What the hell did I sign onto, here? This is my first diary, and I'm docking with a freaking Mothership? Jeez. I'll do my best to avoid screwing up the pod bay door.
Before jumping over the fold: please do not recommend this diary, but by all means, hurl a bone the way of Droogie's Hot, Steaming, Teabag Mothership.
And now, off to the Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago. By bicycle, of course! Though overcast, the 50 degree temperature is to my liking for biking. And the parking/meter rates... are ya kiddin' me???
All our money? (w/gratuitous LOLpic)
Howard Bealicus?
Teabaggers... Everywhere?? Aaaahh!!!!
Trickle-up phraseology. Yes. Please stop it.
"WTF??? Banner of the Day." At this point, I was beginning to feel taxed, bagged, and diffused.
The most focused message of the Windy City Tea Bag came from a LOLcat, and a dancing banana.
My real hope going into this thing was that there would not be much to see here... move along, etc. I have to grit my teeth and offer grudging admission that the Teabag turnout was steeper (oof) than I had expected. On the other hand, pick any average last Friday of the month in downtown Chicago during the summer, and odds are good that you will see just as many people show up for a Critical Mass bike ride. My offhand guess is that there were several hundreds, maybe a thousand people, who showed up.
I'll be around to update with any pertinent news, links, perceptions, and a hopeful minimum of corrections. Please include any info that you have in the comments, and I'll do my best to include it in any updates.
Big-shouldered H/T to Maimonides and all other live bloggers.
UPDATE: WLS-TV, Chicago's ABC network affiliate, estimates the turnout at "close to 1500" (link here).
UPDATE X2: If you're still following, please check out I teabagged with hundreds today on the streets of Chicago, a very thoughtful diary by daveinchi.
UPDATE X3: A very belated thank you to all commenters for participating in my first diary, and much gratitude to the gravity of the Mothership.
UPDATE X4: Because of common speculation, along with an accusation from a troll that "American Taxpayers Are The Jews For Obama's Ovens" was Photoshopped onto the placard, I have enlarged the original photo from 480 to 640 width, and added another that was taken from a different angle.