News from the home front: Grand Rapids, Michigan! We are pretty hacked-off at the Political Class residing in Versailles DC... just like the entire rest of the country.

At 5pm today the Tea Party here kicked off downtown Grand Rapids at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, which is right on the Grand River in front of the Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum.

Among the many people that were there I was very pleased to see Lt. Col. Denny Gillem (Ret), who many will remember as host of the recent WOOD Radio program Frontlines of Freedom. I, myself, remember him from college as best. professor. ever.

Col. Gillem helped mc the event. If you want someone who can be heard by an entire crowd, get a retired army colonel in front of a microphone, eh?

The most moving moment was when a young girl sang the Star Spangled Banner. Her delicate voice carried over the entire park, and captured everyone's attention -- even people just passing through over the nearby pedestrian bridge that connects between DeVos Place and the park.

Even as the event wound to a close after 6pm, people were still heading into the park carrying signs; many of whom looked like (judging by some people wearing uniforms) they headed over there after finishing day jobs. I have no idea how long people remained at the park, as I had to get back home to my own family.

Here are some pictures of the event. (The man near the front podium with the sun in his eyes is The Colonel.)