Tea Party activists rally outside Orlando City Hall

Scores of American flags and "Don't Tread on Me" banners flew outside Orlando City Hall, where more than 1,000 people gathered Monday evening to oppose "Obamacare," taxes and government intervention in their lives.

Billed as a rally for conservative activists, the raucous crowd included all ages of anti-Democrat, some in button-down shirts, others in Hawaii beachwear and last year's Bike Week T-shirts.

"I think it's fair to say freedom is in our DNA," one of the organizers, WORL AM 660 radio talk show host Tom Tillison, said as the program gained momentum.

All of the speakers, including U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, followed the same theme —championing individual freedom and urging all assembled to help repeal national health-care legislation by opposing President Barack Obama and ending Democratic control of Congress in the 2012 elections.

Boehner, one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress, acknowledged that some Tea Party activists do not want politicians at their gatherings.


...

My city's in ruins.

Like the right for gays and lesbians to marry, no doubt.

~

We got bigger crowds in Orlando to protest the Bush wars, without politicians or a radio station.

I did not know of the rally and am glad I did not accidentally venture out in that direction last night. Obama took Orange County by 85,000 votes in 2008, 1000 teabaggers (who probably almost all voted for McCain, and twice for Bush) is not going to do it.

They sure as hell aren't needed around here.