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Tea Party T-Shirts This is a NO commission advertisement for the PatriotWebStores, 112 E. Hargett Street, Suite 201, Raleigh, NC 27601, (919) 832-2323. Just happened to click on a link to their Tea Party T-shirts that are on some of the conservative blogs and I thought the messages on some of the T-shirts offered for sale were pretty cool. Not offensive -- but witty and to the point. Thought I'd put a note here for anyone who is interested.
PROTESTS AGAINST OBAMA SOCIALISM AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA CONTINUES
THE FOLLOWING LISTS ARE NOT COMPLETE LISTS OF ALL EVENTS. THOUSANDS OF SMALL TOWN HALLS, PROTESTS, TEA PARTIES ARE NOT LISTED. ONLY NATIONALLY REGISTERED OR NEWSWORTHY EVENTS ARE POSTED. THE GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT HAS BECOME TOO HUGE TO CATALOGUE.
THIS SITE PROVIDES COMMENTARY, AS WELL AS PHOTOGRAPHIC AND VIDEO PROOF, OF WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING NATIONWIDE. OBAMA'S LIES AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA COVERUPS WILL NOT STOP THE TRUTH FROM SHINING THROUGH.
TEA PARTIES AND OBAMACARE RALLIES CONTINUE:
UNSCHEDULED STOP: SALINAS American Liberty Tour (MO): -- September 15, 2009 UPDATE Nothing! Tonight the Liberty Tour participated in a spirited rally in Salina, Kansas. This wasn’t a tea party style protest, but rather a smaller group, around 100 or so, listening to the tour participants talk about where to go next with the mmomentum of the tea party movements and in the wake of the massive 9/12 rallies. The people who attended the rally are the heart and soul of this tour. Grandparents, children, veterans, activists, and some who were out for their first political activity. Salina is smmall-town USA exemplified. The people I spoke to care very deeply for what is going on nationally, but also locally. The level of engagement I’m seeing at every tour stop is breathtaking. People are making petitions, they’re getting hundreds of signatures, and they are delivering them to those in charge. And to those who are in charge, you better pay attention to those petitions. This is only the beginning. Tomorrow we’ll have some pictures and video from the rally, as well as the overdue videos from the Sacramento and Salt Lake City rallies, internet-willing. You’ll have a chance to see what I’ve seen: Americans who are unafraid, who are not intimidated, and who are not going to be silenced. And if that describes you, too, then I hope you’ll join us at our next stops. Check the top of the page for cities and dates. (Source: American Liberty Tour.)
FOURTH STOP: KANSAS CITY American Liberty Tour (MO): -- September 16, 2009 The American Liberty Tour joins some of the Kansas City Tea Party organizers in preparation for a huge American Liberty Rally. The Kansas City stop will include full scale candidate/activist training as well. When: Wednesday, September 16th, 2009. Where: Pierson Auditorium (UMK) 5100 Rockhill Road Kansas City, MO Rally Speakers: Joe the Plumber, Amanda Grosserode, Caleb Howe, Ned Ryun, Eric Odom, Corie Whalen, Adam Bitely and Ken Marrero (Others TBA) Training Venue: Pierson Auditorium (UMK) @ 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Townhall/Rally Location: Pierson Auditorium (UMK) @ 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM UPDATE Last night we had a small town hall style meeting on the campus of the University of Missouri, Kansas City. The turnout was low, but the activity was high, as students and locals alike added their names to the rolls to be counted among those of us who hope to stand athwart Obama and yell STOP!! The American Liberty Tour speakers discussed activism and action, as well as the courage to stand defiant and fearless in the face of the media's continuing smear campaign.
We met a young college student who quietly told us before the meeting that she is a conservative. She was excited to meet like-minded folks, particularly because so many of the tour members, myself excluded of course, are her age. At first, she balked at attending the meeting. But she reconsidered and ended up attending and staying for the entire town hall. Even on college campuses, even among the students, the movement to reject what is happening to our country grows daily. Though the meeting was our smallest so far, about 40 people, it was still an inspiring example of the cross-section of America that is out there yearning to be heard. Last night they were heard, and they were armed with information they can use to continue to be heard going forward. And really, that's what it's all about, isn't it? (Source: American Liberty Tour.)
ST PAUL Constitution Day Tea Party Rally (MN): -- September 17th, 2009 St. Paul Capitol
5pm – 8pm Speakers: Mitch Berg of AM1280 Sue Jeffers of KTLK FM Bradlee Dean of You Can Run International Twila Brase – one of the “100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare” – Modern Healthcare Magazine Marjorie Holsten – Constitutional Lawyer …to name a few Check back for more updates! There may be a chance to meet the candidates in the lower mall! Put on your best patriot attire, bring your signs and cameras, we are about to make history once again! Don’t let this opportunity to be seen and heard pass you by!
KOOTENAI COUNTY Tea Party (ID): -- Thursday, September 17, 2009 Our tentative Agenda is as follows: Constitution Day Tea Party Rally Thursday, September 17 5:30-7:00 PM Stateline Speedway, 1349 Beck Road, Post Falls 5:00 PM Pre-Rally Show –Band “Strange Brew” (Duncan and Aileen Korely, band members, just returned from the rally in D.C. and will be sharing some of their experience!) 5:30 PM Presentation of the Colors Post Falls Cub Scout Pac 250 Invocation Kerri Thoreson, PF City Councilwomen National Anthem A 0 Cody Howerton Pledge of Allegience Major (Ret.) Jim Connell, USAF Welcome and Annoucements Leslie Damiano Introduction of Speaker Blake Miller Speaker Tyler Smotherman, CHS ASB Pres. “America the Beautiful” Sung By: Madison Leonard Introduction of Keynote Speaker Leslie Damiano Keynote Speaker Dr. Elisabeth Lee Vliet Honoring our Veterans Blake Miller “Proud to be an American” Sung By: Aaron Baldwin Announcement of Winners of Sign Contest!! Blake and Leslie Wrap-Up Phil Damiano 7:00 PM After Rally Show— Band “Strange Brew” God Bless America!!!
PUTNAM Mini-Tea Party (CT): -- Thursday, September 17, 2009 12 noon - 1pm
Putnam Kennedy Drive Mary (organizer) 1-555-555-5555 (organizer phone)
POST FALLS Constitution Day Tea Party (ID): -- Thursday, September 17, 2009 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Stateline Speedway 1349 Beck Rd Ken Karl (organizer) 208-659-2628 (organizer phone)
FIFTH STOP: ST LOUIS American Liberty Tour (MO): -- September 16, 2009 TJoin the American Liberty Tour crew for a day of candidate/activist training followed by an American Liberty Rally in downtown St. Louis. When: Thursday, September 17th, 2009. Training Venue: Sheraton Clayton Plaza 7730 Bonhomme Ave. Clayton, MO 63105 Time: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM Rally Location: Kiener Plaza 600 Market St. St. Louis, MO Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Rally Speakers: Joe the Plumber, Caleb Howe, Ken Gladney, Ned Ryun, Eric Odom, Corie Whalen, Adam Bitely and Ken Marrero (Others TBA) UPDATE There was not a big turn out, but we got to see Paul Curtman, famous for his question at a town hall meeting here in St Louis. And got to meet one of the local denizens of the Downtown area, talking about ufos, his father building the Arch and various other non sense. That is until the Police came by and talked to him, after Caleb and a few military vets moved him along. Later an ambulance came by to pick him up because he fell down and cut himself. (Source: Stix Blog.)
CAMDENTON Tea Party (MO): -- Thursday, September 17, 2009 5 pm/7 pm
Camden County Courthouse, Camdenton, MO Courthouse Square Jim Jauert (organizer) 573-286-6263 (organizer phone)
SIXTH STOP: NASHVILLE American Liberty Tour (TN): -- Thursday - Friday, September 17-18, 2009 We're proud to announce that Nashville will play host to the Smart Girl Politics Summit, 2009 RootsHQ New Media Conference, AND a major hub for the American Liberty Tour! When: Friday, September 18th through Saturday, September 19th. Rally Speakers: Joe the Plumber, Caleb Howe, Les Naiman (Talk Show Host, WGTK 970-AM), Ned Ryun, Eric Odom, Corie Whalen, Adam Bitely, Lloyd Marcus and Ken Marrero (Others TBA) Training Venue: Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel, September 18th 623 Union Street
Nashville, TN 37219 National RootsHQ Conference: Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel, September 19th Rally Location: Nashville Municipal Auditorium Sept 18th @6:00 PM 417 Fourth Avenue North Nashville, TN 37201
Bob Basso “Thomas Paine” on the American Liberty Tour Great footage of Bob Basso, our modern day Thomas Paine at the Nashville stop of the American Liberty Tour . Its coming to your city too – don’t miss it! There are four parts to the video. He spoke for about a half an hour and he was AMAZING and INSPIRING!
MILWAUKEE Constitution Day Tea Party Rally (WI): -- Saturday, September 19, 2009 -- Conservative pundit and best-selling author Michelle Malkin told several thousand anti-tax protesters gathered in Milwaukee on Saturday that their movement is about pushing back "against the culture of corruption in Washington." "I've never been so proud in my lifetime to be part of this angry mob," Malkin said in a fiery keynote address at a Taxpayer Tea Party event at Veterans Park along the city's lakefront. Malkin criticized political leaders and other figures, including President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, Attorney General Eric Holder, government 'czars,' "Republican sellouts" and union "thugs." "The tea party movement is about calling the White House out . . . about calling out President Obama for misinformation," Malkin said. Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group, spearheads the tea party movement. The Wisconsin chapter has held rallies in Madison, Sheboygan and Fond du Lac, using social networking and talk radio to reach its audience. Mark Block, Americans for Prosperity's state organizer, said his group has 40,000 registered members in Wisconsin. "What I saw in April was fear," Block said of those who have attended the rallies. "Over the summer, it turned into anger. Now when you talk to people, they feel threatened by all government programs." Mike Tate, the Wisconsin Democratic Party chairman, downplayed the impact of the tea party movement. "These are extremist elements pulling together, distinct vocal minorities that frankly don't believe in this country," Tate said. "They don't want to see more people have access to quality affordable health care; they don't want clean air and water. They fundamentally don't understand how the American government, economy and capitalism work." Hundreds of those who showed up in Milwaukee brought along handmade signs with slogans that showed opposition to Obama's policies across a range of issues, from taxes to health care to global warming. Sue Maher, a pharmacist from Waukesha, carried a sign that read, "Granny Is Not Shovel Ready" and said, "I'm concerned about the government takeover of our health care system." Ron Bott, a commercial printer from Sussex, carried a sign that read: "Stop Spending Money Like My Ex-Wife." "We're spending money like crazy," he said, of the mounting government debt. Carol Clerkin of Milwaukee, a retired customer-service worker, held a sign that read: "No to Socialism" on one side and "God Bless The Republic" on the other. "It seems like we're headed for socialism," she said. "You turn around, the government owns banks. Everything is happening so fast." One issue that seemed to unite the protesters was former President Jimmy Carter's recent statement that an "overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American." "It's Not Racism To Disagree With the Ideology," read a sign carried by Sharon Resz of Milwaukee. "Fifty-six million people didn't vote for Obama. It doesn't mean we're racist," Resz said. Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., who addressed the rally, said in an interview that Carter's comment was "way off base." "I'll tell you one thing, people don't want a president they can't criticize," Clarke said. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker also spoke at the rally, saying that he saw parallels between the tea party movement and the recall effort that erupted seven years ago after the Milwaukee County pension scandal. "People have decided that if they do something, they can make a change," Walker said in an interview. Walker, running for the 2010 Republican nomination for governor, said the tea party movement has been galvanized by one big issue. "Health care is the thing that blew the lid off," he said. (Source: JS Onloine.) == Attended a great tea party today on the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. It was a sunny and almost crisp afternoon and 10,000 American Patriots came to Veteran's Park on the lakefront. Among the speakers were our County Executive Scott Walker - running for governor; James T. Harris - who became a liberal target for telling John McCain to fight harder against the One; David Clark - our County Sheriff, a powerfully tall black man who resembles but is more handsome than Samuel Fishburne (he also spoke very non-partisanly and anti-tax); Joe the Plumber - an impressively articulate young man who motivated the crowd; Vicki McKenna - a hard core conservative with a rapier mind; and the one and only Michelle Malkin. I am sure that a lot of the material that Michelle was using appears in her book. Time for me to run out and buy it. Scott Walker was pretty firery and though a Republican pointed out that this isn't about party but about right and wrong. Milwaukee is pretty liberal so this crowd is really significant. We were greeted by less than 10 lefties at the entrance to the park. I was pretty dumbfounded that they were actually calling us racists as we walked by. (though not very loud - must be harder to do that when you are outnumbered 1000 to 1 - and we were really really close. One had the sign about no one should have to choose between whatever and health care. I started the "I shouldn't have to choose between health care and beer -- I want free beer chant". Many of the speakers referred to Nancy and her crying and Jimmy Carter - the twisted old whack job was also a favorite. I like the grass roots nature of how this came together. The organization names were new to me. Plenty of American Flags and Gadsden Flags. God Bless America - Fight for our Freedom (Source: Free Republic.)
Michelle Malkin
Michelle Malkin speaks
Obamacare Counter Protest
FRANKLIN COUNTY Com Soup Rally Tea Party (PA): -- Saturday, September 19, 2009 The Franklin County Republican Party is adding a Taxed Enough Already party to its schedule of events for the Sept. 19 Corn Soup Rally. The TEA Party, a follow-up to the July 4 party in Chambersburg's Memorial Square that protested Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed tax hikes, will run from noon to 4 p.m. at the Marion Festival Grounds. Admission is $2 per person. For tickets contact the Franklin County Republican Party at 263-7999. UPDATE The almost 1,000 people who attended Saturday's Franklin County Republican Committee Corn Soup Rally went through almost 125 gallons of chicken corn soup, visited with fellow Republicans and listened to several state legislators talk about health care and the state budget. State Rep. Todd Rock, R-Waynesboro, defended demonstrators objecting to national health care proposals during a TEA party that took place about an hour into the event. "To some in Washington and the state-run media, this crowd would be described as an unruly mob, right-wing extremists, rabble rousers or even racists," he told his listeners. "By contrast, I see you as honest, decent, hard-working, freedom-loving American taxpayers who love their country."
Throughout the afternoon, several hundred people signed petitions asking Pennsylvania's two senators in Washington to refuse to support legislation that includes a public option for health care or "interferes in the doctor-patient relationship." Rock and state Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Chambersburg, also talked about the struggle by Republicans to get a balanced state budget passed that does not include increased taxes. Rock praised fellow Republicans, many of them freshmen legislators elected in 2006 as a result of a backlash against incumbent legislators who had given themselves raises during a middle-of-the-night vote, for standing united against tax increases on the state level. Talking about national political issues, Rock told the crowd that there are millions of taxpayers "just like you" across the country that are saying "enough is enough." "Our message should be clear," he said. "No more bailouts, no more trillion-dollar stimulus plan, stop the government takeovers, stop the cap and trade bill, and most of all, no government-run health care." He said heeding that message would lead to less government spending, lower taxes and smaller government. Saying the country is "on the brink of financial disaster," Rock told listeners at the rally that "this out of control spending and borrowing must be stopped." Rock accused President Barack Obama of trying to reshape America in the vision of mentors such as Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and Van Jones. "Together we need to remind this president and other elected officials that we are willing to stand united and fight for the country we grew up in and that our Armed Forces fought and died to defend," he told the crowd. He said Americans not happy with the path the country is taking under Obama's leadership should contact both Obama and other elected officials, attend town hall meetings and TEA parties and write letters to newspapers. He also urged them to run for office, challenge "the establishment" and register to vote, get involved in politics and then go to the polls and vote. The corn soup rally is an annual event by the local Republican committee. (Source: Public Opinion.)
KEENE Constitution Day Tea Party (NH): -- Saturday, September 19, 2009 3:00 pm / 5:00 pm Central Square Central Square Kenneth LaCoille (organizer) 603-903-0063 (organizer phone)
BELLINGHAM Constitution Sunday (WA): -- Sunday, September 20, 2009 All day all participating churches Bellingham, Washington all participating churches Clint Sanderson (organizer) 360-527-8510 (organizer phone) http://www.constitutionsunday.org
NORTH BRANCH Conservative Picnic Rally (MN): -- Sunday, September 20, 2009 12:00pm North Branch, Minnesota North Branch Central Park 123 Main Street Jake Mayne (organizer) 651-674-8600 (organizer phone) TEA PARTY PICNIC from 12-4pm We would like to invite you to our next upcoming event this Sept 20th. We are hosting a TEA PARTY PICNIC from 12-4pm for all those who want to come enjoy some great food, fun , and patriotic conversation. Our special featured "guest speaker" SUE JEFFERS will inspire us and motivate us to stand up for America and protect our freedom's and liberties. Please tell your friends, and bring your family, for a wonderful patriotic event that will educate, motivate and inspire you. The Tea Party Picnic will be held at the Central Park in North Branch. When September 20th, 2009 12:00 PM through 4:00 PM Location
SEVENTH STOP: MEMPHIS American Liberty Tour (TN): -- Monday, September 21, 2009 Join the American Liberty Alliance Tour crew for an American Liberty Rally. When: Monday, September 21st. Training Venue: Holiday Inn Select, Memphis Airport 2240 Democrat Rd. Memphis, TN 38132 Time: TBA Planning on attenting the Memphis Liberty Rally? Click here to let us know! RSVP for the Liberty Rally. Sponsored by the Memphis Tea Party The Memphis Liberty Rally is proudly sponsored by the Memphis Tea Party and is hosted by the Memphis Tea Party Organizers. To get involved with the event planning or for questions, please email Mark at mark@thememphisteaparty.com
EIGHTH STOP: LITTLE ROCK American Liberty Tour (AR): -- Tuesday, September 22, 2009 Join the American Liberty Alliance Tour crew for an American Liberty Rally. When: Tuesday, September 22nd. Where: The Little Rock Convention Center 426 W. Markham Little Rock, AR Time: TBA
NATIONWIDE MoveOn.org/HCAN/ACORN Health Care Rally (Nationwide): -- Tuesday, September 22, 2009 -- The plan for a series of grass-roots demonstrations Tuesday to promote President Obama's health care agenda calls for tightly scripted events and an "escalation" of efforts against "enemies" of reform. Organizers insist there is no comparison to rowdy summer town hall meetings and recent "tea party" protests that have challenged White House policies. But Health Care for America Now (HCAN), which is backed by a coalition of labor unions and liberal groups including ACORN and MoveOn.org, organized the protests to target insurance companies and drafted the plan, which describes the demonstrations as part of its "insurance enemies project." The document, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times, details specific talking points, tactics, props and strategies to stage the protests. It lists goals that include action that "mobilizes our base by animating existing anger about private insurers." The HCAN field plan dictates that each protest will include a minimum of 30 participants, target only health care insurers CIGNA, WellPoint and United Health Care and showcase what it calls "victims," or people who have either lost insurance, can't afford it or were denied coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions. "We built a campaign to win health care reform and that is exactly what we are working on," said HCAN national spokeswoman Jacki Schechner, who authenticated the documents. But she asserted: "There is nothing top-down about this." The field plan says the protests should attract media coverage that "creates villains or enemies that serve as a contrast with our side; validates the need for affordability and the public health insurance option; [and] forces the other side to respond." David Palombi, senior vice president of corporate communications for WellPoint, said the "enemies project" is counterproductive to the debate and will do nothing to expand access, reduce costs or improve the quality of health care in the United States. "It is extraordinarily disappointing that it comes at a time when [House Speaker Nancy Pelosi] and others are calling for a civil discussion." Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, became emotional at a news conference Thursday when she expressed fear that the harsh rhetoric of the debate would lead to violence. (Source: Washington Times.) (NOTE: The Tea Party protestors are NOT invited. Notice the implied threat of violence if they should show up -- via Nancy Pelosi's comments. Supposedly 102 sites are planned.) UPDATE "Thanks for signing up for a "Big Insurance: Sick of It" rally. Over 7,000 MoveOn members gathered at rallies in 38 states today to send a powerful message that we are sick of Big Insurance standing in the way of real health care reform." (Source: MoveOn.org email) (SITE NOTE: Wow...7,000 in 32 states. Critics state that that amounts to an average of 138 people in each of the 32 states. NOT IMPRESSIVE AT ALL!!!) Maine rally had 24 protestors. Santa Clara, CA had about 100 people. KOIN channel 6 in Portland, Oregon showed the anti-big insurance rally in Portland today on their noon news broadcast. Behind the reporter was 3 people standing with signs and an older person sitting on a bench eating lunch behind them, not part of it.
DETROIT MoveOn.org Health Care Rally (MI): -- Tuesday, September 22, 2009 -- Dear MoveOn member, Health and insurance interests are spending nearly $5 million per week to oppose health care reform,1 fighting to keep a broken system because it benefits their bottom line. But what we've got right now—skyrocketing premiums, denial of treatment, canceling coverage when you get sick—is a disaster for regular people. It's time to call Big Insurance out—because if they win, we lose. And next week, we're going to do it right in their own back yards. We're organizing "Big Insurance: Sick of It" rallies at local insurance company offices across the country on September 22nd. Thousands of us rallying together will send a strong message to them, Congress, and the media that we are sick of Big Insurance and want real health care reform now. Next Tuesday, there's a rally in Detroit. Can you make it? Here's the link to RSVP: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=98594&id=17246-10389527-9m2gg.x&t=3 The public health insurance option is the number one target of Big Insurance—and a major reason why conservatives in Congress are holding up Obama's plan for real reform. With these events, we'll remind Congress that when Big Insurance is in charge, we're the ones who lose. We need a strong public health insurance option—a health care plan that won't put profits over real people's lives. At the rally, speakers will share personal stories about how they've been harmed by the health insurance industry. And we'll display many of the most compelling "Can't Afford to Wait" photos of MoveOn members showing why they or a loved one can't wait for real reform to highlight the fact that real people's lives are at stake in the debate over reform. Rallies like these are a lot of fun—and with stories from real people taking center stage, they're sure to be a moving reminder about what's important in our fight for health care reform. They're also a great way to make a big impact. With hundreds happening at the same time, we can send a strong message that we're sick and tired of Big Insurance's stranglehold on our health. The rally in Detroit is part of a national day of action to shine the spotlight on the insurance industry. And with Congress moving quickly toward voting on health care, we need to make sure they hear our message right away. Click here for more details and to RSVP for the rally in Detroit: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=98594&id=17246-10389527-9m2gg.x&t=4 Hope you can join us, and thanks again for all you do. (SITE NOTE: We can find after-action report or news story of this event on the internet. Assumption is the turnout was very low.)
WASHINGTON DC Day of Islam on Capitol Hill (DC): -- September 25, 2009 -- On September 25th there will be a national prayer gathering of Muslims on the west front of the U.S. Capitol Building. They are expecting at least 50,000 to attend from mosques all across America. They will gather to pray from 4:00 AM until 7:00 PM. The gathering will take place by the site where U.S. Presidents have been inaugurated since 1981. The organizers say that it was Obama's inauguration speech in January and his speech broadcast from Egypt in June that gave them the idea for this prayer gathering on Capitol Hill. (Source: Atlas Shrugs.) (SITE NOTE: Atlas Shrugs implies there are other motives and a possible unsanctioned March to the White House from rally.) == If past media coverage is any gauge, America is about to get a giant, mushy Hallmark card on behalf of Islam on Friday, September 25. That’s the day of the Islam on Capitol Hill rally, which organizers estimate will attract 50,000 Muslims to Washington, D.C. Hassen Abdellah, president of Dar-ul-Islam, and a main organizer, told the Washington Post that the event was inspired by President Obama’s inaugural address and his speech in Cairo, Egypt in June. The latter was where Obama noted that Islam was “first revealed” in the Middle East, thus implying divine origin. He may have also inspired some Muslims when he told journalists in Turkey in April that America “is not a Christian nation.” The event’s Website proclaims in large block letters: Our Time Has Come. (Source; Townhall.) == According to Knight, many Muslims believe they have a sympathetic ear in President Barack Obama. "Obama held no National Day of Prayer events at the White House this year, but gave a very positive eloquent speech about Ramadan," he recalls. "And he also has said some very interesting things overseas about the emergence of Islam." Organizers say it was President Obama's inauguration speech in January and his speech broadcast from Egypt in June that inspired them to hold Friday's event, scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Associated Press says Christian leaders in last night's conference call were unconvinced the gathering will be a time for Muslims to pray together, read the Quran, and celebrate America's religious freedom -- as its organizers insist. Family Research Council president Tony Perkins wondered if the Muslims would be "praying for the well-being of our nation." Perkins called the Muslim gathering "a wake-up call for the church" and a warning that if Christians do not "fill the void that's in this nation with the truth, it will be filled with something else." (Source: One News Now.) UPDATE A day of Islamic prayer on Capitol Hill, organized by the Dar-Ul-Islam mosque in Elizabeth, kicked off at 6 a.m. as about 60 Muslims gathered for the morning prayer. The melodic Call to Prayer, known in Arabic as the adhan, filled the air east of the National Mall before sunrise. Separated by gender, the assembled Muslims stood, knelt and prostrated themselves toward the Capitol Dome. facing east toward Mecca. They made up a small percentage of the thousands expected for the 1 p.m. prayer. (Star Ledger) -- In the afternoon, early reports say it rained and the event was a wash out. Blogger stated: "Watching Fox and Friends around 7:30, they gave a report from the DC Mall. With pictures showing a few Muslim men standing in between the camera and the Capitol backdrop. The reporter was standing under an umbrella." (Free Republic) -- More than a thousand Muslim men and women gathered Friday outside the US Capitol to hold a prayer meeting and demonstrate against prejudice against Islam. With men on one side, and women on the other, the crowd prayed on lawns outside the building in an event organized by the Dar-ul-Islam Elisabeth mosque, in northeastern New Jersey. "In addition to being an historic event I think it's just a matter of all the Muslims coming together in one location to perform what is our obligation for the Friday prayer," said one of the participants Lonnie Shabazz. "The message was clear. I think the message basically was to let the American public know that all the stigmas that are attached to Muslims are not true. "We're not extremists and we do not subscribe to the trend of racism. I think that message was achieved today." On their website, the organizers, who had been hoping to attract some 5,000 people, said that they wanted "to manifest Islam's majestic spiritual principals as revealed by Allah to our beloved prophet." (SITE NOTE: The number they hoped for was 50,000. Some people even question that 1,000 appeared. This article was pulled from Yahoo and Google. Prior to this event, blogs were afraid that this would turn into a militant meeting, rather than a prayer event. ) (Source: France24.) ==
Visitors to Washington D.C. today got to hear what residents in Hamtramck and Dearborn, Michigan, as well as areas of London, Amsterdam and other Western cities already endure five times a day: The sound of amplified Muslim prayers lifted to Allah. This time, the prayers reverberated over America’s front lawn as some 2,000 Muslims gathered for the Jummah Prayer on Capitol Hill: A Day of Islamic Unity. Promoters had planned for 50,000 but came nowhere near that.
Hadn’t you heard about this? If not, it’s probably because the media have been tight lipped, the better not to embarrass the One in the White House. While some women in burkas were sighted in the crowd, there was no sign of Nancy Pelosi in a hijab, which she wore on her Middle East tour. The purpose of Friday’s event, according to its Website, was to “manifest Islam’s majestic spiritual principles” in chants echoing “off the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and other great edifices that surround Capitol Hill.”
Well, they probably didn’t carry that far. These are not church bells, folks. This is the sound, however muted, of the world’s most aggressive religion rearing up and lyrically cooing its desire to master the world under Allah. Islam means, literally, Submission to Allah. Author and Islam scholar Robert Spencer, who I saw at the rally, described the prayers, said in Arabic, as ultimately about Islamic superiority. While they may not sound threatening, the message they send to those who understand the language is that “our time has come.”
Another purpose for Friday’s prayer on the Mall was to show Muslims worldwide that Islam is on the advance in the U.S. Dubai-based Islamonline.com, which bills itself as “the leading and original Islamic portal on the Internet,” played up the prayer rally, giving it prominent homepage coverage. Now, before you accuse me of lumping all Muslims in the same bowl, let me say that there are many nice, hardworking Muslims in America who mean no harm. In fact, many are here because they couldn’t stomach living under Sharia Law in the countries of their origin. They may believe that the world will someday be subdued under Islam, but America’s a fine place to be while waiting. Radical Muslims want to recruit moderate Muslims by convincing them that the day of Sharia is right around the corner, not in the distant future. Hence the more muscular approach at the Capitol. To understand why this is more than just a prayer rally, consider this:
The Prophet Mohammad divided the world into two areas: The world of Dar al-Islam, and the world of Dar al-Harb, or House of War. Everyone on Earth is therefore either a Muslim or an infidel who must convert or else. The Koran is quite clear about this.
In Muslim majority nations, such as Saudi Arabia, non-Muslims are regarded as Dhimmis, second-class people whose testimony in court is worth only a fraction of that of a Muslim and who must pay extra taxes. Forget equality under the law, and don’t even ask how they treat Dhimmi women.
Another event all but ignored by the press was a Capitol Hill press conference Thursday held by Former Muslims United, led by Nonie Darwish. She and other ex-Muslims warned that Rifqa Bary, the 17-year-old Ohio Christian convert who fled to Florida because she fears an “honor killing” is not alone. Darwish and many other experts are featured on the documentary Radical Islam on the March, which will be broadcast on The Coral Ridge Hour on Sunday, Sept. 27.
While the Muslim prayer rally sponsors insist their purpose was to show the world that America is a free land that welcomes Muslims, visitors to the Website can hear a loud Islamic greeting in Arabic. If Muslims are interested in being viewed as just another group of Americans, why the Arabic? Why not English? Not even all Muslims speak Arabic. The real message on the site is in large block letters: Our Time Has Come.
Muslims have been emboldened by President Obama’s election and apology tour and his frequent nods to Islam. Their pulses must have raced as he referred four times in Cairo on June 4 to the “Holy Koran,” while noting that the Middle East is where Islam “was first revealed.” They probably cheered when he became the first president in recent years not to host a Christian-sponsored National Day of Prayer event on May 7 at the White House but found time to preside over an Iftar dinner at the White House on Sept. 1 to mark the end of Ramadan.
Rightly or wrongly, many Muslims feel they have one of their own in the White House. Obama’s formative years were spent learning Islam. It’s not for nothing that the Bible declares, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6, KJV). Along with Obama’s recent conduct, that might be why Moammar Gadhafi referred to Obama as “my son” in his 95-minute speech at the United Nations on Wednesday. It’s partly why Obama himself received a huge ovation as he came to the UN podium even before he took shots at Israel while gently chiding radical Muslims, and apologizing yet again for America.
A major organizer of the prayer rally is attorney Hassen Abdellah, president of the Dar-ul-Islam mosque in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Abdellah represented several terrorists, including: Mahmoud Abouhalima, who was convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and is serving a life sentence in Florence, Colorado, and Mahamed el-Atriss, who was convicted of selling fake IDs to two of the Sept. 11 hijackers. On Oct. 25, 1993, New York Times reporter Richard Bernstein described Abdellah as “by far the most aggressively combative of the lawyers in the case.” Abdellah says he “represents all kinds of people.” Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch says that’s a fair statement, but that Abdellah’s client list is “consistent” and “interesting.”
In 1993, Abdellah spoke on behalf of Nidal A. Ayyad to The New York Times: “’You look at Ayyad,’ he said of one of the defendants. ‘He's an American. He can practice his religion and his way of life here. Why would he blow up the World Trade Center?’" Nidal A. Ayyad is now in the supermax federal prison in Florence, Colorado after being convicted of blowing up the garage of the World Trade Center, killing six and injuring 1,042.
Another major organizer of the prayer rally is Manhattan imam Sheihk Ahmed Dewidar, who says Muslims need to project a more moderate image in order to achieve their ultimate goals. On June 9, 2005, during an interview translated by MEMR TV, short for the Middle East Research Institute Monitoring Project, he quoted another imam uncritically:
Dewidar: In 1995 I heard some sermons, saying that Muslims should march on the White House from some of the mosques.
Host: What do you mean by “march on the White House”?
Dewidar: One cleric said in his sermon: “We are going to the White House, so that Islam will be victorious, Allah willing, and the White House will become into the Muslim house.”
Dewidar then explained that Muslim ideas will be victorious if they lose their radical image.
Another imam, Abdul Malik, is also an organizer. His Facebook site has an interesting lecture for young people. Here are some excerpts:
I want you to hear me very clearly: we must remember as Muslims, we submit and we surrender to nothing and no one: not the government, not the police, not the FBI, not the CIA. We submit and we surrender Allah alone, nothing else. Nothing else….. It’s not gonna be easy and you don’t have time to waste believing that you’re young and that you can involve yourself in sport and play because when the enemies of truth drop the bombs on the world of Islam, their number one target, and the number one people that suffer the most, it is the children who suffer, it is the old, it is the women and that day they become widows and they poison the waters and the air, and the children upon, with cancers and other diseases … Democracy is not revelation, and democracy does not equal freedom, for in democracy...you have all of the vices that are against the spirit of truth; so no we don't want to democratize Islam, we want to Islamize democracy. That's what we want."
Indeed. As the ’60s hippies once said in a more conducive climate, “Peace, Man.” (Source: Townhall.)
Notice the plastic spread on the ground because of the heavy rains
Estimates between 2,000 - 5,000 people
The overflow crowds did not show up
The prayers were concentrated in one small area
Islam Day honors commonality
First festival of its kind in Hawaii draws at least 1,000 to McCoy Pavilion. When the Hawai'i Legislature approved a resolution declaring Sept. 24 "Islam Day," the measure set of a firestorm of debate because the day fell so close to the date of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
But yesterday, politics was set aside as hundreds of people packed the McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park to celebrate Hawai'i's first Islam Day.
By 5 p.m., about 1,000 people had walked through the pavilion's gates and event organizers expected more as people got off work and headed to the park. (SITE NOTE: Notice that it does not say that the 1,000 were for the event -- just that they entered the pavilion's gates.) "We expected 200 to 300, so we're very pleased with the turnout," said Hakim Ouansafi, president of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, which sponsored the event.
More than a dozen Honolulu police officers and private security personnel patrolled the pavilion grounds, but there were no protests or reports of trouble. "It's a historic day. It's long overdue," Ouansafi said. "It's a day of celebrating our commonality, a day of people of faith and no faith to get together and talk story."
The Legislature approved the resolution last session to acknowledge the "rich religious, scientific, cultural and artistic contributions" of the Islamic world. Yesterday was selected because it marked the end of Ramadan, the month in which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and make contributions to charities. But the resolution sparked debate in Hawai'i and across the country because Islam Day fell in the same month as the Sept. 11 attacks. Critics were concerned about the link between the Islam religion and the extremists responsible for the attacks.
Ouansafi said criticism of Islam Day had subsided since the resolution was passed and opposition soon changed to support. "A lot of people reacted out of fear and ignorance and they've had a chance to reflect a little bit more and people are coming around," he said. Yesterday's event also doubled as a food drive for the Hawaii Foodbank. It featured games for children, free food, music and a panel discussion on "Coexistence in a Pluralistic Society."
Michael and Tami Ulanski of Red Hill went to yesterday's event for a special reason: Michael, who served two tours in Iraq with the Army, converted to the Muslim religion in April. Tami has not made the conversion and is a dedicated member of the New Hope church. The Ulanskis were born and raised Catholics, but Michael Ulanski said he converted after reading the Quran for the first time so he could understand what he was dealing with while in Iraq. "I started reading it and Chapter One, it just hit me. It grabbed me and everything about it made sense," he said. "It struck me as the right thing so I just kept at it and I kept studying it and reading it and decided after a month or two that that was the right thing for me." (Source: Islam in Action.)
Former Muslims send “Freedom Pledge” Nationwide
to Muslim Leaders for 220th Anniversary of Bill of Rights
“Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom and Safety from Harm
for Former Muslims”
Call on DOJ, US Commission On Civil Rights to Investigate Hate Crimes and Discrimination Against Apostates from Islam
WASHINGTON, DC (September 23, 2009) – Prominent former Muslims– apostates from Islam– have mailed a groundbreaking Freedom Pledge to over 50 Muslim leaders asking them to repudiate the Islamic law that requires the execution of apostates who have left Islam. The pledge and cover letter have just been released to the public at the website of the new civil rights organization – Former Muslims United – www.formermuslimsunited.org.
Former Muslims United will be formally launched at a press conference Thursday, September 24, to announce the start of their national campaign to educate the American public and policymakers about the threat from authoritative Shariah– Islamic law– to the religious freedom and safety of former Muslims. The names and organizational affiliations of the Muslim leaders sent the Freedom Pledge will be released at the press conference and posted online at www.formermuslimsunited.org. Additional Muslim leaders will be sent the pledge in the next months as the national campaign gets underway.
Former Muslims United founders, authors Nonie Darwish and Ibn Warraq, will also release the text of letters which were hand-delivered Wednesday, September 23, 2009 to Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Department of Justice, and Gerald A. Reynolds, Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The letters call on Holder and Reynolds to investigate possible hate crimes and civil rights violations against apostates from Islam, including the circumstances of the current Florida case of 17-year old Rifqa Bary, a former Muslim. The letters were signed by Former Muslims United founders Nonie Darwish, Mohammad Asghar, Amil Imani, Wafa Sultan and Ibn Warraq.
In the cover letter to the Freedom Pledge, the five founders speak directly to Muslim leaders : “We are all aware of incidents of intimidation, threats of violence and actual assaults against former Muslims. We reach out to you with a sincere hope that you and your organization will join with us in ensuring peace and justice, safety and freedom for Muslims and former Muslims alike….”
The “Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom and Safety from Harm for Former Muslims” includes numerous citations for Shariah legal opinions on death for apostates. The full pledge can be read and downloaded at www.formermuslimsunited.org .
Security at the press conference will be tightly maintained, and photo identification will be required of all attendees.
EVENT: Launch of Former Muslims United
PLACE: Longworth House Office Building, Hearing Room 1334
DATE: Thursday, September 24, 2009
TIME: 2:00 p.m.
(Source: Former Muslim United.) (SITE NOTE: The on-going battle of Rifqa Bary is highlighted on Atlas Shrugs by Pamela Geller about the Sharia law that calls for the death of any apostate, convert to another religion, as an "honor killing." (Source: Atlas Shrugs.))
BUT THE QUESTION IS TO THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA WHICH BROADCAST THE MUSLIM EVENT NATIONWIDE, WHAT ABOUT ANOTHER CHRISTIAN EVENT THAT OCCURRED ON 20 SEP 2009 IN TIMES SQUARE, NY? THOUGH COVERED ON CHRISTIAN TV CHANNELS, IT WAS SHUNNED BY THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
60,000 pray in Times Square! -- But media fail to notice this most unusual event
You can see most anything at Times Square in Manhattan. But 60,000 people praying? That's an unusual site in the heart of Broadway. Yet, that's just what happened there yesterday (20 Sep) for one hour – from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in a Christian rally called Prayer in the Square. Event organizers from Time Square Church had expected some 15,000. But their expectations were far exceeded at the third event of its kind in the last three years.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who helped the church cut through the red tape necessary to hold such an event, addressed the crowd. "It's a little strange for me to be up here," he said. "I'm a Jew. But I just celebrated Rosh Hoshana, our new year. So I guess it's appropriate for me to wish you all a happy new year." Despite the magnitude of the event, no major media covered it – even in the center of the media world on a slow news day. More than 200 churches joined with the Times Square Church in promoting the rally to pray for the city and the nation.
A 180-voice choir sang worship songs and the entire event was simulcast on the News Astrovision screen at One Times Square and on several radio stations. Carter Conlon, pastor of the Times Square Church, said preceding the event that this Prayer in the Square might be the last. "The Lord called us to host, fund and organize this event for the last three years," he said. "He told us that the first year would establish credibility with the city, and we have received positive feedback from various city agencies, including the office of the Mayor himself, commending us for honesty, order, and keeping our word. The second year confirmed to local churches that this was not the beginning of some new ministry but rather a gathering for the sole purpose of one hour of prayer, in humility, with all denominations represented and no personalities or ministry showcased. Those who have attended can attest to the fact that this has been so. Everything has unfolded exactly as the Lord impressed upon our hearts it would." (Source: WND.)
WASHINGTON DC "FIRST Green Tea Party" (DC): -- Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009 Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM Location: Lafayette Park, Washington D.C. "Green Tea Party" America's Path to Environmental Truth This national event will have guest speakers to discuss issues such as Cap & Trade, the hidden issues regarding Compact Fluoresent Lights (CFL's) and our ever-eroding freedoms due to overzealous environmentalists. -- The Heartland Institute's James M. Taylor and Paul Chesser will be among the headlined speakers September 26 in Lafayette Park, across the street from the front door of the White House, for a Green Tea Party to confront the issue of global warming. Organized by Truth About Green, a Maryland-based non-profit, and co-sponsored by Heartland, the Green Tea Party will create a venue for activists to demonstrate their skepticism that global warming has reached crisis levels and show their opposition to cap-and-trade legislation the U.S. Senate will take up in coming months. The national event will feature several other guest speakers on related environmental issues, as well as entertainment by country music artist John Luskey. Truth About Green was founded in 2009 by Maryland residents Nancy Sabater and Mary Burke-Russell. "We didn't feel enough was being done to educate everyday, ordinary Americans about the other side of the global warming debate," said Sabater. "The biggest issue next to health care is 'cap-and-tax,'but hardly anyone knows what it is orjust what it will mean for the average person. Before we impose all these costly regulations, it's important to have all the facts -- and to have more common sense about what we're doing." Featured speakers at the nation's first Green Tea Partyinclude: * Howard Brandston, lighting consultant and designer * Paul Chesser and James M. Taylor, The Heartland Institute * Lindsay Janeway, aka CrabbyCon on Twitter * Andrew Langer, founder of the Institute for Liberty * Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer, international documentarians and producers of the soon-to-be-released "Not Evil, Just Wrong," a rebuttal film aimed at uncovering the falsehoods presented in Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth" * Steve Milloy, author of Green Hell: How Environmentalists Plan to Control Your Life and What You Can Do to Stop Them, and founder and publisher of www.junkscience.com, a Web site devoted to defending the truth of science * Marc Morano, editor of Climate Depot * Phil Parenti, Americans for Prosperity, Southern Maryland Chapter * Julie Walsh, Freedom Action Charles Loller, founder of New Day Maryland, will serve as emcee. "We want to create venues where we can have a good time and talk about important issues. All Americans need to be better informed about the potentially life-changing decisions our politicians could make," said Sabater. Who: Everyone opposed to "cap and tax" schemes What: Rally for a "Green Tea Party" Where: Lafayette Park, (16th and H St., NW, Washington, DC) When: Saturday, September 26th, 1:00pm to 4:00pm Why: To rally against bad energy policy that will harm our economy and do nothing for the environment. Speakers: Include Dr. Wayne Brough (FreedomWorks), Steve Milloy (JunkScience.com), Marc Morano (Climate Depot) and other great speakers! UPDATE The Green Tea Party protest today in Lafayette Park by the White House was a triumph of quality over quantity. Attendance may have hit 50. Overall, the organization of the event was superb, the speakers engaging, and everything but the weather was fine. The invocation of the name "Al Gore" brought a drizzle by about the fourth or fifth speaker. Radical Dad and I at our first protest together. Male bonding at its all-time best. Dad laughs at some Lyndon Larouche 'literature'. (SITE NOTE: Though all the slick promotion and support from Freedom Works, it was NOT a good turnout. However, don't be discouraged. The TEA (Taxed Enough Already) movement started with less than this group at their first protest in April. The real reason is that the peoples focus is on Obamacare -- and the major moves to tax EVERYTHING in Congress to help pay for this insane Healthcare Plan. This "cap-and-tax" (cap-and-trade) will be the NEXT hot topic in 2010, but right now it is too early.)
KENTON "Common Sense Tea Party" (OH): -- Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009 UPDATE A "Common Sense Tea Party" Rally was held in downtown Kenton Saturday. The Tea Party movement is a grassroots political movement. It carries many specific messages but primarily it believes in smaller government, lower taxes, and fiscally conservative government spending. Its name is derived from the Boston Tea Party but also is and achronim for "Taxed Enough Already". Organizers of the rally in Hardin County relayed these messages among others Saturday in downtown Kenton. Among those who spoke to people in attendance were Attorney Steve Christopher, and residents Kathy Phillips, Chris Kalla, former teacher Robert Davis, Michael Shephard, and many other community residents. In addition Congressman Jim Jordan spoke to those in attendance. He thanked people for their message and encouraged the crowd to keep in contact with their elected officials about their issues. Local singer Kristy Gill also spoke to the crowd and performed several songs as well. Organizer Michael Shephard also spoke with WKTN after the rally. He stated that he was pleased with the response from the community. Shephard also stated that the group would continue their efforts and host meeting and siminars throughout the county soon. Around 500 people were in attendance at the Common Sense Tea Party. (Source: WKTN.)
NINTH STOP NEW ORLEANS American Liberty Tour (LA): -- September 28, 2009 Join the American Liberty Alliance Tour crew for a full day of candidate/activist training.
When: Monday, September 28th, 2009. Training Venue: Four Points, Sheraton @ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM 6401 Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Metairie, LA 70003
KINGFISHER Health Care Public Event (OK): -- Monday, September 28, 2009 Kingfisher County Fairgrounds Kingfisher, OK 73750 Monday, September 28, 2009 Start Time: 6:30 PM End Time: 8:30 PM In attendance, Rep. Mary Fallin H (REP) District 5
LAUREL Health Care Forum (DE): -- Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:30 pm
Laurel Fire Hall 205 W. 10th Street Chris Shirey (organizer) 302 875-5489 (organizer phone) http://www.delawareteaparty.org/ This will be an event to come to find answers to your questions. Our panel will include representatives from Nanticoke Hospital, Beebe Hospital, Physicians, Insurance regulators, as well as experts on Veterans' and Seniors' medical coverage
TENTH STOP TALLAHASSEE American Liberty Tour (FL): -- September 30, 2009 Join the American Liberty Alliance Tour crew for a town hall meeting.
When: Wednesday, September 30th, 2009. Where: Fisher Hall Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida Time: 7:00 PM Rally Speakers: Caleb Howe, Eric Odom, Corie Whalen and Ken Marrero (Others TBA)
CANCELLED TAMPA American Liberty Tour (FL): -- October 1, 2009 Due to changes in the tour schedule and route, Tampa is being folded into the Orlando Rally. Please join us in Orlando on Saturday for the American Liberty Rally.
WASHINGTON DC Million Med March (DC): -- October 1, 2009 The MillionMedMarch will follow in October to remind our elected officials that we intend to keep coming back to Washington and keep marching until the doctors and the patients are the focus of the healthcare reform. We will be joined by the Docs4PatientCare group as well as others that will be coming from all across the US. Please join us on October 1 in DC and don't forget to sign the MillionMedMarch Petition. We look forward to seeing all of you in Washington. UPDATE Hundreds of doctors took their health care fight to Capitol Hill Thursday. They deal with patients and insurance companies every day and now they want their voices heard. They called it the "Million Med March" but admit they didn't have that many doctors on Capitol Hill. In fact, doctors point out fewer than one million doctors practice nationwide. But those who did march on the Capitol say even fewer will go into medicine if Congress allows the government to take over health care. Talkback: After nearly three decades of delivering babies, Dr. Joel Match no longer does so. With malpractice premiums sky-rocketing, he now has this message for his gynecology patients: "I'd love to deliver your child but unfortunately I can't do that anymore because the insurance premiums have gotten high so I have to refer you to a large group," he said. With problems including malpractice fees and reimbursement rates, doctors from across the country gathered in Washington Thursday to protest current proposals on Capitol Hill. "I'm here to tell everyone if you're not listening to the American people, try listening to the doctors of America because we're here to tell you this is a disaster," said Dr. Colin Blake, a Massachusetts resident. The doctors say malpractice fees and insurance reimbursement need fixing -- but that they strongly oppose too much government interference in health care decisions and coverage. "We're saying we'd rather have the patient be the first payer because they'll be the ones to decide what they want and need and every time that gets interfered with it's a mess," said Dr. Eric Steckler, a McLean psychiatrist. Match says fix the system so doctors can focus on what they do best -- like delivering babies.
Now doctors are joining forces, saying saving lives is far too complicated for Congress to fix in one fell swoop. President Obama has told doctors he agrees more needs to be done to fix malpractice. But when the doctors object to a larger government role, their critics say they're dead wrong -- arguing there isn't enough financial incentive for doctors to care for the uninsured and the underinsured without a much bigger government role. (Source: News8.)
Obama Push-back: White House's botched 'op' (5 Oct 2009) President Obama yesterday (5 Oct) rolled out the red carpet -- and handed out doctors' white coats as well, just so nobody missed his hard-sell health-care message. In a heavy-handed attempt at reviving support for health-care reform, the White House orchestrated a massive photo op to buttress its claim that front-line physicians support Obama. A sea of 150 white-coated doctors, all enthusiastically supportive of the president and representing all 50 states, looked as if they were at a costume party as they posed in the Rose Garden before hearing Obama's pitch for the Democratic overhaul bills moving through Congress. The physicians, all invited guests, were told to bring their white lab coats to make sure that TV cameras captured the image. But some docs apparently forgot, failing to meet the White House dress code by showing up in business suits or dresses. So the White House rustled up white coats for them and handed them to the suited physicians who had taken seats in the sun-splashed lawn area. All this to provide a visual counter to complaints from other doctors that pending legislation is bad news for the medical profession. "Nobody has more credibility with the American people on this issue than you do," Obama told his guests. The president was flanked by four white-coated doctors at a podium as he delivered his pep talk. "When you cut through all the noise and all the distractions that are out there, I think what's most telling is that some of the people who are most supportive of reform are the very medical professionals who know the health-care system best," the president said. "I want to thank every single doctor who is here," Obama said. "And I especially want to thank you for agreeing to fan out across the country and make the case about why this reform effort is so desperately needed." Underlying the strictly photo-op nature of the event, The Associated Press noted that Obama broke no new ground in his remarks. The president told the doctors that if they back him, "I'm confident we are going to get health reform passed this year." The Republican National Committee shot back with a response from Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who was an orthopedic surgeon before being elected to Congress. "Today, the president wants you to believe that the medical community supports his government takeover of health care. Don't be fooled," Price said. He said he had spoken to "thousands of my colleagues" who oppose the Democrats' legislation. House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) said large numbers of doctors fear it would cripple their ability to care for patients. "Members of the medical community -- who deal with red tape day in and day out -- rightly recognize that the Democrats' government takeover would weaken the doctor-patient relationship that is so critical to making the right health-care decisions," he said. Obama made no mention of the "public option" -- a controversial government-run insurance plan favored by liberal Democrats -- in his Rose Garden spiel. A key version of the legislation, which doesn't include the public option, is expected to reach the Senate floor for debate later this month. (Source: NY Post.)
OOPS! A crowd of 150 doctors gathers in the Rose Garden to support the health-care overhaul -- as White House staffers scramble to hand out camera-ready white coats to those who forgot their own.
ST CHARLES Heathcare Tea Party (MO): -- Friday October 2, 2009 UPDATE The St. Charles Tea Party took place this evening, drawing nearly 2,000 freedom-loving patriots from miles around to Frontier Park along the banks of the Missouri River near the downtown area of the Show-Me State’s First Capitol city. Organized by Show Me Patriots.org, I Heard the People Say.org and a number of local businesses, it took place under the theme, “We Must Take America Back,” and featured local KLPW radio talk show host Diane Jones as emcee. On the program were several notable speakers, including: Kevin Jackson, author of “The Big Black Lie”: Stephanie Rubach, a critical care registered nurse; Dr. Bob Onder, a physician, lawyer and former state representative; Catherine Bleisch, executive director of the Liberty Restoration Project; and Paul Curtman, the Marine who vaulted to fame for demanding an apology from Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) during a town hall meeting about health care this summer (See this video for details). Others still provided musical talents and valuable services. Hat’s off to those who gave above and beyond to make this gathering a success and, hopefully, the first of several.
O'FALLON Heathcare Tea Party (MO): -- Saturday October 3, 2009 UPDATE Some 200 patriotic citizens lined one side of Highway K early this afternoon at the intersection of Highways K & N in O’Fallon, Mo. Their signs told the story of their passionate disdain for socialism, government-run health care and an out-of-control federal government. Across the street, barely a dozen individuals carried signs in support of the so-called “Public Option” and other liberal agenda items. In the video above, I showcase representatives from both sides of the street, allowing each to air their beliefs. Rallies like the one today have become a weekly event, drawing as many as 300 conservative, Constitution-loving citizens weekly and outnumbering those with opposing views more than 10 to 1. To learn more about Janet Allquist and what motivated her to organize the rallies, watch this video from Friday night’s St. Charles (Mo.) Tea Party. Janet is one of many individuals I interviewed. Hint: She’s standing in front of a K-N-Patriots.org banner. To learn more about the organization behind the weekly rallies, visit www.K-N-Patriots.org, (Source: Bob McCarty.)
CLAIREMONT Tea Party (NH: -- Saturday October 3, 2009 Residents of Claremont NH will hold their first Claremont Tea Party at 12:30 PM at Carmella's Restaurant, 50 Pleasant St, Claremont NH. THIS IS A LAST MINUTE VENUE CHANGE. Please bring a sign to protest taxes and spending. There will be speeches, music, info booth, food, raffle, and plenty of parking.
Contact Claremont Citizens for Lower Taxes or Cynthia Howard at www.ccltgroup.org or cindycool09@yahoo.com if you would like to set up a booth for your group.
ELEVENTH STOP ORLANDO American Liberty Tour (FL): -- October 3, 2009 Join the American Liberty Alliance Tour crew for an American Liberty Rally. When: Saturday, October 3rd, 2009. TIME: 5:30PM Constitution Green 300 S Summerlin Ave Orlando, FL 32801 SPEAKERS: Corey Whalen – Boston Tea Party Caleb Howe – RedState.com & American Spectator Ken Marrero – TN Blogosphere Eric Odom – American Liberty Alliance Jason Hoyt & Phil Russo (Tea Party Patriots Live Radio Show) Patricia Sullivan (North Lake Tea Party Leader)
TWELFTH STOP FORT LAUDERDALE American Liberty Tour (FL): -- October 4, 2009 Yes, it's true… we're having a rally in Fort Lauderdale! A few weeks before we got the tour started, we began being contacted by folks looking to host rallies at stops that were not listed on our site, but that were not far from the path. Fort Lauderdale was one of them. And we were more than happy to help make it happen. American Liberty Rally 200 West Broward Blvd Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida Time 3:00 to 5:00 PM Proud Partner The Fort Lauderdale Rally is being hosted by the South Florida Tea Party UPDATE Great Tea Party in Ft. Lauderdale!! The place was packed. Hosted by: South Florida Tea Party to welcome the American Liberty Tour at their Ft. Lauderdale stop.
Lloyd Marcus performance
BRENTWOOD Healthcare Town Hall Rally (NY): -- October 6, 2009 UPDATE Israel (D-Huntington) at one point pleaded with those in the crowd yelling at him to "stop calling me a liar and listen." Judging by the ever-increasing decibel level, he did not win over many converts. Shouts of -- "Stop printing money," "We don't care what you think," and "You're a moron" -- permeated the 90-minute session, which drew far more than the 450 people who filled Van Nostrand Theatre. Scores more were not allowed inside after a Suffolk fire marshal closed the doors. People opposing the proposed health care reform outnumbered those in favor, though both sides strove to outshout each other during the question-and-answer period. A typical scene came after Anneliese Lanza of Huntington asked, "Why can't we just fix the part of health care that is broken when what is needed is tort reform?" The anti-reform portion of the crowd broke into a raucous standing ovation chanting "tort reform." "You're saying tort reform now, but if something happens to you, you'll be the first one to want to take the case to a judge and jury," Israel said. "I don't believe a member of the United States Congress should decide when you can go to court." Israel, who supports the public option, which would allow people to purchase insurance through a government program, said he does not expect to support every aspect of the final reform bill.
THIRTEENTH STOP JACKSONVILLE American Liberty Tour (FL): -- October 6, 2009 Join the American Liberty Alliance Tour crew for an American Liberty Rally. When: Tuesday, October 6th, 2009. Where: TBA Rally Speakers: Caleb Howe, Eric Odom, Corie Whalen and Ken Marrero (Others TBA)
Training Venue: TBA Rally Location: TBA
FOURTEENTH STOP COLUMBIA American Liberty Tour (SC): -- October 8, 2009 Join the American Liberty Alliance Tour crew for an American Liberty Rally. When: Thursday, October 8th, 2009. Where: TBA Rally Speakers: Caleb Howe, Jonathan Krohn, Eric Odom, Corie Whalen, Lloyd Marcus and Ken Marrero (Others TBA) Training Venue: TBA Rally Location: TBA (Training Session rescheduled.)
FIFTEENTH STOP CHARLOTTE American Liberty Tour (NC): -- October 10, 2009 Join the American Liberty Alliance Tour crew for an American Liberty Rally. When: Saturday, October 10th, 2009. Where: TBA Rally Speakers: Caleb Howe, Eric Odom, Corie Whalen, Lloyd Marcus and Ken Marrero (Others TBA) Training Venue: TBA Rally Location: TBA
TUCSON Tea Party (AZ): -- Saturday, October 10, 2009 The Tucson Tea Party is extremely excited to announce the biggest tea party event that we have ever organized! Tucson’s Last Stand will be on October 10 at Tucson Electric Park from 10 am – 1 pm. Seating capacity is 11,500! Admission is free, no tickets necessary, though donations are encouraged. Although he needs little introduction, our featured speaker will be… JUDGE ANDREW NAPOLITANO! Also kicking off the event is Barry Goldwater Jr., as well as talk radio hosts James T. Harris and Jim Parisi. This event will offer nationally renowned speakers, local talk radio hosts, and political candidates who will engage the audience on important issues of the day, including unsustainable government spending, the role of government in the private sphere, the constitution, and local political issues.Attendees will also be able to engage directly with City Council and Congressional candidates who are competing in upcoming elections.
The purpose of Tucson’s Last Stand is to galvanize the people of Tucson and Pima County to clean house in November’s Tucson City Council election, and then continue onward into 2010. It is imperative that we take the tea party movement to the next level if we are to achieve this.
Tucson’s Last Stand will also be a major fundraiser for the electoral battles ahead, and while admission is free, donations are strongly encouraged. A political event of this size and scope has never occurred in the history of Tucson and Pima County. The caliber of speakers and public access to political candidates is truly unprecedented. UPDATE Parking was pretty full. Lots of eeeevil SUVs and pickups. Some of them had bumper stickers associated with Right Wing Domestic Terrorists. Like military service decals, NRA membership stickers, and bumper stickers and decals affirming Christian faith. It was mainly a sit down event so there wasn't as much crowd activity as the April 15 Tea Party. It was enthusiastic and well behaved with lots of patriotic themed apparel. There were a lot more political candidates in attendance than the one on April 15. I'm not sure that's a good thing. -- The crowd was pretty good sized although I don’t think we got too close to the 10K we hoped for. It’s reassuring to see this kind of thing come off with relatively little promotion. We get NADA from the media so the main info outlet is emails and word of mouth. I hung out around the candidate tents quite a bit and I’ve got to say that I’m hearing better questions at every event. These crowds are just chock full of really bright people who KNOW what it is that they are looking for and are DEMANDING it from the folks that want to represent them. (Source: Free Republic.) -- They came with signs and T-shirts and petitions expressing skepticism, fear and anger. About 6,000 people descended Saturday on Tucson Electric Park for the Tucson Tea Party event, billed as Tucson’s Last Stand. The event kicked off with Tucson Tea Party organizer Trent Humphries expressing his own brand of hope for the future: “I love the smell of freedom in the morning.” By 8:07 a.m., nearly two hours before the speeches began, the main parking lot of the Tucson Electric Park was filling up. Walking down a random aisle, there was a car with a bumper sticker for limited-government advocate Ron Paul, next to another with an “I’m NRA and I vote” sticker, adjacent to one with a fading “W 04” sticker. Folks were serving coffee out of thermoses and handing out muffins and doughnuts. Vendors were selling small American flags and Kettle Korn. Among the early tailgaters in the parking lot, small business owner Chris Bubany was offering passers-by a helping of her chile relleno casserole and peanut butter cookies. “We’re normal, non-racist everyday Tucsonans who are very concerned about the direction our government is going, ” she said. Health care topped her list of concerns, followed by stimulus spending and the devaluation of the dollar. She said she was grateful for the sense of community at the event. “It helps to know other Americans are very concerned as well, that it’s not just me.” Enjoying the casserole was Tim Curry, a 58-year-old laid off construction worker. Curry said he lost his job a year ago when the market slowed. His boss said he had to let him go first because he knew that, unlike many of his employees, Curry’s house was paid off and he’d paid cash for his vehicles. “We did everything right. We were conservative with our money and did all we could to live within our means and we still got hit. I was penalized for being prudent.” Bob Park, a retired law enforcement officer, stood at the front of the entrance, handing out signs he’d made that read, “Change 2010.” Park drove down from Prescott for the event, he said. “I don’t like what’s going on in the country from the top down.”
THE BIG EVENT Inside the park, Tea Party organizers were raising funds by selling T-shirts, some of which said, “I am the mob.” One man wore a necklace of tea bags. Another wore a T-shirt that said, “Tyranny Response Team.” A man carried a placard with Obama’s face photoshopped onto a yellow bull, with the caption, “21st century golden calf.” A woman carried a sign stating, “First Black President leads U.S. into slavery.” There were signs of Obama with a Pinocchio nose and with the Joker’s face paint and smile. There was another with Obama as one of the three Stooges. A couple carried brooms, with signs stating, “Clean sweep. Vote out the crooks.” Several people in the audience waved yellow flags with the saying, “Don’t tread on me.” Richard Colasuonno, a 68-year-old retired New York City teacher, carried a sign that said, “Thank you Joe Wilson” on one side, in a nod to the Congressman who yelled “You lie!” to the President during his health care speech. Colasuonno maintained Obama lied about several things, including making government more transparent. On the flip side, the sign in part read, “The radicals are at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue — not here.” “I don’t like the direction the country is going in,” he said, citing healthcare plans and the cap and trade bill designed to counter carbon emissions. “When you have a government that has total control, you end up with tyranny.” He said he doesn’t plan to wait until 2010 to send a message. He said he plans to start with the 2009 city election.
POLITICAL ACTIVISM The crowd was in a signing mood. A petition to recall Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was circulated out of a bed of a pickup truck. Another recall effort, this one against Democratic Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson, was collecting signatures near the entrance of the park. Thomas D. Young, who is organizing the Giffords recall effort, needs 83,000 signatures by January to launch the effort, although Giffords is up for re-election in 2010. “Something needs to change. Even if all this does is raise awareness and get people involved, that’s a good thing.” Nancy Day, a registered nurse, had photo radar in her sights. Asking voters to sign a petition to put photo radar on the ballot next year, she asked event-goers if they liked “to be watched 24/7 and ticketed by a machine.” The three Republican City Council candidates were in attendance, as was Brian Miller, who is challenging Giffords for her seat. Auto dealer Jim Click was there, as was Bill Arnold, the chairman of the public safety initiative, Prop. 200. A perhaps unexpected visitor: David Higuera, the campaign manager for Democratic council incumbent Karin Uhlich, wearing a pro-Uhlich T-shirt and carrying a “No on 200” placard up and down the aisles, warning it will increase taxes. He said he was getting a 50/50 thumbs up reaction to the sign. “People are starting to understand that this is an unfunded mandate,” he said. Later, Council hopeful Shaun McClusky took some of his time at the microphone to point out that the No on 200 campaign was being funded in part by the Democratic Party. The crowd booed when a reference was made to Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. It gave a standing ovation, however, to former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, who is rumored to be considering a primary bid against U.S. Sen. John McCain, when he noted 80 percent of Americans want the borders secured. Hayworth, who has a talk radio show, lost his congressional seat to Democrat Harry Mitchell in 2006. Barry Goldwater Jr., told the crowd it was in the middle of a revolution. “Will we continue to climb toward socialism or will we continue to fight for liberty and freedom?” He got the biggest laugh when he broke down the word “politics” into poli — meaning many — and tics —meaning blood-sucking creatures. Wisconsin talk show host James T. Harris took the microphone to the stands, asking why attendees were there, given that he’d heard that people who come to tea parties are Nazis, racists and anti-American. Some of the answers: “Freedom.” “I love my country.” “This is patriotism.” “I’m tired of big government trying to run my life.” “I’m damn sick and tired of this government taking the American people’s money.” Harris told the crowd not to be complacent, urging them to engage people with Obama bumper stickers and asking a simple question: “How’s that ‘change’ working out for you?”
The main speaker, firebrand judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano of FOX News, defended the Second Amendment, attacked the sweeping powers of the Patriot Act and questioned where it states in the constitution that the federal government is authorized to regulate health care. “Gatherings like these tell Washington: Stay the hell there and leave our freedoms alone,” he said. (Source: AZ StarNet.)
BLAIRSVILLE Sorghum Festival Parade, Blairsville,Ga (GA): -- Saturday, October 10, 2009 11:00-12:00 Blairsville,Ga Blairsville comprehensive school N J Davis (organizer) e-mail (organizer phone) http://northgapatriots.ning.com Come join us for this large parade. Bring your convertibles. antique cars, open top jeeps golf carts, floats,nice pick up trucks with hay bales in the back for people to ride. Need people who would like to walk and carry the banners and signs. E-mail me for start location and directions. Bring your rally signs,red,white and blue decorations if you have them. Wear your red, white and blue outfits, bottled water,etc.
DANVILLE Tea Party (VA): -- Saturday, October 10, 2009 UPDATE The Danville TEA Party attracted the ears and attention of local representatives and political candidates on Saturday. The TEA Party Patriots, a group of residents who believe they are Taxed Enough Already and have protested current federal government policy, invited both former and current political candidates to introduce themselves and address Patriots’ concerns at a rally at the courthouse plaza in downtown Danville. The rally served as a forum for residents to share their frustrations and for politicians to learn about and meet Southside voters as November’s Election Day draws closer. “I think it’s very timely. I think the government needs to hear from the people and the people have spoken here today,” said Dave Newman, a Korean War veteran of Danville. Newman appreciated the openness of the 10 speakers and candidates. He saw the rally as a way to return to the country’s “roots.” “I don’t see this as a political rally. I see this as a freedom rally,” Newman said. “But I think it goes hand in hand this time of year.” First speaker Herschel Stone, who ran for Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors in the past, sees the TEA Party as a “movement that is driven from the heart of the people.” His speech fell in line with much of the day’s rhetoric about reducing government spending and the tax burden on Americans as he campaigned for the Fair Tax plan as Danville’s FairTax community coordinator. The plan proposes replacing income taxes with a progressive national retail sales tax. The 150 attendees cheered to hear the plan would mean no more income tax filings. ... (Source: Go Dan River.com.)
CHARDON Tea Party (OH): -- Sunday, October 11, 2009 Where: Chardon Square
Main Street Chardon, OH 44024 (If the Mentor 9-12 wants to have a table, we need to discuss this on Oct. 7. We will need the obvious supplies.)
A TEA PARTY COMES TO GEAUGA COUNTY! With live feed to the Tea Party Website and Youtube! Confirmed guest speaker: Rudy Gutierrez from the WLW radio station. Tom Baher is looking for more speakers who are not politicians. If you are interested in being a guest speaker please contact Jean.
The Burton 9-12 Project group will have a booth at this event. We would like to have Patriotic and 9-12 Project t-shirts, sweatshirts
and other Patriotic items there to sell for a donation. If you are interested in helping with our booth project please contact me ASAP!
We will need to get started on this right away.
WASHINGTON DC National Equality March (DC): -- Sunday, October 11, 2009 Thousands of gay and lesbian activists were expected to converge Sunday in a march from the White House to the Capitol, demanding that President Barack Obama keep his promises to push for civil rights protections from the federal government. Some participants in the National Equality March woke up energized by Obama's blunt pledge to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military during a speech to the nation's largest gay rights group Saturday night. The president also said he would work to ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and to give same-sex couples the same civil rights as straight couples. "I'm here with you in that fight," Obama said. He acknowledged some had grown impatient that he wasn't pushing for changes faster but urged advocates to continue pressing him and Congress to act. Obama's political energies have been focused on two wars, the economic crisis and health care reform, though he pledged "unwavering" commitment even as he wrestled with those problems. March organizer Cleve Jones, creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and a protege of gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk, said he had initially discouraged a rally earlier in the year. But he and others began to worry Obama was backing away from his campaign promises. "Since we've seen that so many times before, I didn't want it to happen again," he said. "We're not settling. There's no such thing as a fraction of equality." Jones noted that the debate over how to achieve progress has at times been bitter, but said people should look to the civil rights debates of 1963. "There should be heat. There should be controversy because ... we're trying to change the strategy" to pursue full equality rather than a piecemeal approach, he said. Organizers were expecting at least 75 busloads of people for the march at noon near the White House. Unlike the first march in 1979 and others in 1987, 1993 and 2000 that included celebrity performances and drew as many as 500,000 people, Sunday's event was driven by grassroots efforts and was expected to be more low-key. Many organizers were outraged after the passage of California's Proposition 8, which canceled the right of gays to get married in the state, and over perceived slights by the Obama administration. Kipp Williams, a 27-year-old San Francisco resident, said he moved to California from the South seeking equality but realized after Proposition 8 that gay people are second-class citizens everywhere. Contrary to the California Supreme Court's decision on the legality of the referendum, he said "there is no exception to the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution." For Lt. Dan Choi, the day began with a jog around Washington's memorials, calling cadence at 8 a.m. with fellow veterans and supporters before joining the march. Choi, a West Point graduate, Arabic speaker and Iraq war veteran, is facing discharge under the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy for revealing in March that he is gay. "We have fought in battles to protect our country, and now we are fighting at home for equal and full protection under the law," he said. On Saturday, he led a group of gay veterans in laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery to honor gay and lesbian soldiers who have died in the line of duty. The weekend also included political training at several D.C. universities for young activists to learn how to build support and lobby lawmakers at home. Other veteran activists doubted the march would accomplish much. They said the time and money would have been better spent working to persuade voters in Maine and Washington state, where the November ballot will include a measure that would overturn a bill granting same-sex couples many of the benefits of marriage. A bill introducing same-sex marriage in the nation's capital also was introduced last week by the District of Columbia Council and is expected to easily pass. Rep. Barney Frank, an openly gay member of Congress, said the marchers should be lobbying their lawmakers. He said the demonstrations are simply "an emotional release" that do little to pressure Congress. "The only thing they're going to be putting pressure on is the grass," the Massachusetts Democrat said Friday. (SITE NOTE: Frank, one of three and arguably the most prominent openly gay member of Congress, downplayed the impact of planned marches in D.C. in an interview with the Associated Press. "The only thing they're going to be putting pressure on is the grass," he said. "Call or write your representative or senator, and then have your friends call and write their representative or senator," the veteran lawmaker added. "That's what the NRA does. That's what the AARP does.") (Source: AP.)
UPDATE Thousands of gays and lesbians claimed the streets of the nation's capital today in a demonstration demanding full equality under the law. The National Equality March snaked past the White House and streamed down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. Demonstrators chanted "Yes we can" in English and Spanish, resurrecting President Obama's campaign slogan, and waved signs and banners. Organizers said the LGBT community, which encompasses lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgendered people, are not satisfied with a piecemeal approach to gaining civil rights. They are seeking "full federal equality" and singling out issues pertaining to marriage, adoption, military service and the workplace. The demonstration took place a day after Obama addressed about 3,000 gays, lesbians and their supporters, pledging sweeping reforms including undoing both the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military and the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The demonstration came 30 years after the first major march by gays and lesbians in the capital. Plans called for Sunday's march to conclude at the Capitol, where a rally was planned. Speakers on tap include civil-rights activist Julian Bond and Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, the slain gay college student from Wyoming whose name is attached to just-passed House legislation to expand the definition of federal hate crimes. The U.S. Park Police does not provide crowd counts. However, organizers had the weather on their side. The events fell on a crisp, sunny fall day with temperatures in the 60s. In front of the White House, demonstrators chanted: "Hey, Obama, can't you see? We demand equality." Los Angeles City Council member Bill Rosendahl, the only gay elected official in L.A. city government, in an interview called it "unconscionable" for Obama not to immediately lift the "don't ask, don't tell" military policy on sexual orientation and to reinstate service members who have been booted out for their sexual orientation. A Vietnam veteran, he wore his American Legion cap from California's Post 283. A pair of young women wore T-shirts exhorting: "Legalize gay." Another woman, Alex Miller, 23, of Ashburn, Va., held aloft a sign paying homage to her only sister, Sam Miller, 20, a lesbian. "Same womb. Same rights," the sign said. (Source; LA Times.)
SIXTEENTH STOP ATLANTA American Liberty Tour (GA): -- October 12 - 13, 2009 Join the American Liberty Alliance Tour crew for a full day of candidate/activist training, followed by an American Liberty Rally. When: Tuesday, October 13th, 2009. Where: TBA Rally Speakers: Joe the Plumber, Caleb Howe, Jonathan Krohn, Eric Odom, Corie Whalen, Lloyd Marcus and Ken Marrero (Others TBA) Training Venue: TBA Rally Location: TBA
NATIONWIDE MoveOn.org Healthcare Rally (Nationwide): -- Wednesday, October 14, 2009 (FOR EXAMPLE: Where: Waterfront across from Restaurant Row (in Honolulu) When: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, at 4:30 PM What: The fate of the public option will be decided in the next few weeks—and Sen. Inouye will need to fight like hell to win real health care reform. Let's show him we've got his back heading into these final, crucial weeks.) MoveOn.org claims to be entirely funded by its 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. (SITE NOTE: Other MoveOn.org organized events have had relatively small turnouts as its base that was massive during Obama's election campaign has fallen away and lost interest. The protest was scheduled in conjunction with the Congress move to push for a vote on 14 Oct 2009 as a make-or-break move.)
SAN FRANCISCO Tea Party on Obama Visit to San Francisco (CA): -- Thursday, October 15, 2009 Protest held to coincide with President Obama's visit to San Francisco for a fund raiser UPDATE Even in San Francisco, Pres. Obama cannot escape protesters. He held a fundraiser at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco tonight (Thursday) and a crowd turned out across the street on Union Square to let him know what they thought: That cable car is climbing Powell Street which separates Union Square from the St. Francis Hotel. The crowd was not just Tea Partiers. There were also single-payer enthusiasts, 9-11 truthers, and US-out-of-Aghanistan'ers as well. Here is a shot of the central section which, as you can tell from the signs, was largely Tea Partiers: With the close proximity of left and right in this crowd, there were many discussions but everything remained peaceful. Obama, fundraising inside the hotel, likely heard none of it.
(Source: The City Square.) -- Thousands Gather outside St. Francis Hotel -- Hundreds of supporters donating millions of dollars came to hear President Barack Obama speak in San Francisco on Thursday night, but not everyone came to cheer. A huge crowd of protesters also turned out to deliver messages of their own. By 11 p.m. many of the protesters cleared out, but many of them acknowledge the president probably never saw them. Some protesters said they still feel good that they go their opinion out there, hoping someone in the crowd heard or saw their message. People started lining up a few hours before Obama was scheduled to arrive at the Westin St. Frances Hotel. Protestors had a lot to say about health care and the war in Afghanistan. They argued with each other and held signs with strong messages for the president. "People in this country had a lot of trust to vote for him to make a change and they really didn't know what kind of change," said Pleasanton resident Karla Bruen. The majority of the protestors didn't vote for Obama, but some of them did. They said when it comes to health care reform, Obama isn't leaning as far left as they would like. "I feel that he could be doing a lot more. I feel that Obama needs to come forward and support single payer health care," said Petaluma resident Stan Gold. But the president missed the messages; his motorcade slipped him into a hotel side entrance, away from the masses waiting on Powell Street. Inside, he acknowledged the debates raging around the issues. "I believe in a two party system where ideas are tested and assumptions are challenged because that's how we move this country forward, but what I reject is when some folks decide to sit on the sidelines and root for failure," said Obama. He told the crowd to get ready for some intense arguing around health care. "We are closer than we have ever been to passing health insurance reform. Health insurance reform that will finally make quality care affordable for people who don't have it, and bring stability and security to people who do, and slow the skyrocketing health care costs that are crushing our families and businesses and our state and our federal government," said Obama. Those inside said they liked what they heard. "I think that he said everything I would like him to say and I believe in him and think he's going to do everything we can hope for our country," said Berkeley resident Marika Shaub. Supporters paid a lot to hear the president tonight. It was a $500 minimum to get into the VIP reception. Some paid around $30,000 to go to the dinner. The Democratic Party estimates it raised $3 million Thursday night. (Source: ABC Local.) (SITE NOTE: The mainstream media did NOT carry this story of thousands protesting.)
SAVANNAH Tea Party (GA): -- Thursday, October 15, 2009 12:00-1:30pm Savannah, Georgia Rousakis Plaza River Front River St Ann Lindholm (organizer) 817-919-0379 (organizer phone)www.americansoldierswife.com Tea Party October 15, 2009 12:00pm Rousakis Plaza Historic River Front Downtown Savannah,GA More Details to come! www.americansoldierswife.com until www.savannaheaparty.com is up and running.
BOSTON Health Care Rally and Tea Party (MA): -- Saturday, October 17, 2009 1. From Noon - 2:00 p.m. there'll be a rally against government-sponsored healthcare at the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common. Dr. Mildred Jefferson and Dr. Allan Unruh will be speaking. 2. From 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. there'll be a "Media Blackout Protest" in front of the Boston Globe, 135 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, being sponsored by "Operation: Can You Hear Us Now?" == What was initially expected to be a simple anti-Obama-care march on the Boston Common has grown to thousands of citizens interested in coming out to participate in the Healthcare Reform Tea Party. The event location has been confirmed as The Parkman Bandstand, The Boston Common, with guest speakers from 12:00 Noon – 3:00 PM. "The event was originally planned as a march to protest the healthcare reforms instituted in Massachusetts, reforms being used as a model for national policy," said Bridget Fay, Event Volunteer Coordinator. "We started in April seeking to bring the nationwide Tax Day Tea Party movement to Boston. We have created a tremendous movement of dozens of groups statewide, hundreds of people on blogs and message forums and thousands of people expected to join us on Saturday. (Source: News Blaze.) UPDATE About a hundred gathered at a tea party was held on Boston Common today, as those opposed to the Obama Administration's proposals on health care reform rallied at the Parkman Bandstand. The nationwide "tea party" movement came to Boston Common on Saturday, as people upset with government spending turned their focus to health care. The rally came as President Barack Obama once again used his web address to push reform. "I'm really opposed to having the government control our health care and rationing health care to people who really need it," Woburn's John Radzikinas said. The group of conservative activists which took to Boston Common on Saturday said health care reform has not worked in Massachusetts, and would be a disaster for the rest of the country.
"We would argue that a lot of the problems that we're facing are the result of government intervention," Jared Rhoads said. "As I speak to you today, we are closer to reforming health care system than we have ever been in history," President Obama said in his address. A key Senate Committee endorsed an $829 billion reform plan on Tuesday. Sen. Olympia Snow (R-Maine) was the only Republican to vote for the Democratic proposal. "Just this week, the Senate Finance committee approved a reform proposal that has both Democratic and Republican support," Mr. Obama said. "It's not bipartisan. They have one republican that's been leaning left forever, voted for it. And it's not even really a bill. It's a concept document that they couldn't even get specifics on it," Bedford's Patrick Humphries said. These so-called tea party patriots were not only upset about health care, but worried about out-of-control government spending. Part of their frustration was directed at the news media, saying its members have become lapdogs instead of watchdogs. "We feel like the media has been in the tank for Obama since the beginning, so anything Obama they're putting a positive spin on it," Victoria Miles said. (Source: NECN.) Patrick Humphreys of Bedford was among those at the rally. He says the health insurance requirement here in Massachusetts has resulted in higher costs, and that will spread if health care reforms are implemented across the country. Humphreys believes there are better ways to keep health care costs down. He says the ability to buy insurance across state lines will help. A number of speakers took to the bandstand to criticize the plan. Among them, Christine Morabito, a psychiatric nurse from Haverhill. Morabito feels healthcare reform will be too expensive. She says the country needs to return to personal responsibility and self-reliance. (Source: WBZ.)
NATIONWIDE Operation: Can You Hear Us Now! (Protest Against the Liberal Media) (Nationwide): -- Saturday, October 17, 2009 (Changed from November 1, 2009 (Stamp Act anniversary day)) == Operation Can You Hear Us Now == The explosive power of 2,200,000 American patriots converging on Washington can’t be wasted. So “What’s next, where and when?” Targeting the media. We know the Left owns the media. They lied by about our numbers to tamp down the fires of liberty and help their masters. They never mentioned the hundreds of local TEA parties in 45 states from Maine to Hawaii. Media lies about our TEA parties and their size are a danger to American freedom and liberty. We have to confront the media and keep up the pressure. ... We can’t let this flame go out. We have the wind at our backs and have the Left on the run. We have them down and can’t allow them to get back up. (Source: Collins Report.) -- American citizens outraged by President Obama and the actions of Congress have set their sights on a new target – the so-called mainstream media – with tea-party protests now set to boil in front of more than 30 press offices across the U.S. Following a WND report on the growing popularity of "Operation: Can You Hear Us Now?" taxpayers are making plans to bring their protests to the front doors of major media outlets. Nearly 2,000 fans have flocked to a new Facebook page for the event. ... As WND reported, the "Operation: Can You Hear Us Now?" webmaster, who has chosen to remain nameless, launched his website on Sept. 15. After only one week, he is experiencing an outpouring of support from citizens interested in hosting and attending rallies. "People are really psyched up," he told WND today. "There are thousands of new visitors coming to the site daily." The operation website states, "Imagine: There was a million-plus person march on Washington, and no one reported it. It did not happen." The webmaster said citizens should connect through tea party groups, Facebook, Twitter, blogs and message boards to spread the word. He also said organizers must pick the best times and local media locations for the Oct. 17 events. "Some people messaged me and asked why not a more symbolic day," he said. "I say, why shouldn't we be the ones to make it a symbolic day, a day in history the press will never forget?" The operation is planning a coordinated e-mail, phone and fax campaign against four major media outlets with the simple message: "Can you hear us now?" (Source: WND.)
The "Operation: Can You Hear Us Now?" website was launched only a few weeks ago and has become a major success – with more than 1.1 million hits in 16 days, it has become one of the top 90,000 sites in the U.S. "People from all over are helping out," the webmaster said. "It's great." He urged interested parties to connect through the group's Facebook and Twitter pages and call talk-radio hosts to get them to spread the word before next week's rallies. He also called for mass participation in the upcoming phone/fax/e-mail blasts. Attendees are encouraged to bring signs, banners, flags and loud voices to the events. "The mainstream media talking heads spoon-fed by teleprompters are puppets and parrots of the network producers who have a clear political agenda to remake this country into something it was never intended to be," the webmaster said. "This is my small contribution to democracy." (Source: WND.)
Tea Partiers Take Aim at Major Media Outlets (17 Oct 2009) The "tea party" movement is back. Groups of conservative protesters opposed to massive government spending are taking to the streets again, this time targeting the media. The "Can You Hear Us Now" rallies are planned for Saturday in front of NBC studios in Burbank, CNN in Atlanta and affiliate stations of NBC, ABC and CBS across the nation. "American citizens outraged by President Obama and the actions of Congress have set their sights on a new target -- the so-called mainstream media -- with tea-party protests now set to boil in front of more than 30 press offices across the U.S.," the lead organizing group, FaxDC, wrote in a press release. Organizers are encouraging protesters to also rally outside of The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and other prominent newspapers. The rallies are just the latest in a series of public displays of voter outrage, dating back at least to April, when simultaneous "tea parties" were held around the country, largely in protest of President Obama's $787 billion stimulus bill. Anti-spending sentiment was heard in the uproar at town hall meetings held by lawmakers in August and in a march on Washington last month when the key issue was health care reform. Since then, the demonstrations have grown to include a broad range of grievances, while drawing accusations that they are grounded partly in racism and raising fears that they could incite violence -- criticisms that protest leaders deny. It is not clear who is leading Saturday's protests. A so-called "webmaster" who didn't identify himself, launched his Web site on Sept. 15. He urged protesters to spread word of the demonstrations through tea party groups, Facebook, Twitter, blogs and message boards. "Some people messaged me and asked why not a more symbolic day," he said in a press release. "I say, why shouldn't we be the ones to make it a symbolic day, a day in history the press will never forget?" The anonymous leader said he's not an activist, just one guy. "I have no sponsors, no bankroll, no agenda -- except to help put a nail in the mainstream-media coffin," he said. (Source: Fox News.)
Americans Say Media In Tank For Obama
Much of the Mainstream Media has a low opinion of the American people -- just like Obama. They believe them to be mindless cattle who are easy to influence. To the MSM, it was propaganda that got us into the war on terror, and it is their job to use propaganda to get us out. The problem with that theory, is that the American people are not dumb. They mistrust government and ask lots of questions which is why people tend to gravitate toward the conservative point of view. And one thing's for sure they see through the Mainstream Media's act.
The latest update of the Sacred Heart University media poll asked people about their attitudes regarding the Mainstream Media. Most Americans felt that the media is not neutral, it tries to influence public opinion and policy. They feel that most media has a STRONG liberal bent, Fox news is the most accurate of news services, they don't want one red cent spent on bailing out the Newspaper Industry, and the media is in the tank for Obama.
White House Attacks Fox News as ‘Research Arm of the Republican Party’ (11 Oct 2009) SO DOES THIS MEAN: ABC, CBS, NBC ARE DEMOCRATIC PARTY??? Video is a mess as CNN nails Ann Dunn repeatedly -- and she double-talks and tap dances. She pokes Fox in the eye, but by doing so she pokes all the other news outlets in the eye as well. White House feeling the heat of the media bias charges. (Source: Breitbart.)
Why Declaring War on Fox News Could Be a Mistake for Obama
Over the weekend, White House communications director Anita Dunn announced the official beginning of the Obama administration's war with Fox News. Of course, the battle has been openly brewing for months now. Even during the campaign, Obama's team gave up on sending surrogates to the network. "It was beyond diminishing returns," Dunn told the New York Times. "It was no returns." But now the war is out in the open. "We're going to treat them the way we would treat an opponent," she told the paper. "As they are undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House, we don't need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave." Yesterday on CNN, she clarified: "Fox News often operates almost as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party."
The White House's logic seems to be that there's no point in trying to be fairly portrayed on Fox News. Even if they send administration officials to try and reason with its hosts and viewers, the way the information gets presented eliminates any net benefit. (Especially when hosts like Glenn Beck make up facts and present them as sincere truth — the Times cited a moment when even fellow Fox reporters were angered that Beck claimed Fox White House correspondent Major Garrett was "never called on" in the briefing room, when he had in fact been called on that very day.) It's also helpful to have a foil to fight against. In the continuing effort to portray tea partiers and birthers and the like as a sort of faux-patriotic lunatic fringe, the act of isolating Fox is an easy way to draw some lines in the sand. (We think online slideshows are just as effective, frankly.) (SITE NOTE: When the White House takes on Fox, Obama has just elevated a low-level news network to the same level as the high-level White House. Though Obama has been getting testier and testier about critics (especially Fox), he makes himself look petty...but he also gives Fox credibility as someone who may have something to say. Next Fox's ratings sure haven't suffered -- and Obama was stupid as Fox News has outstripped all the other news channels so he in effect is telling all these viewers that they somehow are REPUBLICANS -- and they are NOT, though they may be conservative in views.)
But there are plenty of negatives to this take-no-prisoners approach. To begin with, each regular Fox News viewer does not only represent one vote lost to President Obama. There is literally no limit, other than cholesterol-induced high blood pressure, to how angry this constituency can get. And an angrier group — which, we have seen, is easily organized and mobilized by the network — is one that is more likely to try to win over other voters, more likely to donate and raise money, and more likely to engage in the kind of meaningless, but attention-getting, tactics that make their views seem more widely held and genuinely American than they actually are. Yes, this kind of thing alienates some moderates, but in this era of endless, confusing news input, coverage is everything. (Remember the health-care town-hall protests? Suddenly the opinions of this guy were reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers, and not just through Fox.)
So if Team Obama ignores Fox, it just gives the network's talent the chance to further caricature him as a socialist, foreign, effete, America-hating Other. It isn't a racist portrayal, necessarily, but is certainly one that gives actual racists a lot of comfort. Not countering that will help Fox viewers conveniently forget that Obama is intelligent and well spoken. George Bush, who certainly wasn't the latter, came across as human and likable in interviews. It was one of his greatest strengths (and for critics, one of his most confounding attributes).
Recognizing Fox as an enemy worth fighting is an admission of weakness for a president whose appeal has been partly predicated on the promise of unity. Glenn Beck, with his 3 million viewers, has been called a "cultural phenomenon." You know what? So is Glee, a show with well more than twice that many viewers. Hysterical conservative hyperbole isn't America. A showtune-singing multiracial gang of hopeful high-school losers, including a gay kid and a pregnant teen — that's America. Beyond the fact that Fox will use this White House move to boost their ratings (Obama winning the election has always been their golden ticket — they're on track now for their best year ever), it makes it seem as though they're actually wounding the president. When you're winning, acknowledging the enemy isn't necessary. (Remember when Obama wouldn't do those ten town halls with McCain?)
And this will allow mike-toting bullies like Glenn Beck to claim that they've cowed the president. No doubt we will hear in the coming weeks that Obama is "afraid" of Fox News. When he spoke to every network except for Fox last month, host Chris Wallace called his administration "the biggest bunch of crybabies I have dealt with in my 30 years in Washington." Glenn Beck would never have the balls to say to Obama's face what he's said on air over the past few months. And now he'll never have to. Bill O'Reilly, at least, during the election, went toe-to-toe with Obama. But he was positively docile, for him, when he did it — distinctly more polite and deferential than he is to almost any other liberal-leaning guest. O'Reilly, whatever you think of him and his opinions, is undoubtedly an intelligent, well-researched guy who is quick on his feet and firm in his convictions, which are largely unhysterical. Glenn Beck doesn't have the wit, the knowledge, or the spine of Bill O'Reilly — but now we'll never get the chance to see that proven.
Barack Obama himself doesn't need to answer all of the insane rhetorical questions asked of him by Glenn Beck and his compatriots. That would obviously be a mistake. But legitimizing Fox News in this manner seems nearly as bad. Either way, he's playing their game. (Source: NY Magazine.)
• 86.6% strongly and somewhat agreed that the news media have their own political and public policy positions and attempt to influence public opinion.
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85.3% strongly and somewhat agreed that the news media have their own political positions and attempt to influence public policies.
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83.6% agreed that national news media organizations as very or somewhat biased.
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89.3%, agreed the national media played a very or somewhat strong role in helping to elect Obama.
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69.9% agreed the national news media are intent on promoting the Obama residency.
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56.4%, agreed that the news media are promoting Obama’s healthcare reform without objective criticism.
Birmingham– Caravan/charter to CNN Center in Atlanta
Andalusia – Downtown city square, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Arkansas
Little Rock – Friday, Oct. 16, KARK-TV 4, 1401 W. Capital Ave. #104, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Arizona
Phoenix – Arizona Republic newspaper, 200 E. Van Buren, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- More than 40 people on Saturday carried signs in front of The Arizona Republic's offices in downtown Phoenix to protest what they say is media bias and issues such as stimulus spending and health-care reforms. It was one of the media protests across the country as part of "Operation: Can You Hear Us Now?"
Phoenix – KPNX-TV 12 (NBC), 1101 N. Central Ave., from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. -- Protests at offices of the Mesa Republic office and Channel 12 (KPNX) in downtown Phoenix were also planned. Tom Jenney, a participant and Arizona director of Americans for Prosperity, said people are upset with the media because they aren't listening to their political concerns. "We want the media to know that we are real people with concerns over what's going on in Congress," he said. (VIDEO Link: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid30311461001?bctid=45200339001) (Source: AZ Central.)
Mesa – Arizona Republic newspaper, 106 E. Baseline Rd., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
California
Burbank – NBC Studios, 3,000 W. Alameda Ave. from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. -- I was at the BURBANK, CA rally and at my last personal count, there were 154 people!!! -- We were in front of NBC Studios, no-one from NBC came out to interview or film us. Even their news van circled the block but snubbed us. I did get my and my sign's picture taken by the LA Times, however. The man took my name and city so I may be in the paper. Never read that liberal rag though. I may be on YouTube as well. If I am, I'll post it! Had a great day and met lots of really nice, likeminded people. (Cindy Odenbach)
Fresno – KMPH-TV Fox 26 and KSEE-TV 24 News, 5111 E. McKinley Ave (KMPH) and 5035 E. McKinley Ave. (KSEE), from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
La Jolla – at GE headquarters, corner of Genesee and Executive Square, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Los Angeles – Group going to NBC Studios in Burbank
Sacramento – KCRA-TV (NBC), 3 Television Circle (aka 310 10th Street), 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
San Diego – NBC studios, 225 Broadway, 3 p.m.
San Francisco – ABC 7 News, 900 Front Street (between Green and Vallejo), 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Colorado
Denver -- Denver – start at NBC affiliate at 500 Speer Blvd. at 3 p.m. and march to ABC affiliate (also on Speer Blvd.) -- 200 patriots in Denver, Colorado in front of NBC followed by a march down to ABC! Woo hoo! (Lesley Hollywood) -- A perfect example of editorial misconduct unfolded right before my lens at the Can You Hear Us Now protest in Denver Saturday afternoon. After I took this photo the protesters moved from NBC, down the street to ABC news headquarters. What happened next gives a sad look at the arrogance of big liberal editors and staff. Here are the Tea Partyers as they arrived at the entrance to the ABC 7 News building. After about 45 minutes these three emerged from the building. By their demeanor and their lack of press credentials, I would guess that they are interns at ABC News. They appeared unfamiliar with the tripod they were carrying. The young reporterette activated a recording device, which she kept hidden in a bag that she clutched to her chest as she casually spoke to people. Our news crew chose…these 9/11 truthers. Note shadows of news crew with camera tripod as these infiltraters parade for the ABC cameraman. The camera is surrounded by people with signs at the curb but pointed towards the only people not carrying signs! These guys, with the ABC Building behind them, carried no signs and film their own activities just like their cult leader Alex Jones. One of them had a bullhorn and a press credential issued by their own truther splinter group. They had nothing to do with any of the Tea Party organizing groups. WHAT A SCOOP! Above is the one person who was interviewed on camera. He’s wearing a Resist the new world order, vintage anti-Bush daddy T-shirt, and he has his press credential issued by an organization whose acronym rhymes with whack. This has to be the first time in history a “reporter” has carried a bullhorn to an event which he is “reporting” on. When this guy first arrived on the scene, he chanted “Ron Paul is Right!” and I laughed when some folks lined up on the curb with their signs chanted back “Ron Paul is Wrong.” Immediately after filming the truthers, the cameraman exited stage right. These ladies approached the reporterette and asked her politely if they weren’t going to interview anyone else. The newsgirl answered to the effect of “Well, the cameraman is gone, so I don’t know.” The ladies were stunned. It was pointed out to the newsgirl that the truthers were not part of the demonstration and were not part of the Tea Party movement, but were actually people who believe that George Bush Jr. was responsible for knocking down the Twin Towers. During this conversation I noticed that the newsgirl was holding her bag in her hands at chest level directed towards these two women. Was she recording without informing them? It certainly looked like that to me. She said very little and appeared disinterested even bored by their questions. (Source; Looking at the Left: El Marco. Go to this link for great photos.)
ABC News7
CBS News
NBC Hq
NBC News
Greeley -- We had 40 people come out on a great day to protest the media. It was a warm day unlike the last two weekends we have had. The local 9.12 Project has been the bain of the local news paper the last week so we decide to join in the nation wide operation "Can you hear us now" The 9.12 Project here had paid to put a flier out on the local election on a mill levey increase the schools want to do. The flier upset the politico here and ade the Tribune do a Front page story on the flier and how it was a hit job on one of the mayor canidates. The only thing the flier pointed out that he was on the blue ribbon commisson that recomended the mill levey increase. After today I would bet the paper really does not like us. (Source: Free Republic.)
Connecticutt
New Haven – WTNH New Haven (ABC affiliate), 8 Elm St., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Delaware
Wilmington – WPVI, 500 W. 2nd Street, sidewalk, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Florida
Doral – CBS 4, 8900 NW 18th Terrace, time TBA
Gainesville – Gainesville Sun newspaper (owned by NYT), 12 p.m.
Miami-Fort Lauderdale -- Miami–Ft. Lauderdale – ABC Miami from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 3401 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd.; CBS Miami from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 8900 N.W. 18th Terrace; NBC Miramar from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 15000 S.W. 27th St. -- We protested media bias at ABC, CBS and NBC/Telemundo more photos: http://factreal.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/miamibroward-media-protest-can-you-hear-us-now-101709-photos/
Miami – ABC
Miami -- NBC -- I was at NBC6Miami today, and in all fairness they were kind to us. As I understand it, NBC Corp sold this local station. NOW here's the kicker. They actually posted a story somewhat critical of this administration over-reaching ways!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcmiami.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2FThe-Ultimate-Federal-Grab.html&h=e79d01a88c7386c2284f8aad1a527122 (Donna Dunn)
Mirimar – NBC from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Orlando – WFTV (ABC affiliate) at 490 E. South St. at 2 p.m.; WKMG (CBS affiliate) at 4466 N. John Young Pkwy. at 3 p.m.; and WESH (NBC affiliate) at 1021 N. Wymore Road, Winter Park, at 4 p.m.
Palm Beach – 3 locations: Palm Beach Post, ABC, NBC. E-mail for times.
St Petersburg -- St Petersburg Times -- More than 100 protesters marched outside the entrance to the main office of the St. Petersburg Times Saturday morning, accusing the newspaper and the media in general of biased reporting on conservative positions on issues such as health care reform and government spending. Protesters carried signs that read "State Run Media," or "Take the Left From Your Slant" and "Journalism Malpractice — Just Report the Facts." Protesters generally complained about media bias on national issues, accusing the "liberal media" of supporting the Obama administration on a variety of issues and then inaccurately portraying the political right as an unreasonable fringe. "The press needs to be unbiased," said Joe Sekola, 48, of New Port Richey, an organizer of a group called the North Pinellas 9.12 Project. "You guys are the watchdogs." Some protesters said the Times and other media supported big government, wasteful government spending and opposed tort reform. "I think it's time for the country to go back to what the Founding Fathers wanted it to be — a republic and free," said George Hughes, 61, a longtime St. Petersburg resident now living in Arcadia. Times executive editor Neil Brown said the newspaper hears similar complaints from the political right and left from time to time. "They tend to be expressions of disappointment that our coverage hasn't lined up exactly with their own point of view," Brown said. "We recognize that often the most unpopular place to be is somewhere in the middle and we're comfortable with that. "Most issues we cover are less black and white than some people believe. Our job is to explain that — even though some find that frustrating. Across the paper, in the news pages and the editorial pages, you'll find many diverse viewpoints represented. On balance, I think we're, well, pretty balanced." (Source: Tampa Bay.)
Tampa Bay – St. Petersburg Times, 490 1st Ave S., gathering at 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
West Palm Beach – time and location TBA
Georgia
Atlanta – CNN Center, One CNN Center -- One CNN Center, corner of Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive, gather at 10:30 a.m. in front of CNN Center, rally from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. --The largest of the gathering reported thus far, however, seems to be in Georgia, where protesters contend an alleged 500-1,000 gathered before CNN's headquarters in Atlanta. (Source: WND.) -- We had 1000 people there. I love the way the organizers got everyone to sign up and wear a tag to prove how many showed up. They are also sending each of those tags (with names and addresses on them) to CNN so they can see how many showed up. We got a 3 for 1 that day. We marched past CNN shouting "CNN: Tell the Truth", we marched past the Federal Reserve shouting, "Stop Printing Money", and Past the AJC shouting, "Dinosaur Death Watch." Unfortunately I missed the Patriot Guard on their Harley's. It was a good day though. (Source: Free Republic.)
Conyers – Caravaning to CNN in Atlanta. Leaving at 9:45 a.m. after meeting and decorating vehicles.
Iowa
Council Bluffs – location TBA, also organizing phone blitz
Idaho
Idaho Boise – Channel 7, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Illinois
Chicago -- ABC News– Friday, Oct. 16, ABC News Studios, 180 North State Street and then march to CBS News Studios at 22 West Washington Streets, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Chicago – Saturday, Oct. 17 "March on the Media Tea Party" at Millenium Park, Michigan Avenue and Washington Street, in the park, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Indiana Indianapolis – WRTV 6 (ABC), 1330 N. Meridian St., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Indianapolis – WISH-TV 8 (CBS), 1950 N. Meridian St., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Indianapolis – WTHR-TV 13 (NBC), 1000 N. Meridian St., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
LaPorte – LaPorte County Courthouse, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Louisiana
Shrieveport – Sign Waving Rally Friday Oct 16th 5:30-6:30 pm at our normal location of 70th & Youree Dr in Shreveport! Bring your family and friends - signs will be provided so come on out and join us as we continue to have our voices heard!! We cannot stop now...the fight has just begun to take back our Country! Pictures Link – http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=332191&id=569560102&ref=nf
Kansas
Topeka – KSNT 27 and Fox 43, 6835 NW Hwy 24, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wichita – KSN-TV 3, 833 Main St., from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Maryland
Baltimore – Baltimore Sun, time TBA, planning stages
Hagerstown -- Holding signs such as "STOP spending," "No government health care" and "I want my country back," a group of about 50 protesters from throughout the Tri-State area gathered Saturday afternoon in Hagerstown's Public Square, despite cold and rainy weather, to protest what they see as excessive government spending, taxation and control over people's lives. The demonstration was one of about 100 such events organized in cities throughout the country Saturday as part of Operation: Can You Hear Us Now?, a campaign to protest the mainstream media's lack of coverage of conservative activist events and viewpoints, according to the movement's Web site, operationcanyouhearusnow.com.
Participants in the Hagerstown rally came from a variety of organizations from Hagerstown, Frederick, Md., and Jefferson and Berkeley counties in West Virginia, and they included Republicans, Democrats and independents, said Terri Clark of Inwood, W.Va. "This is not about partisanship," Clark said. "This is about fixing the economy, this is about keeping within the confines of the constitution, this is about small government, low taxes, about creating jobs for American people." Clark also stressed that while some protesters at the rally oppose President Obama, the protest was not about Obama personally and had nothing to do with his race. She said her three biggest concerns were the federal budget deficit, proposed health care reform and measures in a cap-and-trade climate change bill that Clark said would introduce excessive government control over consumer decisions. Another protester, Patricia Rucker of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., held a sign declaring she was a legal, first-generation Hispanic immigrant opposed to big government. Rucker said her family came to the U.S. from Venezuela on her father's work visa, decided to become U.S. citizens, and waited to go through the proper channels and pay the required fees before finally becoming legal U.S. citizens almost four years ago. "I'm proud because I did it legally," Rucker said, explaining she believes something as valuable as U.S. citizenship should not be given away. Rucker said she was furious about the financial system bailout passed last year and felt betrayed by presidential candidate John McCain's support for it. She said she was at Saturday's protest to encourage Americans to pay more attention to what was going on in their government and to take a more active role to protect the next generation from the consequences of irresponsible spending. "The whole point is, if you know what you have, then you will fight for it and you will value it," Rucker said. (Source: Herald-Mail.)
Massachusetts
Boston -- Boston – Boston Globe, 135 Morrissey Blvd., from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. -- In Boston, chants of "Hear us now!" and "Tell the truth!" were raised outside the offices of the Boston Globe. "We want to be heard, the media is the fringe. The media doesn't hear anything we say," event organizer Edie Lekites told the crowd. "The largest march in Washington in a long time was the Tea Party March on Washington on September 12 and the media tried to ignore it," Lekites told WND. "There was about 1.6 million people and the networks said there were only 40,000. They never heard us. "We had more people at that march than went to Obama's inauguration. There was trash everywhere after the inauguration. There wasn't even a gumwrapper after the march. We're peaceful, we just want to be heard," she said. (Source: WND.) (See ABOVE for Tea Party Rally on 17 Oct 2009 at Boston Commons.)
Michigan
Saginaw – WNEM-TV 5 (CBSaffiliate), 107 N. Franklin St., 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Troy – NBC, 3250 West Big Beaver (between Coolidge and Golfview Drive), 2 p.m.
Minnesota
Minneapolis – KARE 11 (NBC), 8811 Highway 55. from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Missouri
Buffalo – Manhattan Mudd Cup Coffeehouse, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Kansas City – KSHB-TV 41 (NBC), 4720 Oak St., from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Kansas City – KMBC-TV (ABC), from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Saint Joseph – Belt Highway and Frederick Blvd. intersection, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Saint Louis – KSDK-TV 5, Memorial Drive, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Manchester – WMUR studios, corner of Commercial Street and Granite Street, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. -- The event in Manchester, N.H., was one of about 100 planned protests in cities across the country, and attracted anywhere from 50 to 75 people outside WMUR-9 TV studios downtown. The general idea on attendants' minds was that the media should do more investigative work on the things government is planning and doing, and they should communicate their findings to us objectively. Commentary and straight reporting should be clearly labeled. Soundbites and other comments from politicians should be used sparingly. WMUR sent a camera man outside without a reporter, and he captured less than five minutes of footage. (Source: Manuse blog.)
New York City -- – 11 a.m. media protest parade to march to following locations: NBC and MSNBC at 30 Rockefeller Plaza; ABC at 7 W. 66th St.; CBS at 524 W. 57th St.; and New York Times at 620 Eighth Ave. -- Organizers in New York City report only 99 gathered in the morning hours, and a WND reporter in Manhattan discovered the day-long march didn't go off as planned. WND's reporter in New York City, the nation's largest media market, found NO demonstrations at the headquarters of NBC/MSNBC at Rockefeller Center, Fox News headquarters nearby on Sixth Avenue and ABC's Good Morning America's Times Square Studio, as had been announced. (Source: WND.)
Rochester – WHEC-TV 10, 191 East Ave., Rochester, 11 a.m. to ?
Syracuse – Caravan from Syracuse to Rochester
North Carolina
Asheville – WLOS-TV (ABC), Long Shoals Rd. and Schenck Pkwy., 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.-- Despite a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit (without the wind chill factor!) between 60 and 70 protesters attended the “Operation: Can You Hear Us Now?” street side protest of the mainstream media today in Asheville. The crowd was well received by passersby on Long Shoals Rd., garnering many waves, cheers, and honks of support. The Asheville police came out to observe. One patrolman who stopped to talk made the observation that it is not “our crowd” that tends to break laws and cause problems for the police when protesting. We know that, and are grateful that local law enforcement is aware of that as well! Thank you APD.
Charlotte -- WCNC, 1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr., 3 p.m. to 5 p.m..-- In Charlotte, NC, we protested in a grassy area between ABC and a main highway. LOTS of Americans honked their horns at us and waved! Could have used some hot cocoa. (Susan Maerker Nosko)
Raleigh – WRAL-TV (CBS), from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m-- Dozens of protesters lined the street outside WRAL's studios on Western Boulevard in Raleigh Saturday. The event was organized online by the group NC Freedom. The protesters want the media to do more to hold the government and corporations accountable. They also say a few owners own several media outlets. In a statement, Steve Hammel, general manager of WRAL News, said: "WRAL-TV is committed to the highest journalistic standards and is dedicated to reporting with integrity. We are both locally and family owned, with a commitment to our community." (Source: WRAL.)
Wilmington – Star News, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. -- About 60 people gathered Saturday afternoon in front of the StarNews for a rally asking for fair reporting on political issues.
The rally, organized by the Cape Fear Tea Party Patriots and the Wilmington Liberty Group, was held on sidewalks on both sides of South 17th Street.
Cary Naramore, co-founder of the Cape Fear Tea Party Patriots, said the rally was part of a national day of protest organized by "Operation Can You Hear Us Now." According to the group's Web site, it is a nonpartisan, grassroots effort to show the media "that we as the American public are absolutely fed up with their journalistic malpractice." Naramore said many people were upset about national media coverage of the "March on Washington," a protest of federal government spending held Sept. 12. Naramore said many media outlets reported incorrect estimates of the number of people who attended the national protest. "We just have a message about small government and fiscal responsibility," Naramore said. She said the local rally was held in front of the StarNews because it is owned by The New York Times Co. and because the location was more central than other local media outlets. The messages on protesters' signs varied. Some had messages relating to the media, such as "Print Truth, Not Propaganda," but others expressed views about various political issues. Jacob Parson, 20, and Jimmy Eastman, 19, both college students, said they came to the rally to protest health care reform. One held a sign that said "My Car Will Have Better Insurance." Deb Smith, of Scotts Hill, held a sign that read, "If you want to sell papers, begin with truthful journalism." She said she wanted the media to tell the truth about political issues. "We just want you to be fair and balanced in your reporting, not just print one side of the story," she said. (Source: Star News.)
Winston-Salem – NBC News, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Ohio
Brooklyn – The Plain Dealer Tiedeman Production Center, 4800 Tiedeman Rd., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cincinnati – Cincinatti Enquirer, 312 Elm Street, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cleveland – Friday, Oct. 16, The Plain Dealer, 1801 Superior Ave., from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Columbus – ABC Studio, 1261 Dublin Rd., 9a.m. to 12 p.m. -- Went to the one here in Columbus Oh., was a small turnout.... football before everything else may be the case plus cold.... but there was atleast infont of NBC on Broad & High streets 55 brave & strong supporters!! Didn`t catch the local snoo...ze, didn`t really think they`d give any airtime..... but the cops were watchin us! lol Good bunch of people there i might add. (Derrick Strain)
Dayton – in planning, will visit Dayton Daily News and local broadcast network
Warren – Courthouse Square, downtown, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Zanesville – Times Recorder newspaper, meet at Times Recorder, 34 S. Fourth St. at 12 p.m. and go to WHIZ, 629 Downard Rd. at 2 p.m.
Oklahoma
Tulsa – KJRH-TV 2 (NBC), 3707 Peoria Ave., 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. -- Tulsa Oklahoma had 50 people (Christina Parker Smith)
Ohio
Zanesville – Times Recorder newspaper, meet at Times Recorder, 34 South 4th Street at 12 p.m. and go to WHIZ, 629 Downard Rd. at 2 p.m.
Oklahoma
Tulsa – ABC, CBS, NBC, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Oregon
Coos Bay – The World newspaper, 350 Commercial Ave., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Eugene & Springfield – KMTR-TV 16 (NBC), 3825 International Court, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. -- Eugene/Springfield protest=65 Patriots (Chris Tait)
Medford – Meet at Hawthorne Park, march to KOBI-TV 5 (CBS), Hawthorne and Jackson Streets, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Portland
Portland – Friday, Oct. 16, Begin at Oregonian and march to KGW-TV 8 in Pioneer Square, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (SITE NOTE: The local station KGW-TV 8 HAS covered the protests.) TV Coverage - http://www.kgw.com/video/index.html?nvid=407776&shu=1. Pictures Link - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=154610&id=152394113948
Roseburg – meeting in parking lot of Roseburg Branch Library at 11 a.m., 1409 NE Diamond Lake Blvd, then short march to News Review offices, 345 NE Winchester for up to hour, then walk or drive to KPIC offices at 655 W. Umpqua -- Protesters decried what they described as biased reporting by the media by picketing Friday outside The News-Review newspaper and KPIC TV in Roseburg, Ore., and the Coos Bay World newspaper and KCBY TV in Coos Bay, Ore. KPIC TV and KCBY TV are both owned by Fisher Communications, which also owns KVAL TV and KVAL.com. The protests were said to be part of a larger movement attempting to protest outside media outlets across the country Saturday behind the slogan "Can you hear us now?" In Coos Bay, protesters peacefully chanted "Can you hear us now?" while holding signs saying "fair media coverage" and "report the truth." They started at the newspaper office, then rallied in front of KCBY. "We're targeting KCBY but not because of what they do," said protestor Adella Robison. "It's the national media problem, and you do belong to a network, and that's what we want, the regular networks are refraining from publishing things or putting out information about the corruption in the government."
KVAL, KCBY and KPIC are affiliates of CBS. "Let people know in America that we can't have this debt, we can't go bankrupt, our currency is losing it's value, there's nothing left for us," Robison said. In Roseburg, more than a dozen protesters targeted the two major media outlets in Roseburg. They marched in front of both businesses with signs demanding integrity in journalism. "Well a lot of us are kind of fed up with the biased reporting," Paula McMillan said, "or actually not reporting the facts on TV and in the newspaper about what's going on in the country," "The News-Review is a biased, liberal biased newsapaper and doesn't report all the facts," Tom Courville said. "What it does report is probably factual, but it just doesn't report the whole story, so it leaves a different attitude when you read it." News-Review publisher Mark Raymond said he feels the paper does a good job of balancing their coverage. "It's not an agenda-driven newspaper," he said. "What we try to do is report the news people are going to be most interested in reading about." The protestors moved to the KPIC studios later in the day. They said they don't feel CBS News gives them accurate news. "The news media has left us, especially the print, but also the TV stations," Marlene Pickens said, "and I know we watch FOX News now becasue we want to get some of the facts." The protesters had a lot to say about what they said was a media bias towards the Obama campaign in the 2008 presidential election. (Source: KCBY News.)
Winston-Salem – NBC News, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Pennsylvania
Allentown – The Morning Call, 101 N. 6th St., from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Philadelphia – ABC and NBC affiliates, 4100 City Line Ave., from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Pittsburgh – WPXI-TV at 4145 Evergreen Road from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; WTAE at 400 Ardmore Blvd., from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; KDKA at One Gateway Center from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Scranton – WNEP-TV 16, 16 Mountain Rd. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rhode Island
Providence – Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., time TBA
South Carolina
Greenville – Channel 4 NBC, 505 Rutherford Street, time TBA
Nashville – WTVF-TV 5 (CBS affiliate), 474 James Robertson Pkwy (downtown), 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Nashville – The Tennessean, 1100 Broadway (downtown), 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Texas
Austin – KXAN-TV (NBC), from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Dallas – time and location TBA
San Antonio
Houston – Channels 2 (NBC) at 8181 Southwest Freeway; 11 (CBS) at 1945 Allen Parkway;13 (ABC), 3310 Bissonet; Houston Chronicle, 801 Texas Avenue, all from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Virginia
Fredericksburg – Offices of the Free Lance Star, 601 Amelia Street, 12 p.m.
Richmond – WTVR 6, 3301 W. Broad St., 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Virginia reporting. Between 3 stations, one in Midlothian and two in Richmond, we had about 120 people. (Ralph Carter)
Tacoma – Tacoma Tribune, 1950 S. State St., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Wisconsin
Green Bay – WGBA-TV 26 (NBC), 1391 North Rd., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Milwaukee – TMJ-TV 4 (NBC affiliate), 720 East Capitol Drive, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
District of Columbia
Washington, D.C. – Washington Post, 1150 15th Street, NW, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The operation was also encouraging citizens to call, fax and e-mail national media outlets at the following specified times with a simple message: "Can you hear us now?"
ABC World News – Phone/e-mail/fax blast scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Oct. 13 – p: (212) 456-7777, fax: (212) 456-4968, ABC general e-mail, "Nightline" e-mail, "20/20" e-mail
CBS Evening News – Phone/e-mail/fax blast scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Oct. 14 – p: (212) 975-4321, fax: (212)975-1893 and (212) 975-1519, CBS Evening News e-mail, "The Early Show" e-mail, "60 Minutes" e-mail, "48 Hours" e-mail, "Face the Nation" e-mail
MSNBC/NBC News – Phone/e-mail/fax blast scheduled from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST on Thursday, Oct. 15 – p: (212) 664-4444, fax: (212)956-2140, "Dateline" NBC e-mail, "Hardball" with Chris Matthews, "MSNBC Reports" with Joe Scarborough, "NBC Nightly News" with Brian Williams, NBC's "Today" show
CNN – Phone/e-mail/fax blast scheduled from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST on Friday, Oct. 16 – p: (404) 827-1500, fax: (404) 827-1784 and (404) 827-1575, e-mail forms for CNN programs
The operation website asked citizens to rally outside "left-wing media outlets" on Oct. 17 and lists the following locations as suggestions. Though small protests took place around the country, the net effect was unfortunately a failure as the major network players in New York were NOT picketed at their headquarters.
CNN – One CNN Center, Atlanta, Ga. PROTEST
NBC's "Nightly News with Brian Williams" – 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. FAIL
ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson" – 7 West 66th St., New York, N.Y. FAIL
ABC News' "Nightline" – 7 West 66th St., New York, N.Y. FAIL
ABC News' "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos – 7 West 66th St., New York, N.Y. FAIL
CBS' News' "Evening News" with Katie Couric – 524 West 57th St., New York, N.Y. FAIL
CBS' "The Early Show" – 524 West 57th St., New York, N.Y. FAIL
ABC News' "Good Morning America" – 7 West 66th St., New York, N.Y. FAIL
MSNBC's "Today" Show – 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. FAIL
"Dateline NBC" – 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. FAIL
MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" – 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. FAIL
MSNBC's "Meet The Press" – 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. FAIL
New York Times – 620 Eighth Ave., New York, N.Y. FAIL
Los Angeles Times – 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, Calif. PROTEST
Atlanta Journal Constitution – 72 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, Ga. PROTEST
Seattle Times – 1120 John St, Seattle, Wash. PROTEST
ELLIJAY Apple Festival Parade-Ellijay,Ga (GA): -- Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:00-12:00 Ellijay, Georgia E-mail for directions Ellijay,Ga N J Davis (organizer) e-mail me (organizer phone) http://northgapatriots.ning.com/ Come join us for this large parade. Bring your convertibles. antique cars, open top jeeps golf carts, floats,nice pick up trucks with hay bales in the back for people to ride. Need people who would like to walk and carry the banners and signs. E-mail me for start location and directions. from 10am to 12pm – Ellijay,Ga Parade opening the Apple Festival in Ellijay Georgia. Everyone come join us with Gilmer County. Bring you convertibles,trucks,golf carts.Etc.The parade is on the second Saturday, October 17th and b... Organized by The Ellijay Lions Club, the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay, and Gilmer County invite everyone to come and enjoy the 38th year of the Georgia Apple Festival.
HUDSON Open Carry Tea Party (WI): -- Saturday, October 17, 2009 Gun rights activist and former Afton resident David E. Olson of Glenwood City has announced that an "Open Carry Tea Party" will be held the afternoon of Oct. 17, a Saturday, at Lakefront Park in Hudson, Wis. The purpose of the event is for people to exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly and their Second Amendment rights to own and carry firearms, Olson said. Olson also has invited all State Legislature representatives for western Wisconsin, gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker and Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann to speak at the Oct. 17 event. It will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Lakefront Park band shell.
Education about Wisconsin's gun laws is also a purpose of the event, Olson said. He said he'll display large copies of Wisconsin's gun laws like he did at Glenwood City and a TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party in New Richmond.
ALTON Tea Party (ME): -- Sunday, October 18, 2009 One hundred conservative Mainers attended a Tea Party this afternoon in rural Alton, Maine (north of Bangor). Speakers and conversations focused on Maine's referendum laden election in November, Jason Levesque (republican candidate for Maine's Second District), and Paul LeBlanc (republican candidate for governor). There was no obvious press coverage of the event.Although invited, none of Maine's congress critters were in attendance, nor were any of their representatives. There was little, if any, pre-meeting publicity in Maine's mainstream media. In November Maine voters will have the opportunity to affirm that marriage is legally defined as being between one man and one woman; vote on a taxpayers bill of rights (TABOR); and vote to significantly reduce state excise taxes. Over the past thirty plus years Maine has regressed under the effects of liberal democratic legislation (often supported by RINO's). This has resulted in declining private employment, increasing government employment, increasing taxes, and an out migration of Maine's young adults, small businesses, major manufacturers and retirees. Maine's growth industry in this time has been government employment, taxes and fees. Maine leads the nation in the areas of soft welfare laws, and Medicaid enrollment (23% of the population is enrolled of Maine's version of Medicaid, called Maine Care). (Source: Free Republic.)
NATIONWIDE Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity (Nationwide): -- October 20, 2009 -- Hundreds of thousands of pro-life students are ready to stand in solidarity on abortion as the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity takes place a week from Tuesday. Last year, from over 4,700 campuses in 25 countries participated in the event and sponsors expect even more this year. The day sees the students at middle and high schools and on college campuses wear pro-life t-shirts, sport red tape on their mouths to show how the unborn can't speak up, and the distribution of fliers educating students and the public about abortion. The event's man sponsor, Stand True Ministries, tells LifeNews.com, one of several groups supporting the event, that at least 58 young women canceled appointments for abortions after the special day took place last year. Bryan Kemper, the pro-life group's president, says students are always excited every year to bring attention to the devastating travesty of abortion that is killing 4,000 unborn children and injuring women every day. "The students are speaking loud and clear; they want an end to legalized child-killing," he said of the students and young adults involved in the effort. "We are getting thousands of e-mails, comments and Internet messages from students thanking us for giving them a peaceful way to stand up and be counted." The students themselves notice the profound effect the event has each time. "I got one girl to not get an abortion because I took a zero in class for this and she started crying," one student wrote. "She pulled me into the bathroom and told me she was pregnant and was going to have an abortion and she said because of how much this meant to me she didn't! We both sat in the bathroom and cried for a few minutes and she put the baby up for adoption!" Another student talked about a friend's reaction. "She's about a month or so pregnant. I have her for a couple of my classes. She kept glancing at my shirt all day and she took a flier. But she didn't say anything," the student related about last year's event. "Then today in 6th I was getting up and she came up to me. And in front of the whole classroom she began weeping and fell into my arms. She said she didn't want to have an abortion anymore," the student said. Students will not only remain silent but will also wear red armbands or red duct tape on their mouths where they can. Many home-schooled students will also participate in the event by visiting local malls and other public areas to distribute flyers. Kristan Hawkins, the director of the university organization Students for Life of America, told LifeNews.com this is a necessary event. "Thousands of American babies are permanently silenced every day by the violent act of abortion," she said. "This is a day for pro-life students to honor those children as they stay silent as an act of solidarity with these innocent victims." Timmerie Millington of Survivors, another co-sponsor of the event, agrees. "They have an opportunity to stand with their fellow classmates and an obligation to be a voice for the voiceless. By standing in united solidarity across the world, students everywhere can identify with the preborn children, and our silence will proclaim 'stop killing our generation,'" she said. Some schools have tried to prevent students from participating and have tried to quash their First Amendment rights. But, every year, attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund defend these students and file lawsuits to protect their rights. (Source: Life News.)
CHICAGO National People's Action Network (NAPN) ABA Protest (IL) : -- October 25 -- National People's Action Network has put out an email reporting that 10,000 people have signed up to protest this weekend at the American Bankers Association conference in Chicago. This is really one mixed bag of protesters. NAPN, as I have previously reported (See here), is an ACORN want-to-be. I'm sure most of the anti-bank protesters don't have a clue about this. Keep in mind that in San Francisco in August, NAPN leader George Goehl told me he wanted to shutdown the financial system in Chicago, so I don't know what he has up his sleeve, but it could get interesting. The NAPN email notes that on Sunday, Senator Dick Durbin will address ABA attendees and on Monday, Sheila Bair, Chairwoman of the FDIC, will speak. Also on Monday, NAPN has an event planned in front of the Goldman Sachs headquarters where: The American People will ask Goldman Sachs to donate its entire projected $23 billion dollar bonus pool to prevent every foreclosure in America in 2010 AND lift one million families out of the poverty and joblessness that was caused by Goldman Sachs' gambling with our economy. Then at noon, they head to the ABA convention. Here's their Tuesday schedule: MARCH TO THE BANKER'S CONVENTION 10:00am - Prayer vigil on Wacker, east of Michigan Avenue 10:30am - March: starting at Stetson and Wacker 11:00am - Rally at the Sheraton Hotel (301 East North Water Street, Chicago) Bottom line the radical left is attempting to co-opt the anti-big banker movement and fold it into an anti-capitalist message. The message should be that Goldman Sachs and the elite bankers are not capitalists, but the behind the scenes controls that direct government's grab of lucre from the people. What is not needed is more regulations, i.e., control points that can be used by Goldman and their types to steal even more. NAPN is really the left wing version of Goldman, they want to grab the lucre and divvy it up amongst their people. The Goldman-NAPN battle is about controlling government power, when the focus should be on reducing government power, so that these two groups of power hungry pigs have fewer levers from which to force our wealth into their grubby hands. (Source: Economic Policy Journal.) UPDATE At the annual American Banking Association conference this weekend in Chicago, the SEIU army spearheaded an angry mob protest against major financial institutions who have taken federal bailout funds.It was the usual left-wing Kabuki theater. If the protesters were sincerely mad about the government bailouts, they’d be yelling on Capitol Hill and in front of the White House. SEIU is simply taking over for its disgraced brethren at ACORN — with whom they have long collaborated on corporate shakedowns. Remember: SEIU and ACORN are flip sides of the same corrupted coin. This isn’t about demanding an end to corporate welfare. It’s about getting a piece of the action through the “persuasion of power.”
Call it Muscle for Money 2.0. (Source: Michelle Malkin.) -- With ACORN tied up and under attack, the SEIU went out and got a new group of supporters. From the SEIU’s “Big Banks” attack site, here’s a list of the shakedown collaborators:
* A New Way Forward
* Action Now
* AFL-CIO
* Albany Park Neighborhood Council
* Alliance to Develop Power (ADP)
* Americans for Fairness in Lending
* Americans for Financial Reform
* ARISE Chicago
* Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
* Central Illinois Organizing Project (CIOP)
* Center for Community Change (CCC)
* Change in Terms
* Change To Win
* Chicago Coalition of the Homeless
* Citizen Action
* Communities United for Action (CUFA)
* Community Voices Heard (CVH)
* Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO)
* Gender Just Metanoia Centers, Inc.
* Grassroots Collaborative
* Green Party of Nevada
* Fuerza Laboral/Power of Workers
* Housing Action Illinois
* Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans
* Illinois Hunger Coalition
* Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
* Jane Addams Senior Caucus
* Jobs with Justice
* Michigan People’s Action (MPA)
* MoveOn.
* Northside Action and Justice
* Northside POWER
* Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition
* National People’s Action
* People Organized for West Side Renewal (POWER)
* PUSH Buffalo
* Right to the City Alliance
* Rights for All People (RAP)
* Roomdad Productions
* SEIU Illinois State Council
* SEIU Local 1
* SOUL
* South Austin Coalition Community Council (SACCC)
BURTON Tea Party Rally (OH) : -- October 25 -- What: WAKE UP OHIO! When: October 25, 2009 3:00 PM Where: Geauga County Fairgrounds Grandstand 14373 N. Cheshire St. Burton, OH 44021 SPEAKERS: RECENTLY ANNOUNCED: Joe The Plumber. DOC Thompson from WRVA DOC fills in for Glenn Beck about every 2 months, and he was one of the featured speakers in Washington, DC on 9/12!
Pastor James Manning, from Harlem, he has been really speaking out about the corruption in Washington (if you are not familiar with Pastor Manning, this is a MUST SEE!) - Tim Cox from www.goooh.com Tim is coming up from TEXAS to share a plan that he has developed, a plan whereby WE THE PEOPLE can oust all 435 House of Reps! Matt Patrick from 640WHLO out of Akron/Canton will be the MC... Matt is really behind the Tea Party movement, he MC’d the only Ohio stop for the ‘Tea Party Express’ in Canton on 9/9 and there were 5000 people there, did an excellent job! There may be another speaker or two, we’ll let you know as we know.... BRING: The Grandstand will hold about 2500 people and they will be adding to that some bleachers that will hold another 1000, approximately. There’s also room in the box seat section for probably 200 to 300 chairs. (Maybe quite a bit more.) So, if you have a lawn-chair, bring it incase the Grandstand is full. 3/4 of the Grandstands are covered...but let’s pray for no rain. We have no idea how many people will be coming, we are inviting everyone from Buffalo to Columbus to Pittsburgh. Bring sweaters and jackets if it is cool, let’s hope it isn’t snowing!!! There will be no water, as the pipes are drained for winter....so if you are going to want water, you need to bring it with you. We are renting a couple of Porti-Potties... PARKING: There will be plenty of parking, and it is FREE! And there is no charge for the event, we want EVERYONE to come! We will be passing around a donation basket, for those of you who would like to help us with the expenses of renting the Fairgrounds and flying in the speakers...and other expenses that come with putting on a program like this. T-SHIRTS: We will have T-Shirts and Sweat Shirts for sale! They are a great way to tell the world what you think, without saying a word! DON’T BRING: It probably doesn’t even need to be said, but just for the record, DO NOT BRING ALCOHOL OF ANY KIND to the event. We assured the FAIR Manager there would be NO ALCOHOL. Bill Wills and WTAM along with Matt Patrick and 640WHLO are promoting the “WAKE UP OHIO!” event for us, and we hope to get newspaper coverage as well. Please, all of you, forward this email on to as many as you can, and bring everyone you can! ***All promotion booths/tables and solicitation must have permission BEFORE the event. We look forward to seeing you all there, and all your friends, too!
NATIONWIDE Tea Party Express -- On the Road Again! (Nationwide): -- October 25 -- November 11, 2009 -- All throughout the recent Tea Party Express national tour we kept receiving emails and phone calls from people around the nation who lived far away from the route our buses took across America. We vowed at the time to keep the Tea Party Express effort alive – and that's exactly what we are doing.
It is our pleasure to announce the "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" which will cross the nation from coast-to-coast, border-to-border October 25th – November 11th — 1 year ahead of the November 2010 congressional elections… or as our Czarina of the tea party movement, Amy Kremer, likes to refer to as "Judgment Day." The Tea Party Express will kick-off the tour with a rally in San Diego, California on October 25th and wind up the tour with a rally in Orlando, Florida on November 11th (Veteran's Day). This won't just be a continuation of the tour we just completed. We will be having a lot of special surprises and additions as we grow this effort — and continue the fight against government-run healthcare, Cap & Trade, bailouts, out-of-control deficit spending and the growth in the size and intrusiveness of government. We'll be publishing the specific itinerary and schedule in the coming days at our website: www.TeaPartyExpress.org For now, here's the route we've planned out – so mark your calendars, spread the news to your friends, and get ready to rock America! If Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid thought that after 9/12 we'd just go away and give up well then we have some bad news for them. We're back, better than ever, and determined to TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!
A Statement on the Tea Party Express
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 By Josh
Houston Tea Party Society does not promote, support, or endorse the activities of the “Our Country Deserves Better” PAC and its “Tea Party Express” bus tour. We are not alone, as a growing number of Tea Party organizers in the country are disclaiming any association with TPE. Our legal counselors have advised us that there are many legal intricacies involved in cooperating with such an organization, and HTPS prefers to err on the side of caution. HTPS does not agree with their tactics and does not feel that Tea Party Express shares our grassroots opinions. Several groups have even started describing it as “The Astroturf Express”
.
The first TPE tour spawned stories of negative experiences from their Grassroots Tea Party partners. When HTPS learned the Tea Party Express would be coming to Houston, we met with the other Grassroots tea party organizations in the area to discuss it. The groups unanimously decided that a TPE tour stop could not be supported by any of them. Organizers in Austin shared this opinion, and HTPS and the Austin Tea Party contacted Deborah Johns of Our Country Deserves Better asking them to not include these cities in their tour. Our Country Deserves Better then showed their feelings for the Grassroots by insisting on coming anyway, despite the pleas of the local organizers.
The TPE represents itself as a grassroots political organization, but a quick look into their history and activities shows where OCDB PAC has spent its resources. Local organizers have been consistent in attempting to avoid partisan “party politics as usual” and local tea party donations have gone to events and local activist infrastructure.
The Tea Party Express raises money for the “Our Country Deserves Better” PAC, which gives those funds to political campaigns. When asked, OCDB PAC will not disclose for whom they are raising funds, and merely states it is “to be decided.” HTPS and our local and state allies do not believe Tea Parties are meant to be fundraisers for PACs and politicians. Not all people attending an HTPS event are Republicans, and HTPS strives to be inclusive of those who agree with the tea party principles, regardless of party affiliation.
Another issue surrounding OCDB PAC are the bus-riders themselves. Some personalities on the bus have viciously clashed with grassroots organizers, made exceedingly childish and offensive public statements about others, and savaged grassroots organizers over the internet. HTPS considers people with that temperament unfit to credibly represent the movement.
We realize the Tea Party Express brings media attention and excitement to the areas it visits. It also brings headaches and frustrations HTPS and our partner organizations do not need. We cannot support a PAC that uses the “Tea Party” brand for these partisan activities, nor endorse an event put on by people who refuse to listen to the grassroots organizers. OCDB PAC does not support or respect the grassroots tea party groups; more than anything, HTPS believes that speaks volumes about their real commitment to tea party principles.
SITE NOTE: NOT ALL GRASSROOTS TEA PARTY ORGANIZATIONS ARE SUPPORTING THE "TEA PARTY EXPRESS" BECAUSE OF ITS ASSOCIATED PAC. THE GOP -- THROUGH FREEDOM WORKS -- IS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OVER THE "GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT" AND ENSURE ITS WIN IN 2010. HOWEVER, THE GOP IS LEARNING THAT "GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT" DOES NOT TRANSLATE TO GOP VICTORIES UNLESS THE CANDIDATE SUPPORTS CONSERVATIVE VIEWS.
"Tea Party" Voters Present Challenge for GOP
Protesters around the country this year demonstrated against President Obama's stimulus package and health care plans, giving Republicans a chance to unify and energize its base after four years of dismal election results. Those demonstrators, however, do not necessarily identify with the Republican party simply because they do not identify with Democrats.
The GOP is preparing to make a comeback with 2010 candidates that can appeal to broad constituencies, according to the Journal. For example, Dede Scozzafava is running in a special election next month for an open House seat representing upstate New York. Local Republican representatives chose Scozzafava for her political experience and commitment to family values, even though she supports abortion rights. Tea party activists, however, are getting behind Doug Hoffman, who calls himself the real conservative. The split among conservatives has left their Democratic opponent in the lead.
The Journal points to other examples in which the conservative activism of the summer has worked against the Republican party. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a moderate but popular Republican, is running for the Senate, but faces a primary challenge from former Florida House speaker Marco Rubio, who is seeking tea party members' support.
Liberal Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who gained some notoriety this summer for striking back against extreme protesters, said Wednesday that he thinks Republicans made a mistake by encouraging the "tea party" movement. "I think the conservatives made a big mistake morally as well as tactically," he said on HLN's Joy Behar Show. "I think they thought they were benefiting from all these crazies going out and venting. I think they realized that got in the way of the rational arguments they wanted to try to make ... So, I think you'll still see some of the negativity [remain], but it won't be as supported by the Republican apparatus."
The disaffected sentiment of conservatives who joined in the protests this summer has been embraced by personalities like Glenn Beck, who has gained a strong following from both his Fox News TV show and nationally-syndicated radio program. Last month, Beck told CBS News' Katie Couric that he believes the country would have been worse off with Republican Sen. John McCain as president than it is with Mr. Obama. During the interview, Beck told Couric his viewers "don't care about the parties, they care about their life... They say, 'the Republicans have betrayed me, the Democrats have betrayed me... I don't see an exit strategy here.'" (Source; CBS and Atlantic Wire.)
SITE NOTE: THE TEA PARTY EXPRESS RESPONDS THAT CONSERVATIVES NEED TO STICK TOGETHER SUPPORTING THE LARGER GOALS AND NOT GET SIDETRACKED BY DISTRACTIONS. IN ESSENCE, THE TEA PARTY EXPRESS IS SAYING THAT CONSERVATIVES NEEDS TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON WHAT THEY AGREE ON -- NOT THE DIFFERENCES THAT DIVIDE THEM.
Sal Russo here, from the Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day. One month ago I had the privilege of riding along in the 'red' Tea Party Express bus, serving in my capacity as Chief Strategist for the conservative group Our Country Deserves Better Committee, which is the principle sponsor of the Tea Party Express.
It was an incredible journey across America, being with the tens of thousands of people who turned out for the tea party rallies we held across the country, leading up to the giant 9/12 March on the U.S. Capitol. It was so successful because many great conservative groups and leaders came together, and we were joined by hundreds of thousands of people who have become active in the political process for the first time in their lives.
I got my start in politics working for then candidate for California Governor, Ronald Reagan, after I met him via my involvement in the Youth for Goldwater movement. I was blessed to be hired on to work for Governor Reagan in the Governor’s Office after he won his election, and have been able to participate in his incredible success for the rest of his career. Being on the Tea Party Express, I felt a similar sense of energy and excitement in this movement that I felt back in the 1960's when Reagan inspired people to get involved in politics to take our country back, and again when he won the presidency in 1980.
Reagan himself became familiar with the problems that would ensue when you achieve success. He had a great quality in him where he would face his critics head on, defend himself and his principles, and continue pressing forward with a smile -- undeterred in his ambitions to restore America to that “shining city on a hill” that he believed in so deeply.
That is what we must do now with the Tea Party Express II.
As a result of our success fromo the first tour and the 9/12 March on DC, the Tea Party Express, and the entire tea party movement came under attack from the Left. This is to be expected, as our success has sent a shockwave through Washington, D.C., the political Left, and the media.
You've all seen in the past few weeks how our friend Rush Limbaugh came under fire when it was announced he was pursuing partial ownership of the St. Louis Rams professional football team, and how the Left raised such a firestorm that Limbaugh was forced out of the deal. You saw the smears directed at our ally Glenn Beck because of the success of his Fox News TV program, his best-selling new book and radio show. You've seen how the great Gov. Palin has been mocked and ridiculed by those who are bitter, envious and jealous of the tremendous interest being shown for her new memoirs and her political future.
Well, we here at the Tea Party Express, and those in the greater tea party movement, have faced our fair share of attacks too. Some of them you might have seen: everything from Jimmy Carter calling us all a bunch of racists, to the media dismissing us as 'hate groups' and a 'radical fringe,' to liberals insisting our movement was 'astroturf' and didn't speak for what real Americans thought and felt about the failures of our leaders in Washington. Having spent a lifetime fighting against the liberal establishment, I am accustomed to these attacks and they only signal to me that we are being successful.
What does sadden and disturb me was to see even a few fellow conservatives or tea party activists take shots at us as well. Just like some malcontent conservatives say we should condemn Glenn Beck or Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh from our midst because they disagree with this or that, the Tea Party Express faces the same silliness, and the same ugliness. Most conservatives follow the Reagan line that politics is about addition, not subtraction. Unfortunately a few bad apples don't embrace this model.
So we put our chin up, folks, because in politics you learn to understand that when you are successful all sorts of people will take a whack at you - it's the nature of the beast. I I could go through listing all the various attacks that have been launched against us and rebut them point-by-point, but that would just compel those who wish us to fail to make new allegations against us. It's a never-ending battle, as Gov. Palin found out when the Left started filing all those frivilous ethics complaints against her. It wasn’t long before even a few wrong-headed conservatives were turning on her too, playing right into the lands of the liberals.
So instead of telling you who we aren't - and listing all the various attacks and explaining why they either aren't true or are misleading, I'm simply going to tell you what we stand for and who we ARE.
The Tea Party Express is an effort made possible by the support of all sorts of different patriotic Americans coming together with basic, shared, common goals. We are generally "conservative" although some would bristle at that description and prefer to be called 'libertarians' or 'constitutionalists' or students of 'objectivism.' I helped start Our Country Deserves Better Committee, which is the lead sponsor of the Tea Party Express, during the last campaign season to call voters attention to the far-left policies we could expect if Barack Obama were elected President, and to rally Americans to oppose these policies and Obama's candidacy. The Our Country Deserves Better Committee continues to be a thriving project that wouldn't be possible if many different individuals associated with many different other groups didn't all work together to advance the shared cause we believe in.
On the first Tea Party Express tour we had the fantastic support of individuals from Free Republic, FreedomWorks, local chapters of the Tea Party Patriots, the National Tax Limitation Committee, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, local 9/12 chapters (inspired by Glenn Beck), ResistNet, Smart Girl Politics, the new media outfit - Parcbench, the MultiCultural Conservative Coalition, and countless others.
I could spend an entire email telling you all the different groups that had representatives, members and leaders helping to make the Tea Party Express a success. Not to mention, we had thousands of people who have become active in politics for the very first time in their lives.
Many of these same individuals from these same great organizations are helping to put together the Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day.
And you know what? We here at the Tea Party Express don't always agree with every single thing one of our partners' actions, beliefs or declarations - and they don't always agree with us.
But what we are doing, and have done, is to work where we have common ground. Here are the issues we highlight on the side of our Tea Party Express buses which helpt to define what we believe:
*End the Bailouts!
*Reduce the Size & Intrusiveness of Government!
*Stop the Out-Of-Control Spending!
*No Government-Run Healthcare
*Stop Raising Our Taxes
That list is meant to serve as highlights of the issues we are fighting for, and is by no means exhaustive. Those issues speak to what the real divide is in American politics now: those who believe in more freedom for the individual and those who believe in less freedom for the individual, and more power for government.
With this second Tea Party Express tour we are going to begin serving notice to those politicians who face our opposition because of their actions to embrace big-government, higher-tax, socialistic policies, and we are going to ask the American people to join us in our efforts to defeat these 'worst offenders' in government.
We don't have to agree with each other on every single issue in this tea party movement. We don't have to always like the leader of this-or-that group. We just have to understand that we are a stronger force when we unite for those values we commonly share.
That was the secret to Ronald Reagan's success: he built alliances with those who agreed with him on the issues he was passionate about and never allowed his critics or detractors (whether Democrat, fellow Republican, or in the media) to stop him from fighting for what he believed in.
I think a great humorous Reagan quote that sums up the battle we are facing in America is this:
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
Ronald Reagan was by no means perfect. But neither are any of us. The best we can do is to keep fighting to leave this nation better than we found it. And that's what we are trying to do with the Tea Party Express, and I hope you will continue to join with us in this fight, step-by-step.
Now, before I end this note to you, I have a few great announcements I'd like to make.
The first one I think would make Ronald Reagan, proud. We were just notified on Monday that one of the two buses that will be used in the Tea Party Express II is actually "The Ronald Reagan." It was the same tour bus recently used in Glenn Beck's book promotion tour. And we are honored to be traveling upon it. Here's a graphic of what the bus will look like once it's been "wrapped" in the Tea Party Express logo design:
The second announcement is that we have now uploaded many of the specific rally locations for the Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day. You can find the locations for most of the rallies now at our website: http://www.TeaPartyExpress.org
The final announcement actually relates to one of the criticisms that has been made against us in the past few weeks: 'they must be doing something wrong, they always ask for money for their efforts.'
This is true, and with good reason. The buses, rallies, TV ads, staff, and resultant energy we've helped to generate for the tea party movement would not be possible without the support of people like you. It's a massive effort to coordinate a national effort like this - especially when you are challenging those in power, and those who support the liberal establishment in Washington.
When people ask if the money invested in this effort is worth it, my reply is this: judge us by our record.
...
-Sal Russo
Chief Strategist, Tea Party Express
www.TeaPartyExpress.org
Day 1: San Diego, CA "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (CA)- Sunday Oct 25, 2009 11:00am UPDATE Thousands have turned out in beautiful San Diego for the kickoff rally for the Tea Party Express! It's an amazing crowd, and we're right on the water with the USS Midway as our backdrop.Wow - folks this is incredible. To those in the media or on the political Left who keep insisting the tea party movement is dead, or its astroturf, etc... well the people of San Diego have turned out and spoken a message loud and clear: WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK! (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.) (Excellent Slideshow at Photobucket.) == A large, enthusiastic crowd of people carrying signs and waving flags in protest of a government they say is not representing them gathered downtown yesterday morning to kick off a cross-country tour to demand change. Dubbed Tea Party Express II, the rally at Tuna Harbor Park marked the first of 38 stops that will span 7,000 miles in 20 days and wind up in Orlando, Fla., rally spokesman Levi Russell said. Former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian, chairman of the Our Country Deserves Better political action committee, which is organizing the tour, said conservatives are fed up with what they see as out-of-control spending and “top-down dictatorship” by President Barack Obama and his administration.
Kaloogian said they want less spending, less taxation and more local control, and are against government intrusion into health care and private enterprise.
Harbor police estimated about 1,000 people attended the rally, though organizers said they thought the number was between 1,500 and 2,500.
“We are the most tolerant people. We expect people to be individuals; we expect people to be different,” radio talk-show host Roger Hedgecock told the crowd. “Liberals want everybody to goose-step to the same parade, and we're not going to do it.” Hedgecock told attendees to take a stand so future generations would benefit. “What will be passed along will be tyranny and debt if we are not successful,” he said. Dan Fritz, 51, a construction worker from Dana Point, said it was exciting to see the tea parties because he believes there is too much government control and not enough representation. Some counterdemonstrators were in the crowd, including Laurie Fisher, who said her mother almost died from lack of health care. “The irony is that what (the tea party advocates) don't understand is that they are really fighting to keep the wealthy wealthy and the corporations rich,” Fisher said. San Diego County Democratic Party Chairman Jess Durfee dismissed the rally as right-wing rhetoric and hypocrisy. “There is nothing undemocratic about legislating options to health insurance,” Durfee said. Durfee also said money being spent now is to help the country recover from a crisis brought about by the Bush administration.
(Source: San Diego Union-Tribune.) == "Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day," a multi-city protest over government taxes and spending, kicked off Sunday at San Diego's Tuna Harbor. The rallies, organized by Republican and conservative activists, are meant to encourage Americans to express their opinions, said Deborah Johns, the vice-chair of the national tour, which is scheduled to conclude Nov. 12 in Orlando. "They can make a difference," Johns said. "In 2010, the people will hand (incumbents) a pink slip if Congress doesn't get the out-of-control spending under control." Johns said about 2,500 people attended the San Diego rally, based on text messages those in the crowd were asked to send. The political elite in Washington, D.C., has tried to minimize and belittle those who attend tea parties, but those who show up are everyday Americans, said Johns, a resident of Granite Bay, east of Sacramento.
"In a week's time, I've had 10,000 e-mails to answer," Johns said. "People want to get involved." Americans are being galvanized in opposition to Obama administration policies, especially health care reform, financial bailouts and intrusiveness into private businesses, she said. "Obama -- the Little Red Riding Hood turned out to be the Big Bad Wolf," Johns said. "His change is not what people want." The Tea Party Express is sponsored by "Our Country Deserves Better," a political action committee run by former state Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian, a longtime local conservative activist and Republican. Organizers are using some Obama tactics, plugging into the Internet, with pages on Facebook and Twitter and a blog, along with a Web site. Posted photographs showed a large crowd of people holding handmade signs and waving American flags. (Source: KESQ.)
Day 1: Orange County, CA "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (CA) - Sunday Oct 25, 2009 4:30pm (TBA) UPDATE TPXII Creates Traffic Jam in Los Angeles! Hello everyone - we just pulled into our rally location in Los Angeles (Griffith Park) and found ourselves running behind. As we got to the roads off the freeway leading to the venue we were noticing that the traffic was bumper-to-bumper and showed no signs of letting up. And then we realized why. The traffic jam was from the more than 1,000 people who had showed up for the Tea Party Express rally. All the parking spaces in Griffith Park at our venue were taken. The overflow parking lots were filled. And there were streams of cars still trying to get in, but having no place to park. Conservative Republican Assemblyman Chuck DeVore just spoke. He is running against Sen. Barbara Boxer (Liberal-Democrat) and is one of the "good guys." The GOP establishment is trying to woo Carly Fiorina (former HP executive) to run. But she represents more of the same - politicians who believe in power and 'going along to getting along.' We're so excited to see Chuck DeVore passionately articulating a strong, conservative message - and the crowds love him! (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 2: Fresno, CA "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (CA)- Monday Oct 26, 2009 1:30pm UPDATE The Tea Party Express rolled into downtown Fresno on Monday. The group is on a 38-city national tour. Organizers are calling the tour a "Countdown to Judgment Day" for elected officials. They're timing the event for one year before the 2010 congressional elections. Organizer Mark Williams said, “…where tea party groups and citizens are getting together to let the Congress and other people in power in – Sacramento -- know that November 2nd 2010 is judgment day on how they're behaving and how they're treating us as Americans.” Earlier this year, Tea Party protests held many highly successful rally's across the country, protesting higher taxes and run-away spending by the federal government. (Source: CBS47.) -- The Tea Party Express made its way to Fresno for a second tour Monday. Organizers say the goal is to focus on the mid-term elections. More than 100 people gathered in Downtown Fresno’s Eaton Plaza to support the Tea Party Movement. Many of the demonstrators carried signs in opposition to President Obama. With mid-term elections nearly a year away, Tea Partiers are urging people to use their vote to defeat any politician who supports the current administration. The Tea Party Tour is scheduled to him 38 cities by the time it wraps up in Florida on November 12th. (Source: KSEE24.)
Day 3: Tonopah, NV "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (NV) - Tuesday Oct 27, 2009 10:00am UPDATE Greetings from the tiny community of Tonopah, NV - population 2,624. The Tea Party Express is making a special effort to visit as many cities, towns and communities throughout Nevada because one of the "worst offenders" in Congress is U.S. Senator - and Senate Majority Leader - Harry Reid. Yes, the same man who initially promised he would oppose a government-run healthcare plan who now has flip-flopped and is doing the 'politics-as-usual' routine of going against his word, and going against the will of the people. We're going to hand Sen. Reid a "pink slip" in November 2010! So here we are in Tonopah at our Tea Party Express rally and it's a fantastic crowd. Who would have thought so many people would have turned out at 10:00 AM on a Tuesday morning?!?! This picture shows just one part of the crowd that spanned throughout the convention center: And to top it off, we arrived at the Tonopah Convention Center and encountered falling snow - mostly just flurries - but snow nonetheless. We're all very excited with this first event on Day 3... we've got great momentum and we're hoping it continues to grow and grow. With your help and support it will! == am sitting in the warm and cozy convention hall of Tonopah, Nevada. It was a brisk morn and there are light snow flurries. And while we arrived to the motel after midnight all were up and into the buses on time. One of our troupe, Diana Nagyn, left after yesterday's rally in Fresno to sing at an event on the USS Hornet last nite but will rendevous with us in Hawthorne, NV - which is our next stop. -- at least that is the logistical plan. Diana hails from NYC but is an enthusiastic entertainer for the troops. She recounts during each rally that her uncle died in WWII on V-E day while flying a mission. She does all this in his memory as well as for her family and neighbors. Inside here at the Tonopah Convention Center we have an energetic group of several hundred people. I suppose there is not one person in attendance to this Tea Party rally who supports Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-Nevada). One thing that strikes any traveller through Nevada -- especially in the rural areas -- is Nevadans' sense of their history which they proudly display everywhere. And there is a big poster inside the center of the movie, The Last Picture Show, which was filmed here in Tonopah. Some of us even got to meet Ripley's Believe It or Not's "Cat Man." Mark Williams, one of our rally speakers, was particularly excited to shake the Cat Man's hand. Mark Williams, a nationally recognized radio talk show personality, told me of his conversation with his waitress this morn. She said the whole town of Tonopah knew America's stealth fighter development was being done in their area. But the whole town kept it secret until it's first flight. The crew signed a thank you to the town for keeping the faith. Mark had tears in his eyes when he recounted the story he just heard. From my perspective I find it hard to believe that a state like Nevada would continue to support the re-election of their senior senator, Mr. Reid. A person from the crowd shouted out during the rally -- Defeat Reid for the good of the nation. Here in Tonnpah they are well on their way. Now on to Hawthorne and Fallon, NV today. (J C Dutra) (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 3: "Whistle Stop" in Hawthorne, NV "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (NV) - Tuesday Oct 27, 20092:30pm UPDATE Whistlestop. Not sure how far back that goes into American politics but we did one in Hawthorne NV, population 3,200 right on state route 95, the major road tween Vegas and Reno. As we pull up to the north side of town just across from the firehouse and kiddy-corner from McDonalds, there are 100 people waiting for us. Amazing. Two of Harry Reid's many opponents were at the whistlestop -- Sharron Angle and Bill Parsons. Needless to say they gave Reid hell -- like old Harry Truman -- and the crowd went wild. My suspicion is Reid has little suport in rural Nevada. The former trial lawyer Reid obviously hopes the urban centers of Reno and Las Vegas will pull him through. And yes Diana Nagy successfully returned. Her parents drove her back from Alameda. I was a little surprised they made it. In fact they were in Hawthorne before we arrived! Good going folks. Diana was on the USS Hornet to honor the first responders swat teams from all over the world, there to compete in games and otherwise hone their skills. We are about 30 miles out from Fallon, our next Tea Party Express rally and looking to pick up a motorcycle escort in about 15 minutes. Also eating McDonalds for the first time. Remember it being kiddy-corner. Joe and Levi surprised both busses by getting Big Macs from across the street. But bad news the blue bus broke a belt. Everyone but Sal, Joe, Amy Schroeder and Levi are noe on our bus to Fallon. Sal just called to say they are back road-worthy...bout half hour behind us now. Tea Party Express rocks. (J C Dutra) (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 3: Fallon, NV "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (NV) - Tuesday Oct 27, 20095:00pm UPDATE What a fantastic day. We wrote about the terrific rally to start the day in Tonopah. And then we headed on to our "Whistle Stop" rally in Hawthorne. A "Whistle Stop" is what we call a short rally where we don't do a full program. We've added this Hawthorne event after our official schedule of cities was finalized because local supporters pleaded with us to stop - since it was on the way from our Tonopah, NV to Fallon, NV events. So we pull up to Hawthorne (population is 3,000 - yes you read that correctly) and we had about 100 people on hand for a Whistle Stop that was organized in just a few days time, in a very small town. It was COLD and WINDY - and more snowflakes fell en route to the rally and again as we left.The blue bus needed some mechanical repair work and so we sent the red bus off with our speakers and entertainers to our final event of the day in Fallon, NV. Wow! In a city of just 7,000 people, more than 500 turned out despite temperatures that dipped into the mid-30's by the rally's end. Here's a picture of just one sliver of the crowd which spanned in a hemisphere all around the stage. (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 4: Walnut Creek, CA "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (CA) - Wednesday Oct 28, 2009 5:30pm UPDATE Hello from Walnut Creek, CA - a community in the East Bay of the San Francisco metropolitan area. So in the sea of liberalism stood an island of patriotic Americans rallying together today united in the effort to advance the tea party movement. There's also a crucial Congressional Special Election coming up here on November 3rd which features David Harmer (a Republican who strongly opposes government-run healthcare) up against California Lieutenant Governor, John Garamendi (a Democrat who is a big advocate of government-run healthcare and the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda of big government, bailouts, higher taxes and out-of-control spending). Harmer spoke at this evening's rally to an enthusiastic crowd - perhaps the most enthusiastic crowd we've had since the kickoff event in San Diego, CA. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy - we sure enjoyed the great people of Walnut Creek: == Carson City, site of Nevada's State Capitol and its part time legislature. It's is one of those very crisp blue-sky/white-cloud mornings. As we drove in last nite it was blowing a strong snow storm but less than an inch of the big flakes accumulated on the ground. So our group, which had initially been fearful of this morning's weather was pleased that the roads the next morning were just fine for our outdoor rally. Sal Russo got all of our people from the two busses and three chase vehicles together for a warm dinner here at the Carson Station Hotel and Casino. (Only a few hearty souls had the energy to visit the one-armed bandits in the casino...most of us were just too tired.) This was our first group dinner and it sure hit the spot. Last nite's rally in front of the old WalMart store in Fallon was a great rally. Probably bout 500 in attendance. Once again I don't think there was one person who supported Harry Reid for re-election. Fallon is a farming community bout 40 miles east of Reno but there were many small business owners in attendance. I conversed with several and it is clear they are hanging on by their fingernails. None of them wept in my presence -- it was cold at 6 pm last nite -- but I could feel the heartache over their livelihoods and dreams going down the drain through no real fault of their own. I will never forget the young and the old at this event best demonstrated by the interaction I saw with Kay Rivoli. First a woman in her 80's came up to Kay to ask her to sign the program. Kay spoke with her for several minutes and expressing th concern over the health care proposals. She walked away seeming reassured that Kay would continue the fight. Then near the end of the program a teenage girl came up to Kay wide-eyed and so pleased to meet Kay Rivoli. Kay had me take the teenager's camera for a picture of both of them. No anger there, just love for what the Tea Party Express was doing. Finishing up this email after the Carson City event and on I-80 towards Walnut Creek, our next stop. Carson City saw bout 400 people in 35 degrees plus a very strong, gusty wind. The unseasonable weather didn't discourage these participants. Once again no support for Harry Reid. The Carson City rally also had several local candidates in attendance and speaking to the crowd. The bus drivers were at WalMart loading up on supplies while the program was underway. We are good to go. Next up was a westward trek across Northern California to Walnut Creek, which is about 30 miles east of San Francisco and the district of Nancy Pelosi. It will be the closest we will get to the Speaker but as we all know she thinks we are a mob and would not meet with us anyway. So the Tea Party Express organizers Sal and JoeW decided to rally in this East Bay city where a special congressional election will be held next week. It pits the longtime Democrat insider and current Caifornia LT Gov John Garamendi against Republican David Harmer. The polls of this traditionally Democratic seat suggest the race is closer than it should be. Garamendi is pulling out all the left wing support including ACORN assistance. The Tea Party rally will demonstrate that this area is more purple than has been realized. Lew Uhler, chairman of the National Tax Limitation Committee, has joined the tour for a spell. He told the crowd of over 2,000 that there are 12 "persuadable US senators" who need to hear the anti-Obamacare message. If you go to his website you will find the 12 Senators -- http://www.limittaxes.org/
David Harmer, the Reoublican nominee for next Tuesday's specisl election in the 10th congressional district, addressed his local supporters. He began by reciting in unison with the crowd a few well-known parts of the Declaration of Indeoendence. He reminded the crroiwd that a few hundred votes will decide this special election. His website is http://www.harmonforcongress.com/ It was a beautiful nite requiring only a light sweater. While the crowd was well over 2,000 it is likely the unexpected closure of the Bay Bridge prevented an even bigger crowd. Should make Redding by midnight P.S. to all on my list. You are welcome to pass these email observations of the bus tour along to others. Please understand I am doing all on my Blackberry where my thumb typing isn't always the best. LOL (JDutra) (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 5: Redding, CA "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (CA) - Thursday Oct 29, 2009 10:00am UPDATE We're holding our last California rally on the Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day, as we're now heading into Oregon & Washington for our next series of events.
It's a fantastic crowd here this morning under bright sunshine and we are appreciating that warm sun - as snowstorms are hitting the Inter-Mountain West where we'll be traveling to in a few days. So we're hoping the snow falls, is cleared off the roads, and we're able to turn out good crowds in the coming days.
We'll have more on Redding later, but here's a picture of the crowd - you'll see why we've had such an awesome time at the rally here today:We're holding our last California rally on the Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day, as we're now heading into Oregon & Washington for our next series of events.
It's a fantastic crowd here this morning under bright sunshine and we are appreciating that warm sun - as snowstorms are hitting the Inter-Mountain West where we'll be traveling to in a few days. So we're hoping the snow falls, is cleared off the roads, and we're able to turn out good crowds in the coming days.
We'll have more on Redding later, but here's a picture of the crowd - you'll see why we've had such an awesome time at the rally here today: (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 5: Medford, OR "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (OR) - Thursday Oct 29, 2009 4:00pm UPDATE We just arrived in Medford, OR. We were running about 1 hour late, the weather is yucky - rain and fog have moved in. But the event here is amazing. Wait until you see the pictures, folks. It's fantastic! This tour keeps building more and more momentum and we're so very excited. THANK YOU to all of you who are helping us get the message heard across this nation. It's working, folks! (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 6: PORTLAND, OR "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (OR) - Friday Oct 30, 2009 1:00pm UPDATE We just pulled into Portland. It's cloudy and cool, but not raining right now. We arrived 30 minutes early - YAY! Nice not to be late. There's a good-sized crowd already and it's growing by the minute. Portland is going to be a great event! More soon. Mark Williams and Deborah Johns are now speaking. There's a good turnout of media in addition to the hundreds of people on hand. Jeff Kemp of Americans for Prosperity is going to try to call in to Lars Larson's radio show and have his speech to the crowd broadcast live. The logistics of things like this are always tricky, but we'll try to make it work! (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.) == Hundreds rallied for lower taxes and an end to what they said was a socialist agenda in the Obama White House in a parking lot on Sandy Boulevard Friday. Leaders of the Tea Party Express came to Portland aboard two coaches and found a huge crowd eager to participate. “No more taxes! No more taxes! No more taxes!” protesters chanted during the rally. Meghan Youngsman said she feels so strongly about her tax load she dressed in a Confederate uniform dragging balls and chains to symbolize her burden. “It’s getting heavier every day,” she said. Portland is just one stop among 38 for the Tea Party Express. It is a tour aimed at exposing what organizers and protesters said is a quasi-socialist agenda by the Obama administration and a tax and spend attitude taxpayers can’t keep up with. “I’ll be paying 57 percent combined: Obama plus state next year,” said Michael Brodeur who attended the rally. “Once you’re at 70 percent tax rate, you’re a slave to the system,” said a man from Tualatin who identified himself as Gary. A small group of counterdemonstrators across the street questioned whether the tea party is really funded by big businesses that already get huge tax breaks in Oregon. “We’re upset with the corporations who put us in this big mess in the first place,” said Noah Heller of Tax Fairness Oregon. “Right now two thirds of corporations doing business in Oregon pay just $10 a year in taxes.” The Tea Party Express is off to Washington and Montana next. Organizers said their efforts will end on Election Day next year when voters oust their congressional leaders who have voted for tax increases. (Source: KATU.) (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 6: PALLAYUP, WA "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (WA) - Friday Oct 30, 2009 UPDATE We thought Portland was a great event. We've now arrived in Puyallup and it's stunning. The fairgrounds is PACKED. Thousands of people. ALERT: The fire marshall told us there so many people packed the convention hall that they had to move a large part of the crowd outside or else our event would be shut down. When I ran outside to grab something from the bus I encountered the event security informing latecomers that they were not allowed to enter the facility on account of the overflow crowd. So speakers were set up outside by the buses so the good folks outside could hear. Estimates from officials on hand was that the crowd surpassed 4,000 people. Some estimates place the crowd as high as 5,500 - but my guess is that it was somewhere between 4,500 - 5,000. The people of Washington State have sure turned out in massive numbers. Washington, D.C. -- can you hear us NOW?? Special thanks go out to the people who helped make this happen: Ken Morse and the Olympia Tea Party, Kirby Wilbur of KVI - 570 AM, and the great people of Operation Support Our Troops. (Source: KATU.)
Day 7: Richland, WA "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (WA) - Saturday Oct 31, 2009 8:30am UPDATE Thank you to the great people of the Tri-Cities area in Central Washington! We didn't arrive into town last night until around 1:30 AM. By the time we got to bed last night (we always end up working for at least an hour or two at the end of each day - in addition to working on the buses all day long) it was almost 3:00 AM. Alarms were set for 7:00 - 7:30 AM as we had to get rolling from our hotel this morning by 8:15 - 8:30 AM.So we were reallllyyyy tired last night and this morning. It's always like that on these tours, and that's why the energy from the crowds always is so invigorating and helpful. It was a cool, windy morning. Really, really windy. We pulled into our venue and feared a small crowd, but committed ourselves to doing our best to energize whoever turned out. But we had nothing to worry about. The momentum continues to build for this effort as we cross the country and word spreads of the Tea Party Express II: Countdown to Judgment Day tour. We walked into the local high school auditorium and saw this - a room so filled that not everyone fit in the room! People came and went throughout the program - as there were informational and vendor booths in the open area outside the auditorium. Here's a few pictures we took on our camera phones to help give you a feel for the crowd. We were near tears during the end as we paid tribute to our veterans and so many amazing men and women came up on stage - patriots who had served this country and are the reason we remain a free nation where people can speak freely, question their government's erroneous actions & harmful policies, and then has the freedom to vote out of office those who fail us. (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 7: Spokane, WA "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (WA) - Saturday Oct 31, 2009 1:00pm UPDATE The Tea Party Express II rolled into Spokane, WA. today. It was a beautiful day for patriots from all over the Inland Empire to gather and listen to the uplifting speeches and music!
ROANOAKE Healthcare Tea Party (VA) -- Oct 30, 2009 UPDATE The group of intelligent patriots swelled to around 100 yesterday, Oct. 30th from 4-6 PM in Roanoke County VA at the intersection of westbound Brambleton Avenue (US221) and Northbound Electric Road (VA 419). In keeping with the upcoming Halloween holiday, one lady dressed as a doctor with a mask and stethoscope. Her sign, with a drawing of a hypodermic syringe, read “Congress Sticks it to America Again.” One gentleman’s sign showed a caldron and a caption of “Obamacare, a Real Witch’s Brew.” The reaction of those drivers passing by who expressed opinions was overwhelmingly positive by about 20 to 1, similar to those at the Olney, Maryland (weekly) Saturday Support the Troops Rally. This could be expected since the demographics of both areas are similar. On the other hand, several younger people yelled out, “We like Obama; Go Obama,” etc. I asked one if he had voted for Obama and he said that he was too young. I explained that he wouldn’t like the result of the legislation and that he would be paying for it his whole life. Later, one white bearded older guy who looked all the world like an old hippy gave us the thumbs up. Then, a typical liberal driving a beat up small pickup yelled, “Where were you guys when all these wars were started?” before making an appropriately left turn. Our local congressman, Bob Goodlatte (VA 6th district), greeted everyone individually and passed out a copy of his statement emphasizing the negatives of the administration plan—higher taxes, less choice, the destruction of private insurance—and the Republican positive alternatives—health savings accounts, insurance portability, tort reform, and the ability of private companies to sell insurance nationwide. See www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375209/posts for further details and http://www.roanoketeaparty.com/ for pictures. I apologize to all for not having included the pictures directly. The most telling comment was “I’m a doctor and you [referring to the protestors] are exactly right. Thanks for being here.” We need the doctors at least as much as they need us and I was reminded again that this is why we freep. (Source: Free Republic.) -- We were surprised, but very pleased, to find Congressman Bob Goodlatte in our midst. He stayed for some time, answered questions from those in attendance and spoke to anyone who approached him. No one had contacted his office about attending – he just showed up. The police came out several times, each in response to a complaint from Walgreens. They thought that we would take up all their parking (we didn’t), or that Walgreens would somehow be seen as “endorsing” our position. Not sure what the police told the store manager, but they never asked us to move or disperse. (Source: Roanoake Tea Party.)
NATIONWIDE Tea Party Express -- On the Road Again! (Nationwide): -- October 25 -- November 11, 2009 -- All throughout the recent Tea Party Express national tour we kept receiving emails and phone calls from people around the nation who lived far away from the route our buses took across America. We vowed at the time to keep the Tea Party Express effort alive – and that's exactly what we are doing.
It is our pleasure to announce the "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" which will cross the nation from coast-to-coast, border-to-border October 25th – November 11th — 1 year ahead of the November 2010 congressional elections… or as our Czarina of the tea party movement, Amy Kremer, likes to refer to as "Judgment Day."
Day 8: Helena, MT "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (MT) - Sunday Nov 1, 2009 11:00am UPDATE Hello everyone - we just pulled into Rapid City, SD at the Central States Fairgrounds. It's exciting because they asked us to pull the buses into the rodeo arena. Last night's event in Bozeman was fantastic - an enthusiastic crowd that came out and packed the gym our event was held in. We couldn't believe that so many people turned out on a Sunday evening - but the patriots came out anyways. == So sorry for the delays in posting about our Montana events. The good news is that the cause of the delay is that we are so unbelievably busy. So many great things are taking place and we'll be reporting on them here at this blog and via our email udpates.
We started the day in Helena, MT and weren't sure what to expect in terms of a crowd. The drive up to our venue - at the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds - was stunningly gorgeous. We pulled in and saw a parking lot full of cars adorned with patriotic bumper stickers, American flags and the Gadsden flag ("Don't Tread on Me"). So we had an inkling at that point that things were going to be good. The crowd was large, festive and passionate in their love for this county and our Constitution. Eric Olsen of the Billings tea party organization was on hand, and he was exceedingly gracious. We had originally hoped to stop in Billings to hold an event but had to move our schedule, which meant Billings was dropped. Nonetheless, in good faith he helped get the word out and showed up at our event in Helena, and then later in the evening in Bozeman. (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 8: Bozeman, MT "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (MT) - Sunday Nov 1, 2009 5:00pm UPDATE After our rally in Helena, MT we continued on to Bozeman, MT. We went to Bozeman in response to pleas from local tea party activists who urged us to come and visit their community. So that is what we did. And boy, are we sure glad we did! We held our rally at the Heritage Christian School Gymanisum. When we arrived I ran into a woman outside who was a devout supporter of Barack Obama and was not keen on we "tea baggers." She thought the opposition to Obama was based on race since he was America's first black president. She had come from an "anti-hate" rally and seemed frustrated by her belief that our effort and movement was based on "hate." She was civil and conscientious, but just couldn't grasp why Americans were so frustrated with Congress and the Obama administration. In her mind the problems America faced were because of President Bush, and Obama's big-government, massive spending, quasi-socialistic policies were just what this nation needed. I was ready to head inside, so that's what I did. The rally was great, and we were in awe of the hard work, energy and cooperative nature of Bozeman tea party organizer, Henry Kriegel. (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 9: Rapid City, SD "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (SD) - Monday Nov 2, 2009 2:30pm UPDATE After our great rally in Bozeman, MT we made up some of the distance to Rapid City, SD by driving a ways to Billings, MT. It was Halloween night and we were sick of the 'tricks' being played on "We The People" by the politicians. The next morning we had a long drive across Montana, Wyoming and into South Dakota - in a land where cell phone towers are few and far between. That meant no Internet access and no cell phone access. We arrived at our venue at the Central States Fairgrounds and had a fantastic event in their rodeo hall. Here are some pics for you all to enjoy: (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 10: Cheyenne, WY "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (WY) - Tuesday Nov 3, 2009 10;00am We are pleased to announce that Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher - famously known to most Americans as "Joe The Plumber" - will be joining the Tea Party Express tomorrow as our convoy heads through Colorado and holds rallies in Ft. Collins and Denver.
Day 10: Fort Collins, CO "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (CO) - Tuesday Nov 3, 2009 2:00pm UPDATE We had a feeling that Monday was going to be an exciting day with the events - and crowd sizes growing throughout the day. And that's exactly what happened. The local organizers from the tea party groups and 9/12 project were fantastic. Special thanks to Lesley Hollywood! Patriots, take pride in the images from our fantastic Ft. Collins, CO event: (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 10: Denver, CO "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (CO) - Tuesday Nov 3, 2009 5:00pm UPDATE Our final event yesterday was in Denver's Civic Center - and it was a HUGE event. An overflow crowd of thousands and tons and tons of media. It was an amazing grand finale event for the day, and our final rally with Joe The Plumber. We here at the Tea Party Express would like to extend special appreciation to the efforts of Lu Ann Busse who worked hard to help bring out this crowd. Mike Holler, author of "The Constitution Made Easy" put the word out on KOA radio. We also enjoyed the participation of Brian Campbell, who is running for Congress in Colorado's 7th congressional district. We also had approximately two-dozen counter-protestors who tried to push their way into the event and taunted our tea party supporters. Police arrested 2 of the pro-Obama demonstrators for their rowdiness and pushiness. Check out these photos - they don't even capture the full part of the crowd! Photojournalist, El Marco, did an outstanding job taking photos of the Denver Tea Party Express rally. His website is: http://www.lookingattheleft.com/ Interesting side-note... at the Denver Tea Party Express rally the other day the tea party organizers had a great drill where they distributed pieces of the bill to members of the rally who each shredded a page and then crews walked around with trash bags collecting the shredded bill. We had a BIG crowd in Denver, so it worked out to do a 1,900+ page bill shredded by members of the crowd. (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 11: Wichita, KS "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (KS) - Wednesday Nov 4, 2009 1:00pm UPDATE When I had to leave, the party was still going strong. I got to meet Mr. Lloyd Marcus, who was very kind to my two girls. I would guess there were a couple of thousand people there. It was really great!!!! Only about 10 protesters, none of which could answer specific questions regarding their signs such as "Murdoch's Army", "Congressional Healthcare for Everyone", and one I really loved, "Are dogcatchers Socialists?" I have no idea what that one meant. Hubby had a good time debating the issues with them. (Teeny Elliot)
Day 11: Oklahoma City, OK "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (OK) - Wednesday Nov 4, 2009 6:00pm UPDATE Oklahoma City was fantastic. It was almost as large as the huge rally we had in Puyallup, WA. Thousands upon thousands of people packed the Capitol grounds in Oklahoma City. The local organizers were incredible people. They worked hard. They helped put together an incredible event. There was a lot of media in attendance. And then to top it all off, after we finished the rally they took the entire Tea Party Express tour out for dinner..(Source: Tea Party Express Blog.) == The bus was late, but that didn’t seem to bother the estimated 3,000 people who showed up Wednesday night for a rally to protest the federal government’s bailout of financial institutions and automobile manufacturers and plans to nationalize health care. No one was seen leaving the state Capitol’s north plaza early as the Tea Party Express, on its way from a similar tea party rally in Wichita, Kan., was nearly an hour late. Organizers with the Oklahoma City Tea Party group, who started the rally an hour before the bus was scheduled to arrive at 6 p.m., simply found more speakers to talk about their frustrations with the federal government’s growing role in their lives. Many in the group were energized by Tuesday’s election results, in which Republicans won gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, and the success of grassroots conservative activists in New York who pressured the moderate Republican Party candidate to withdraw in a congressional race even though the Conservative Party candidate lost to a Democrat. "It’s a start,” said Margie Drescher, director of the Oklahoma City Tea Party. "Those elections showed that people aren’t going to take it anymore.” Many in the group carried American flags or smaller yellow "Don’t Tread on Me” flags. Signs read "Worship God Not Gov’t,” "Go Green - Recycle Congress” and "Taxed Enough Already.” Stuart Jolly, Oklahoma director of Americans for Prosperity, urged the crowd to contact their congressmen to tell them to vote no on a health care bill that House Democratic leaders could bring their health care bill to the full chamber for a vote this week. "We the people are still in control of this country,” he said. "We just don’t want the government to come between you and your doctor.”
The Tea Party Express national bus tour, which began Oct. 25 in San Diego and concludes Nov. 12 in Orlando, Fla., features speakers and singers. After staying overnight in Oklahoma City, the group will travel today to Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas. "Leaders of both (political) parties are selling us out to the socialists,” said Mark Williams, a commentator and author who speaks during the bus stops. "People are angry,” he said later. "They’re frightened. If you wander in the crowd, you’ll probably find that there’s a wide divergence of political opinions on specific issues, but broad agreement on the fact that the system that allows us to hold these ... (rallies) is under attack.” (Source: News OK.)
Day 12: Amarillo, TX "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (TX) - Thursday Nov 5, 2009 12:00 noon UPDATE The Tea Party Express rolled into Texas today and was conducting a rally in Amarillo when we heard the first reports of the shooting at Ft. Hood Army base. We are scheduled to have a rally at the State Capitol in Austin at 5:00 PM tomorrow - and today's news has devastated and shocked our crew. The senseless act of violence has put some of our crew in tears, and the rest of us are dazed by the developments. It's going to be very tough to hold our event in 1/2 an hour here in Lubbock. Our embedded CNN reporter has rushed to the scene to report on this awful tragedy.(Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 13: Abilene, TX "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (TX) - Friday Nov 6, 2009 10:00am UPDATE It's Joe here everyone, and bear with me as I've had a pounding headache that's just now subsiding. We're at our Whistle Stop in Waco, TX and heading on to Austin. By the time I go to bed tonight I'll have a complete update on rallies and pictures. We fight on folks - and the momentum and energy has only grown the past few days. People have pleaded with us to keep up this fight, and honor our troops' service and sacrifice by fighting for our country here at home - and taking back America from the corrupted powers of the establishment and Washington, D.C. Beltway crowd. UPDATE: We've added a few new stops to what is now a 40-city Tea Party Express national tour. Check out our schedule and please spread the word via email, phone call, Facebook, Twitter, etc... to anyone you know who lives near these venues! You can find our schedule here: http://www.teapartyexpress.org/tour-schedule-2/ (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 14: Houston, TX "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (TX) - Saturday Nov 7, 2009 UPDATE Hi everyone, I have to get you all caught up with the reports from our rallies in Lubbock, Abilene, Waco (Whistle Stop) and Austin. But today has started off with a huge bang! Washington - can you hear the people of Brenham, TX? Because they have a message for you: they've had enough with you ignoring them and pushing through a socialistic agenda of big government. We were only going to do a quick meet-and-greet with shaking some hands and saying hello to the folks of Brenham - a true "whistle stop" that was a quick in-and-out. But something happened on the way to Brenham - several hundred people turned out in this small, sleepy town. So we brought out Deborah, Mark, William Owens and Lloyd Marcus for a quick Tea Party Express rally. People came up to us with tears in their eyes and thanked us so much for taking the time to come to their little community and rally the people together. (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Whistle Stop: Brenham
Day 14: Houston, TX "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (TX) - Saturday Nov 7, 2009 11:30am (SITE NOTE: Not supported by the Houston Tea Party Society and other grassroots Tea Party groups in the area because of the Tea Party Express association with a PAC.) UPDATE We just left our awesome Houston rally where thousands were on hand. The picture below tells the story. We've also briefly split up the 2 buses. The red bus crossed town to protest the American Medical Association outside of their convention in Houston. The blue bus is continuing on with most of the team to Beaumont, TX for our rally there. The red bus will then join us for the middle of the rally and we'll all be reunited again. But check out Houston: (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.) == Lloyd Marcus: He hates it when we call him “cheese head”. Forty something year old white male, Hustusa has been following the Tea Party Express tour across America. He wears a triangle hat shaped like the cheese head hats wore by Green Bay Packers football team fans. Hustusa's hat reads “I didn't vote for this Obamanation” on all three sides. He also carries a tall sign and sells buttons at every rally. A general contractor by trade, Hustusa said his phone stopped ringing the day after Obama was elected. He lost his home earlier this year. In Amarillo TX, I met a grandmother who is raising a little boy, not her own, on a widow's income. She proudly told me, “I never asked nobody for a bailout!” This feisty grandmother is not infected with the entitlement mindset being spread by liberal democrats. The crowds love it when I (a black man) say I am not a hyphenated American. In Beaumont, TX, a white cowboy approached me at the rally pushing a stroller with two black babies. He said, “My babies are hyphenated Americans until we get their citizenship a week from today". He explained that he and his wife (also white) wanted children who really needed them. They adopted two black babies from Ethiopia. Today they are Ethiopian-Americans. Next week, they will be Americans! But how could such a “color blind” act of love happen? The Left says only racists attend the tea parties. Also in Texas, a women with her husband asked me to let America know about the plight of our truckers. She said her husband along with hundreds of thousands of other truckers across America are out of work. She lamented that trucking companies who have been in business for a hundred years have closed their doors. Truck stops which used to be full are empty. In case anyone thinks the Tea Party Movement is winding down, think again. At a whistle stop rally in Brenham, TX, our Tea Party Express bus was greeted by 600 cheering patriots; extremely grateful we stopped in their town. We are 14 days into the national Tea Party Express II tour, several states, two and three rallies per day. We hear and feel the same emotions at every rally. The American people are frustrated, angry and terrified of the Obama administration's agenda. We (Tea Party Express) give them hope that “We The People” can and will save the America we know and love. (Source: Red Country.)
Day 15: Lafayette, LA "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (LA) - Sunday Nov 8, 2009 11:00am UPDATE We've arrived at the Louisiana State Capitol and people are fired up - and mad - about the House's passage of government-run healthcare last night. == The Next stop was Baton Rouge where the people were feisty due to a 215-220 vote in the House of Representatives last night approving their version of the health care bill. It is maddening and de-motivating…..however, it is not the final word and we can still KILL the BILL! Furthermore, we should be proud that we converted the yes votes from the Bluedogs from 39 to only 5 yes votes yesterday. You were all dedicated and stayed the course and I am so proud to be associated with you. (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 15: Jackson, MS "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (MS) - Sunday Nov 8, 2009 UPDATE It was an amazing night last night in Brandon, Mississippi. Our caravan of vehicles arrived into town in the early evening and we were shocked by the huge and energetic crowd that greeted us. We're posting some pictures from the rally - but we also have a video of the buses arrival into the event facility. Check out the video, and pay close attention to the back section of the crowd - thousands of people packed in the bleachers overlooking the performance grounds. To those who oppose the tea party movement and keep saying it's "dead" and writing its obituary, let the sounds and sights of Brandon, Mississippi's Tea Party Express rally last night put those false thoughts to rest! Here's the video . (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 16: Birmingham, AL "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (AL) - Monday Nov 9, 2009 12:00 noon UPDATE The patriots of Alabama sent a message loud and clear to Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and the Congress: NO GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTHCARE! It was a fantastic rally with a large, enthusiastic crowd. The chants of "USA-USA-USA" rang throughout the park. We also saw a contingent of news media on hand to report on the strong outpouring of support for the Tea Party movement. (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 17: Beaufort, SC "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (SC) - Tuesday Nov 10, 2009 6:00pm UPDATE The Tea Party Express caravan left Augusta, GA after a successful morning rally attended by hundreds of supporters in spite of being pummeled by bands of heavy squalls with rain and wind. The bad weather was a result of the Tropical Storm Ida slamming into the Gulf Coast. We were hoping that we would 'outrun' the bands of rain and as we neared Beaufort, things did indeed improve. It was cloudy, but only intermittent light sprinkles and showers. Over 1,200 people turned out for the event in spite of opposition from the office of the Mayor of Beaufort, SC who made it clear he was no fan of the tea party movement. It was cloudy, but only intermittent light sprinkles and showers. Over 1,200 people turned out for the event in spite of opposition from the office of the Mayor of Beaufort, SC who made it clear he was no fan of the tea party movement. As our caravan arrived in the outskirts of Beaufort, SC we encountered a giant traffic jam from so many people coming out to support the tea party movement and Congressman Wilson. Congressman Wilson was greeted like a rockstar with chants of "Let's Go Joe!" - and yes a few enthusiastic folks repeated Joe Wilson's refrain of "You Lie!" in response to mentions of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and the Congress as a whole. Congressman Wilson was fantastic! What we liked best about his speech was his constant appeal to people to fight for our country in a positive manner, focusing on what makes this nation great, and what we should hope to preserve, rather than allowing the media or others to paint this movement as a negative or divisive force. We had the local state representative on hand to speak, as well as candidates for office who either currently enjoyed or were seeking support from the local tea party activists - including Congressman Joe Wilson's son, Alan, who is running for Attorney General of South Carolina. In the middle of the rally showers moved overhead but most of the crowd stayed put. By the rally's end (as the final notes of "God Bless the USA" rang out from our team of Tea Party Express singers) the skies opened up and a fierce downpour ensued. We were so thankful the worst of the weather held off until the event was over. (Source: Tea Party Express Blog.)
Day 18: Orlando, FL "Tea Party Express: Countdown to Judgment Day" (FL) - Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 5:30pm UPDATE With bittersweet feelings (a mix of pride and a sense of accomplishment with a heavy helping of sadness that our cross-country tour has come to end) we held our grand finale rally in Orlando, Florida. Our deepest gratitude to WDBO AM 580 and Ray Srour of Momentum Radio for helping put this event together and make it the huge success it was. Crowd estimates ranged between 4,000 - 4,500 people. Orlando Sentinel reports that more than 4,000 conservatives jammed Lake Eola Park for tonight's Tea Party Express rally. Read their report on the rally - HERE.
ATLANTA Tea Party III (GA) -- Monday, November 2, 2009 UPDATE Crowds of people rallied to the steps of Georgia’s capitol Monday, showing their support of conservative candidates in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York, and their continued disgust with the federal government’s slide toward socialism. The mood on Atlanta’s Washington Street was friendly as the people assembled, coming together piecemeal throughout the late afternoon hours as they prepared to voice their opposition once again to a government that continues to grow its power. Contrary to the notions purported by the Media, the protesters were a diverse group: elderly and infant, black and white, challenged and unchallenged. The emcee of the event was Rock 100.5’s Larry Wachs, one of the famed “Regular Guys” and a staunch conservative. Speakers included gubernatorial hopefuls Eric Johnson and John Oxendine, Christian Coalition chairman Ralph Reed, “Give Me Back My America” singer/songwriter John Berry, 920am WGKA’s Denny Schaffer, and WSB 750’s renowned professor of conservatism, Herman Cain. Fighting the evening chill, the crowd stood in respectful silence as they listened to the story of a Polish hero who survived the Nazi Gestapo, torture, and a concentration camp before moving to the United States to flee the encroaching Soviet menace. He warned the crowd to be vigilant, lest this government take the same course. As usual, the poignant signs and messages were out in force, silently voicing the concerns of an agitated populace that continues to be ignored by its leaders in Washington. (Source: Constitutional Alamo.)
ATLANTA Tea Party III (GA) -- Monday, November 2, 2009 UPDATE More than 10,000 people turned out Monday night for a North Houston Tea Party Patriots gathering to protest proposed health care reform and what they called big government spending and overzealous government leadership, according to preliminary attendance figures. Under clear skies and a perfect moon, crowds packed the field at the Sam Houston Race Park and cheered loudly as speakers called for the people to take control of the American government. Wearing slogans that said “Don't Tread on Me” and T-shirts stating, “I am a Tea Party Patriot — I will defend our Constitution,” those attending the event enthusiastically showed support for more constraints on the government and more personal freedom. “This isn't about ‘I can't stand Barack Obama' — this is about ‘I can't stand a government that will tread on me,' ” said Houston radio talk show host and TV anchor Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo to a rousing burst of applause from the audience. “Taxes are going up because we have to pay for health care for people who are here illegally,” Pagliarulo said. “We have to pay for health care for people who don't want health care ... We've got a government that's run amok — we've got a government that doesn't care about you or me. It cares about power, it cares about control.” Attendees stressed that Monday's event — and their support of it — was not partisan in nature. Several of those in the audience said they feel all political parties have stopped listening to the people and that voters feel like they no longer have a voice in Washington. “We vote primarily Republican, but they don't seem to be that much different anymore than Democrats,” said Everett Cochran of Montgomery, who attended the rally with his wife, Donna. “Nobody in the party apparently is listening to what the moderates to conservatives are saying — all they're listening to is the moderates to the liberals.” Laureen Jones and Joan Orozco of The Woodlands said they attended to protest government spending as well as government-run health care. “Basically, I think the country is going in the wrong direction quickly,” Orozco said. “I think the Constitution is being violated. People are tired of being told what the government is going to do to them.” An exact attendance count was not available Monday night, but Sam Houston Race Park officials said preliminary numbers based on turnstiles indicated the crowd exceeded 10,000 people. (Source: Chron.com.)
WASHINGTON DC Rep Michelle Bachmann's Walk Through Congress on Obamacare (DC) - Nov 5, 2009 -- On October 30, Congressman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota called for people to meet her on the steps of Congress Thursday, November 5 at Noon, to walk the halls and tell our elected officials we don't want obamacare. Click here to watch Michelle. We've called and faxed until we're blue in the face. It's time for us to show up in person. If this monstrosity passes, we can kiss our freedom good-bye. (Source: Blood of Patriots.) == Michelle bachmann: "Can you come to Washington this Thursday, November 5th? You've spent months now at tea parties and town halls. Your message has been loud and clear: Keep your hands off my health care! But, Congress hasn't noticed. Speaker Pelosi is plowing full-steam ahead with her budget-busting government takeover of your health care. It's time to take the town hall to Congress. Come this Thursday to Washington and see your Member of Congress. Tell him or her face to face what you think of their health care bill. Jon Voight will be there! Will you? == Talk radio host and best selling author Mark Levin will join with Michelle Bachmann on the Capital Steps on Thursday at noon. == 3 Nov: Leaders of the Tea Party Express (website: www.TeaPartyExprss.org) are flying out to Washington, D.C. to join Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann on Thursday, November 5th at 12:00 Noon. Tea Party Express Vice Chair, Deborah Johns, Tea Party Patriots co-founder, Amy Kremer, and singer of the “American Tea Party Anthem” will all briefly leave the ongoing Tea Party Express national tour and fly out to Washington, D.C. And they will carry with them thousands of letters opposing Speaker Pelosi’s government-run healthcare plan that have been handwritten by attendees at the Tea Party Express rallies that have been taking place across the nation these past few days. (SITE NOTE: There were rumors that Nancy Pelosi has sought to prevent the "walk through" of Congress by limiting the access of people into Congress. Judge Napolitano, substituting for Glenn Beck on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, warned Michele Bachmann about Nancy Pelosi and her power to disrupt the tea party protest on the Capitol steps today, November 5, 2009.)
The GOP is organizing a “House Call” Thursday afternoon on Capitol Hill, where they plan to rally constituents concerned about the implications of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s bill. Republicans are calling on those who attend to corner, politely, their elected representatives in Congress and put pressure on them to think twice about voting for the more than $1 trillion health care overhaul.” “”It seems like the lessons of the town halls and the tea parties are lost on these people,” Rep. Michelle Bachmann, R-Minn., told Fox News. “So we need to bring the town hall here … and plead for real freedom-loving Americans to come to the steps of the U.S. Capitol.”
GOP Congressmen to Hold ‘News Conference’ Referendum on Democrats' Health Care Bill House Republicans have invited the public to show up at a "news conference" they are holding on the West front of the U.S. Capitol building at noon on Thursday -- a week after Democrats unveiled their health care bill. "The purpose of the event is to let the American people tell us what they think of the product that has been produced and to let us see, by the numbers of people who show up, what the intensity level is,” Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) told CNSNews.com. “A week ago, Speaker Pelosi stood on the steps of the Capitol and unveiled this 2,000-page product and that was kind of a closed event,” Burgess said. "We thought, ‘Why don’t we have a press conference where we open it up to the people and let them come tell us what they think about that (bill).'”
The event is officially billed as a press conference, not a rally, Burgess said. "A number of people” have pledged to come to the event – including conservative talk-radio host Mark Levin. Some may even decide to visit their congressman’s office to lobby. “There are limits to what we can actually ask people to do,” the conservative Texas congressman said. “But we’ve invited the public in – think of it as a large town hall meeting – to attend our press conference. “We have no idea how many people will show up, but the official event will go on for an hour-and-a-half or two hours. After that, if somebody wants to make good use of their time, that’s always a good thing.” The “press conference” is not connected to the rollout of House Minority Leader John Boehner’s alternative health-care plan, Burgess said. (Source: CNS News.)
UPDATE On the opposite side of Liberal Obamacare house, first out of the gate - 9 Protesters backing a universal health care system briefly occupied Sen. Joe Lieberman's office this morning.Protesters were arrested, one by one, and dragged out of his office amid chants of "Everyone in and noone out, universal healthcare now!" and "Represent Connecticut, not AETNA!" The whole affair, from occupation to final arrest, lasted 40 minutes. Lieberman, the Connecticut Independent, has said he will join Republicans to filibuster a Democractic health bill if it contains a public health insurance option to operate alongside the private insurance market.Later we will see much a larger protest from the other side of the political spectrum as potentially thousands of protesters gather with Republican lawmakers on the West side of the Capitol. Those protesters will lobby against Democrats' health care bills in large part because they include a public option. (Source: ABC News.)
After receiving no answer from emails requesting a town hall health care meeting, I took up Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann’s call to make a house call on our congressional representative. Despite less than a week’s notice, up to 50,000 Americans from across the country gathered at the steps of the Capitol Building yesterday to send a message to Congress - ’kill the bill’. Pelosicare is not health care reform, it is a power grab. At noon, 40 Republican members of Congress filed out of the Capitol building as the crowd shouted ‘Where’s Nancy?’ Madame speaker was not present on Capitol Hill this day, apparently she was too busy breaking arms over her health care scheme elsewhere. FYI: Due to an overwhelming number of participants at this meet up, I could not get close to the speakers podium during the rally, but had an excellent view of the Capital Building. I chose that view to capture the speeches on video. Mark Levin, Jon Voight, and John Ratzenberger (Cliff from Cheers) gave rousing speeches, firing up the crowd. It was a sight to behold! Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann sparkled in her speech to the crowds. Several of the speakers and numerous members of Congress walked along the front of the crowd shaking hands and thanking us for participating in the house call. Cliff..err…John Ratzenberger looks at the philosophical descendants of Abbie Hoffman, Saul Alinsky and Wavy Gravy – Woodstock Democrats : Michelle Bachmann – Quoting Abigail Adams and encouraging the crowd to “don’t hold back tell them how you really feel!” Onward to the reason we gathered in DC – a house call on Congress. Lines quickly formed around the entrances of the buildings housing congressional offices. Chants of ‘Can U Hear Us Now’ and ‘Kill The Bill’ echoed outside the buildings. Unfortunately for Pennsylvania, Rep Allyson Schwartz (D- Pa) is ready to vote ‘yes’ on whatever health care bill is put forward. She is also eager to levy additional ’sugar’ taxes on to her constituents in order to pay for the ‘budget neutral’ health care scheme. My message to the congresswoman is simple – “Ma’am, if you vote ‘yes’ on any health care bill, your constituents will vote ‘no’ come November”. Although I was ignored by the staff at Allyson Schwartz office, another constituent was nearly assaulted by Rep. Gerry Connolly’s chief of staff. Should I consider myself lucky that I was not? (Source: Flopping Aces.)
Tea Party Express members Deborah Johns, Amy Kremer and Lloyd Marcus are at Michelle Bachmann's "House Call" at the U.S. Capitol right now.
Lloyd sang "God Bless America" and Deborah & Amy will be speaking.
The Tea Party protest at the Capitol steps today, Thursday, November 5, 2009 and organized by Representative Michele Bachmann was a huge success. We were told that the sounds of the protest could be heard inside of the Capitol Building. That is no wonder. A large crowd showed up and at one time, their constant chants of “No” to government run health care could probably be heard across the Potomac. Mark Levin was Mark Levin. He told it like it is. “Thousands descend on Washington DC to protest the Pelosi Health Care Bill. Thousands more attend their Representatives offices around the country to send the message. NO NO NO YOU CAN’T! “ Jon Voight, who gave a magnificent speech and brought two of this friends to speak, will be on the Hannity Show on Fox, tonight at 9:00 PM ET. At least one of the commenters on this blog was brought to tears by the inspiration of this protest. I must admit, my eyes too were moistened. I also, once again, want to say how much I admire Michele Bachmann. She should be an inspiration to all who have obtained or seek public office. As many of you know, I am not fond of either political party. However, the Democrat party is being held hostage by the far left socialists. If the Republicans will listen, serve the American people and stop this socialist Health Care Bill, they will get my support. That is with one stipulation. No more business as usual. Defend the US Constitution, behave more as statesmen and less like politicians and save this country. (Source: Citizen Wells.)
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Thursday that the day’s tea party rally outside the Capitol is a sign that a “rebellion” is occurring in the United States. Boehner, who spoke at the rally, made the comment during an online town hall being put on by the Republican National Committee.
“I do think there is a rebellion going on in this country,” Boehner said. “How else could you get 10,000 people to show up with only a few days notice?” “What they are saying is ‘enough, is enough,’” he continued. “There are tens of thousands of Americans who have come to Washington to say they don’t want Pelosi-care.” Boehner was a second-term congressman in 1994 when the GOP swept to power in the Republican Revolution. Comparing the current political climate with what he saw then, Boehner said that Democrats in the House and Senate are “far more liberal” now, leading to a stronger counteraction from the conservative grassroots. “The intensity I saw leading up to 1994 wasn’t one-one-hundredth of what I’m seeing today,” he said. “When America speaks up, Washington listens. And we need your help.” During his remarks to Thursday’s rally, Boehner rallied the crowd by cheering the “town hall rebellion” that took August against the Democratic health care plan. “It was a simple statement by Americans that they love their country, they love our way of life, they love the things that America stands for – prosperity, liberty and freedom – and they want nothing more to hand freedom off to their kids and to their grandkids,” he said. Holding a copy of the Constitution, Boehner implored the crowd to “join us in saying no to a government takeover of health care.” “Join us in rejecting higher taxes and more deficits,” he continued. “Join us in defending our freedom. And join us in defeating Pelosi-care.” (Source: Politico.)
Chanting "Kill the bill," thousands of conservatives rallied at the Capitol on Thursday against the Democrats' health care overhaul plan.
The campaign-style event kicked off a daylong, Republican protest against the legislation. "This bill is the greatest threat to freedom that I have seen," House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio told the crowd gathered on the lawn near the West Front of the Capitol. Said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa: "We're not going to leave this Hill until we kill this bill." Among the signs in the crowd was one reading, "Waterboard Congress," and another saying, "Vote no to government-run health care." The crowd included a significant number of older Americans. Some conservatives oppose increased government involvement as the first step on a slippery slope to "socialized" medicine, a term they use to denigrate other countries' health care systems, and insist on rugged American individualism, in which people should be responsible for their own health care. In addition, millions of Americans get health care from their employers and are reluctant to see any tinkering with that system. ... (Source: MSNBC.)
Protests on Capitol Hill against Democratic health care expansion plans turned ugly when a dozen people were arrested in and outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office Thursday afternoon.Capitol Police Public Information Officer Kimberly Schneider said in an e-mail to the Washington Times demonstrators were arrested in or near Mrs. Pelosi’s personal office located in Cannon Building Room 235. Four of them were charged with unlawful entry inside of the room, six were charged with unlawful conduct in the hallway outside and an additional two females were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct outside of the room, she said. (Source: Hot Air.) WHOOPS -- So much for "polite" protests. "Rollcall" stated: "Pandemonium broke out around 2 p.m. Thursday in the Cannon House Office Building, much of it taking place outside Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) office."
NATIONWIDE Tea Party Against Amnesty and Illegal Immigration (Nationwide)-Nov 14, 2009 President Obama along with Republican and Democrat DC insiders are preparing a mass 'Comprehensive' Amnesty for illegal immigrants in America that will provide a path to citizenship and turn illegal aliens into voters even though a vast majority of Americans oppose this. It is time for Americans of every race, religion, and political party to unite and place America back in the hands of We The People.
Please use the form below to sign up to attend or support a Tea Party Against Amnesty and illegal immigration protests near you on Nov. 14! http://www.againstamnesty.com/ == NUMBER OF TEA PARTIES FOR NOV 14: 53 -- NUMBER OF TEA PARTY AGAINST AMNESTY SUPPORTERS: 5503 (See Against Amnesty for locations.) UPDATE More than 50 Anti-Amnesty tea party rallies were held across the nation this weekend. The events were put together by Americans for Legal Immigration (ALIPAC), but NumbersUSA played a role in the events held in Alexandria, Va. and Pasadena, Calif. High unemployment rates, overpopulation, and declining public services motivated grassroots activists to attend one of the many tea parties. While not drawing huge crowds, the events were planned on short notice, and could point towards a growing movement. Several hundred turned out for the event in the border city of San Diego that's consistently in the crossfire of the illegal immigration issue. Just a two months ago, three vans crashed the border trying to smuggle people across the border illegally. Protesters in San Diego said Saturday's protest was only the beginning. "It is not fair for those in power to give our country away to illegal immigrants," said a San Diego attendee. "This is my first rally and it looks like I'll have to attend many more to make sure this travesty doesn't come true." In Alexandria, protesters stood outside of Rep. Jim Moran's (D-Va.) district office, fighting against any amnesty plans from Congress. "If the situation continues as it is, we are powerless unless we speak out like this," an attendee said. "Cut off the funds and maybe they will go home." Hundreds turned out at a rally in the embattled city of Phoenix where American Citizens United helped organize the event. "We need to have borders, secure borders. We cannot give amnesty, because once you say amnesty, they keep coming more and more," said Anna Gaines from ACU. Events were also held in Decatur, Ill., Denver and Durango, Colo., and Ft. Worth to name a few. ALIPAC began organizing the grassroots movement just a few weeks ago, trying to play off the national tea party movement and the recent passing of the health care reform bill in the House, which provides loopholes for illegal aliens to receive health care benefits. Then on Thursday, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano announced her support for an amnesty bill while speaking to the American Center for Progress. And Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) plans to unveil amnesty legislation later this month. ACORN and other open-borders groups showed up at several of the tea parties, but there were no major confrontations. (Source: Right Side News.)
ALABAMA
City: Snead, AL Street Location: 87127 Hwy 278 'The Jet Pep Store' Times: 4pm - 6pm Organizer: James Snyder We plan to have a variety of speakers,one of them a legal alien,I will be giving information on how to contact your congressman and show interest in your country.We will have people standing on the street to garner support.And just having a great time in fellowship with like minded people
ALASKA
City: Anchorage, AK Street Location: Northern Lights Blvd. and New Seward hwy 'Intersection protest near Sears Mall' Times: 12 Noon - 4pm
Organizer: Dave Ashcraft
ARIZONA
City: Phoenix, AZ Street Location: 1700 W. Washington St. State Capitol Grounds Times: 10am - 1pm Organizer: Anna Gaines Speakers: The Hon. Arizona Senator, Russell Pearce (Mesa) Chris Simcox, candidate to the US Senate Hugh Kealer, candidate for the Arizona Governors Office Mark Spencer, President of PLEA Phoenix Police Officers Association Robert Zuluaga, President of Coalition for a Conservative Majority (CCM) There is plenty of free parking East of the Capitol grounds. Bring a lunch and chairs or blankets to sit on. We are expecting a large crowd so come early. We don't have a vendors permit. Selling will not be allowed. Sincerely, Anna Gaines, M.Ed., Founder, Chairman of American Citizens United UPDATE Hundreds turned out at a rally in the embattled city of Phoenix where American Citizens United helped organize the event. "We need to have borders, secure borders. We cannot give amnesty, because once you say amnesty, they keep coming more and more," said Anna Gaines from ACU. (Source: Right Side News.)
CALIFORNIA
City: Big Bear Lake, CA Street Location: Stanfield Cutoff and Big Bear Blvd Times: 11am - 2pm Organizer: Ernie McLean
City: Los Banos, CA Street Location: 903 East Pacheco Blvd. 'Sidwalk near Los Banos County Park' Times: 11AM - 1PM Organizer: Barry Kelley
City: Modesto, CA Street Location: Briggsmore Ave. and McHenry Ave. 'Intersection Protest' Times: 10 am - 2pm Organizer: Matt Sterling
City: Pasadena, CA Street Location: 100 N. Garfield Ave. 'City Hall' Times: 10am - 12 Noon Organizer: Tracy Alison
City: Redding, CA Street Location: Churn Creek and Cypress Avenue 'Street Corner Protest' Times: 1pm-3pm Organizer: Suann Prigmore
City: Riverside, CA Street Location: 2601 Fairmount Blvd. 'Fairmount Park' Times: 12 Noon - 2pm Organizer: William Taylor Phone: 951-742-2471
The event will be held in a location visible from the street. Participants are encouraged to bring signs, flags and banners."
City: Sacramento, CA Street Location: 11 & N Street 'State Capitol (south steps)' Times: 12 Noon - 3pm Organizer: Edward C Noonan Phone: (530) 743-6878
City: Salinas, CA Street Location: 420 Central Ave 'Central Park' Times: 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm Organizer: Bill Carrothers Phone: (831) 754-3697 Tea Party to Just say "No" to Amnesty and Illegal Immigration: This Saturday afternoon, November 14, at 1:30, Alipac, the political action committee for Americans for Legal Immigration, and the local chapter of Progressives for Immigration will be sponsoring a tea party protesting the planned "earned" pathway to citizenship (aka "Amnesty) being promoted by the Obama Administration. Bring your American Flags, your favorite signs, and your friends. All who come in peace are welcome. However, immigrant bashers, the racially intolerant, and bull-horn blowhards please meet somewhere else. Flowers to memorialize the young Latino victims of gang violence who died here will be greatly appreciated.
City: San Diego, CA Street Location: 50 Tuna Lane 'Tuna Harbor Park across from the USS Midway' Times: 11am - 1pm Organizer: Mari Hayden
Our event in San Diego is in the shadow of the great USS Midway;-) Our speakers are Chelene Nightengale, Gubernatorial Candidate, Jeff Schwilk, Founder of SDMM, Neil Turner, Leader of CCAIA (Christian Coalition Against Illegal Aliens) Jimmy Valentine, former Roger Hedgecock Producer currently with Dehesa Gazette, possibly Nick Popaditch, running for Assembly, Marine Gunny Sgt, and Gary Gonsalvez, Anethesiologist, Founder of Stop Taxing Us. It will be from 11-1 with the full consent and cooperation of SDPD and the Harbor Patrol. UPDATE Several hundred turned out for the event in the border city of San Diego that's consistently in the crossfire of the illegal immigration issue. Just a two months ago, three vans crashed the border trying to smuggle people across the border illegally. Protesters in San Diego said Saturday's protest was only the beginning.
"It is not fair for those in power to give our country away to illegal immigrants," said a San Diego attendee. "This is my first rally and it looks like I'll have to attend many more to make sure this travesty doesn't come true." (Source: Right Side News.)
City: San Francisco, CA Street Location: Fisherman's Wharf Pier 39 Times: 11 AM - 2 PM Organizer: None yet, Apply now?
City: Santa Maria, CA Street Location: Bradley Rd. & Betteravia Rd. 'Sidewalk In Front of Crossroads Shopping Center' Times: 11am - 12 noon Organizer: Paula James Phone: 805-937-7021
COLORADO
City: Denver, CO Street Location: Colfax & Lincoln West Steps of the Capitol Bldg Times: 10am - 12 Noon Organizer: Rhonda Roseto
Phone: 720-887-4630
City: Durango, CO Street Location: 149 S. Camino Del Rio Santarita Park Times: 1-3pm Organizer: Michelle Adams
FLORIDA
City: Fort Lauderdale, FL Street Location: N Federal Hwy & E Oakland Park Blvd Times: 12 Noon - 3pm Organizer: Danita Kilcullen UPDATE Che Guevara supporters with a radical pro-amnesty coalition viciously attacked and bludgeoned tea party protesters at a Florida anti-illegal immigration rally, including a 62-year-old man who was beaten and kicked in the face. Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, or ALIPAC, called for "Tea Parties Against Amnesty and Illegal Immigration" to form quickly across the nation on Nov. 14. In less than 30 days, protests were scheduled for more than 50 towns and cities. But two Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., tea party protesters were brutally beaten by pro-amnesty activists on the day of the nationwide rally as they attempted to film Florida's Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coalition, or ANSWER, counter-protest.
ANSWER members carried Che Guevara signs and other black and yellow placards that stated "Full rights for all immigrants." They shouted, "Amnesty yes, racists no!" As the two men attempted to film the protest, a ANSWER member in a black tanktop and blue jeans lunged after one of the cameramen and beat him with a sign, pushing him into traffic. Another ANSWER member in a white T-shirt attacked the same cameraman while the victim defended himself with what appears to be a camera tripod. A female tea party protester began screaming as Dave Caulkett of Floridians for Immigration Enforcement and the initial ANSWER attacker fought in the middle of the street. The following is a video of the attack released by ALIPAC: (Source: WND.)
City: Lake City, FL Street Location: 173 NE Hernando Ave. 'Olustee Park Across from Court House' Times: 1pm - 3pm Organizer: Julia Jacobs
City: Miama, FL Street Location: 184 St. and South Dixie Highway 'Intersection Protest' Times: 12 Noon - 3pm Organizer: ENOS SCHERA Phone: 305-710-4345
City: Sebring, FL Street Location: 213 Circle Park Dr "Circle Park" Times: 1pm - 3pm Organizer: Mary Bengston - The Highlands Tea Party movement is growing at a rapid pace and have been in the process of planning their next event which will take place this Saturday, November 14, 2009, on the Circle downtown Sebring from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. "Our goal is to raise awareness of various important issues affecting our nation today," said Mary Bengtson, the chair of The Highlands Tea Party and one of the many organizers of Saturday's event. "We are expecting a huge turn out with people coming from all over the State of Florida. We were unaware when we picked November 14th as our event date that a large anti-amnesty grass roots group was already in the process coordinating events all across the country on that same date. They contacted me and asked if we had engaged a speaker on the subject of amnesty and, if so, they had a lot of concerned citizens that would like to attend our event. We have a speaker on that very subject, Tom Macklin, former Mayor of Avon Park, so we expect a lot of visitors to our city on Saturday, and I'm excited about that," Bengtson said. Other speakers will include Mike Barry, Richard Norris, Bill Farmer, and Barry Foster. Master of ceremonies will be Don Elwell and their key note speaker will be Robin Stublen, the Florida Coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots. Patriotic and inspirational musical entertainment will be provided by The Rivoli Revue who will perform "Press One For English," Rebecca Faith, Dustin McCranie and Doug Gandy. The event will be followed by the Saturday Night Cruise and the finale of Heartland Idol. With the event coordinators expecting a large turn out, they urge those who wish to attend to come early and get a parking space along the spokes of the Circle as the parking spaces on Circle Drive will be reserved for the Saturday Night Cruise cars. For more information, contact Mary at thehighlandsteaparty@yahoo.com
City: Titusville, FL Street Location: Hwy 50 and Hwy 405 Intersection Times: 10am - 12 Noon Organizer: Don Forward Phone: 321-412-6616 The Titusville Patriots, a North Brevard group of Conservatives, will sponsering a flag/sign protest against Amnesty of Illegal Aliens. We are getting together at Hwy 50/405 this Saturday morning from 10 am to noon (may go longer if some want). We are a group that has just recently gotten together to promote Conservative ideals in the North Brevard area, reinstate the US Constitution, integrity in government, less government, illegal immegration, etc. Visit our website: www.titusvillepatriots.ning.com for more information. Our next meeting is next Thur 19 Nov and our guest speaker will be Deon Long, candiate for US Representative, Dist 24
IDAHO
City: Boise, ID Street Location: eagle rd. and fairview ave 'Intersection Protest' Times: 10am - 12 Noon Organizer: Gina Egusquiza
City: Idaho Falls, ID Street Location: Memorial and Legion Drive. 'At Veteran's Memorial' Times: 12 Noon - 2pm Organizer: Andi Elliott Phone: 208-662-5808
City: Post Falls, ID Street Location: 5100 Riverbend Avenue Greyhound Park & Event Center Times: 12-3pm Organizer: Anita Steiner
ILLINOIS
City: Chicago, IL Street Location: Michigan Ave and Randolf Ave., Millenium Park Times: 1-3pm Organizer: Rosanna Pulido
City: Decatur, IL Street Location: Main St. and North St. 'Will march starting at intersection' Times: 1:30pm - 3:30pm Organizer: Robert Moon
INDIANA
City: Indianapolis, IN Street Location: 100 N. Capitol Ave. 'Steps of State Capitol Building' Times: 12-3pm Organizer: David A. Brown Phone: 317-536-8761
IOWA
City: Iowa City, IA Street Location: Burlington Street Bridge Times: 12 Noon - 2pm Organizer: Rick David
LOUISIANA
City: Metairie, LA Street Location: Veterans blvd. and Causeway Blvd. 'Next to Lakeside Mall' Times: 11am - 2pm Organizer: Jane Bauer Phone: 6186040433 We will be holding signs and passing out informational flyers under the large American flag at the Veterans Memorial. At noon we have Gisela Chevalier, a legal immigrant from Cuba as a guest speaker.
MASSACHUSETTS
City: Boston, MA Street Location: 1 City Hall Plz 'Sidewalk Outside Kennedy Federal Office Bldg.' Times: 1pm - 3pm Organizer: Richard Bond
City: Wilbraham, MA Street Location: 2001 Boston Road Times: 8am-10am Organizer: David Sanders
MICHIGAN
City: Detroit, MI Street Location: 2482 Clifford St. 'Harry's Detroit Bar and Restaurant' Times: 7pm - 9pm Organizer: DC Parlove
City: Waterford, MI Street Location: 5100 Dixie Hwy. 'K-Mart Plaza' Times: 12 Noon - 3pm Organizer: Diane Chrzanowski
MINNESOTA
City: St. Paul, MN Street Location: 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. 'Minnesota State Capital' Times: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Organizer: Ruthie Hendrycks
NEBRASKA
City: Grand Island, NE Street Location: 203 W. 2nd St 'Federal Building' Times: 10am - 2pm Organizer: Mark McCaffery Phone: 308-390-8221
City: Omaha, NE Street Location: 7200 Dodge St. 'Sidewalks Near Target' Times: 12Noon - 2pm Organizer: D. Ross
NEVADA
City: Las Vegas, NV Street Location: 500 South Grand Central Parkway 'Government Center Sidwalk' Times: 1pm - 3pm Pacific Time Organizer: Sharon Holmes Phone: 866-592-9399
NEW JERSEY
City: Dumont, NJ Street Location: Columbia Avenue and Washington St. Times: 8-10am Organizer: Ron Bass Phone: 917-709-0039
NEW YORK
City: New York, NY Street Location: 260 Broadway 'Manhattan: City Hall Park' Times: 12 Noon - 2pm Organizer: carmen santiago This protest is a street level protest at an intersection near city hall where we will wave our flags and signs in the air encouraging motorist to honk in support
City: Syracuse, NY Street Location: 100 South Clinton St. 'James Hanley Federal Building' Times: 12 Noon - 2pm Organizer: Angela McConville
NORTH CAROLINA
City: Raleigh, NC Street Location: 16 W. Jones St. 'Bicentennial Mall' across from Legislature Times: 2pm - 4pm Organizer: T. Medlin The Tea Party Against Amnesty and Illegal Immigration in Raleigh will be on the Bicentennial Mall which is right in front of the Legislative Building on Jones St. This event is less than one block away from the large Freedomworks event being held on the Halifax Mall that ends right before our Tea Party begins. This Raleigh event will be the Flagship event for the over 53 Tea Parties Against Amnesty across the nation on November 14. William Gheen, President of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC aka ALIPAC will deliver a speech to the nation that embodies the current movement to secure America's borders and Republic.
Also speaking at this event are... Nelson Dollar, Representative in the NC General Assembly Curtis Wright, Talk Radio Show Host Big Talker FM Wilmington, NC Ron Woodard, Director of NC Listen Frank Roche, Candidate for US Congress District 4 Bill Randall, Candidate for US Congress District 13 This event is being supported by ALIPAC, Triangle Conservatives, Randy's Right Blog, NC Listen, NC Voice, NC Freedom
OHIO
City: Columbus, OH Street Location: 1 Capital Square 'The Ohio State House' Times: 10am - 1pm Organizer: Bill Williams Phone: 614-316-5171
City: Maria Stein, OH Street Location: 8608 State Rte 119 'Knights of St John Hall' Times: 2-3:30pm EST Organizer: Stephanie Kremer
City: Painesville, OH Street Location: 7 RICHMOND STREET 'City Square Veteran Park in Gazebo' Times: 12 Noon - 2pm Organizer: Arzella Melnyk
OKLAHOMA
City: McAlester, OK Street Location: 301 E. Carl Albert Parkway 'In front of Carl Albert Federal Bldg' Times: 12 Noon - 3pm Organizer: Lonnie Lu Anderson Phone: 918-470-7895 Street level protest, at an intersection. Bring signs (non offensive), flags, noise makers, & chairs. Speakers, plus your voice will be heard. We will encourage motorist to honk in support of cause & or join us. There will be petitions to sign. Thursday Nov. 12th 4 pm til 7:45 pm sign making party at McAlester library,401 N 2nd St. McAlester, Ok
PENNSYLVANIA
City: Harrisburg, PA UPDATE The Pennsylvania Tea Party took its message about government spending to Harrisburg over the weekend. Hundreds of protesters marched through the city to the state capitol steps Saturday. Activists said they want the government to lower taxes and stop spending. "We get dismissed if we're one or two people. So we decided to show up and in a mass group of people. Of course, we're representing tens of thousands more," said protester Phillip Hadad. This was one of several tea party rallies held across the country this weekend.
City: Hazleton, PA Street Location: 40 N. Church St. City Hall Times: 2-5pm Organizer: Dan Smeriglio
City: Valley Forge, PA Street Location: Valley Forge Rd & Gulph Rd 'Valley Forge National Park' Times: 12 Noon - 4pm Organizer: Stephanie Galonska
Phone: 610-495-0176
SOUTH CAROLINA Become an Organizer?
City: Columbia, SC Street Location: 1101 Gervais St. 'Steps of the State Capital' Times: 1pm - 3pm Organizer: CHARLES E MOWEN JR
City: Myrtle Beach, SC Street Location: 201 74th Ave N 'Ocean Dunes Resort and Villa: Patriot Expo inside, Tea Party Outside' Times: 12:00 Noon - 2pm
Organizer: Talbert Black Myrtle Beach, SC Joins Tea Parties Against Amnesty! There will be a Tea Party Against Amnesty and Illegal Immigration on Sat. Nov. 14 at the Ocean Dunes Resort Convention Center starting at 12:30PM until 1:30PM. The Ocean Dunes Resort is located at 201 74th Ave N. in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This is in conjunction with the Patriots Expo Freedom Weekend www.patriotexpo.com meeting at the Ocean Dunes Resort Convention Center. The Patriot Expo attendees plan to join us after lunch to organize this Tea Party. Mike Visnich, State Director of South Carolina Minutemen Civil Defense Corps will speak at the rally at 12:45 PM about the effects of Illegal Immigration in Horry County and South Carolina. This is our 51st organized town/city.
TEXAS
City: Austin, TX Street Location: 1100 Congress Ave. '11th St. and Congress Ave Sidewalk' Times: 1pm - 3pm Organizer: Debbie Honeycutt
City: Fort Worth, TX Street Location: 100 East Weatherford St. Tarrant County Court House Times: 12-3pm Organizer: Jane Patterson
VIRGINIA
City: Alexandria, VA Street Location: 333 N. Fairfax St Times: 11am-1pm Organizer: Alex Aliferis UPDATE In Alexandria, protesters stood outside of Rep. Jim Moran's (D-Va.) district office, fighting against any amnesty plans from Congress. "If the situation continues as it is, we are powerless unless we speak out like this," an attendee said. "Cut off the funds and maybe they will go home." (Source: Right Side News.)
WASHINGTON
City: Yakima, WA Street Location: 204 South 46th Ave. 'The Grange Building' Times: 12:30pm - 2:00pm Organizer: Robert West
WARSAW "Countdown to Judgement Day" Tea Party (IN) -- November 24, 2009 UPDATE Citizens Saturday voiced their concerns with the current government and spoke about why they support the Constitution. A four-hour statewide Tea Party rally attended by approximately 1,600 Hoosiers was at Lakeview Middle School gymnasium, Warsaw. A stage was set up with red, white and blue balloons and a sign hung across the stage that said "Celebrate Our Heritage." The Tea Party and Project 912 groups who sponsored the rally included Huntington, Grant County and South Bend Tea Party organizations; Kosciusko County Silent No More; Lake County Tea Party; Hoosier Patriots, a statewide group headquartered in Warsaw; Michiana 912 Group; Wabash C3; Northeast Indiana 912 Project; and Citizens In Action, Indiana Tea Party. The rally was titled "Countdown To Judgement Day - Hoosiers Making A Difference in 2010." Paul Wheeler, Indianapolis, was one of the thousands of people who attended the rally. He made a statement by wearing colonial period attire. Wheeler said his nickname is "Patriot Paul" in Indianapolis and he attends Tea Party rallies wearing the attire to make a statement on his opposition to how the government has handled the property tax situation. "I feel strongly about people being evicted from their homes and having to pay unfair property taxes," Wheeler said. He said there will continue to be Tea Party rallies until the last legislator hears citizens. Others held signs that said "Read The Constitution - Health Care Bill Is Massive Taxation." One participant wore a sweatshirt that said "Bye, Bye, Bayh." The keynote speaker Saturday was the Rev. C.L. Bryant, Louisiana, who also spoke at the Sept. 12 Washington, D.C., Tea Party. "As Americans we should never be ashamed of who we are, and we must defend the freedom of our liberties and American principles," Bryant said. He said it is time to stop playing the game of political correctness and it is time for politicians to decide if they will defend the Constitution. "We will not bow down to a foreign dignitary and we don't want a country that is co-dependent on our government," Bryant said. Other speakers included U.S. Senate candidates Marlin Stutzman, Howe; Richard Behney, Fishers; and Don Bates Jr., Richmond. The candidates were asked questions and had an opportunity to introduce themselves. They were asked what place does the recognition of God have in the government of our nation? Bates Jr. said when we are no longer a nation under God, we are a nation God under. "Obama has ignored God's place in our history, and if you give others the opportunity to acknowledge other Gods, give me the opportunity to acknowledge God," Bates Jr. said. Behney said it is a shame we have come to the point where President Barack Obama is kneeling before other leaders in other nations. He said our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values. Stutzman said we need to send a message to Washington that we are one nation under God and in God we trust.Other speakers were Thomas Tabback, Texas, a political author, who wrote "Joe The Plumber-Fighting For The American Dream", Peter Heck, a conservative talk show radio host from Kokomo, and Emery McClendon, a Fort Wayne war veteran. Tabback said there are a group of king and queens in the White House who refuse to listen to the people. Heck said the Constitution has a legacy of liberty passed down to us by a generation of patriots and we should not compromise that. McClendon said government has lost focus and is not listening to voters. "The government wants to destroy our Constitution and the American way of life, and we say no we won't allow them to do it," McClendon said. (Source: Times Union.)
ST LOUIS Holiday Tea Party (OH) -- November 28, 2009 UPDATE 4,000 Patriots Rally With James O’Keefe at St. Louis Tea Party Protest, James O’Keefe of ACORN-busting fame, headlined the Holiday Tea Party Protest. (Gateway Pundit) == Having worked with journalists at NHK while living in Japan 20 years ago, I was excited to see a crew from the Japanese television network at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis Saturday afternoon. My first thought: “The local tea party movement had finally earned a spot on the world stage.” But I was wrong. In the conversation that followed with Chief Correspondent Miki Ebara, I learned she and her NHK crew had flown in from New York City to interview St. Louisans for a story she was working on about climate change. For her, Kiener Plaza was a target-rich environment, full of 2,500 mostly-articulate and very-opinionated Americans from which to choose. Among those media outlets who came to Kiener Plaza to cover the tea party, about half seemed intent on minimizing the importance of the event. FIRST, THE BAD St. Louis Post-Dispatch science and environmental reporter Kim McGuire, whose work appears frequently at the newspaper’s EcoSpeak blog, appears to have exerted minimal effort in her coverage of the rally. Not only did she McGuire fail to note the important contextual matter of registered nurse and event speaker Stephanie Rubach being a black conservative, she also misidentified Dr. Kim Wiele as being male. I know, because I interviewed both Kim and her physician-husband Robert Wiele at the Million Med March in downtown Clayton, Mo., Nov. 21. [FYI: Their faces are the first two that appear in this video published in this post after the event.] I didn’t hear any newscasts about the rally, but an article published on the KMOX radio web site included a description of the event as having drawn “several hundred.” Based on the fact that I’ve been criticized by several people for having estimated the crowd at only 2,500, I can only imagine the grief Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit must be hearing. After all, he gave an estimate of 4,000 in a post yesterday. Of one thing, I can be certain: Neither Hoft nor I got our estimates from SEIU officials whose numbers would have meshed more closely with those used by “50,000-watt blowtorch.” NOW, THE GOOD Though Fox 2 News, the local Fox affiliate, led its coverage with the anchor giving the same crowd-size description (i.e., “hundreds”) used by KMOX, the remainder of reporter Shirley Washington’s report (below) seemed fair and accurate. Only KMOV-TV’s Ray Preston offered what I can describe as a completely fair and objective report about the rally. The local CBS affiliate also published raw video on their site. (Source: Bob McCarty.)
NEW YORK CITY (NY) -- December 5, 2009 -- On 24 Nov a press conference was held by the 9/11 Never Forget Coalition. The 9/11 Never Forget Coalition, a diverse group of 9/11 victims, family members, first responders, active and reserve members of the military, veterans, and concerned Americans, is holding a November 24th press conference to discuss the details of their December 5th rally protesting the plan to bring the 9/11 terrorist conspirators to trial in New York City. The Coalition formed to fight the decision of President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to try the 9/11 co-conspirators in New York City’s federal court, effectively giving war criminals the same rights as American citizens while endangering the safety of all New Yorkers. Two weeks ago, we sent a letter signed by 300 family members of 9/11 victims to the President, Attorney General and Defense Secretary Robert Gates asking them to reverse course. The letter has now been signed by over 120,000 Americans and is posted at http://www.keepamericasafe.com. At the November 24th press conference, leading organizers of the Coalition will give details on a large rally which will be held on December 5th in New York City to protest the plan to bring terrorist detainees to trial in civilian courts. Debra Burlingame, founder of 911 Families for a Safe and Strong America, said “We chose to hold it on Thanksgiving Week in the hope that our fellow Americans will join us in sending our prayers and messages of thanks to our troops and first responders, who will bear the brunt of these dangerous decisions made in Washington. Our rally on Saturday, December 5 will tell Attorney General Eric Holder, President Barack Obama and their supporters in Congress: We will fight you all the way! ” (SITE NOTE: The Families of 9/11 had previously called Obama a FRAUD when he called the families to the White House to promise them one thing -- then turned around and did another. The defendants had previously pleaded guilty to charges for a military tribunal trial -- but as soon as Obama changed their status from war combatants to civilian law breakers, the defendants will now plead not guilty and use the courts as a platform to spread their views of jihad.) (SITE NOTE: The petion signatures continue to grow (above 200,000) and the protests from many groups continue though small and not well-organized.)
DEMOCRATIC TOWNHALL MEETINGS (Nationwide) -- December 2009 -- After the experience in July-Aug, the Democratic townhall meetings remain as telephone town halls where the Congressman/Senator can control the callers and cut off any harangues. == Arkansas Ross, Mike Telephone Town Hall Meeting12/14/2009 7:00 PMPhone: 877-269-7289 PIN: 14573NA, NA Indiana Souder, Mark Telephone Town Hall Meeting12/15/2009 7:30 PM888-559-4668NA, NA Maryland Edwards, Donna Coffee/Discussion12/19/2009 8:30 AMMayorga Coffee8040 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring Coffee/Discussion12/19/2009 10:30 AMDigital Beanery10258 Lake Arbor Way, Mitchellville Telephone Town Hall Meeting12/15/2009 7:15 PMSign up on website http://donnaedwards.house.gov/index.htmlNA, NA New York Murphy, Scott Meet and Greet with Constituents12/14/2009 9:20 AMAdirondack General Store899 East Shore Drive, Adirondack (Town of Horicon) South Carolina Spratt, John Telephone Healthcare Town Hall Meeting12/15/2009 7:00 PMCall office to sign up 202-225-5501NA, NA Washington Murray, Patty Telephone Town Hall with AARP12/16/2009 11:30 AMRegister at http://aarpwatelephonemtgwithsenatormurray.eventbrite.com/
Washington DC: OPERATION CODE RED (DC) -- 15 December 2009 -- With Demcare now in critical condition, Tea Party activists are turning up the heat today in Washington for the Code Red Rally on Capitol Hill. Laura Ingraham is hosting. Speakers include Sen. Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-Okla.) and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.). Folks are traveling from across the country to be there. If you are in the D.C. area today, join them at 1:30 pm (EST), Upper Senate Park, on Constitution Ave. between New Jersey and Delaware St. NE. MoveOn.org will stage an "emergency" counter-demonstration at 1 pm (EST). UPDATE Sen. Tom Coburn at Code Red Rally. “This health care bill isn’t about health care. It’s about government control…This bill must be stopped.” Sen Lieberman said Demcare plan is now “heading in the right direction.” Sen Susan Collins said she can’t see voting for the bill in its current form. “It’s still too deeply flawed for me to support it.” She says she won’t support it even with amendments intended to improve the bill (that no one has seen, of course). From Americans for Prosperity: Yesterday at 1:30 p.m. two very different meetings occurred. On the grounds of the United States Capitol, thousands of grassroots activists from across the nation rallied in a park with the media present. Our message to the Senate was simple: "Keep your hands off our health care!" Meanwhile, at the White House, President Obama, Majority Leader Harry Reid, other liberal Senators and their special interest allies met behind closed doors to cut political deals, twist arms and plot strategy -- all to get their health care takeover bill across the finish line and out of the Senate. At our open air rally, Laura Ingraham, Dr. Tom Coburn, Sen. Jim DeMint, Sen. Richard Burr, Sen. Johnny Isakson, Jim Martin of 60 Plus, and our Tea Party Patriot friends Jenny Beth Martin and Mark Meckler detailed our reasons for opposing this disastrous health care takeover while urging Americans to stay in the fight for our freedoms. Across the nation, thousands more Americans went to the local offices of their U.S. Senators with the same message. ... From AFP Blog: Today over 5,000 freedom fighters concerned about the Washington take over of health care took time away from family and work to make their voices heard at the Code Red Rally at the Capitol in Washington, DC. With the Senate closing in on a final health care vote thousands of grassroots Americans sent a message to their Senators telling them "Hands off my health care!" We heard from great speakers like Senator Tom Coburn M.D., Senator Jim DeMint, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Laura Ingraham, and many other representatives who gave us an update on the health care bill and what a health care takeover will mean for average Americans.
After the rally thousands of activists poured into the Senate office buildings to tell their Senators to vote NO on a government takeover of health care. You can be sure those Senators will remember these folks before they vote.
'Obamamania' Cooling Off Fast Among Young (Sep 2009) Young Americans showed their collective power when they helped vote President Obama into office. Inspired by his message of "change," they knocked on doors, spread flyers, voted for him by a 2-1 margin, and partied like rock-the-vote stars when he won. Since the election, though, that fervor has died down _ noticeably. And while young people remain the president's most loyal supporters in opinion polls, a lot of people are wondering why that age group isn't doing more to build upon their newfound reputation as political influencers. "It's one thing to get excited about a presidential candidate. It's another thing to become a responsible citizen," says Jennifer Donahue, political director for the New Hampshire Institute Of Politics. She and other political analysts thinks they have yet to prove themselves.
Professors and students themselves also are noticing the quiet on college campuses, which were hotbeds for "Obamamania" during the campaign. "They're supportive, but in a bystander kind of way," says Laura Katz Olson, a political science professor at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Erin Carroll, a 19-year-old sophomore at LaSalle University in Philadelphia, blames the lack of engagement on her generation's short attention span. They want change _ right now, she says _ and haven't gotten it. "I feel like everybody walks around with their cell phone and their laptops. We feel like we need everything immediately. So that's what we've become accustomed to," Carroll says. "We're the 'me-me-me' generation."
It's not just on college campuses. Russ Marshalek, a 27-year-old professional in Astoria, N.Y., observes his 20-something peers sitting back and letting the president do the work for them. "Rather than allow him to speak FOR us, we need to be inspired BY him, and volunteer in our communities, speak our minds, write, read, think, act," says Marshalek, a social media director who works with small businesses. Such is the fate of Generation Y, as they're known, both praised for their willingness to volunteer but also maligned as the "entitlement generation" _ eager to help but unsure how to deal with tumultuous times that are a first for many of them.
On top of that, many of their parents are baby boomers who witnessed, and participated in, the civil rights movement and Vietnam War protests that followed John F. Kennedy's death. That's a lot to live up to. But to be fair, says political scientist Mike Wagner says, it's tough for young people _ or any American, for that matter _ to know how to get involved in issues with solutions that aren't always so clear-cut.
Volunteering for a candidate? Fairly easy to do. Helping solve some of the toughest issues to face our nation, from health care reform to a deep-seated financial crisis? Not so much. "These aren't easy issues for young people. It's not 'Should we go to war in Iraq?' or 'Should gay marriage be legalized?'" says Wagner, an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska. He sees a lot of young people getting lost in the details, or bored by them. Or like a lot of us, they're more focused on their own worries, such as getting a job or paying off mountains of student loans.
Some say the president also could be doing more to engage this demographic that was so key to his early success. "I think young people do have clout, and I think it's a mistake if he doesn't use them," says Mary Ellen Balchunis, a political science professor at LaSalle University, who counts Carroll among her students. Balchunis witnessed the fervor on campus during the campaign _ the "dorm storming," when students persuaded their peers to go to rallies and eventually to the polls. She also recalls how students danced in the streets with nearby neighborhood residents after Obama won.
Certainly, health care was on their priority list then, and remains so. An AP-GfK poll conducted earlier this month found that two-thirds of 18- to 29-year-olds rated such reform as "very" or "extremely" important. So far, though, the proposed health care overhauls have failed win the support of a good number of them. Only about half of them said they approved of the way the president was handling health care and only 38 percent said they supported health care plans being discussed in Congress.
Balchunis thinks the president could boost youth support on these and other issues _ and get them influencing their parents, as they did in the election _ if he mobilized and spoke directly to them, the way he did during the campaign. He could for instance, make use of the well-organized student groups that campaigned for him to push the issues of the day. If he doesn't, Balchunis thinks that also could have negative ramifications for Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections, because those young voters will lose interest and won't bother to show up at the polls. That's what happened, she says, after her own young generation was initially excited about Bill Clinton when he was first elected president in 1992. Then, just two years later, Democrats lost control of Congress.
Letdown is inevitable to a point, says James Emmett, an unemployed recent college graduate. "Of course I'm not as hopeful because everyone's been exhausted, absorbed by the economic realities, from man on the street to Congressman," says the 23-year-old artist who's living with his parents on Long Island, N.Y., while he looks for work. But, he adds, the president needs to "trust that we're still with him, build upon his community of support."
Certainly, the ugliness of the political process has turned off some young people, and made even some of the president's most ardent supporters antsy.
"The only thing that has changed in my mind is the sense of urgency I feel for the president to do what he came to Washington to do," says Sam An, a 20-year-old student and president of the Young Democrats group at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. "I feel that if he got some substantial things accomplished, it might quell the heated political discourse."
That's tough to do in a system that was set up to encourage legislative gridlock, even if it doesn't fit well with young people's hunger for change, says Joshua Dyck an assistant professor of political science at the University at Buffalo. "Gridlock is as American as apple pie," Dyck says. "The question is whether getting excited about an election and then being exposed to the letdown, the gridlock and compromise, whether that will lead to an erosion of the voter turnout gains we saw in 2008." For her part, Jessica Sullivan, a senior at Elmhurst College in suburban Chicago, remains hopeful about the president, about her generation, and about her own ability to stay inspired and give back. "I have to be," says the 22-year-old who's doing her student teaching this fall. "I'm about to walk out of college in February with a degree in education." And if it wasn't so in college, the real world _ health care, economy, all of it _ is about to get very real.
(Source: NewsMax.)
When Reality Catches up to Rhetoric (Nov 2009) The growing problem for the Obama administration is that the public has finally caught on that the president's tough rhetoric and soaring oratory don't match reality.
"Considering all options" and "wanting more information" essentially mean dithering and voting present on Afghanistan, even after announcing the adoption of a new bold strategy.
"Saving jobs" means conjecturing about the effects of massive borrowing and enhancing your figures through the creation of fictitious congressional districts and bogus employment reporting.
"Punishing KSM" means giving the liberal community a world platform for legal gymnastics designed to repudiate the past administration and demonstrate that community's "tolerance" — without much worry about justice for KSM or the adverse effects of giving such a monster a public megaphone.
The health-care mess grows worse: The Chinese have caught on that Obama wants to borrow more billions for us, who are cash poor, to create entitlements that they, who are cash rich, would not create for their own people. The new government suggestion that women not begin receiving routine mammograms until age 50 comes at a bad time, given that critics of Obamacare have been arguing that it will lead to rationing of service.
Guantanamo is about to go the way of tribunals, renditions, intercepts, Predators, and wiretaps — damned in rhetoric, but kept intact in reality.
"Transparency" did not quite happen either: The Obama administration has offered more photo-ops and fewer press conferences (cf. Anita Dunn on that tact), and Washington has as many lobbyists as ever. Meanwhile, the administration has not fulfilled its promise to post pending legislation on the Internet; it has politicized the NEA; and it has declared war on Fox News, the Chamber of Commerce, and the town-hall protesters. The president has even employed the sexual slur "tea-bagger" against his opposition.
Obama's "reset button" foreign policy in just ten months has made the Middle East worse and has delighted European leftists as much as it has terrified Europe's centrist leaders. In Latin America, the U.S. has gone from being an advocate of consensual government, human rights, and market capitalism to being an appeaser of Chávez, Zelaya, Ortega, the Castros, et al., inasmuch as these communist hardliners are now seen as problematic advocates for indigenous peoples and economic justice.
We are left with two conclusions. 1) A very inexperienced president has discovered that all the easy, Manichean campaign rhetoric of 2008 does not translate well into actual governance. 2) Obama is in a race to push a rather radical, polarizing agenda down the throat of a center-right country before the country wakes up and his approval ratings hit 40 percent.
We may see one of two things happen: Either the country will move more to the left in four years than it has in the last 50; or Obama will take down with him both the Democratic Congress and the very notion of responsible liberal governance, thereby achieving a Jimmy Carter–type legacy.
The next year will be one of the most interesting in memory.
(Source; NRO.)
Obama and Democrat's Fall from Grace
Gallup Poll: GOP gaining on Dems for control of Congress (Oct 2009) The battle for control of Congress in 2010 is growing more competitive, a new Gallup Poll indicates.
Roughly a year before the 2010 congressional elections, Republicans and Democrats are nearly tied among registered voters, who were asked which party's candidate they would prefer in their congressional district, Gallup found. Some 46 percent said they would vote Democratic, versus 44 percent who favored a Republican candidate. The Democrats' two-percentage-point lead in October is down from a six-point advantage in July.
Independents shift to the GOP
The Republican Party's relatively strong position on the generic ballot, in which no candidate is mentioned by name, "stems from the support of political independents, who now favor Republican over Democratic candidates by 45 to 36 percent," wrote Gallup analyst Lydia Saad. The issue for Democrats is how many seats they lose in the midterm election and what that does to President Obama's ability to move legislation through Congress. Charlie Cook, of National Journal's Cook Political Report, recently wrote that there is "a consensus forming that the chances of Democratic losses going higher than 20 seats [in the House] is just as good as the chances of Democratic losses going lower than 20 seats." That would not necessarily turn House control over to Republicans, but would make it tougher for the Obama administration to pass its legislative agenda.
Meager approval ratings
Americans' dim view of the job Congress is doing is an additional signal that the 2010 elections could be challenging for Democrats, Gallup says. ongressional approval now stands at 21 percent, down from 31 percent in September and 39 percent in March. The Gallup polling data are from a survey conducted Oct. 1- 4 among 1,013 adults and has a sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. "It appears that any honeymoon period for the 111th Congress has eroded," writes Gallup Poll editor in chief Frank Newport. Today's congressional approval levels are "significantly below" the average 36 percent rating over the past two decades, he notes.
There is one bright spot for Democrats in recent polling data. A new Associated Press poll found that Barack Obama's approval ratings have started to rise after a continuous slide since his inauguration. AP said 56 percent of the 1,003 adults it surveyed Oct. 1- 5 approve of the president's job performance, up from 50 percent in September. It is the first increase in his approval figures since January.
A mixed message
Some 39 percent disapproved of Obama's performance in October, down from 49 percent last month. According to the AP, people feel better about Obama's handling of the economy and his proposed healthcare overhaul, but not about the war in Afghanistan. There is a major partisan divide in the president's approval numbers, with 88 percent of Democrats happy with his performance but only 12 percent of Republicans satisfied with it.
(Source: Christian Science Monitor.)
Grassroots Movement's Uncertain Future
Tea Party movement has fans, detractors and an uncertain impact (Oct 2009) The Tea Party movement, depending on who defines it, is a collection of American patriots working to preserve democracy, a movement made up of people who don’t understand public policy and want to score cheap political points, or something in-between. Protests have been held throughout North Carolina and the United States since this spring. Many who have participated describe themselves as fiscal conservatives, but political analysts say there’s a broader range of opinions represented in the Tea Party effort than in a typical protest. At a Tea Party held in Graham in May, some were critical of the government’s bailout of large financial institutions. Others have been motivated by opposition to plans for national health care. (SITE NOTE: It is apparent that the grassroots movement needs to redefine itself. If it states in its beliefs that politicians need to "Repeal the Stimulus or Resign," then the next logical step is that they must become political. If the grassroots movement feels the existing politicians can be persuaded to do the right thing for America, then it can remain non-political. However, polls indicate that there is NO trust of politicians so this path is illogical. For Americans to take back America, they need to be political, but NOT to the party (GOP or Independent or Democrat), but to the stated principals of the candidate. And if the candidate does NOT live up to his promises -- as Obama is doing -- then make his life a living hell at the grassroots level. In other words, the movement needs to become political -- but select its OWN candidates based on the concensus of the local groups. Then they should use their organizations to push for these candidates who will support their LOCAL agendas as well as the larger ideals. As such I am not against the tea party movement becoming political -- but I do not agree that the GOP should be handed the reins of this movement. It is looking for a charismatic leader -- and some foolishly hope for Sarah Palin to step in, but that won't happen. Dick Armee from Freedom Works is NOT the man. Who will it be??? That is still in the future.)
And while some clearly aren’t fans of President Barack Obama — one sign at the May protest read “Impeach Obama Now” — some are supporters of neither former President George W. Bush nor the national Republican Party. Mike Munger, a political science professor at Duke University, ran for North Carolina governor last year as a Libertarian. He has been the keynote speaker at two Tea Party events — one in Raleigh in April, the other in Union County, in south-central North Carolina, in September. Munger wasn’t sure what kind of reaction he would get when he described himself as a former Republican who blamed that party for beginning what the Democratic Party has continued. Republicans under the leadership of George W. Bush, he said, embraced massive spending and huge deficits, as well as the Patriot Act, which has been criticized as undermining people’s constitutional rights. “I expected boos,” he said. Instead, he got applause, though perhaps not as much as speakers who made other points.
ON SATURDAY, the second local Tea Party of the year was held in Graham. Both have been affiliated with the FreedomWorks Organization, a national group that promotes smaller government, lower taxes and more individual responsibility and choice. The name “Tea Party” recalls one of the best-known events associated with the American Revolution, the Boston Tea Party. TEA is also used as an acronym standing for “Taxed Enough Already.”
Steve Carter, a retired banker who has been active in the Republican Party, said organizers are attempting to create a bi-partisan movement of people who support “fiscal conservatism, lower taxes and self-restraint on the part of government.” Speakers for Saturday’s event included Barbara Howe, a former candidate for governor who is chair of the state’s Libertarian Party. Eddie Boswell, a Democrat who serves on the Alamance County Board of Commissioners, spoke at both local tea parties. Carter said elected officials of both major political parties were invited to speak. “We want to encourage debate and discussion,” he said, rather than have the audience hear only from people who are likely to share most of their opinions. Carter said people who were invited had to agree to answer questions from people at the event as a condition of being allowed to speak.
J.A. FREEMAN, a retired educator who is chairman of the Alamance County Democratic Party, said he has no objections to political protests but is concerned that there’s little constructive communication between people of opposing views at the moment. Concern about taxation is legitimate, he said, but should be within the context of a “bigger picture” in which people are willing to consider how government can meet people’s needs.
Some have criticized the Tea Party movement as too heavily focused on personal denigration of Obama. Steve Green, a political science professor at N.C. State University, said there’s little doubt racism has come into play in some of the criticism Obama has received, mentioning images he’s seen online of Obama portrayed as a monkey. While it’s true previous presidents have been caricatured either in that way or similarly, Green said, the history of how African-Americans have been portrayed in the United States requires an added sensitivity in Obama’s case. (SITE NOTE: BUT it was the Obama faction that made it so that ANY caricature of Obama was liable to bring about claims of racism. By Oct 2009, the Obama crowd had raised the level of this idiocy to any disagreement against ANY Obama administration appointee, program or Obama himself was a "RACIST" comment. The point that Green misses is that there are two sides to the race card. The KKK version of racist is one side, while the reverse discrimination (using the term "racist" to silence dissent) is a terrifying tool in the hands of radicals.)
A McClatchy News account of the May Tea Party in Raleigh included reports of racially motivated comments made by people critical of the protesters, including one person quoted as calling them "white rednecks." (SITE NOTE: The fact is that it is OBAMA who is fueling this trend of turning white against black. As he installs BLACK paintings in the White House, black appointees to key positions, playing the race card at every turn, Obama has started to worry White America -- 75 percent of America is White versus 14 percent is Black. Obama stresses his blackness -- a "high yella" kid brought up in a non-black environment who didn't become "black" until after he went to Chicago. Obama is the problem -- America's reaction is a knee-jerk to Obama's racism.)
Saturday’s event in Graham included one speech by a black political figure, Celo Faucette. He’s a Republican running in a non-partisan race for Burlington City Council. Felice Pete, a black woman who is a nurse anesthetist in Raleigh, spoke about health care, energizing the crowd near the end of the rally. (SITE NOTE: The problem is that black conservatives are being held up as "token blacks" at rallies -- and completely ignored by the media. When we see these BLACK conservatives as CONSERVATIVES who happen to be black, then we will have succeeded. Lloyd Marcus sensational remarks that he is an "black unhyphenated American" holds some truth, but at the same time draws attention away from the fact that they should be CONSERVATIVES first.)
GREEN DESCRIBED the Tea Party movement as unusual compared to other protest movements in recent American history. Typically, he said, protesters rally around a central idea, such as opposition to a war or promoting civil rights for a minority group. Munger sees fear over the growing deficit and national debt as the biggest uniting factor among protestors. He also points to concern over the budget and government debt as producing a recent example of political and policy success: “Bill Clinton did it” by achieving a balanced budget during the 1990s. Still, he agreed with Green that the anti-big government movement needs a plan of its own to present to the country, and, perhaps equal in importance, an effective messenger. “You need alternatives,” he said, not just criticism.
While the chances of a majority coalition emerging in favor of smaller government may not look promising, Munger said, it’s important to remember how quickly the political scene can change. Three years ago, Munger said, few would have thought Barack Obama could be elected president as soon as 2008.
(Source: The Times.)
Tea partyers turn on each other (Nov 2009) After emerging out of nowhere over the summer as a seemingly potent and growing political force, the tea party movement has become embroiled in internal feuding over philosophy, strategy and money and is at risk of losing its momentum.
The grass-roots activists driving the movement have become increasingly divided on such core questions as whether to focus their efforts on shaping policy debates or elections, work on a local, regional, state or national level or closely align themselves with the Republican Party, POLITICO found in interviews with tea party organizers in Washington and across the country. (SITE NOTE: See the friction between Tea Party Express II and the Houston Tea Party.)
Many of these differences date to the movement’s beginnings last winter in an outpouring of anger about the huge increases in government spending enacted by President Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress. But they were overshadowed by the initial explosion of activism that culminated during the congressional town hall meetings in August.
Now the disagreements and the sense of frustration they have engendered could diminish the movement’s potential influence in state and national politics.
“These groups don’t play as well together as they should,” said Kevin Jackson, a St. Louis-based conservative author and activist who has spoken at dozens of tea party-type rallies and is traveling across the South with a convoy sponsored by the national Tea Party Patriots group. “They’re fractured at the organization level, I think mainly because there are a lot of people who have not had managerial experience who all of a sudden are thrust into the limelight and become intoxicated with it. And when a potential rift comes up, instead of handling it and maybe agreeing to disagree, they splinter and go off on their own.”
The movement is composed of hundreds of independent local groups, many of which are incorporated as nonprofits and have localized names referencing the tea parties, 9/12 or We the People.
Many of their members also belong to national conservative groups, including FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity and Grassfire, while the local groups often affiliate formally or informally with loose-knit umbrella organizations, including the Tea Party Patriots and Tea Party Nation. The organizational chaos — combined with a widening apathy at the edges of the movement — has produced a growing consensus among local, state and national tea party leaders that for the movement to evolve from the loose conglomeration of fired-up activists who mobilized this summer to register their dissatisfaction with Obama and Congress at town hall protests and marches across the country into a sustainable bloc with the power to shape the GOP and swing elections, it will require the emergence of a national leader, group or structure.
Ned Ryun, president of American Majority, a nonprofit that has conducted organizer-training sessions for many tea party activists, said “the next three to six months” are going to be critical in determining “what’s going to happen with the tea party movement. Are they going to be a bunch of fingers, or are they going to come together to be a fist?”
Yet, while some tout a planned National Tea Party Convention in February (at which former Alaska governor and tea party darling Sarah Palin is listed as the keynote speaker) as a potentially unifying moment and others point to online coordination efforts, there is deep disagreement about what any national organization would look like and who would lead it.
FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, Grassfire, Americans for Limited Government and a host of other groups have helped organize various efforts capitalizing on the energy behind the tea parties, including providing training, online war rooms that help generate phone calls and ready-to-distribute canvassing literature.
But the groups have also jockeyed — mostly behind the scenes — to take credit for leadership of the movement, which — depending on who’s doing the telling — took its name either as an homage to the 1773 Boston tax revolt that played a major role in sparking the American Revolution or from an acronym standing for “taxed enough already.”
Some activists see the turmoil within the movement and the internal clashes as simply a part of maturing. “Some of these groups may burn out, but this is part of this entrepreneurial process and the competition is good,” said Adam Brandon, vice president of communications for FreedomWorks, a nonprofit chaired by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas. The group has facilitated some of the efforts demonstrating the potential power of the movement. Those have included the confrontations that erupted at congressional town halls this summer, the massive Sept. 12 “Taxpayer March on Washington” as well as another Washington rally this month and support for conservative third-party candidate Doug Hoffman, who narrowly lost a special congressional election in upstate New York this month despite strong support from many tea party groups and leaders. Brandon stressed that the strength of the tea party movement is in its grass-roots nature and that FreedomWorks’s goal is to help facilitate the movement, not to control it. “One thing that’s clear is that anyone who says they own the tea party movement is going to get run over because no one owns the movement,” he said. Brandon acknowledged the “rivalries and turf battles” now gripping parts of the movement but said “that’s normal because people have different ideas about what they want. That’s what’s happening now, and it’s sometimes a painful process.”
Those fights have been waged over issues that go to the heart of the movement’s purpose and strategy as well as more mundane rivalries and personal feuds.
In Myrtle Beach, S.C., disputes within the local tea party about how much to engage in partisan politics and whether board members were profiting from contracts to print paraphernalia emblazoned with the group’s logo prompted the treasurer to resign and join with defectors from a North Carolina We the People group to form a new organization.“There’s a lot of fighting, and everyone wants to be in charge, and that’s why you have so many splinter groups,” said ex-treasurer Janet Spencer, who charged her adversaries within the tea party with saying “derogatory things about me that were very unprofessional.”
She said her new group, called Patriotic Voices of America/Carolina Patriots, counts about 100 members and will not coordinate with the Myrtle Beach Tea Party, whose treasurer, David Ognek, said the friction is “just group dynamics.”
In Texas, a handful of thriving tea party groups severed their ties from the national Tea Party Patriots group after it ousted, then sued a founding board member who had affiliated with a rival group called the Tea Party Express. “Our fight is in Congress and not with each other or with these other groups,” said Toby Marie Walker, who was the Texas state coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots and also co-founded the Waco, Texas, tea party. This Waco group recently drew an estimated 4,000 people to a rally it organized with the Tea Party Express, which travels the country hosting rallies. The month before, it had pulled out of the Tea Party Patriots after the Patriots group accused the Tea Party Express of steering the movement away from nonpartisan issue-based advocacy, embracing extremist rhetoric and raising questions about the Express’s finances. The Patriots’ attack and lawsuit worried the Waco group’s board, Walker said, because “if you align yourself with someone who is going to be that malicious, then how do we know they won’t turn on us?” Other local tea party groups, though, cast their lots with the Patriots, heeding the group’s call to disassociate with the Tea Party Express. In Granbury, Texas, local tea party organizer Josh Sullivan says he believes the movement’s effectiveness is being compromised by extremism.“You have some interesting folks in the Tea Party movement — some of them I can support, but some of them are kind of out there and radical, and I don’t want to associate myself with them,” he said. In Northern Colorado, meanwhile, a handful of active 9/12 groups — named for the Glenn Beck-encouraged effort to stage the Sept. 12 Washington march — are unhappy with the state 9/12 group’s aversion to fundraising and with its focus on national issues and have discussed forming their own rival statewide group.
“People are beginning to become a little bit de-energized — they’re starting to feel like they’re fighting a losing battle, because we send a lot of letters into Washington, D.C., and things like that, and people are saying they’re not listening,” said Brian Britton, who heads the Greeley, Colo., 9/12 group.
That fear is echoed by Glenn Galls, a Hot Springs, Ark., tea party organizer frustrated with the focus of Arkansas’s state-level tea party groups on national races and issues such as cap and trade and health care.
“If the tea party movement is going to continue to thrive and to grow and to have influence,” he said, “it must start coming together and coalescing and finding its purpose in life, because if it doesn’t, the excitement will fade like it does from anything else.” (Source: Politico.)
Tea partiers turn on GOP leadership (Oct 2009) While the energy of the anti-tax and anti-big government Tea Party movement may yet haunt Democrats in 2010, the first order of business appears to be remaking the Republican Party. Whether it’s the loose confederation of Washington-oriented groups that have played an organizational role or the state-level activists who are channeling grass roots anger into action back home, Tea Party forces are confronting the Republican establishment by backing insurgent conservatives and generating their own candidates—even if it means taking on GOP incumbents. “We will be a headache for anyone who believes the Constitution of the United States…isn’t to be protected,” said Dick Armey, chairman of the anti-tax and limited government advocacy group FreedomWorks, which helped plan and promote the Tea Parties, town hall protests and the September ‘Taxpayer March’ in Washington. “If you can’t take it seriously, we will look for places of other employment for you.” “We’re not a partisan organization, and I think many Republicans are disappointed we are not,” added Armey, a former GOP congressman. (SITE NOTE: Freedom Works is part of the problem that is politicizing the conservative tea party grassroots movement. Many tea party organizations are trying to keep away from being associated with the GOP -- but rather representing the broader spectrum of voters. On the other hand, organizations have formed Political Action Committees (PAC) with the specific purpose of supporting GOP candidates. This has caused open friction amongst groups -- especially during the most recent Tea Party Express. The Tea Party Express on the other hand is stating that there is a larger goal of the grassroots movement to reestablish conservatism and that as a group the divisiveness detracts from the efforts.)
In Florida, where the national party has signaled its preference for centrist Gov. Charlie Crist in the GOP Senate primary, tea party activists are lining up behind former state House Speaker Marco Rubio in reaction to Crist’s public backing for President Barack Obama’s stimulus package. “We were very disappointed with Gov. Charlie Crist when he supported the stimulus, the bailout, and he appeared publicly with President Obama,” said Everett Wilkinson, a South Florida-based organizer for Tea Party Patriots. “The opposition comes from Crist’s support for the largest spending plan ever and the environmental policies he’s pushing on the American people.” Rubio has already made appearances at Florida tea parties, and protesters have been seen waving signs declaring, “Anybody but Charlie Crist.” He also has Armey’s endorsement, and Armey headlined a Dallas fundraiser for him several weeks ago.
Wilkinson said that the tax status of his Florida-based group limits what it can do to assist Rubio in the August 2010 primary. But he said the organization would launch an aggressive get-out-the-vote operation and issue a report card grading each candidate appearing on the ballot.
Tea Party activists are also lining up behind challengers to GOP establishment-backed Senate candidates in Colorado and Connecticut. In California, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina—like Crist another National Republican Senatorial Committee-favored Senate contender—is the target of Tea Party animus in her primary against conservative state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore. “My impression is that the support among tea partiers for DeVore is high,” said Mark Meckler, a California-based organizer for Tea Party Patriots. “I hear nothing but praise for the guy.” Tea party organizers say their resistance to Republican Party-backed primary candidates has much to do with what they perceive as the GOP’s stubborn insistence on embracing candidates who don’t abide by a small government, anti-tax conservative philosophy.
(Source: Politico.) (SITE NOTE: The race in the New York 23d District with the GOP "moderate" Republican Dede Scozzafava is the sterling example of the impact of the "grassroots movement." Dede Scozzafava is the Republican candidate in the hot 23rd Congressional District race, picked an unusual spot for a news conference this morning — the sidewalk in front of the Watertown headquarters of her Conservative opponent, Doug Hoffman… “Dede Scozzafava is either extremely cynical or has a very short memory,” Hoffman campaign spokesman Rob Ryan said in a prepared response. “On Aug. 19, 2009, the Hoffman campaign challenged Dede Scozzafava to a series of three to five debates across the district. We asked the Republican county chairs to sponsor them. The Hoffman campaign even offered to pick up the rental costs of the venues. Both Scozzafava and the GOP county chairs refused. “Dede Scozzafava is desperate; she flip-flops on issue after issue, she calls the police on reporters, and now she claims she hasn’t had an opportunity to debate. It’s sad,” Ryan said. “Dede Scozzafava’s staff needs to tell her that she’s the spoiler in this race and that for the good of the Republican Party and her own reputation she should drop out of the race now.” This is the battle of the grassroots conservative voice speaking to the GOP and telling them that "moderates" who are RINOs are NOT acceptable candidates for them.)
Good News for Republicans -- Republicans win two governorships and call it a rebuke of Obama. (Nov 2009) By seizing gubernatorial seats in Virginia and New Jersey, Republicans on Tuesday dispelled any notion of President Obama's electoral invincibility, giving the GOP a lift and offering warning signs to Democrats ahead of the 2010 midterm elections. Republican leaders were quick to cast Tuesday's outcome as a rebuke of Obama, nearly a year after his election."It sends a clear signal that voters have had enough of the president's liberal agenda," Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele said after Robert F. McDonnell emerged as the winner in Virginia.
Still, Democrats could take some solace in Tuesday's results, as the party swiped a traditionally Republican House seat in the far north of New York. The contest drew wide notice as moderates and nationally prominent conservatives waged a fierce battle over the future of the Republican Party. With 92% of the precincts reporting, Democrat Bill Owens had 49% to Conservative Doug Hoffman's 45%.
In Virginia, McDonnell took 59% to Democrat R. Creigh Deeds' 41%, in nearly final returns. In New Jersey, Republican Christopher Christie took 49% to Jon Corzine's 45%.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Democrats easily held onto an open congressional seat when Lt. Gov. John Garamendi defeated Republican David Harmer. With 72% of the precincts reporting, Garamendi led, 53% to 42%.
History suggests that off-year elections are far from predictive. In 2001 -- at a like point in Republican GeorgeW. Bush's presidency -- Democrats won the governorships in New Jersey and Virginia, then lost House and Senate seats a year later. But even before a single vote was cast Tuesday, Democrats had cause for concern. With Obama slipping in polls and many voters unhappy with the Democratic-run Congress, "it's been increasingly clear over the last few months that Democrats were likely to have a tough midterm next year," said Charlie Cook, who handicaps races nationwide for his nonpartisan Cook Political Report. "What we've seen tonight doesn't dispute that assumption."
Tuesday's gubernatorial results certainly won't help Democrats. Perceptions are important in politics -- often more so than reality -- and the GOP's success, including a sweep of all three statewide offices in Virginia, should boost the party's fundraising and candidate recruitment in the coming weeks. More significant was the makeup of Tuesday's electorate in Virginia and New Jersey, states Obama carried a year ago. It was whiter than the electorate that turned out in 2008 to make Obama the first black president in the nation's history, and suggested the difficulty that Democrats could have attracting minority voters without the president atop the ticket.
Also worrisome for Democrats was the sentiment among independents, the voters who swing between parties and often decide elections. They went overwhelmingly Republican in Virginia and New Jersey; if that dynamic carries over to next year, it could mean serious losses for Obama and Democrats fighting to keep their majorities on Capitol Hill. "Democrats who look at 2006 and 2008 and assume there was some kind of permanent change should be shaken out of their lethargy," said Mark Mellman, a party strategist, referring to years when Democrats won control of Congress and the White House, respectively. "It doesn't mean we're going to lose in 2010, but we'd be very foolish to simply assume we're going to win."
Both major parties invested millions of dollars in the gubernatorial contests, aiming not just to push their candidates first across the finish line but also to shape the way the results are interpreted ahead of the midterm vote, when most governors, a third of the Senate and all 435 House seats will be on the ballot. In the short term, the off-year results will surely color perceptions within the Washington Beltway, as Obama and the Democratic-run Congress strive to pass landmark healthcare reform legislation, then turn to a major bill to fight global warming. The outcome, amplified in the echo chambers of cable TV, talk radio and the partisan blogosphere, is unlikely to make things easier for the White House and its allies.
"While the results weren't primarily about President Obama, Republicans will now be energized and Democrats will have to spend the next few weeks explaining what went wrong," said Stuart Rothenberg, publisher of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report. "The results can only further frighten Democrats on Capitol Hill from swing and GOP-leaning districts." There is a danger in reading too much into the elections, given the differences between the two gubernatorial contests, which were shaped far more by personalities and parochial interests than any overarching national themes.
In New Jersey, Democrat Corzine sought to salvage his candidacy by declaring Obama a full partner in his governorship. In Virginia, Democrat Deeds offered only halfhearted support for the president, a sentiment the White House returned in kind. McDonnell's victory, in the president's backyard, seemed cut-and-dried for weeks, if not months. He was a stronger, more polished candidate than Deeds, with history on his side: Virginia voters have not elected a governor from the same party as the president in more than 30 years. Even so, the outcome was a disappointment for Democrats, who hoped they were on a roll after winning both U.S. Senate seats, the last two governorships and winning the state in the 2008 presidential race for the first time in 44 years. This time, however, GOP voters were as energized as Democrats were blase -- fueled by anger over Obama's expansive agenda and the sizable growth in deficit spending.
The same sort of populist upset over taxes -- a perennial sore point in New Jersey -- helped fueled the GOP victory there. In New York, a wild cheer erupted shortly after midnight in Democrat Owens' crowded party room when word circulated that Hoffman had conceded. Parts of the district have been in Republican hands since after the Civil War. But the race turned into another of the battles over the future of the GOP after the local party nominated Dede Scozzafava, a moderate who broke with conservative orthodoxy by supporting legalized abortion and same-sex marriage. Conservatives around the country helped lead a revolt, backing Hoffman, who surged past Scozzafava in polls. She quit the race Saturday and the next day endorsed Owens. The results will surely stoke the debate between Republicans who say that the party needs to moderate its views to broaden its appeal and those who say that only uncompromising conservatives can win back Congress and the White House. But Cook suggested there was no broader significance. "The congressional election in New York was so bizarre it doesn't resemble any race we've seen and isn't likely to look like any of the 510 House, Senate or gubernatorial races next year," Cook said. (Source: LA Times.)
The Democratic SPIN on this off-year election: The Republicans won by appearing moderate; the congressional race in upstate New York revealed deep divisions within the G.O.P; these off-year elections don't matter much anyway. The Republicans won by appearing moderate; there are deep divisions within the G.O.P.; and these off-year elections don't mean much anyway (except when Democrats win, like in 2005). Nancy Pelosi crowed about the "historic victory" in NY-23 which had not gone Republican since 1895.
American Thinker replied, "The Democrats did not lose a 2-1 squeaker last night. They lost two huge races, saw an overall evaporation of 25 basis points of support -- and lost by nearly 500,000 cumulative votes in the three high-profile elections. Or put another way, Republicans won two races decided by millions of voters -- and Democrats won a small race dominated by party operatives. In addition, the GOP made some historic gains in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Washington state special elections to boot."
NY-23 Congressional Race: Conservative Versus RINO
NY-23 race first test of tea party power (Oct 2009) Tea party activists from across the nation are rallying around the House special election in upstate New York, viewing it as the first electoral test of the nascent conservative movement’s political muscle. Organizers up and down the East Coast report that activists are making their way into the campaign offices of Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman, with the volunteers focusing their efforts in Oswego, Madison and Jefferson counties. While tea party organizers say the election is a unique opportunity to hold the Democratic and Republican parties to account, much of their energy is being directed against Dede Scozzafava, the GOP establishment-backed nominee whom they view as a squishy moderate who represents all that is wrong with the Republican Party.
“I went here from Washington, D.C., saying, ‘Now what?’” said Jennifer Bernstone, an organizer for Central New York 912, a Syracuse-based tea party group that so far has about 300 members getting out the vote for Hoffman. “Well, here’s the ‘Now what.’”
Numerous anti-Scozzafava websites have emerged across the blogosphere. Dana Loesch, a St. Louis-based activist, has launched “Dump Dede,” a site that tracks nationwide conservative opposition to Scozzafava and urges viewers to “throw your support behind conservatism, ladies and gents; the clock starts now.”
Michael Patrick Leahy, a Nashville, Tenn.-area tea party activist, has turned his Drudge Report-like TCOT Report into a constantly updated bulletin board of news and rumors slamming Scozzafava. “Breitbart’s BigGovernment.com, Washington Times, National Review, RedState Join Growing Avalanche of Other Conservatives Calling for Scozzafava to Withdraw from Race in NY 23rd,” blared the site’s headline Thursday afternoon. “They’re all making a concerted effort for Doug Hoffman, and they are making New York 23 a last stand,” said Erick Erickson, who has been urging tea party activists for months to ramp up electoral efforts against the Republican Party on his influential conservative blog RedState. “New York should be a hill to die on for conservative activists.”
Scozzafava faces Democrat Bill Owens and Hoffman in the Nov. 3 contest to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.).
In New York, tea party activists have emerged as the ground troops for the small, grass-roots-oriented Hoffman campaign. Bernstone, the CNY912 activist who in her day job works as an acting coach, said she now participates in nightly 9:30 p.m. conference calls with Hoffman campaign aides.
“We are helping his organization get out the vote for what we believe is the better of the two candidates,” said William Lamar Wells, who heads up CNY912. “This is rapidly elevating.” “We’re seeing a lot of tea party people coming into the office,” said Rob Ryan, a Hoffman spokesman. “In a very competitive election, they’re providing a lot of manpower to put Doug Hoffman over the top.”
For the tea party activists, the special election represents the next big event for the loosely confederated movement, which began earlier this year with local Tax Day “tea parties,” followed by town hall protests and a Sept. 12 March on Washington. “I think, nationally, the tea party movement to a person is supporting Hoffman,” said Leahy. On Thursday, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), chairman of FreedomWorks, an organization that has played a role in coordinating tea party activities, personally endorsed Hoffman and implored his conservative followers to get on board. (Source: .) (SITE NOTE: 23 Oct has been a banner day for the Doug Hoffman campaign, not only have they been racking up an impressive wave of contributions from across the country but Dick Armey, Michele Bachmann and a slew of conservative blogs. Rush Limbaugh said good things about him and pointed out that his main opponent Dede Scozzafava was on the far left of the Democrat Party much less the Republican Party. None of these will have the impact of a message posted on FaceBook tonight though. A civilian named Sarah Palin endorsed Doug Hoffman as well. Though Newt Gingrich supports Scozzafava, on 23 Oct 2009, Sarah Palin came out in support of Hoffman claiming that he represents the true ideals of conservativism -- not Scozzafava who is no different from a Democrat.)
N.Y. special election has broad political significance -- Scozzafava bows out, Republicans back Hoffman (Oct 2009) Significant battles sometimes take place in obscure places. Until the last month, New York's 23rd district was known mostly for its cold climate, its history of electing Republicans to the House and its relatively moderate politics. The GOP has held the district for more than a century. As a result of a surprise announcement on Saturday, Republicans are likely to continue to hold it for the time being. But the developments that put Republicans back in a stronger position to win a special House election on Tuesday will reverberate unpredictably far beyond the boundaries of the 23rd district. By the time this fight is over, several questions will be front and center heading into the 2010 midterm elections. One is who really controls the Republican Party? Another is whether grassroots anger is now the driving force in politics. A third is whether all this is a wise and winning strategy for Republicans or a great gamble by what has been a beleaguered party.
When President Obama nominated former New York representative John McHugh to be his Army secretary, he created a vacancy in McHugh's upstate district that quickly became the scene of a civil war within the Republican Party. Republicans have held the district, or portions of it, for more than a century. McHugh first won his seat in 1992. He was a moderate Republican, a vanishing species within the party but a politician well suited to the views of his constituents. His district, like many in the Northeast, has been moving toward the Democrats. The Democrats now control 26 of New York's 29 House seats. Last year, Obama carried McHugh's 23rd district over John McCain by five percentage points.
The local Republican leadership tapped state assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava to run in the special election. She seemed to them a good fit for the moderate district. On social issues in particular, however, she was out of step with national Republicans, supporting both abortion rights and gay marriage. Nonetheless, she enjoyed the backing of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Republican National Committee, House leaders and, among others, former speaker Newt Gingrich.
Conservatives rebelled. To grassroots activists and some prominent GOP officials, Scozzafava's brand of moderate politics was an offense to the party's principles, a bridge too far at a time when Republicans are engaged in a serious debate about how to recover from two devastating election defeats. Quickly they began to coalesce around Doug Hoffman, who was running as the Conservative Party candidate. Tea Party activists took up the cause for Hoffman. Activists from far away camped out in the district and began organizing for Hoffman. Prominent conservative radio talk show host backed him, as did a host of grassroots-oriented conservative organizations.
Then there was Sarah Palin. In her first significant move since resigning as governor of Alaska, Palin announced her support for Hoffman, deepening the split between the party leaders and the grassroots. Palin's endorsement prompted others to back Hoffman over the GOP nominee. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is eyeing a 2012 presidential race and knows the energy and power of the party's conservative base, also backed Hoffman.
Scozzafava held a narrow lead over Democrat Bill Owens when all this started. Hoffman's growing support gave rise to fears among Republicans that he would so divide the Republican vote that Democrats might steal the seat. Then, as more and more attention focused on the race and more conservatives jumped aboard Hoffman's campaign, Scozzafava rapidly began to fade.
By Saturday morning, the race was between Owens and Hoffman. By Saturday afternoon, Hoffman was rated the favorite. In between, Scozzafava announced she was suspending her campaign, Republican Party leaders quickly endorsed Hoffman and the party committees began to throw their remaining resources behind a candidate they had been trying to undermine for weeks.
"Palin was catalyst -- -her endorsement turned the tide and gave everyone else permission to do the right thing," one conservative Republican strategist said Saturday. "If Hoffman pulls it off, it will be a case study in [political science] graduate seminars for years to come on how the grassroots rebelled against the party bosses and won."
31 Oct 2009: Well that wrecks our NY-23 poll. We're finding Hoffman with more support than Owens and Scozzafava combined...explains the withdrawal. Hoffman has polled consistently at 45-46% all day, Owens up a little since Scozzafava dropout but still doesn't look close. With about 200 interviews down we had Hoffman 45 Owens 26 Scozzafava 17...her withdrawal will just make it that much easier for Hoffman, (Source: Twitter: Public Polling Place.)
This was a classic case of the grassroots overrunning the leadership of the party and it carries implications for the battles that will play out next year and beyond. As the Hoffman campaign gathered momentum, prominent supporters of Scozzafava decried litmus test politics, arguing that for Republicans to become a national party again they must back candidates with disparate views on issues. They lost this round, as activists drove home the message that candidates can stray only so far from conservative doctrine. The success of the activists in the upstate New York district is likely to prompt more conservative challenges to candidates deemed not conservative enough.
It's been clear that the forces outside of Washington and out of the control of the party leadership are having a sizeable impact on the Republican Party and on the country's politics. Party leaders like the enthusiasm and the activism that they see behind these groups -- the first real energy within the conservative coalition in at least four years -- and want to do everything to take advantage of it. But as the battle in the 23rd district reminded them, they are being pulled along.
Turnout on Tuesday, says Hoffman, will be crucial to whether he wins. “I need Dede supporters to know how important it is to go out and cast their vote on November 3rd,” he says. “The Democrats are pumping over $1 million in negative ads against me this week, with the help of the Working Families Party and ACORN. They’re sending in ground troops to take this away from the Republicans. It’s important for both my supporters and Scozzafava supporters to know that if they vote for me, they’re voting for less taxes and less spending. If they don’t vote for me, that means that they want someone who will be working hand in hand with Nancy Pelosi in Washington.” “We’re still fighting,” says Hoffman. “We’re still the underdog.” (Source: National Review. During the day Saturday, she began to quietly and thoughtfully encourage her supporters to vote for Democrat William L. Owens. Just as any DEMOCRAT would do.)
The benefit is that Republicans now have a more energized electorate than the Democrats. As the saying goes, satisfied people don't vote in midterm elections, dissatisfied voters do. But the risk is that a Republican Party that is at record lows in terms of identification will be pulled even farther to the right in ways that will limit its appeal to the center of the electorate.
Gingrich, who joined others to support Hoffman Saturday, said candidates running in 2010 and 2012 will have to take notice of what happened. "I don't think you can afford to be dictated to by the hard right because then you can't get to the center," he said. "But you have to recognize that there is a vast conservative movement in this country, it is very well organized and you have to respect its size and strength and recognize that it's a key engine of your success."
The related factor is the politics of anger that seems to be a force right now. It takes a variety of forms: anger at Wall Street, anger at the banks, anger at Washington for bailing out the big boys, anger at the Obama administration for what is seen as a big government agenda, anger at political leaders of both parties for being in cahoots with the powerful against struggling families.
A veteran Republican strategist and a veteran Democratic strategist independently voiced their belief recently that anger is the most significant force in politics today and a potential threat to incumbents of both parties next year. "I have never seen it like this," the Republican strategist said recently. "It is a breakdown of trust." The anger that welled up during town hall meetings in the summer was aimed primarily at Obama's health care initiative, but many of those voices also expressed frustration with politicians of both parties.
In New Jersey, dissatisfaction with Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine and his Republican challenger, Chris Christie, has given a boost to independent Chris Daggett, who has criticized both major party candidates. Daggett's candidacy is a potentially decisive factor in that race. What just happened in New York's 23rd district was an expression of anger at the Republican leadership, local and national. In the short term, Scozzafava's decision to suspend her campaign gives a boost to GOP hopes of holding the seat. In the longer term, the outcome of the GOP civil war there suggests that, for now, the grassroots holds the upper hand.
(Source: Washington Post.) (SITE NOTE: With Democrats poised to lose the governor's race in Virginia, and to possibly lose the governor's race in New Jersey and a special election for a House seat in New York, the White House has started insisting any pending losses will not have any significance. "Whatever the results are I don't think they portend a lot in dealing with the future," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters on Friday, pointing to the fact that Democrats won the Virginia and New Jersey governors' races in 2001 despite a very popular President Bush, with Republicans picking up seats in Congress. (Source: ABC News.))
(SITE NOTE: But remember the biggest factor going against Hoffman was that he was NOT from the district. This would have played a major role -- and should also serve as a model for other conservative grassroots candidates. They need to be vetted before anyone jumps on their bandwagon. However, the effect of his come from behind runner up spot is enough to send chills up the spines of those Democrats up for reelection in 2010. Major Republican victories in two states last night left the fate of President Obama's signature health reforms in doubt and Democrats licking their wounds a year before the 2010 mid-term elections.
BUT regardless of the loss, the message to the GOP was VERY plain. The Conservative elements of the GOP were asserting themselves. In essence, it was saying to the GOP, we would rather have a conservative loss than a RINO win in contested areas. It was a bold statement that the GOP had better return to its conservative roots BEFORE 2010 or face the wrath of the conservative voters.
)
Sad News for Grassroots Movement -- Democrat wins House seat in heavily GOP area in NY (Nov 2009) Democrat Bill Owens has captured the special election for a New York congressional seat that became a fight over the identity of the Republican Party. Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman and Republican Dierdre Scozzafava (skoh-zuh-FAH'-vuh) in the heavily Republican 23rd congressional District in rural northern New York. Scozzafava abruptly withdrew Saturday and supported Owens. Hoffman has conceded the race. With 88 percent of the precincts reporting, Owens had 49 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Hoffman. Scozzafava had 6 percent. The race has been getting national attention, with some calling it a referendum on President Barack Obama and others saying it could help Republicans focus their message to attract more people to the party.
BUT WAIT... Is It Possible the Wrong Guy Was Sworn In on NY-23? (Nov 2009) Boy, if this recanvassing comes out with a big surge of votes for Doug Hoffman, a whole lot of post-election analyses are going to have to be rewritten: "A recanvassing in the 11-county district shows that Owens' lead has narrowed to 3,026 votes over Hoffman, 66,698 to 63,672, according to the latest unofficial results from the state Board of Elections. In Oswego County, where Hoffman was reported to lead by only 500 votes with 93 percent of the vote counted election night, inspectors found Hoffman actually won by 1,748 votes — 12,748 to 11,000. The new vote totals mean the race will be decided by absentee ballots, of which about 10,200 were distributed, said John Conklin, communications director for the state Board of Elections." Note that Hoffman conceded the race on Election Night. This may get really interesting, or it may simply reveal that Bill Ownes won with fewer votes than we thought. UPDATE: A few readers note that it would be really tough to make up a 3,000 vote margin in a three-way race among 10,000 absentee ballots. (Source: NRO: Campaign Spot.))
Hoffman 'unconcedes' in N.Y.-23 House race (Nov 2009) Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman has "unconceded" in New York's special House election after reports that the vote margin between him and Rep. Bill Owens (D) has narrowed. Hoffman conceded the race on Election Night after learning he trailed Owens by 5,335 votes. But the Syracuse Post-Standardreported last week that the margin had shrunk to 3,026 votes after recanvassing. Hoffman appeared on conservative commenatator Glenn Beck's radio show this afternoon. Beck asked the him if he would "unconcede." "Yes, if I knew this information at the election night, I would not have conceded," Hoffman said. Beck asked him again if he was "uncondeding" and Hoffman replied "If that's possible, yes."
Officials in the upstate New York district are still counting over 10,000 absentee ballots, which also had Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava's name on them. Scozzafava dropped out of the race three days before election day citing poor fundraising and polling returns. She then backed Owens. Owens was sworn into Congress on Nov. 6, just before Democrats voted on the healthcare reform bill on Saturday. Should Hoffman come away with more votes, a highly unlikely possibility, Owens would have to be removed from office, according to the House Clerk. Hoffman would have to take over 65 percent of the absentee ballots in order to eclipse Owens. In the interview, Hoffman admitted his victory would be a "long shot." (Source: The Hill.)
Hoffman alleges vote fraud in NY 23 (Nov 2009) Even as he faces near-impossible odds of pulling ahead in the count, Doug Hoffman announced Wednesday night that he is officially revoking his concession from Election Night, and is accusing labor unions and ACORN of stealing the election for Rep. Bill Owens (D-N.Y.). Hoffman posted a message on his campaign site Wednesday alleging dirty tricks by Democrats, and is asking for additional campaign contributions to fund a legal challenge to the election results.
As evidence surfaces, we find out that reported results from election night were far from accurate. ACORN and the unions did their best to try and sway the results to Obamacare supporter Bill Owens," Hoffman wrote on his campaign site. "Rest assured, they will not succeed, and I am therefore revoking my statement of concession."
Despite his unfailing optimism, Hoffman currently faces next-to-no chance of pulling ahead, with nearly half of the absentee ballots counted. The Watertown Daily Times reports that Hoffman currently trails Owens by 2,832 votes, with 4,262 absentee ballots left to be counted, with him only picking up a net of 344 votes in the process. Hoffman would need to win nearly 80 percent of the outstanding absentee ballots to win. St. Lawrence, Oswego, Jefferson, Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties still have to finish their absentee count – with much of the remaining votes coming from Democratic strongholds that Owens carried on Election Night. And Hoffman's claims are being undermined by his own staff and Republican election workers in the district. His campaign adviser, Rob Ryan, told the Syracuse Post-Standard that the campaign "knows chances for a victory grow more remote with each passing day." The Jefferson County Republican elections commissioner told the Watertown Daily Times that Hoffman's allegations were "absolutely false."
But that's not stopping Hoffman from crying foul. "The people of NY-23 deserve to have their ballots counted properly, but we can't let ACORN or the unions keep that from happening. They have more lawyers and more experience tampering with democracy," he wrote. "We need to make sure that fair elections are a reality in NY-23, just like our Founding Fathers envisioned. So long as we remain the "land of the free," we MUST ensure every vote is counted. Help us today so we may be the first of many conservative victories during the Obama Regime." (Source:Politico.)
An Owens victory could signal renewed strength among Democrats, or at least reassure them of Republicans' perceived weakness. The seat has been strongly Republican for decades and is one of only three in the state's 29-seat delegation held by the party. Republican John McHugh vacated the seat in September to become Army secretary. "They're in a civil war over the definition of their party," said Paul Blank, a Democratic consultant. "And the extremists have won."
No matter the outcome, Republicans will be sorting out their identity as the party tries to strike a balance between growing its ranks and preserving the values that set it apart from the Democratic Party. "I think that the Republican Party is broad enough to handle many different candidates, but the fact is that I'm a commonsense conservative Republican—I am not a radical," Hoffman said Monday. "The point is that Assemblywoman Scozzafava was not a moderate Republican. She was an ultraliberal Republican." (Source: Breitbart.) (SITE NOTE: Now that the election is over, the task of dealing with Dede Scozzafava is being debated -- and most likely she will be stripped of her leadership position in the New York Assembly for how she turned on Hoffman by supporting a DEMOCRAT. A smart RINO would have just kept her mouth shut -- but she embarassed the Republican National Committee that gave her funds and now she will have some payback.)
VIRUS in the VOTING MACHINES: Tainted Results in NY-23 (Nov 2009) The computerized voting machines used by many voters in the 23rd district had a computer virus - tainting the results, not just from those machines known to have been infected, but casting doubt on the accuracy of counts retrieved from any of the machines.
Cathleen Rogers, the Democratic Elections Commissioner in Hamilton County stated that they discovered a problem with their voting machines the week prior to the election and that the "virus" was fixed by a Technical Support representative from Dominion, the manufacturer. The Dominion/Sequoia Voting Systems representative "reprogrammed" their machines in time for them to use in the Nov. 3rd Special Election. None of the machines (from the same manufacturer) used in the other counties within the 23rd district were looked at nor were they recertified after the "reprogramming" that occurred in Hamilton County.
Republican Commissioner Judith Peck refused to speculate on whether the code that governs the counts could have been tampered with. She indicated that "as far as I know, the machine in question was not functioning properly and was repaired" by the technician. Commissioners in other counties have stated that they were not made aware of the virus issue in Hamilton County. In Jefferson County, inspectors from four districts claim that "human error" resulted in their "mistakenly" entering 0 votes for Hoffman in several districts, resulting in Owens leading Jefferson County on election night though the recanvas of the computer counts now show that Hoffman is leading. Jefferson County has not conducted a manual paper ballot recount.
In St. Lawrence County, machines in Louisville, Waddington, Claire, and Rossie "broke" early in the voting process on election day. Republican Commissioner Deborah Pahler said that the machines kept "freezing up... like Windows does all the time," and that they experienced several paper jams as well. The voted ballots that could not be scanned were placed in an Emergency Lock Box and re-scanned later at the St. Lawrence County Board of Elections. Election officials in St. Lawrence County were given no advance knowledge of a potential virus in the system.
At least one County official thus far has raised concern that it's possible that ALL of the machines used in the NY-23 election had the 'virus' but only a few malfunctioned as a result. The counts from any district that used the ImageCast machines are suspect due to "the virus" discovered in Hamilton County, last-minute "reprogramming" by Dominion workers, and security flaws in the systems themselves. A manual paper-ballot recount of the vote could resolve computer vote accuracy questions.
Frank Hoar, an attorney for the Democratic Party, initially ordered the impound of malfunctioning machines but released the order on Nov. 5th so that Bill Owens could be sworn in to Congress in time to vote on the House Health bill on November 7th. Pahler said that once the impound order was released they opened the locked ballot box and had the ballots scanned. Pahler also stated that after they were able to get data from the malfunctioning machines, they did a hand-count of the ballots as well to ensure that the counts matched. Even though not required to, both commissioners in St. Lawrence County agreed that the manual count was necessary due to the malfunctions
The machines themselves are languishing at the St. Lawrence County Board of Elections until after the election results have been certified to the state on November 28th, 2009. Pahler indicated that they have not yet been able to examine the machines to determine why they malfunctioned. A qualified technician would be able to verify the presence of a virus in the computers, but, other than the infected machines, no security precautions were taken to ensure chain of custody on the remaining computerized voting machines utilized in the 23rd district.
Doug Hoffman, the Conservative candidate in this election says that he was forced to concede after having been given erroneous election results on Nov. 3rd, in particular from Oswego County. Oswego County's election night results were off by over 1,000 votes. Hoffman claims that the "chaos" on which Oswego County chairs blame the errors and "inspectors who read numbers incorrectly when phoning in results... sounds like a tactic right from the ACORN playbook." Some County Election officials are stating that the errors, referred to by Hoffman, are standard election-night chaos and not the result of conspiracy or tampering. Whether the erroneous results are computer error, or tampering, significant doubt now exists with regard to the accuracy of the vote counts from November 3rd. Hoffman is raising funds for a possible legal challenge to the results and requesting that the Boards of Election hand-count every vote. On Tuesday (17 Nov), he "unconceded" the race. In light of the current concerns over the accuracy of the machine-counted votes, Hoffman may now have a legitimate reason to contest the election results.
Of further note, the models of ImageCast machines used in the districts have a slot through which the paper ballot is deposited into a secure holding tank underneath the machine after the ballot is scanned by the machine. The problem is that the slot is readily accessible to the voter (or poll worker) to stuff manually. 10 voted ballots could be deposited in the slot for every one voter... and if the electronic count was compromised, the "paper backup" would be useless.
The ImageCast machines have one more significant and scary flaw: USB ports. USB ports allow various devices to be attached to a computer in order to input information, connect a device, add wireless network capability and so on. Wireless network devices and USB storage devices can (and are) made small enough to fit into a regular wristwatch or bracelet.
Through either type of device, software hacks or remote control of the voting machine could be implemented or a virus introduced. Since standard count audits are only done on 3% of the machines unless there is a malfunction, a functional hack or software change could adjust election counts with the County or State Boards of Election none the wiser.
The paper ballots have not been counted by the County Boards of Elections except in the 4 districts where the known computer malfunctions occurred. The remaining districts performed a mandatory 3% spot check of the computer results but have not manually counted the remainder of the paper ballots and do not intend to.
The paper ballots themselves are another issue of concern to many voters. Unlike the traditional pull-lever voting machine that tallies its votes mechanically, the ballots used by the scanning system exist as a voted ballot after the fact. New York State law currently has no provision for those ballots to remain in public view to assure voters that they have not been tampered with.
Privacy concerns exist in many districts as well. State guidelines say that the voter is supposed to be issued a privacy sleeve to cover the ballot so that no one may see the voted ballot and thus how a voter voted. The state also suggests a large booth that allows the voter to fill out the ballot in privacy but many voters complained that the district they voted in offered no privacy sleeve and that the area they were supposed to complete the ballot in was not private.
Erik Dunk, a Jefferson County resident, voted in Henderson, NY. He said that the process was very nervewracking and that his voted ballot was not only in plain view after he completed it but that the workers took the ballot from him and fed it into the ImageCast machine themselves - removing what little privacy remained in the voting process and casting even more doubt on the security of the process.
Despite continued assurances from the manufacturer that the system is unhackable, reliable, easy to use, private, and secure; a stream of lawsuits, allegations of voter fraud, and machine failures against Sequoia from other congressional districts continue to contradict their statements. The manufacturer of the machines, Dominion/Sequoia Voting Systems is the same company that Dan Rather accused of causing over 50,000 votes to go uncounted in the 2000 Presidential Election in Florida due to intentional oversight. Rather's report claimed that Sequoia was well aware of the issues but proceeded into the election utilizing an inferior product and told election workers and technicians to "ignore the problems.
New York election officials are in a corner. While there is significant evidence of malfunction with the new voting machines that were in use in the 23rd District and the accuracy of the recorded votes, the State had no choice but to use them. A Federal Court order demanded that New York have the machines in place and use them or be found in violation of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 which requires that all polling locations have handicapped-accessible voting machines with a variety of options available so that anyone may use the machine to vote. (Source; Gouverneur Times.)
Impossible Numbers Certified in NY-23 (Nov 2009) The election results certified by the St. Lawrence County Board of Elections for New York’s 23rd Congressional District contain some numbers that are mathematically impossible. These numbers were requested in person and transmitted by e-mail just hours before certification on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009.
For six election districts in St. Lawrence County (the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 7th districts in Canton, the 14th district in Massena, and the 2nd district in Oswegatchie) negative numbers appear in the column for “blank” ballots, known in other states as “undervotes.”
Blank vote counts are ballots in which the voter did not choose any candidate in a given election and are determined by subtracting the total number of votes cast for the candidates from the number of voters who completed ballots. The remaining number would be those voters who didn't cast a vote for that election.
In Canton's 7th district, the certified results show a total of 148 ballots cast. The results of those votes were counted as 88 votes for Owens, 11 votes for Scozzafava, and 80 votes for Hoffman. The problem is that these numbers add up to 179 votes counted for the candidates, and there were only 148 ballots cast; St. Lawrence County certified these numbers to the state as accurate with the number of 'blank' ballots reported as -31.
The Board of Elections stated repeatedly that their numbers add up, and strictly speaking, they do. But negative numbers should not be required to make this happen.
Election analysts refer to this phenomenon as “phantom voters,” because they are apparitions. They do not actually exist. There can never be more votes counted for any office than the number of actual voters who cast ballots. There could be one or two, if on occasion an actual voter forgot to sign the poll book, but never 31.
In addition to the 31 “phantom votes” certified in Canton's 7th district, there are 16 more in Canton's 2nd district, two in Canton's 4th district, 20 in the 7th, 22 in Massena 14th district, and 2 in Oswegatchie 2nd district.
These numbers are minimums. As 'blank' votes do often occur when a voter does not choose a candidate, the number of blank ballots are commonly a positive number. According to the certiified results there were 757 "blank" ballots countywide, or 3.0% of the total ballots cast. Thus, along with the -31 "phantom votes" in Canton's 2nd district, there were likely four or five people who actually cast a 'blank' ballot, meaning that the number of phantom votes is more like 35 or 36 for that district.
An audit of the poll books revealed that there were 537 actual voters at the polls in Canton's 7th and 8th district, which voted at the same polling place, and there were 25 absentee ballots, for a total of 562. According to the certified results, there were 179 votes counted for Congress in Canton's 7th and 375 in Canton's 8th, making 554 altogether, but only 529 voters cast ballots.
Similarly, there were 435 actual voters at the polls in Canton 2, 4 and 6, which voted at the same polling place, and there were 26 absentee ballots, for a total of 461. According to the certified results, there were 449 votes counted for Congress, but only 411 ballots cast.
In Massena's 14th district, a single-precinct polling place, there were 365 actual voters at the polls, and there were 14 absentee ballots, for a total of 379. According to the certified results, there were 363 votes counted for Congress, but only 341 ballots cast.
In Oswegatchie 2nd and 4th districts, which voted at the same polling place, there were 412 actual voters at the polls, and there were 35 absentee ballots, for a total of 447. According to the certified results, there were 436 votes counted for Congress, and 442 ballots cast.
Thus, in the cases cited above, there may have been enough actual voters at the polls to account for the vote totals for the candidates. But the numbers do not match up, they do not withstand an audit, and they should not be certified by the State.
Oswegatchie illustrates perfectly how 'blank ballots' and 'phantom votes' can cancel each other out. Officially, there were two 'phantom votes' in Oswegatchie 2nd district (or -2 blank ballots), and a total of 25 blank votes in Oswegatchie's 1st, 3rd, and 4th district. The town of Oswegatchie's total number of blank votes was therefore reported as 23. For every town except Canton, the town totals for blank votes are positive numbers. “Phantom votes” are rarely visible except when scrutinizing the results at the precinct level.
In the certified election results from the above districts, where the voting machines appeared to be working properly, the computer-generated vote counts cannot possibly be accurate as they are showing more votes counted than voters.
Fundamentally, the fault does not lie with the Board of Elections, although perhaps they should have noticed the negative numbers before certifying them. The fault lies with computerized vote counting and our willingness to trust it.
It has already been reported that zero votes were incorrectly reported in numerous precincts in Jefferson, Madison, and Oswego Counties for one of the Congressional candidates, and that voting machine failures occurred in dozens of polling places in at least three different counties.
In St. Lawrence County, ballots from eight polling places had to be hand counted due to voting machine failure. Machines in Louisville, Waddington, Clare, and Rossie "broke" early in the voting process on Election Day. Republican Commissioner Deborah Pahler said that the machines kept "freezing up... like Windows does all the time". Machines in Hermon, Lawrence, Colton's 2nd district, and Massena's 1st and 2nd districts failed to print the results. Frank Hoar, an attorney for the Democratic Party, initially ordered the impoundment of malfunctioning machines but released the order on November 5th so that Bill Owens could be sworn in to Congress in time to vote on the House health bill on November 7th.
Electronic vote counting is much too vulnerable to failure and/or manipulation. If a mechanical (lever-style) machine breaks down, the failure is visible, and only the one machine is affected. With electronic vote counting, one person can change the outcome of an election and not leave a trace. This has been shown over and over again in scientific studies, including those commissioned by the Secretaries of State in California and Ohio.
But more than that, how can we have a democracy if we cannot know if the vote count is accurate? If election officials cannot know, and if the candidates cannot know, and if the voters cannot know that the official results are true and correct, why even have an election? Why go through the motions?
In New York State, 232 years of election case law pursuant to the state constitution has strongly upheld the requirement that votes be counted visibly, in public view, and the results proclaimed, before the ballots or the lever machines leave the polling place. It has long been understood that vote counting concealed from the public is a crime waiting to happen. Because electronic vote counting is an invisible process, it flies in the face of tradition and case law.
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D., is one of the leading election fraud investigators in the United States. His book on the 2004 Ohio election, Witness to a Crime: A Citizens’ Audit of an American Election, based on examination of some 30,000 photographs of actual ballots, poll books, and other election records, is available at http://www.witnesstoacrime.com (Source:Gouveneur Times.)
New poll shows 'Tea Party' more popular than Republican Party (Dec 2009) A new Rasmussen poll finds that the tea party movement's popularity is growing, so much so that it garners more support than the Republican party on a generic Congressional ballot. The poll hints that the burgeoning discontent among conservatives within the GOP threatens to splinter the party at a time when the popularity of President Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress are waning as we head into an election year.
The tea party movement was conceived out of antipathy for President Obama's economic stimulus plan and cultivated by groups like Freedom Works and conservative commentators such as Glenn Beck. Its guiding principals are centered around opposition to tax increases and the expansion of federal government spending. The movement rose to prominence when it organized highly-publicized protest gatherings across the country on April 15th of this year.
"Okay, suppose the Tea Party Movement organized itself as a political party. When thinking about the next election for Congress, would you vote for the Republican candidate from your district, the Democratic candidate from your district, or the Tea Party candidate from your district?"
The response of all those who were polled was Democratic 36%, Tea Party 23% and Republican 18%. Further, the poll found that independents are more inclined to vote for a tea party candidate over Democratic or Republican candidates.
While some Republicans have expressed dismay over the emergence of the tea party movement, others have suggested that the GOP should embrace the group and its issues.
Tea party sympathizers recently proposed a resolution to make the RNC withhold its endorsement and funding unless candidates pass an "ideological purity test." The movement will hold its first national convention this January in Nashville, and Glenn Beck has indicated that he intends to stake out a more activist role in politics going forward by holding seminars across the country to educate conservatives on how to run for office without the support of a major political party.
But the Republican party has yet to determine whether or not they can harness the energy emanating from the right wing without being pulled out of the mainstream. This dilemma was highlighted by the GOP's November loss of a congressional seat it had held since the 1800s, after a tea party-supported candidate pressured the establishment Republican out of the race. That race suggested something rather striking: while the GOP may not be able to win without the support of the tea party movement, they might not be able to win with it running the show either.
(Source: Yahoo.)
Send a Pink Slip to Washington Campaign by World Net Daily has sent over 4 million as of October 2009
(SITE NOTE: For a second time, the supplies of pink paper have been wiped out across North America by a true grass-roots campaign to send pink slips to members of Congress, warning them against support for the health-care takeover, big spending, hate-crimes legislation and energy taxes.
WND got notification today of the shortage – which already is being resolved – from the printer of pink slips that have been streaming into Capitol Hill by the millions. The latest count was more than 8 million. "The WND pink slip campaign has wiped out ALL Hammermill pink paper supplies in North America," said a campaign official. "All pink paper resources throughout the country were pooled to ship to our printer for production of pink slips.
"Other than small quantities already in stock at print shops and retail outlets, no other pink paper is available for purchase since it is currently on backorder," the official continued. "Hammermill's mills are ramping up to manufacture more pink paper, ALL designated for WND." (Source: WND.)
Obama Shatters Spending Record for First-Year Presidents
(Nov 2009) The federal government spent $3.5 trillion during President Obama's first year in office. This far exceeds the spending for any other first-year president. President Obama has shattered the budget record for first-year presidents -- spending nearly double what his predecessor did when he came into office and far exceeding the first-year tabs for any other U.S. president in history.
In fiscal 2009 the federal government spent $3.52 trillion -- $2.8 trillion in 2000 dollars, which sets a benchmark for comparison. That fiscal year covered the last three-and-a-half months of George W. Bush's term and the first eight-and-a-half months of Obama's. That price tag came with a $1.4 trillion deficit, nearly $1 trillion more than last year. The overall budget was about a half-trillion more than Bush's for 2008, his final full fiscal year in office.
That's a big increase. But compared with other presidents' first years in office, Obama is running circles around them. Bush spent $1.8 trillion in 2001, according to government budget figures that have been adjusted for inflation based on 2000 dollars. Using the same formula, former President Bill Clinton spent $1.6 trillion in 1993.
The last president to clock in under $1 trillion was Gerald Ford, who logged a $982 billion budget in 1975. Post-war Dwight Eisenhower even brought Uncle Sam's tab down to $556 billion in his first year, 1953.
Obama's first-year budget, adjusted for inflation, is about five times that. His 2009 budget is also close to 21 percent of that for Clinton's eight years in office -- Clinton's spending added up to $13.5 trillion over his two full terms. Bush spent $16.8 trillion from 2001-2008. (Source: Fox News.)
And WND's 2009 'Person of the Year' is ...
Honored is the one who 'marches for the future of America' (Dec 2009) The tea-party participant – the individual who is frustrated America's leaders don't seem to want to "preserve and protect" the republic and gives up his or her own time, talents and money to warn elected leaders to choose the straight and narrow – has been selected by WorldNetDaily editors as WND's 2009 "Person of the Year."
On the WND Forums pages where readers were asked to contribute their suggestions and comments, "Warsong" noted the impressive quality of nominees ranging from the hackers who uncovered what apparently was a scheme to cook global warming evidence to longtime conservative stalwart Rush Limbaugh and the dramatic leadership of former Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin.
"I vote for the tea parties," Warsong wrote. "Unless we all become tea partiers and pull together, this Golden Age is doomed." Added "su87491," "They gave their own time and resources to take it to the CONgress people on behalf of millions more that could not. I salute you." "AKMac" said, "There will no longer be a USA without US."
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Runners-up in the 2009 choice list were Palin; James O'Keefe and Hanna Giles, who launched a series of undercover reports documenting ACORN's apparent willingness to aid and abet underage prostitution; the anonymous Climategate whistleblowers who hacked into a United Kingdom research center and unveiled e-mails that seem to suggest data manipulation; and Limbaugh.
Others with honorable mention included Fox news commentator Glenn Beck; Lila Rose, whose undercover work exposed Planned Parenthood's apparent willingness to ignore statutory rape and encourage lying to a judge; Carrie Prejean, who stood up for traditional marriage; author Mark Levin; UK singing phenom Susan Boyle; talk show host Sean Hannity, Alan Carlin, a scientist who challenged the "global warming" assumptions; and Michael Savage, the longtime radio talk show icon who was banned from Britain.
But it is the tea party participant who won.
It's an individual like Nate, whose transition was capture on a video. He started out as an Obama voter proud to see the first black president. Now he's a "man who has buyer's remorse and becomes an active defender of the Constitution and limited government." Or Jack, the father of two who coaches Little League baseball. Or a health insurance agent who faces losing his job under Obama's health care reform. "He is a Democrat turned constitutionalist and the younger brother of a Vietnam veteran who is marching for his children and the future of the America he believes in," the film explains.
Another tea partier is Dr. Fred Shessel, a urologist who is moved to action against "a government threatening to undermine the doctor-patient relationship with suffocating bureaucracy and increased taxpayer spending." They've not only been ignored by the mainstream media, they've been attacked and mocked for standing up for the America they believe in.
FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe, who has worked with tea party events, said media observers "want to call the new generation of activists 'partisan' or 'racist' or 'fake' or whatever pejorative they can throw at them." "What they don't understand … is that these are real people who have left the comfort of their homes and their responsibilities at their jobs to fight big government." They've been derided as "tea baggers" and their intelligence has been questioned. But they portend a change that perhaps even President Obama, with his "change" election theme, did not envision. "We're talking about the tea party movement and the potential political implications of it," Kibbe said "That's really the question everybody is asking right now: What does this mean for November 2010?"
The movement really started gaining momentum on Tax Day, April 15, when an estimated 1 million Americans gathered in small groups across the continent.
Karen England, executive director of the Capitol Resource Institute, reported police in California confiscated and discarded U.S. flags when citizens attempted to enter the Capitol in Sacramento. "We could not believe that they would prohibit the American flag in the Capitol," England said. "I am still not clear why this is prohibited. The guard at the door originally cited safety concerns, but after consulting with his superiors the rationale became a general prohibition on signs and banners."
In Rochester, N.Y., 1,000 tea partiers marched on the county administration building and city hall. Approximately 4,000 people crowded Fountain Square in Cincinnati, while 8,000 gathered in Madison, Wis., 4,000 attended the Chicago party. Even Rhode Island, the smallest U.S. state, brought 1,000 protesters to its Capitol. Washington state police estimated crowds of 5,000 in Olympia while 2,500 marched the streets of Boise, Idaho and 1,500 rallied in Austin, Texas. In Lansing, Mich., throngs were measured at 7,000, while 3,000 gathered in Hartford, Conn., and 2,000 Floridians in Jacksonville poured wagons of tea into the St. Johns River.
But it was just a "baby step," according to Tax Day Tea Party national event coordinator Amy Kremer. "We hired them; we can fire them," Kremer said. "If that means we have to go after every incumbent in office from now until 2012, we will do that. But the American people are tired of sitting by, and they are starting to step forward and take notice."
Then came the Independence Day rallies, and they followed that with a 9/12 march in Washington.
On the WND Forum page, GVLaker85 wrote, "They have shown up in force to let the politicians living in the Beltway Fantasy Land … that there are an awful lot of conservatives and Libertarian-based voters in this country. It is not all Coastal Liberals who want to take what we working people have earned and redistribute it to those who are not willing to make their own attempt at earning the American Dream."
"They probably made the strongest unexpected impact on everyone. They're Americans waking up and taking on big government," added "la9304."
The runners-up included:
Sarah Palin – Rather than following the footsteps of her predecessors and fading quietly away after losing an election to become vice president, the former Alaska governor took the talk circuit by storm with her runaway best-seller, "Going Rogue." Despite leaving office and being roundly ridiculed in the media, Palin has maintained her relevance and is still among the favorites to lead the GOP in the future.
Hannah Giles and James O'Keefe – The enterprising O'Keefe and Giles went undercover as pimp and prostitute looking for help from ACORN to establish illicit businesses and in the process exposed a culture of corruption within the federally funded community organization. Their hidden-camera videos sent shockwaves all the way to Washington, where the U.S. Census Bureau cut ties to ACORN and both houses of Congress took votes to halt funding to the organization.
The mysterious "Climategate" hacker – As of yet unidentified, this secret someone leaked e-mails from a key global-warming research center in the United Kingdom in which scientists discuss how to "trick" and "hide" data contrary to popular theories of manmade "global warming." After the e-mails revealed plots to manipulate which scientists' findings do and don't get peer-approved, the world began to question if the supposedly certain science behind "climate change" isn't fueled more by ideology than scientific principle; and
Rush Limbaugh – The most listened-to radio talker in the nation has so tirelessly held the White House accountable from the first days after the election that Barack Obama took a public shot at Limbaugh, followed shortly thereafter by other leading Democrats. Undeterred, Limbaugh has worked to make the administration more "transparent" to the American public than any White House to date.
The WND "Person of the Year" institution is intended to recognized individuals who make a positive impact on society against great odds. WND's editors narrowed down a worthy list of notable figures to a list of 10 and invited readers to add their perspectives. One the WND Forum page, "Joyful Song," suggested, "It's a shame we need to narrow it down to one, because each of these have contributed to expressing our views." (Source: WND.)
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pages are provided for convenience and do not, in any way, constitute an
endorsement of the linked pages or any commercial or private issues or products
presented there. Neither the DOD, the US Air Force, the 51st Fighter Wing nor
Mickey Mouse
has endorsed any of this site. All links are publicly accessible through the
worldwide web. If there is any discrepancy between eye-witness accounts and
OFFICIAL DOD records, this site opts to lend credence to the eye-witness views.
