I was a little apprehensive at first too, probably because of the reports of "infiltrators". But the more I thought about it the more I realized that was exactly what THEY were hoping would happen. They felt that if they created enough fear, then people would not show up. It didn't keep me away... as a matter of fact, it was one of the reasons I went... to show that I could not be scared away by threats of harm.

My son was with us and now that you mention it, I wonder if he should have gone. He is in the National Guard (going to basic training this July) and none of us thought that he should not go. He went in his street clothes and it wasn't known who he was or where he worked any more than they knew where I worked.

Just a quick note here... we went out to dinner last night and my son was wearing a jacket that had (in small letters) National Guard on the front left side. Someone working at the restaurant asked if he was in the National Guard and when he said yes, she thanked him for his service (in his case... future service). It was the first time that has happened to him. I told him it wouldn't be the last!

Our rally began at a park about 2 miles from the Boise state capitol building. We met around 11am and sang the National Anthem, listened to some locally well known people, prayed and then marched on to our next destination. At the first park, Ann Morrison, there were hundreds of people. We marched on and when we arrived at Julia Davis park, we were met with hundreds more. Again we listened to speakers, including some of our state representatives, until we marched again to the capitol building. At each location we recognized our veterans with applause and some handshakes.

The overall total for this rally was estimated around 2500 to 3000 people. We witnessed ages ranging from infants, elementary students, highschoolers and people all the way up to those walking with canes. I was proud and honored to be with these people standing up to use our freedom of speech rights and tell our government what we want.

The big question is... would they have these same requirements for other types of organizing? Often, it seems, that the government finds a way of stopping events simply by requiring permits, insurance or taxing the organization out of existence. As per usual, either you do the same thing for everyone or for no one.

That is very frustrating. I used to live in Washington (King and Pierce Counties) and also see how those living in King County seem to be the ones making the choices for the whole state. Oh, the rest of the state does vote, etc. but there is a larger population in the King (and Pierce, actually). The odd thing I found was that the majority of the people I met didn't agree with the decisions of the state. That is the type of thing that bothers me... how is it that the minority of voters somehow seem to get control of the majority by ignoring their cries for CHANGE??

I work in the DME industry that deals with Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare just reduced the rates they pay providers by 9.5% for 2009. What happened after that is that the Medicaids from the states we deal with lowered their rates as well. The next thing we knew, commercial insurances reduced their rates to match that of Medicare. It was initially thought that the company I work for would lose $1 million dollars just from Medicare reducing their rates. I pointed out to my boss one day that the $1 million dollar mark was a huge miss based on the other insurance companies who would follow suit. Sure enough... we're going to lose much more. This year, we still received our bonuses based on 2008 profits (a much smaller amount than Fannie May, Freddie Mac and others) but we did not receive even a cost of living raise because the company is preparing for the worse. Next year, if all goes as thought, there will be no bonuses, no raises and more reduction in labor.

WHAT??!?!? I thought Obama was loved and adored and worshiped by everyone.

Sarcasm seems to live on my sleeves these days because I'm so sick and tired of the hypocrisy in politics and thus in the overall feel of America. I'm wondering what lovely excuses they will come up with when his ratings drop below 30% (and the way things are going... they will). I don't know about everyone else, but I'm still paying my mortgage and I'm still buying my own gas.

Quite frankly, if Obama walked up to my door and offered to pay off my house, I would refuse. I have no desire to OWE the government anything more than my taxes. And if he was simply offering me his own money, I would still refuse because I don't want to owe him anything either.

No thank you Mr. Obama... I will pay for my own house, my own gas, my own health care, my own groceries, my child's college education and any other debt I happen to occur. I am responsible for myself.

Ah, yes... and how much tax payer money was spent on changing to Overseas Contingency Operation?

It will always be the War on Terror.

As I said before... either it's okay for all of them to get bonuses or it isn't okay for all of them. Of course, there are other issues such as individual contracts and whether or not a person's bonus is really a bonus or just the last part of his or her salary.

The dishonest politicians and those who just don't have a back bone are the spawn of greed. They adhere to their own desires and nothing else unless it comes back to them in favors or cash. It's appalling.

I am not a part of "the rest of America" that thinks Obama is great. He's a mad man on the loose and he's driving America into the toilet... you know... that DC Toilet!!

Obama is going to break records left and right and the ones that will hit the main stream media and get the most attention are the "good" records. There are people out there who only get their news from main stream media and they are the ones who will stand stunned to learn about the disaster Obama is going to cause even as it happens under their noses.

An uprising is climbing to the surface. Are there any honest politicians anywhere in the United States? Seems we need to flush the giant toilet called DC and get rid of the leaches that just hang on year after year.

They can't say it's okay for some to get bonuses and others NOT to get them; it's all or none.