Washington's tax day 'tea party': sun, slogans, and a ukulele

“George Washington” was there, decked out in revolutionary garb and waving a stylized liberty tree flag with the motto “Appeal to Heaven.”

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) of Minnesota and Rep. Steve King (R) of Iowa, both "tea party" favorites from Congress, were there, revving up the crowd with fiery speeches.

Victoria Jackson, former cast member of "Saturday Night Live," played the ukulele and sang, “There’s a communist living in the White House.” (Watch it here.)

As some Americans scrambled to finish their IRS forms by the midnight tax day deadline, conservative tea party activists streamed into Washington – and to rallies around the country – to protest Obama administration policies, rising government spending, and what they see as threats to fundamental freedoms. In the nation’s capital, the main show will be Thursday night, when protesters gather at the Washington Monument for a long-planned Tax Day protest.

But earlier in the day, several thousand people gathered on Freedom Plaza along Pennsylvania Avenue, positioned part-way between the White House and the Capitol, for a celebration of free speech and protest. The mood was almost joyful on this sunny, summery day, as participants debated and discussed the issues of the day with each other, the media, and left-wing counter-demonstrators.

A sampling of the signs

Homemade signs proclaimed a variety of goals and sentiments: “Try Eric Holder for Treason,” said one, referring to the US attorney general.

“Reelected? You must be smoking Reid,” said another, referring to the Democratic Senate leader, who faces a tough reelection battle.

One sign advertised www.GOOOH.com, pronounced “Go,” for Get Out of Our House. “It is time to clean out Congress!” it announced.

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