Apology accepted. And yes, there was almost no litter at the site in the wake of dispersal, but more important, ever public trash can along the route was packed full of trash from the rally with overflow stacked neatly. I watched a couple in front of me walk past about six can to find one they could load their empty drink bottles into.

We also shouted down a patient care advocate who dared to recommend we sign a petition to ask Obama for a 20 page bill giving medicare more money. My section started up a chant of “Get Government Out” but I think “No No No” probably had more people participating.

But seriously folks, the tea parties are getting the folks who vote and donate directly and leave it at that to start strategizing and teaching. One of the big messages was to stay connected and keep reaching out, and another was to start looking at the weak spots in the armor, local and off elections, the kind that have low turnout and lower publicity.

I think Freedom Works (one of the main organizers for the Washington March) is putting together the beginnings of a Contract From America to contrast with the failed Republican Contract With America. The next step is to start coalescing on some specific policy goals, but to do so too early means the media has all the time in the world to turn the arguments into “old issues that we have already discussed”.

Thank you Simon for keeping an open mind, and being willing to admit you error. Now, if only some of the representation would be willing to step back from preconception and talking points, but that would be too much like thinking.