GARDINER – Rain was in the forecast, and heavy dark clouds lay across the sky in a threatening manner, but despite that, about a hundred ardent Tea Party protestors came out for the second annual Tax Day Protest in Gardiner.

Gardiner's Right organizer, Pam O'Dell addressed the crowd, saying that "Big government is probably not the solution. This country was founded on limited government."

O'Dell went on to say that she believed that "Creeping, creeping socialism, has come in. It started in the 20s and 30s, and it's taken over our country. Now, under Obama, they're taking over every single private industry in the country."

Such declarations brought modest cheers from the assembled crowd, but when she turned to a topic with a warmer button — "All these politicians, should have to pay their taxes!" — she got a big cheer.

Another line that was very popular was an attack on President Obama's efforts to achieve a higher level of comity with other nations around the world.

"Stop apologizing for the USA!" said O'Dell, which again produced a big cheer.

"I'm sick and tired of this president going everywhere and bowing and scraping to these foreign leaders."

She then explained that to her mind, "The only reason our country is at peace today, is because of our power."

O'Dell came back into the strike zone with another popular line, "The thieves aren't on Wall Street. They're in Washington!"

That drew some applause and raising of signs and banners.

In the crowd there were a number of opinions expressed. Denis McGee of New Paltz said, "The people should tell the politicians that they serve us, we don't serve them. As it is now, they just don't listen to us. Our needs are not their priorities. And they're cramping the backbone of the American economy, which is small and medium sized business, with all these regulations and taxes."

Nearby, Frederick Gerty, was flying a colonial era flag, with a ring of stars in the blue corner, instead of the more familiar 50.

"The 13 stars are for the original colonies," said Mr. Gerty. "We should think back to the origins of our country. It was founded on liberty, fair representation, and fair taxation, plus individual rights." For Mr. Gerty, all of these things are under threat today.

Becky Gorres of Clintondale said, "Government is no longer representing the people. They aren't listening to us." She was encouraged by the turn out for the Tea Party in Gardiner. "On a day like this, I think this is very good."

Standing out a little from the crowd was Peg Conroy, from the Town of Newburgh. Partly this was due to her official American Patriots Tea Party T-shirt.

"Yeah, I was down in D.C. for that," she said, regarding the shirt. She too, was pleased with the turnout, and hoped that it would lead to bigger and better things for the Tea Party's ideas.

"This is a good crowd for a weekday, and with the weather like this. I'm from California, and I'm a recovering lefty. I was a lefty for 26 years. I had my light-bulb moment in 1998. Now, I'm a good conservative and an unhappy Republican. The Republican party didn't live up to its ideals during the past few years."

Conroy's solution to the country's ills is probably a pretty common one among the Tea Party folk.

"We need to restore the country's values and place the constitution at the center of things. I want to get rid of as many statists, socialists and Marxists as I can. I want them all out of office."