A Taste of RealiTea:

[Theophylact]

How can you assert that when you don't know how many people actually turned out? I think the proliferation and scope of the events is more newsworthy than overall attendance, which is unknown.

Okay, here's a summary from Nate Silver:

I've tried to take estimates provided by reporters or police officials only, rather than estimates provided by the organizers or attendees themselves, although surely this is an imperfect science. I've also tried to avoid taking any data from explicitly partisan (including left-leaning partisan) news sources. Collectively, these reports account for an attendance of 111,899.

Denver, CO - 5,000
Olympia, WA - 4,500 (average of two estimates)
Oklahoma City, OK - 4,000
Lansing, MI - 4,000
Vero Beach, FL - 3,500
Sacramento, CA - 3,500 (average of two estimates)
Columbia, SC - 3,300
Tulsa, OK - 3,200
Hartford, CT - 3,000
Sioux Falls, SD - 3,000
Naples, FL - 3,000 (two events)
Annapolis, MD - 2,750 (average of two estimates)
Boise, ID - 2,500
Chattanooga, TN - 2,000
Stuart, FL - 2,000
Cincinnati, OH - 2,000
Tucson, AZ - 2,000
Huntsville, AL - 2,000
Des Monies, IA - 2,000 (average of two estimates)
Troy, MI - 2,000
Carson City, NV - 2,000
Augusta, GA - 1,700
Austin, TX - 1,500
Salem, OR - 1,500 (average of two estimates)
Wheeling, WV - 1,200
Washington, DC - 1,000
Fort Collins, CO - 1,000
Kansas City, MO - 1,000
Baxter, AR - 1,000
Lisle, IL - 1,000
Plymouth, MI - 1,000
Des Moines, IA - 1,000
Mobile, AL - 1,000
Ocala, FL - 1,000
West Palm Beach, FL - 1,000
Salt Lake City, UT - 1,000
Greensboro, NC 1,000
New Haven, CT - 1,000
Montgomery, AL - 1,000
Natrona, WY - 1,000
Albany, NY - 1,000
Loveland, CO - 1,000
Ventura, CA - 1,000
Wichita, KS - 1,000
Fresno, CA - 1,000
Joplin, MO - 1,000
Baton Rouge, LA - 1,000
Gilbert, AZ - 900
Winston-Salem, NC - 900
Abilene, TX - 800
Wichita Falls, TX - 800
Virginia Beach, VA - 650
Morristown, NJ - 600 (average of three estimates)
Yakima, WA - 600
Charleston, WV - 550 (average of two estimates)
Billings, MT - 500
Piscataway, NJ - 500
Port St. Lucie, FL - 500
Boston, MA - 500
Corpus Christi, TX - 500
Santa Rosa, CA - 500
Naperville, IL - 500
Southlake, TX - 500
Duluth, MN - 500
Missoula, MT - 500
Fort Smith, AR - 500
Springfield, IL - 400
Livonia, MI - 400
Champaign, IL - 400
Elba, AL - 400
Valdosta, GA - 400
Syracuse, NY - 400
Modesto, CA - 400
Chillicothe, OH - 400
Bethlehem, PA - 300
Friendswood, TX - 300
Camdenton, MO - 300
Cheyenne, WY - 300
Joliet, IL - 300
Massapequa, NY - 300
Goldsboro, NC - 300
Ashtabula, OH - 275
Chelsea, MI - 250
Glendale, CA - 250
Hannibal, MO - 200
Seguin, TX - 200
Rockford, IL - 200
Flemington, NJ - 200
Palmer Township, PA - 200
Ann Arbor, MI - 200
Youngstown, OH - 200
Fayetteville, GA - 200
Scranton, PA - 200
Rowlett, TX - 200
Dekalb, AL - 200
Cody, WY - 200
Ada, OK - 200
Superior, WI - 200
Philadelphia, PA - 200
Buffalo, NY - 150
Baltimore, MD - 150
Kalispell, MT - 150
Omaha, NE - 150
Council Bluffs, NE - 150
Albany, OR - 140
Camden, NY - 100
Evansville, IN - 100
Oak Harbor, WA - 100
Meridian, MS - 100
Cedar Rapids, IA - 100
Gastonia, NC - 100
Bristol, TN - 100
Greenville, TN - 100
Shelton, CT - 100
Plattsburgh, NY - 100
Milwaukee, WI - 80
Chester, NY - 80
Newark, NJ - 50
Napa, CA - 50
North Platte, NE - 50
Frisco, CO - 50
Pataskala, OH - 30
Green Cove Springs, FL - 30
Lake City, WA - 24
Bound Book, NJ - 20
Lincoln, NE - 20

Are these figures impressive? I'd say they're reasonably impressive. Then again, 111,899 isn't much more than the number who attend a typical University of Michigan football game or who attended a single Barack Obama rally in Portland, Oregon last year.

But, the list is far from complete. This covers 126 rallies, whereas the most common figure I've seen is that there were about 750 such protests nationwide -- about six times more than we've accounted for.

So, can we simply multiply the estimate by six to estimate the overall number of attendees across the country, which would imply that about 670,000 tea-baggers?

That strikes me as pretty bad idea, because there is a statistical bias in which rallies are reported upon -- more successful rallies in larger areas are liable to draw more reporters, and thereby show up in news feeds, etc. Although there are a few large rallies (Atlanta, for example) where there aren't yet hard numbers to account for, I'd imagine that most of the "missing" protests in the long tail drew relatively small numbers -- 20, 50, 100, 200 people. My hunch is that the overall attendance figure nationwide is probably something like 250,000, but that's just a guess.

The other weird thing about these numbers is how little correlation there seems to be between the size of the rally and the size of that city's population -- the Olympia, Washington event drew about 20 times more people than Philadelphia's; twice as many showed up in Baxter, Arkansas as in Boston. These rallies appear to be drawing disproportionately from rural areas, which is one reason why, although the cumulative attendance figure is impressive, there doesn't appear to have been any one single place where the protesters gathered (say) 15,000 people together.

Color me unimpressed.

[cyphen]

Just goes to Toadman's point. But there are other reasons... these generally weren't a bunch of indoctrinated college kids who got extra credit for going. This was middle of the week with working people... that these responsible people took time out of their busy lives in the middle of the week to protest is impressive.

[Chuckiechan]

Face it. You can't stand it idea of someone disagreeing with your liberal philosophy. Obviously, there is something wrong with them.

Also, these gatherings were held on a Wednesday, when most people were working.

Teabagging? Only a liberal would know the meaning of homosexual slang. Apparently the reference is pretty common in liberal circles. Somehow, I'm not surprised.

I didn't know what it was until I Googled it.

Either way, the anti tax protesters had their day and you can only make fun of them. It must be nice to have a nice cushy tax payer supported job & PENSION, that is long gone from the private sector and then thumb your nose at people who actually compete to make a living.

[Gomer]

Just goes to Toadman's point. But there are other reasons... these generally weren't a bunch of indoctrinated college kids who got extra credit for going. This was middle of the week with working people... that these responsible people took time out of their busy lives in the middle of the week to protest is impressive.

"these generally weren't a bunch of indoctrinated college kids who got extra credit for going." = FAIL

Which rallies are you referring to that generally consisted of indoctrinated college kids receiving extra credit for attendance? Or is this just another example of cvphen hyperbole shoring up an otherwise weak argument?

[Gomer]

Teabagging? Only a liberal would know the meaning of homosexual slang. Apparently the reference is pretty common in liberal circles. Somehow, I'm not surprised.

Now you want to make tea bagging a partisan matter as well? Not so! Take your fellow conservative here:

I'd be proud to be a teabagger - for both meanings of the word - but, alas, I've never dangled my testicles into someone's open mouth, nor have I attended a tea party....so I can't call myself a teabagger.

Loosen up a bit Chuck. Give it a try. You might find you enjoy it.

[Chuckiechan]

Loosen up a bit Chuck. Give it a try. You might find you enjoy it.

Being as how you have endorsed it, I'll pass...

That's disgusting.

[The Real Bingo]

Being as how you have endorsed it, I'll pass...

That's disgusting.

First off, why is it a "homosexual slang"? You're allowed to dip your scrotum in a female's mouth...assuming she lets you.

Urban Dictionary: teabagger

Funny how many definitions refer to the new tea party-ers.



Toadman's analysis is spot-on, IMO.

Also, these gatherings were held on a Wednesday, when most people were working.

It's why I didn't attend.

[Theophylact]

Boing Boing Exclusive! Must credit Boing Boing!!1(one!)!!

There's been a lot of talk of "teabagging" lately. Conservative anti-tax advocates in the United States have been organizing "tea party" protests, fashioned after the colonial-era protests of British rule. In doing so, they and the right-wing TV punditards who cheer these spectacles on for ratings have ranted about "teabagging," and the desire to "teabag Barack Obama" and such, without apparent knowledge of the word's more common street use. More recently, news anchors and bloggers have giggled knowingly over that sexual reference, but nobody has acknowledged how the word first entered popular American slang.

I'll tell you how. John Waters.

Here is the email exchange:

XENI: Dear Mister John Waters: We at Boing Boing are devoted fans of your work, and we consider you one of the greatest heroes of the "happy mutant" culture we celebrate. Where does the term "teabagging" come from? Is it true that the term was first popularized, or originated, in one of your films? Also, what is the deal with right wing nutbags (if you'll pardon that term, too) appropriating a perfectly good term for a sex act in such an offensive manner? Your humble devotée, -- Xeni.

JOHN WATERS: "Teabagging" is by my definition the act of dragging your testicles across your partner's forehead. In the UK it is dipping your testicles in your partner's mouth. I didn't invent the term or the act but DID introduce it to film in my movie "Pecker." "Teabagging" was a popular dance step that male go-go boys did to their customers for tips at The Atlantis, a now defunct bar in Baltimore. Hope this helps. -- John Waters

[Chuckiechan]

You're allowed to dip your scrotum in a female's mouth...assuming she lets you.

It would not even occur to me to ask that of my wife, let along knowing how to ask the question.

I guess liberals are different than conservatives in other ways than pocket book issues.

[The Real Bingo]

It would not even occur to me to ask that of my wife, let along knowing how to ask the question.

How's the saying go: It's easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission?

I guess liberals are different than conservatives in other ways than pocket book issues.

As a person with libertarian views, I don't give a shit what anyone does in the privacy of his or her own home. If they want to dip their balls in gasoline and light 'em on fire, then more power to 'em...just don't burn down my house.

[Chuckiechan]

Yeah it is all bs:

CABLE NEWS RACE
NITE OF THURS., APRIL 16, 2009

FOXNEWS O'REILLY 3,897,000
FOXNEWS HANNITY 3,138,000
FOXNEWS GRETA 2,639,000
FOXNEWS BECK 2,233,000
FOXNEWS SHEP 1,979,000
FOXNEWS BAIER 1,866,000
CNN COOPER 1,277,000
CNN KING 1,260,000
MSNBC OLBERMANN 1,229,000
CNNHN GRACE 1,172,000
MSNBC MADDOW 1,052,000

Read it and weep. People are starting to pay attention to this huge proposed spending and "averaging" of middle class and poor. People are afraid of Obama's "Trickle up poverty".

California's unemployment is 11.2%, latest report. Coming to a nation near you. Get used to it. If we're lucky it will level off at 12% nationally, and Obama will tell us how grand "shared sacrifice" is.

[Pexster]

It is sad that so many people watch O'Reilly, Hannity, and Beck. Sad that our nation is so full of idiots who look up to these jackasses.

[sharder8]

It is sad that so many people watch O'Reilly, Hannity, and Beck. Sad that our nation is so full of idiots who look up to these jackasses.

It takes one to know one Pex . . .


I don't watch them . . . but I recognize those that do have their own personal reasons, without calling them idiots.


Harder

[Pexster]

Of course, people are fully entitled to their "personal reasons." I'm not going to waste my time searching, copying, and pasting quotes from those guys. There are countless examples of simply outrageous, irresponsible, and idiotic statements from all of them. They thrive on this stuff.

As for your first statement, no it doesn't. A rational, intelligent mind is quite capable of recognizing and accurately labeling an idiot.

Rachel Maddow, for one example, has forgotten more about politics and political theory than a guy like Glenn Beck has ever learned.

One thing that brings hope (at least to me) is that this country is now headed by an administration that values facts and analytical thinking. Our previous administration devalued those, and was actually proud of it.

[Chuckiechan]

Typical liberal. If you don't believe what they believe you are a "insert expletive here".

This attitude is what makes DHS looking at US soldiers as "potential militants" scary. Just what is the White House planning that they have to worry about organized resistance against?

[Pexster]

Actually, I hold conservatives who can state their positions with a degree of intelligence and consistency in high regard. That is sadly lacking here. You, for instance, routinely post whatever wingnut story comes across your monitor.

[The Real Bingo]

Actually, I hold conservatives who can state their positions with a degree of intelligence and consistency in high regard. That is sadly lacking here. You, for instance, routinely post whatever wingnut story comes across your monitor.

Then apparently you don't bother to listen to the people whom you so readily degrade.

You listen to Rachel Maddow? I guess you're as big an idiot as someone who listens to Sean Hannity.

[Pexster]

Why? Because she is articulate, extremely intelligent, and has academic credentials far beyond what most reporters have ever dreamed of? Yeah, right, Bingo.

Notice the quality of guests she has been attracting. Serious policy wonks are willing to appear on her show.

[The Real Bingo]

She's just another ideologue who thinks she's witty...but I guess they are OK so long as they share your views.

[cyphen]

Careful, Pex, your eletism is showing... might want to zip that up!

You're denegrading more than half the country... and it's pretty childish... again... the new bipartisanship...

Bush's first moves in office- kept a lot of clinton appointees, worked with Ted Kennedy on education reform...

Obama's first moves - "i don't need to listen to you - i won."

you aren't half as enlightened as you think you are... your tenor and demeanor show it.

And "serious policy wonks" appear on all those shows... and even on Rush, which is not generally a "guest" show... O'Reilly interviewed hillary and obama... and was pretty fair about it...