April 15, 2009 Columbia, SC

At The State House in Columbia, SC an estimated 3,000 plus citizens gathered this afternoon for a rally. The "Tea Party" was to demand smaller government, less spending, an end to bailouts, and real tax reform. It was just one of over a dozen such gatherings in SC this week. Others were scheduled for Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Aiken, Florence, York, Fort Mill, Florence, Georgetown, Isle of Palms, Lancaster, Pickens, and Simpsonville today. On Thursday Spartanburg will have an event and Friday night in Greenville there will be a big rally at the Bi-Lo center.

Most "Tea Parties" around the country didn't allow politicians to address the crowd but at the Capitol building in Columbia both Senator DeMint and Governor Sanford spoke. To say they were warmly received by the assembled thousands is a huge understatement-- they are seen as two of the few fiscal heroes in government anywhere in the country and the crowd greeted them as heroes.

Some attendees were young-- and on the hook for trillions of dollars.

Some made signs lookin' all 60's groovy.

The founding fathers were quoted about Liberty...

...while for others the day was mainly about taxes.

More to follow.