NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2005 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- The pre-dawn sales frenzy is over _ and now the tally begins. Steep discounts, enticing rebates and expanded hours drew hordes to the nation's retailing meccas Friday, and merchants saw hopeful signs that consumer spending will be lively for the holidays.

More so than during last year's post-Thanksgiving rush, people jammed stores early, with more than a few testy shoppers scuffling in a rush to grab coveted, limited-quantity bargains.

Several major retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) - Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Macy's (NYSE:FD) ' as well as mall operator Taubman Centers Inc. (NYSE:TCO) estimated they drew bigger crowds for the official holiday season launch compared with last year.

Lena Michaud, spokeswoman at Target Corp., which had a strong holiday season a year ago, said traffic was at least as heavy.

Sure these are just subjective observations, but I think its enough evidence to label "Buy Nothing Day" an unmitigated failure.

Of course, they're claiming participation in the "millions" across North Amiera, but lying is just something socialists do.

Update:

As great as all this shopping is for our economy, this sort of thing makes my stomach churn.

C'mon people, are we animals or what?