The tea party express was in Denver at Civic Center Park. Tuesday Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. was the scheduled starting time. The program started about thirty minutes late. The program lasted around one and a half hours.

I was there. This is the first time in my life I ever attended anything like this. I never demonstrated during the Vietnam era or any other time. There never was an issue that energized me enough. The thing that prompted me this time was that 1,990 page of health care reform introduced by Nancy Pelosi. In my opinion this is an attempt for the government to take over one sixth of the U.S. economy. I am not even going to read it. I am opposed to it. OK, I admit it; I do not like the direction Washington is taking our country. That gigantic health care bill was the final straw.

I don't know how to count the size of a crowd. The crowd did fill up the Greek amphitheater of standing, shouting, singing energized voters. I did not see any police presence, any arrests or violence. There were some opposing protesters for a period of time attempting to drown out the speakers. They stayed about fifteen minutes and then just kind of disappeared.

Most of the speakers spoke against the direction the Democrats are taking the country. The Democrats are in control and that was expected. However, there also was some dissatisfaction with the Republican posture on some issues.

Joe the plumber was there, Mark Williams a radio talk show host from Sacramento, Lloyd Marcus an entertainer, Ron and Kay Rivoli, a singing couple, and maybe five other speakers or entertainers addressed the audience.

I am glad I went. It gave me a lesson of our freedom of speech in action. This freedom is a gift that must be protected and preserved.