We have also offered suggestions for "Restoring A Limited Federal Government" as Republican politicians launch their own "National Council for a New America" and "Resurgent Republic" initiatives.  See "Tea Party Tactics" for our local action suggestions.

Scroll down to our latest tally of the total attendance at the Tax Day Tea Parties.  After review of reports from 510 Tea Parties out of 845 we have identified so far, the estimated national turnout added up to roughly 520,000 - 700,000+.  These estimates already include many of the largest Tea Party protests, but the final total seems very likely to have been in the 600,000 - 800,000 range.

One of the original Nationwide Tea Party Coalition organizers asserted in an April 24 interview that their latest tallies show 1 - 1.2 million total turnout on April 15 at 900+ protests.  This was based on 940,000 counted with 150 protests not yet included in the total.  A separate tally at Free Republic reported 904 Tea Parties and 780,000 - 917.000 attendees (also not yet a final total).  One of the other national Tax Day Tea Party organizers had estimated 750,000+ in a radio interview early on April 16.  In any case, it was an amazing turnout.  Thanks, everybody!

By contrast, the Tea Parties got far more Americans to actually take the time to go to these protests and make their own views heard, instead of just signing a vague pledge of loyalty like a blank check for anything in Obama's budget to support his healthcare, education, and energy / environmental agenda.

There are literally thousands of news reports, blog posts, e-mails, and other sources to check.

Pajamas TV quickly estimated the national turnout at 225,000+, but this was still very preliminary on the evening of April 15.  By early afternoon on April 16, their total was over 280,000.  By 8pm on April 18, as more cities were reported, their incomplete total was already up to nearly 640,000.

RedState has published some very useful reports of estimates of Tax Day Tea Party crowds, with many links to local news reports.  Some news media underestimated the crowds - whether as very conservative journalistic estimates, political bias, or the result of showing up and leaving too early.  It was hard to compile reliable counts in some locations where events lasted longer, so that people came and went during the festivities.  After all, many people soon had to go back to work!

See Michelle Malkin's blog post - Massive: Tax Day Tea Party USA with many photos / videos.

American Conservative Daily has also published many crowd estimates.

This total was updated as of 5pm CST May 23.  We're still trying to add up all 800+ Tea Parties!  We have added blank lines in the list below for known Tea Parties for which crowd estimates have not yet been found.  Thanks again for your patience as we try to compile a reliable open analysis at the same time as we work to share information about preparations for future Tea Party celebrations.

One suggestion is to stand up with our veterans on Memorial Day - not as a protest, but to thank them.  Others have suggested celebrating Flag Day - June 14.  We can get back to protesting with a suggested "Learn the Constitution" theme on July 4, as was already suggested some time ago for an Independence Day Tea Party celebration.

Let's make it clear this Memorial Day that we do not regard our veterans as potentially dangerous right-wing extremists!  We honor their service to our country - and we don't like being scorned by arrogant politicians, either.  Did you even notice what the Obama administration was preparing to do to veterans health benefits recently?  They finally backed down under pressure about it.

See our suggestion to Republican politicians about "Restoring A Limited Federal Government"