Just got back from the Tea Party. What a great thing to attend! It was my first one, and I had a GREAT time!
Gemini spotted me and introduced himself. Nice to meet you face to face gemini!
I looked for other hawaiian shirt folks. Saw a few but I don't think they were from the forum. Man was that place crowded! For those that don't know it was held at QwikTrip Park. It's a minor league baseball stadium, just south of Lone Star Park....the Class 1 horse racetrack. The speakers platform was in center field at the back of the playing field. People were packed into the playing field, sitting in the seats. Roaming around the outer perimeter of the stadium section seating. That's what I did. Roamed for most of the time.
Being the first time I'd ever attended a Tea Party Rally, I didn't know what to expect. It wasn't Republicans vs. Democrats vs. Libertarians. The major focus of the rally was the American people taking back our government. Conservative fiscal spending. Conservative values and morality. And what inspired me the most, was patriotism.
I didn't see ANY anti Tea Party infiltrators there. It was very civil. Couples brought their little kids in radio flyer wagons with flags on them...people brought their dogs....young and old alike where there in droves. There was a VERY pronounced police presence there who kept a VERY low key. I stopped to talk to one Grand Prairie cop, and he was as friendly as he could be.
Lots of good speakers. There was a choir there composed of home schooled kids who sang patriotic songs. Got a lump in my throat listening to them to tell you the truth.
There were tons of vendors. Vendors were selling Tea Party related t-shirts with slogans along with buttons, bumper stickers and pins. Several vendors selling flags.

One vendor was selling a flag I really really really wanted, but didn't have enough cash with me.

it was the "Come And Take It Flag" .

Gotta get me one of those. Lots of people had them. The NRA & TSRA shared a sign up booth there, which I thought was pretty neat. And local Tea Party organizations galore. I think I counted 8 of them who had sign up booths.
It was a very inspirational and refreshing experience to attend. It restored my faith in the American citizen, who will NOT permit some temporary resident of the White House to diminish or destroy what took 234 years to build. God Bless Texas, and God Bless the U.S.A.