Based on reports from FiveThirtyEight and a little bit of number crunching, some observations on "Tea Parties" and their significance to our society.
Presuming FiveThirtyEight's numbers are correct, and based on the tea party I observed and FiveThirtyEight's count, I think FiveThirtyEight's count is generous, according to them there were 312,000 people at tea parties last week.
Many would argue there were more at Woodstock in 1969, but I digress.
By way of comparison, 240,000 people went to see "17 Again" based on a ticket price of $10 per head.
43% of the attendance was in states that voted for McCain, 42% of the attendance was in Dixie. Of course those two percentages overlap.
There were 347 reported events, so the average event had about 1,000. The main event was in Atlanta, and they had 15,000. 5 events had 5000 or more and they made up 11% of the participation. 36 events had more than 2000 and they accounted for 43% of the participation.
More after the fold:
Four states accounted for about one third of the participation.
TX - 30,000 9.2%
FL - 28,000 9%
CA - 26,000 8.2%
GA - 18,000 5.8%
Given that Florida's participation was above California's and Georgia's participation was above New York's, it is fair to say that events were better supported in the regions where President Obama is the least popular. No surprise there.
Nine states made up 50% of the attendance.
OH - 13,580 - 4%
AZ - 13,000 - 4%
CO - 12,371 - 4%
WA - 10,700 - 3.4
MI - 10,400 - 3.3%
Of course conservative are busy carrying us liberals so they have better things to do than to tell the world how much they hate America, but these numbers simply are not impressive, given the hype FOX "News" provided.
Some of the turnouts are simply embarrassing.
Examples-
NYC - 3,500
Cincinnati - 3,000
Boston - 2,500 in two events (weather may have been a factor)
St. Louis MO - 2,000
Houston TX - 2,000
Seattle WA - 1,100 (It was probably raining as usual)
Waco TX - 1,100 There have to be more wingnuts in Waco than that.
Chicago IL - 2,000 Are there any Republicans left in Chicago?
Knoxville, TN - 1700 The whole state is over run with conservatives and this is the best you can do?
DC - 1,000 Even conservative lobbists did not show up to the most important political event of the millennium.
Corpus Christi, TX - 500 Ron Paul's home town, and only 500.
San Francisco, CA - 500 Now I know how many people there are left in that town who are not gay.
Cheyenne, WY - 500 Dick Cheney's back yard.
Omaha, NE - 150 Don't these people love America?
Milwaukee WI - 80, Eighty, they get more than that for the average Brewers game.
According to the overnight tracking numbers from Gallop, there in no evidence that public opinion was swayed by the event, or that it hurt President Obama's standing in any way.
So all in all a good time was had by all. Sound and fury signifying nothing.
Where there was a good turn out was mostly indicative of media stars, southern locations, good weather, and a local organization.
IMO it was a PR win for Democrats because it showed just how negative and extreme the opposition is to President Obama.
When what people will remember the most from the week's events was that Republican governor of Texas hinted at secession and Obama was called a fascist, Democrats win.