Nate Silver’s count of attendees is north of a quarter million, which is darned impressive given the absence of a central organizer like MoveOn to direct people to the protest nearest them. Contra Pelosi’s assertion, and as Liz Mair exhaustively argues, the parties weren’t ‘turfed, but so many smear jobs have there been in the past day or two that it almost feels unfair to single out Madam Speaker. For example, Rep. Jan Schakowsky called the rallies “despicable” and, per the Standard, an unnamed “senior aide” in the House is circulating this charming memo:

Other House Democratic leaders took a different tact: One senior aide has been circulating a document to the media that debunks the effort as one driven by corporate lobbyists and attended by neo-Nazis…

In addition, the tea parties are “not really all about average citizens,” the document continues, saying neo-Nazis, militias, secessionists and racists are attending them. The tea parties are also not peaceful, since reporters in Cincinnati had to seek “police protection” during one of the events, it states.

Pick through Zombie’s archives to remind yourself what sort of creatures populate left-wing protest habitats — or, for that matter, left-wing magazines. As Westley said in The Princess Bride, “Dear god, what is that thing?”