attendance. I don’t think she had her eyes open, there were more than that many at noon the day before!
My general observation was people are very disgruntled, mad and afraid of the direction this government is taking us. The majority of the attendees are first timers on the political scene and vow they will continue to support this movement and stay involved in politics. They see their children owing more money than they can ever earn. They are mad at all the wasteful money going out of Washington DC. We cannot afford any more taxes, especially when the Administration is doing nothing to create money. Jobs are not being created. We don’t need to be spending money for future jobs that will not begin for years to come we need the jobs now! Health care is a joke to everyone. No one thinks health care as Obama has signed into law will work. They believe we won’t get the care we are getting now and we can’t afford it. How can we pay for something when we can barely make ends meet? Big Government is stealing our Freedom from us. We don’t want more government; we want honest government leaders who will work with and for We The People.
Most of all the warm feeling of true Patriotism that we all shared was almost beyond belief. People openly prayed. All from within their hearts sang our National Anthem and other Patriotic songs. Our Flag of the United States of America was proudly honored with the wonderful words of the Pledge of Allegiance. One man was so over-whelmed with the Patriotism shared by all he was nearly in tears. People were hugging complete strangers, vowing we will regain our Country and our Constitution. We will not go away, we will not let our Country’s true values go down the wrong way again. We will stay involved with the actions of our elected leaders. We will vote out all the leaders who are dishonest and take bribes for their votes.
I managed to get close enough to Joe The Plumber to get a hug and had him sign the sleeve on my shirt. I couldn’t even get near Sarah, but then she may not have hugged me.
Together we will win.
Tea Party Deanie
Aerial Pictures & Video
