We are special. That's why Loudoun's 10-mile stretch of interstate highway has a $4 toll on it. Each way.

Posted by hphokie (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 11:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I brought my 6-year-old son to the rally and had a wonderful time. My son was thrilled to have been there and I was truly awestruck by the sheer numbers of people there.

Posted by elizmiller (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 12:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't be too awestruck, there Liz... Over half of them came in from Maryland,DC and Fairfax.
And I'm not making it up. I canvassed the neighborhoods where they parked. There were obvious tags on the Md. and DC vehicles, but there were Fairfax stickers on many of the Va tagged vehicles.

Posted by honchonumberone (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 2:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It was great that people from all across the area attended. Since Leesburg is close to the state borders, I'm glad people from Maryland and West Virginia and other places outside the area were able to participate.

Posted by bvjefferson (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

35,0000 people showing up anywhere for anything with less than 24 hours notice is impressive.

Posted by AFF3 (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What a nice article. Nice little blurb about Paliin coming on Monday. But of course you did have OB on the HOME page when he announced he was coming to Loundon County. What about the protesters? What about the AYERS?

Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

35,000 people? I read in the front page it was around 10,000.

Posted by southridingneedstheschools (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California . He is very
open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was
wasting his time but, even though he had a b rilliant mind, did not apply
himself to his studies."Barry" (that was the name he used all his life)
during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid,
both from Pakistan . During the summer of 1981, after his second year in
college, he made a "round the world" trip. Stopping to see his mother in
Indonesia , next Hyderabad in India , three weeks in Karachi , Pakistan
where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his
father's family.

My question - Where did he get the money for this trip? Neither I, nor any
one of my children would have had money for a trip like this when they where
in college. When he came back he started school at Columbia University in
New York . It is at this time he wants everyone to call him Barack - not
Barry.

Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia ? It's not cheap! to say the
least. Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe.

After Columbia , he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for
$12,000. a year. Why Chicago ? Why not New York ? He was already living in
New York .

By "chance" he met Antoin "Tony" Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria , and a real
estate developer in Chicago . Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery
this year. Rezko, was named "Entrepreneur of the Decade" by the
Arab-American Business and Professional Association".

About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School . Do you have any
idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School ? Where did he get the money for
Law School ? More student loans?

After Law school, he went back to Chicago . Rezko offered him a job, which
he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill &
Galland. Guess what? They represented "Rezar" which is Rezko's firm. Rezko
was one of Obama's first major financial contributors when he ran for office
in Chicago.

Posted by clibbybaseball (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune
reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with
"seed money" for his U.S. Senate race.

In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwoood District of Chicago for
$1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL those Student Loans - Where
did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita,
purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported
that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three
weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many
times with Rezko.

Now, we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett was Michele
Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any
major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready
for this? Shiraz , Iran !
Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?

On May 10, 2008 The Times reported, Robert Malley advisor to Obama was
"sacked" after the press found out he was having regular contacts with
"Hamas", which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran .

This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers
reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq , he asked their leaders to do
nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will "Take care of
things".

Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in
Pakistan ? They are in charge of all those "small" Internet campaign
contribution for Obama.

Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country?
Or could it be from the Middle East?

And the final bit of news.

On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was
made on "This Week" with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his
religion said, "My Muslim faith".

When questioned, "he made a mistake". Some mistake!

All of the above information I got online. If you would like to check it -
Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barack Obama; Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily
Times - Obama visited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times - September 7,
2008; The Times May 10, 2008.

Now the BIG question - If I found out all this information on my own, why
haven't all of our "intelligent" members of the press been reporting this?

A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear -

"Beware of the enemy from within"!!!

Posted by clibbybaseball (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow...tin foil hat on a little too tight today, clibbybaseball??

Posted by BigDaddyD (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Funny... the Title of this article would have you believe that Liberal rallies are the only ones that attract families (i.e., adults, kids, grandparents) ... What a fraudulent position to assume (go figure). Republican rallies are no different.

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@clibbybaseball: It's a massive conspiracy involving both major political parties, all the talking heads of the political class, the entire electronic and print media, and (last I checked) over 50% of those expected to vote this November. And it is all coordinated through a new 21st century mind-control device located at a top-secret lunar base!

Posted by loco224 (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey "honchonumberone" you need to get a life! Did you seriously spend your day canvassing the neighborhoods where people parked? Were you so disturbed that you were still awake at 2:00 am to post your message? I apologize for any typos. I am laughing so hard I can barely type.

Posted by boomerbaby54 (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There were also people from Germany, Holland, New York, and Spain.

And judging by all the orange "Don't Supersize Loudoun Stickers" I saw on cars there were a whoooooooooole lotta people from right around here.

Posted by elizmiller (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sitting near Clancy was Martine Francis of Cascades who chimed in: "Baaah"

Posted by Hoqenishy (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 5:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OTH - this is not an article, it is a blog based on the author's personal experience at the rally. The author is under no obligation to speculate on the amount of families that attend McCain-Palin events.

Posted by frankieo19 (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The author isn't under any obligation, but blatant one-sided reporting is a little disturbing; it seems to me the media is attempting to shape the general mindset by failing to evenly "report".
.
Despite the obvious stilted media bias McCain is still right on Obama's heels, which speaks volumes about the strength of the average Republicans values, beliefs, and principles.
.
The Washington Compost is in perfect lock-step with the likes of NBC and MSNBC.
.
Call it what you like; it's obvious media bias.

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Negative and disjointed attack tactics by the McCain campaign directly correlates with the negative coverage he receives in the media. You reap what you sow.
Go back to watching Fox news now mmmkay?

Posted by frankieo19 (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll go where I like, if that's alrighty with you. mmmkay?

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It was a pretty amazing event. I doubt that the invitation only Palin event on Monday will be either as big or noteworthy as the Obama event.

The McCain/Palin people don't have the guts to open it up to the public for fear of what the real public thinks of their ticket and platform. Friends only. Not a very effective way of reaching out for new support.

Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

RhumbLine, would you care to try and prove that it's invitation only? Please post proof of your assertion ....

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on October 25, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Rhumbline... That you are touting the Republican event as "invitation only" is disturbing. You are either knowingly and caculatingly lying your butt off, or you are so ignorant that you really believe that.
The event is open to all who want to come out.
I can guarantee this because as a member of the LCRC, we organized the event.

boomerbaby54 ... This is what I do. I've been involved in politics since the age of 16. And I won't go into how many years ago that was, or how many years more experience I have with actual elections. I have a full life, and it has been a rewarding life full of political accomplishments and a wealth of information about how far some people will go to pull the wool over other people's eyes.

Posted by honchonumberone (anonymous) on October 26, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nice slanted bias - thanks for deleting my comments and keeping those of the red state variety - So much for free speech.

Posted by RhumbLine (anonymous) on October 30, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)