Saturday, May 29, 2010
Memorial Day 2010
Never in the history of our great country have so few screwed up so much in such a short time. But, even with the disasters the Obama government has brought to us, nothing this Memorial Day will stop the rest of us from honoring all of the heroes who have served to protect our freedom and our Constitution. God Bless them.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Lesson Learned
Lesson learned from Pennsylvania May 18th primary:
In states where Tea Parties stood up to be counted, showed their mettle, were aggressive in their beliefs and did not wimp out, they helped to win elections. In Kentucky (Taking on the "old guard" GOP & Mitch McConnell,) Utah (Utah Rising took control of Utah GOP in less than a year,) and in Massachusetts.
In Pennsylvania, where Tea Parties for the most part hid behind being independent, non-partisan, academic and generally wimpish, we lost... badly. It was an overwhelming win for the "old guard" machine politicians, those who we profess to oppose and depose.
There was a 23% turnout for the PA primary on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. Dismal. The Pennsylvania Tea Parties were invisible. In fact, the support for Tim Burns in the special election in PA Congressional District 12 came from groups from out of state.
Politics is not an intellectual exercise, it is trench warfare in a civilized manner. If you are not inclined to stand up and be counted, please sit down and get out of the way of those who are.
In states where Tea Parties stood up to be counted, showed their mettle, were aggressive in their beliefs and did not wimp out, they helped to win elections. In Kentucky (Taking on the "old guard" GOP & Mitch McConnell,) Utah (Utah Rising took control of Utah GOP in less than a year,) and in Massachusetts.
In Pennsylvania, where Tea Parties for the most part hid behind being independent, non-partisan, academic and generally wimpish, we lost... badly. It was an overwhelming win for the "old guard" machine politicians, those who we profess to oppose and depose.
There was a 23% turnout for the PA primary on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. Dismal. The Pennsylvania Tea Parties were invisible. In fact, the support for Tim Burns in the special election in PA Congressional District 12 came from groups from out of state.
Politics is not an intellectual exercise, it is trench warfare in a civilized manner. If you are not inclined to stand up and be counted, please sit down and get out of the way of those who are.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Lesson From Indiana
The "old guard" GOP is trumpeting its win in Indiana in the primary. Hopefully, we will learn some lessons here, and from the results in Florida.
1. We must generate universal excitement for the principles motivating the Tea Party movement.
2. The insistence on being non-partisan and non-endorsing leaves many non-Tea Party voters (and Tea Party supporters, too) wondering why we exist if we can't take a stand, and opens the door for the "old guard" to take control. If nothing else, the "old guard" are good politicians and good at co-opting under the guise of who has the best chance of winning, and who is "not as bad" as the other guy. We must stop wagging our tails when an "old guard" politician finally reaches down and pats us on the head; instead, we must keep our teeth bared. If we start thinking like a pretty, 25 year-old woman who knows a line when she hears one, we'll be in good shape.
3. The academic approach being encouraged by some Tea Party branches is boring. Leave that to the League of Women Voters and the 912ers, they are good at it and God bless 'em for it. The Tea Party was born to be a POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, not educators.
4. Individual tangents promoted through Tea Party communications enhance the "kook" label to our movement. Our goal is to elect Conservative candidates to represent us in government.
Please think about this. When a Tea Party group decides not to become a PAC, it remains powerless, which is exactly what the "old guard" GOP and the Democrats want: We remain nothing more than an audience and a tool for others rather than a driving force.
Also, we must watch out for infiltrators by paying attention to the affiliations and associates of newcomers. Because we are beginning to gain political power, it pays to be a little paranoid.
Unless, of course, the parnoids are after you. Come on, smile with me. Together we can do amazing things.
1. We must generate universal excitement for the principles motivating the Tea Party movement.
2. The insistence on being non-partisan and non-endorsing leaves many non-Tea Party voters (and Tea Party supporters, too) wondering why we exist if we can't take a stand, and opens the door for the "old guard" to take control. If nothing else, the "old guard" are good politicians and good at co-opting under the guise of who has the best chance of winning, and who is "not as bad" as the other guy. We must stop wagging our tails when an "old guard" politician finally reaches down and pats us on the head; instead, we must keep our teeth bared. If we start thinking like a pretty, 25 year-old woman who knows a line when she hears one, we'll be in good shape.
3. The academic approach being encouraged by some Tea Party branches is boring. Leave that to the League of Women Voters and the 912ers, they are good at it and God bless 'em for it. The Tea Party was born to be a POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, not educators.
4. Individual tangents promoted through Tea Party communications enhance the "kook" label to our movement. Our goal is to elect Conservative candidates to represent us in government.
Please think about this. When a Tea Party group decides not to become a PAC, it remains powerless, which is exactly what the "old guard" GOP and the Democrats want: We remain nothing more than an audience and a tool for others rather than a driving force.
Also, we must watch out for infiltrators by paying attention to the affiliations and associates of newcomers. Because we are beginning to gain political power, it pays to be a little paranoid.
Unless, of course, the parnoids are after you. Come on, smile with me. Together we can do amazing things.
Friday, April 16, 2010
D.C. April 15, 2010
Energy, enthusiasm and determination filled the streets of Washington, D.C. on April 15, 2010 as thousands of Tea Partiers from around the country gathered to voice their opposition to the Obama government, and to what Teaple believe is the current government's agenda of ending personal liberty as it races full-throttle to socialize the United States.
At Freedom Plaza, On Line Tax Revolt hosted an event highlighted by an appearance by Michelle Bachmann, the feisty Conservative lawmaker from Minnesota. As usual, she wowed the crowd of several thousand with her speech, calling on Tea Partiers to rally behind "constitutional conservatives" in opposition to Democrats and saying about the Obama government, "We're on to this gangster government, I say it's time for these little piggies to go home."
One of the highlights of the day was the small Tea Party group from Midland, Tennessee. They sponsored a "political karaoke" inviting those in the audience up to the make-shift stage to make their own statements during a two-hour "open mike" that started at 4PM... on the West Lawn of the Capitol! The impromptu orators were evenly divided between young and older, with at least half being college-age or younger, a great sign that the Tea Party movement is gaining more universal appeal.
Then came the nighttime at the Washington Monument. Senator Jim DeMint, Marcia Blackburn, Hi-Caliber, SNL alumni Victoria Jackson and "The Streak" Ray Stevens ignited the crowd. Jackson played her "uke" and got the audience going as they chanted together, "There's a communist in the White House."
Hi-Caliber, our country's only Conservative Hip Hop artist drew cheers as he proved to the crowd that Rap and Conservative politics DO mix.
Ray Stevens gave the crowd five songs just for starters, including a stirring rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" that had many in the crowd wiping away tears of pride and of joy. He promised more later, and he delivered.
17 of your proud Founders TEA Party Patriots from Monroe County, Pennsylvania were there, and you were well represented.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Attention "old guard" GOP
Here's a question for all of you "old guard" Republicans in the GOP, especially those of you in the PAGOP, just for the sake of conversation: when Arlen Specter was a Republican, you supported him. Now that he is a Democrat, you oppose him. Why? He is the same Arlen Specter today as he was two years ago and six years ago, is he not? And what does that say about you? Hmmm, that's three questions, isn't it? Whoops, four questions!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The Great Debate
The March 28, 2010 debate on Fox News Sunday between Florida U.S. Senate candidates Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio was a microcosm of today's GOP. The "old guard" vs. the new.
Charlie Crist was accurately quoted as saying the two men he admired most are John McCain and Lindsey Graham. Wouldn't it be nice if the three of them could jump on the last train for the coast, join up there with Carly Fiorina and then, just like in an old Hollywood western, the four ride off together into the sunset never to be heard from again. Hey. Nice!
In contrast, Marco Rubio spoke as a Conservative to Conservatives, stuck to the issues without dishing dirt, and in general was a proponent of limited government, reduced spending, lower taxes and healthcare untouched by those in Washington who would force government controlled Obamacare on an unwilling American people.
Who endorses Charlie Crist? John McCain, Mitch McConnell and Lamar Alexander.
So, here's a suggestion to the "old guard" in the GOP: cede the Republican party to the new guys on the block, to the Marco Rubios and to those like Chuck DeVore in California, to Sam Rohrer and Steve Johnson in Pennsylvania, to the Tea Partiers, and to you who are reading this and to me.
Wishful thinking? Not if we work together to make it happen
Charlie Crist was accurately quoted as saying the two men he admired most are John McCain and Lindsey Graham. Wouldn't it be nice if the three of them could jump on the last train for the coast, join up there with Carly Fiorina and then, just like in an old Hollywood western, the four ride off together into the sunset never to be heard from again. Hey. Nice!
In contrast, Marco Rubio spoke as a Conservative to Conservatives, stuck to the issues without dishing dirt, and in general was a proponent of limited government, reduced spending, lower taxes and healthcare untouched by those in Washington who would force government controlled Obamacare on an unwilling American people.
Who endorses Charlie Crist? John McCain, Mitch McConnell and Lamar Alexander.
So, here's a suggestion to the "old guard" in the GOP: cede the Republican party to the new guys on the block, to the Marco Rubios and to those like Chuck DeVore in California, to Sam Rohrer and Steve Johnson in Pennsylvania, to the Tea Partiers, and to you who are reading this and to me.
Wishful thinking? Not if we work together to make it happen
Friday, March 26, 2010
Who to Support?
Are we going to be co-opted, or what?
In the race for governor in Pennsylvania, there is one Conservative candidate and one "old guard" GOP candidate wanting to run against the Democrat candidate. In the 11th congressional race, there is only one GOP candidate seeking the nomination to oppose the Obama/Rendell tax & spend liberal Democrat. The GOP candidate is not a true Conservative, he is more of an "old guard" Republican.
The official position of the Tea Party movement and the 9/12ers is to support only Conservative candidates no matter which political party they belong to, and if there is no Conservative candidate running, to either run a candidate of their own or just sit out the election.
The following paragraph is not directed at anyone or any group in particular. However, I do read all E-mails, notices and other posts, and I would ask you to think about this: to be co-opted means to abandon your principles in order to be accepted by another on their terms.
Too many of us seem to be reverting to the old Republican ways that got us to where we are today: nominating a candidate we think has the best chance of winning, and/or the lesser of two evils.
Please remember this, the Tea Party and the 9/12 movement stands on this: it is not up to us to be accepted by the GOP, it is up to the GOP to be accepted by us.
Recently, CBS released a poll that showed 36% of Republicans consider themselves to be part of the Tea Party movement. Other respected polls put the number of Tea Partiers who are Republican at 72%.
Please don't let the glamour of an "old guard" GOP candidate paying some attention to you compromise your principles. You are more important to the GOP than the GOP is to you. Believe it!
http://www.foundtea.ning.com
In the race for governor in Pennsylvania, there is one Conservative candidate and one "old guard" GOP candidate wanting to run against the Democrat candidate. In the 11th congressional race, there is only one GOP candidate seeking the nomination to oppose the Obama/Rendell tax & spend liberal Democrat. The GOP candidate is not a true Conservative, he is more of an "old guard" Republican.
The official position of the Tea Party movement and the 9/12ers is to support only Conservative candidates no matter which political party they belong to, and if there is no Conservative candidate running, to either run a candidate of their own or just sit out the election.
The following paragraph is not directed at anyone or any group in particular. However, I do read all E-mails, notices and other posts, and I would ask you to think about this: to be co-opted means to abandon your principles in order to be accepted by another on their terms.
Too many of us seem to be reverting to the old Republican ways that got us to where we are today: nominating a candidate we think has the best chance of winning, and/or the lesser of two evils.
Please remember this, the Tea Party and the 9/12 movement stands on this: it is not up to us to be accepted by the GOP, it is up to the GOP to be accepted by us.
Recently, CBS released a poll that showed 36% of Republicans consider themselves to be part of the Tea Party movement. Other respected polls put the number of Tea Partiers who are Republican at 72%.
Please don't let the glamour of an "old guard" GOP candidate paying some attention to you compromise your principles. You are more important to the GOP than the GOP is to you. Believe it!
http://www.foundtea.ning.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
