This time last year, I covered the Chattanooga Tea Party for Chattarati. It was a new phenomenon, and people didn’t know what to think. One year later, even more people are outraged, sexual terms are now used to describe mass protests of average Americans by the media, and people travel to DC at a moment’s notice.

At least the protest signs improved. FreedomWorks is also getting very good at planning large-scale events.

For the second time, my family gathered for a protest on Tax Day. Perhaps I had an unusual childhood, but I’ve attended many, many protests with my family. It’s what we do. My first trip to DC was in 1989 for the March for Life.

This time, my parents brought their dog, Sunny. Since she’s a rescue dog, they didn’t have the heart to kennel her. She was amazing. Even during the loud cheering and clapping, she just sat there completely chilled. She’s part Golden Retriever. If there was ever a zen-like breed of dog, it is Golden Retrievers.

Sunny protesting at the Tax Day Rally. Completely vicious to liberals.

I’ve written a lot of posts defending Tea Party attendees and explaining their purpose. Every political movement has its crazies. I’m not sure why, but there was a lot of weirdness going on tonight at the rally. Much more than normal. I can’t hide it. The vast majority of people were typically-dressed Americans exercising their Constitutional rights, but there were some strange people.

I dropped my parents and the dog off at the rally and parked the car, so I was separated from them. When I called for their location, my dad said, “Look for the yellow Gadsden flag.”

There are hundreds if not thousands of yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flags at tea parties… Not the best land mark or sign to use.

While I was looking for my dad, I saw a guy filming the rally with a puppet. A puppet, as in Jim Henson. The puppet was “talking” to the camera and was dressed like a superhero in patriotic colors. I tried to go back and take photos, but I never saw puppet guy a gain.

Then I saw Ron Paul Goths. You read that right. Goths who are fans of Rep. Ron Paul from Texas. I’ve met numerous Ron Paul hipsters, but I had no idea his policies attracted another counter-cultural identity group. Goth girl wore her platform boots all evening. That impressed me.

Ron Paul Goths

Then a man dressed up as William Wallace stood behind us with a megaphone all night.

William Wallace

Then I saw Captain America. This is Captain America, right?

Captain America?

Feeling the need to act out your political anger by costume is strange. The folks who dress up for rallies in costume have to be the same types who dress up for sci-fi conventions as characters. Rather than celebrating the Force or the Federation, they’re protesting out-of-control-spending. Good intentions…just odd.

I also can’t forget the Fair Tax Revolutionary War re-enactors. I must have missed the history lesson on the Fair Tax debate during the Continental Congress.

Fair Tax Colonial Re-enactors

Many mornings, I wake up thinking this. Seeing approval ratings this week for the President, I can’t be alone.

WTF Obama?

This little girl’s sign says it all. We’ve spent our way into a deep, deep hole and the youngest members of our society are going to be the ones that suffer.

Doomed Little Girl

These t-shirts were popular.

Tyranny Response Team

Awkward photo, but I really want one of these “Don’t Tread on Tennessee” shirts. They’re from the McMinn County Tea Party.

Don't Tread on Tennessee

Love this cartoon!

Another protest dog err protest puppy.

Protest Puppy

I have many more photos that I’ll upload to Flickr tomorrow. If you’re friends with me on Facebook, you can see the pictures now.

Update 4/15/10: On my way to work this morning, a theory occurred to me. Since Dr. Ron Paul was a confirmed speaker on the agenda, I believe he drew a larger percentage of his supporters than normal at the DC events. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t recall  Dr. Paul speaking at other DC tea party events. As I’ve written before, they’ll walk through fire for him. Since they’re the more um…colorful segment of the conservative movement, I think that explains the higher incidence of costumed attenders.

Back in August, I nearly bought a t-shirt emblazoned with the Gadsden Flag to wear at the 9/12 rally. I decided not to spend my money and thought “How many rallies could I possibly attend to justify buying this shirt?”

In hindsight, it would have been a good investment in protest attire.

FreedomWorks has issued a call for another protest on March 16 to kill the Obama healthcare bill. The President has declared that the bill must be through the House and Senate by March 18, so he can conveniently schedule a photo-op before he flies off to the Pacific.

Wouldn’t you hate for the overwhelming opposition of the American people to conflict with Obama’s tight schedule? How rude of us.