I heard some of this on Dan Yorke (much of your speech aired live), and he had some interesting points:
He felt the speakers had gotten so obsessed with Obama and Washington that they let Rhode Island politicians off the hook. I completely agree – I’d had loved to hear someone get up and say the problem in Rhode Island is with people who say, “They’re all corrupt…BUT NOT MY GUY!” I know my state senator is part of the corruption (he’s the biggest union-employed fat cat of all, but Rubbers Ruggerio seems to get a free ride here). I wonder how many people present would’ve said the same of THEIR senators.
Dan was also worried about Travis Rowley’s speech at what was supposed to be a nonpartisan event. He feared some people there would consider it a turnoff, and alienate Dems who might otherwise support it.
PRO’s reporter estimated about 2200 people present. Bill Rappeleye estimated about 2000.

I saw you before the event and you said you were nervous. I guess you took my advice and look at the crowd as a computer screen. Great job! Do you know where to get the music they played at the rally before the speakers?

I love that the first picture of the post to which you appended your cliché, Old Time Lefty, has a man of color in the foreground.
There was actually reasonable representation from minority groups. I thought to take pictures of them, but I didn’t want to stoop to the Left’s level of racism.

There seemed to be a good blend of national vs. state stuff mentioned. Good blend of non-partisan and partisan speakers, too. The politicians who signed the ATR tax pledge were Republicans, Democrats, and one independent.
Please keep in mind, virtually everyone involved in this event, from the organizers on down, are pretty new to the whole “protesting” thing. We aren’t complete amateurs, but we certainly aren’t professionals at it either, like many on the left. That being said, I kind of understand now why they like to do them now. It actually felt good to be around a lot of like-minded people, sharing common goals.
PS I know we’ll be checking all the photos we took to get an accurate count, because we presume the Projo and certain other MSM outlets may try to under-count it. Based on some experience of going to large events (but not protests), I’d easily put it between 2000 and 2500. It’s certainly not “hundreds” like the Projo blog was reporting. Let’s see if they update that for tomorrow’s “bird cage liner” edition.
PPS I did take about 100 digital photos, which I’m now going through. I also videotaped most of the speeches, including Justin’s (great job!). I’ll let you know when that’s ready in digital form, if you’d like.

I’m a bit disheartened by Matt J.’s and others’ comments seeking to undermine yesterday’s rally. It’s not because I attended, nor is it because I’m an “ultra right wing” activist. Rather, it’s because I quite enjoyed seeing an organic movement spring up in this cynical of all cynical states.
Comments labeling the group “monochromatic” “radical right wing” and the like do nothing but discourage our public discourse.
And you know what the funny thing is? Many of the callers to talk radio and those interviewed on the ground remarked that they had never been to a rally before; they had never really been engaged in the political process. The irony here of course is that those are the same sentiments touted by Obama supporters throughout his campaign not even six months ago.
So what’s changed? Why can we not all applaud ordinary citizens gathering in the spirit of our founders? These are our civil rights. They should be celebrated. And for an old cynic like me, who thought this event to be a sure failure, even more so.

If the measure of success is number of attendees, then the event was a success; there were about 2500 people there at 5:15 by my count – despite what any of the disingenuos detractors at RIF are spewing.
But if the measure of success is the influence or effect it will have on our elected leaders, then I see it as a failure. Afterall, 2500 mid-40s white people that wouldn’t vote Democrat anyway are not going to influence the leaders in a state run by unions, the universities, and the poverty industry.
I guess to me it seemed more like a tea party analagous to a bunch of aristocratic british wives gossiping than the 1773 version.
As a side note, shame on whomever ripped down a counter protestor’s sign. Oh, and RIF thinks that the event is not worth discussing…as declared in each of the 12 posts about it. CNN and MSNBC must agee…a quick check revealed no tea party stories, although they did cover “Hulk Hogan relates to OJ’ and “Cavs denied home record”.