Tax Day Tea Parties

swordofdestiny · Joined: Sep 25, 2008 Posts: 164

So, I'm just curious if I'm the only person on this board who went to one of the Tax Day Tea Parties. I went to the one in Arlington. I even got quoted in my local newspaper. Hey, maybe I should be a politician (this is a joke, for now anyways). Anyways, I'm just wondering if anyone went to one and noticed how no one stomped on a flag. No one shouted racist comments. No one at least at my protest had signs comparing Obama to Lenin or Hitler. And we're the "right-wing extremists," "domestic terrorists" that homeland security warned you about? You guys should watch Gov. Rick Perry's speech, it's very moving. It's the second video on: http://arlingtonteaparty.blogspot.com/
I'm very happy that I attended. I expected there to be maybe several hundred. Official count was at least 2500. That's a lot of people. Especially considering that Arlington is between Fort Worth and Dallas where there were also TEA Parties. I don't think this is the end of this.
-sword

CowpokeBob

swordofdestiny wrote:

So, I'm just curious if I'm the only person on this board who went to one of the Tax Day Tea Parties. I went to the one in Arlington. I even got quoted in my local newspaper. Hey, maybe I should be a politician (this is a joke, for now anyways). Anyways, I'm just wondering if anyone went to one and noticed how no one stomped on a flag. No one shouted racist comments. No one at least at my protest had signs comparing Obama to Lenin or Hitler. And we're the "right-wing extremists," "domestic terrorists" that homeland security warned you about? You guys should watch Gov. Rick Perry's speech, it's very moving. It's the second video on: http://arlingtonteaparty.blogspot.com/
I'm very happy that I attended. I expected there to be maybe several hundred. Official count was at least 2500. That's a lot of people. Especially considering that Arlington is between Fort Worth and Dallas where there were also TEA Parties. I don't think this is the end of this.
-sword

I applaud you sir! I had been supporting the Tea Party movement in my area but unfortunately had to work and didn't get to go. I'm not yet on the Obama govenment payroll though I may soon be. I got plenty of email updates, some video and did watch both the rally's and the reaction on the news. I have to tell you that despite the fact I fully expected the left wing media and the Libs to portray the whole event as a sham and a Republican trick I was actually surprised at the level of venom and hatred expressed quite openly by both the mainstream media and liberal politicians. And I don't mean the talking heads or the paid pundits. I mean the headline reporters and the Speaker of the House. I guess we really hit a nerve! In retrospect I shouldn't have been surprised. Look at what they said (and still say) about Bush.
I gotta say I am looking forward to round two which I hear is tentatively being scheduled for around Independence Day. I would like to see some kind of rally held sooner than that too myself. Wouldn't want to lose the momentum we have gained. Well Obama and the Obamites said they wanted change. Looks like they are going to get alot more change than they anticipated.
I firmly believe this country as a whole is far more conservative in its values than it is liberal. The liberals have done a masterful job with Obama as thier spokesman of fooling the people into supporting an agenda they had no idea the scope of. Now they have gotten a taste of it and are finding out they don't like the taste it leaves in thier mouth at all. Hmmmm, I feel a shift in the winds of change, yes I do. Oh and mommabear (see, I remember) ...Yes We Can Very Happy

swordofdestiny · Joined: Sep 25, 2008 Posts: 164

The most incredible part is, the people I know who range from ultra-conservative to moderately liberal thought it was great that I got out and protested. The liberal to ultra liberal people I know called me things like, "teabagger" or "one of those people that don't know anything." It made me think, wait, wasn't the liberal party the one that advocated protesting? Didn't they advocate stomping on the flag to show how upset you felt towards the government? What's funny, there was not flag stomping. There was more flag raising. More pride in America to fix herself, and not on the government to fix it. What I think a lot of people discount is American ingenuity. So what if a large company fails and people lose their jobs. If the market is in demand of their services, someone will see what went wrong with that company, improve upon it and create a new company. Where there is a large demand for something, people will create the supply for it. Economics 101. What we need to be doing is making incentives for small business to grow, not trying to punish all these people. Let the companies manage themselves. I think the American public thinks this way. I think there are a lot more people who think that way than liberals think. No offense to any of you on this board, but liberals like to make it known that they are liberal. They beat their chest, they burn and stomp on the flag. They create as much of a disturbance as possible so that their issue gets attention. I do believe the silent majority of this country are conservative. I feel if they weren't, there wouldn't have been so many Tea Parties. Civil disobedience is something I think is good. I think that it's amazing that we live in a country that allows us to peacefully assemble in protest of what our government is doing. What is so wrong with that? Why do we get called things like, "teabaggers" or "ignorant"? I would never call you crazy for protesting the war or anything. Why is protesting a one way street. This post may be a bit of a rant, but it's what I feel. I would enjoy a discussion about this. What do you feel about protesting? Is it something only the left should enjoy? Also, I got quoted in the campus paper saying, "I don't think I've seen this many American flags since 9/11." and "The way the government treads (all) over the Constitution makes me sick." (The reporter didn't hear me say "all". It was a bit loud when he was interviewing me.) The flag comment I made after the interview as his partner was taking pictures. I've saved a copy of it. Anyways, I really want to know everyone's opinion about these protests. Oh and this CNN reporter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6xWGvdRQ9Q (if it's not there, just look on youtube for CNN Tax Day, one of the videos should have it if CNN hasn't taken it down for 'copyright issues' which they haven't used on any other video that has their stuff in it promoting them). I guess we can say we're strengthening the front lines of liberty.

EDIT: Warning: Video has one fbomb (it's after the CNN segment, before the lady berates the reporter. Just thought I'd warn you about it. It is a rather strong word.

swordofdestiny · Joined: Sep 25, 2008 Posts: 164

Also, the media vastly under-reported numbers. At the one I went to, even the college paper under-reported it. The official number was above 2500. The paper, however, listed "more than 700." Take a look at this map. Especially note California and the east coast. The Obama administration has awoken the silent majority and they're fighting back.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=11...5499027

pasquanel · Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 507 Location: Maine

I attended a small "tea party" in NH and it was refreshing to be with like minded folks, I believe this is only the beginning.
It is evident that the left has no clue as to what this is all about and were all the more confused by the fact that they were held on "tax day".
The central message is stop the out of control spending of money we do not have!! Printing and borrowing is not the answer to our dilemma.
I look forward to more of these get-together in part because it is painfully clear that your average "blue collar" is very much out of touch with the workings of their government and its efforts to restructure their lives's. The thing we all can do to avoid the oncoming power grab is to help pass the word and educate family, friends and co-workers of the threat of this administration.
This is show time folks pull your head out of where the sun don't shine and look around your freedom and rights are being threatened daily. Evil or Very Mad

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6xWGvdRQ9Q
I found this video quite interesting - since it was Lincoln that started these type of taxes to support the Civil War in 1861!!!
(The first Federal income tax was imposed (under Article I, section 8, clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution) during the Civil War, - Wikipedia)

swordofdestiny · Joined: Sep 25, 2008 Posts: 164

I think it's more about how rude the reporter was towards it and how annoyed the left are. I made a status on facebook noting how much the left loves their own protests, but really dislikes when anyone else protests. It's more about how they paint us as anti-government, "anti-CNN", etc. We don't burn flags. We don't stomp on them. We don't throw rocks. All these TEA parties were the epitome of peaceful assembly, yet they try to paint us as radicals who "are not family programming." The left accuses the right of hypocrisy. I guess they can't see their own. They claim to be the "people's party" but they're slowly taking away our personal liberties. I don't know, maybe I'm just bitter. I posted a status on facebook as: Christopher Lee Johnson wonders why the left seems to have much compassion for most protests, except for the Tea Parties. Check out how many Tea Parties there were: http://bit.ly/4CXWB Has the silent majority been stirred?

Some of my more liberal friends posted:
<Name Omitted> at 3:08am April 18
Majority? I'm pretty sure y'all lost the election. A bunch of hypocrites, the whole lot of them. The GOP put us in the situation we are in now. They let institutions run wild and now if they fail, hundreds of thousands will be unemployed. And what are they going to do when they lose their jobs? Get on federal unemployment. And where does the money for unemployment come from? Oh ya....the tax payers. Welcome to the real world, where you can not have your cake and eat it too.

<Name Omitted2> at 11:55am April 18
The GOP is whining because of a 3% tax hike. GOD FORBID that they given up any of their precious cash to help keep the Government running.

The left whines about more important thigs i.e. Gay rights, the Environment, Standard of Living.

Excuse us if we think your tea parties are silly and uncalled for.

My responses:
Christopher Lee Johnson at 6:55pm April 18
I'm sorry, I just don't believe in taking money from someone to give to someone else. Don't give me the "They don't need the money." That's the line thieves use to justify stealing from someone. Jason, take a look at the popular vote, half the country voted against Obama. It's not JUST the GOP either. I met people of all party affiliations at the ... Read MoreArlington T.E.A. party. It's not a partisan issue. It's not just Fox News blowing steam. Yes they were the only network that actually gave respect to the T.E.A. parties. The others made sexual puns at it and tried to show us as "anti-government and anti-CNN" as one anchor put it. Yes, we're very anti government with all the American flags that we were waving. We're anti-big-government. I don't ridicule your protests, don't ridicule mine. We don't stomp or burn the flag, no we proudly wave it because we want to change America and we can get enough attention without desecrating the flag. Forgive me for exercising my First Amendment rights.

Christopher Lee Johnson at 6:59pm April 18
Oh and Jason, please show me the proof that the GOP caused this. Also please show me proof that Obama's economic plan will work. To quote Thomas Jefferson, "A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government." That's why I'm against "spreading the wealth around."

I don't remember any of the major networks, Fox included, making bad jokes and sexual puns at any other protests, but it's perfectly acceptable in this instance? I'm sorry, wasn't the left about equality?

tony7914 · Joined: Dec 24, 2004 Posts: 4965 Location: Peru Indiana

The tea parties were a good idea, there's nothing wrong with peacefully expressing your opinion. You can also e-mail, fax, and call your representatives as often as possible to oppose all this spending, the more people that do that the greater the chances are they will stop supporting this madness.

Gezzer

dream on people
all the protests under the last administration went by the board

do you really think that these protests will hold any water
they may have the right to protest but others have the right to ignore such protests

and in 4 years time President Obama is re-elected, i do so hope so
may i ask who is going to stand against him at election time ? …

swordofdestiny · Joined: Sep 25, 2008 Posts: 164

Gezzer, I'm calling BS on you. I doubt you ever told people protesting the last administration to "dream on." Sorry to call you out that way, but I believe that complacency is the biggest evil in politics. You know what, if I was of age, I'd try standing up against him. I could be the first trumpeter president. Haha. Seriously though, we'll find someone to stand against him and encompass the conservative values people believe in. What's wrong with civil disobedience? I mean, there were not protests on this scale in the last administration and you know it!

kenmabmcc

kenmabmcc

pasquanel · Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 507 Location: Maine

Well time will tell Geezer, last time we had a tea party we sent your folks packing! Laughing

Sgt Schultz · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 7378 Location: St. Louis area

swordofdestiny · Joined: Sep 25, 2008 Posts: 164

So, I ran some numbers with my debate on facebook. Just thought you guys might be interested.

Using data from: http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/NPGateway I looked at all the data they had. I'm guessing the number at the far right is the national debt. They do like to make fancy names for things. The debt was 5,728,195,796,181.57 when Bush came into office (what Clinton had was a budget surplus). The debt when Obama came into office was 10,626,877,048,913.08. I did some math (finaldebt-initialdebt)/monthsinoffice. The Bush administration increased the national debt at an average rate of 51,027,929,720 per month. Now the debt as it stands right now is 11,183,899,252,728.00. I did more math, using the same formula. Obama is adding on average 185,674,067,900 per month to the national debt. People might say, "Well, that's only double what Bush was spending!" I ask you, did you like Bush spending? I think one of the core parts of these protests is that we want the government to have a balanced budget. We as Americans are tightening our belts, but the government is spending more than ever?

Sgt Schultz · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 7378 Location: St. Louis area

tony7914 · Joined: Dec 24, 2004 Posts: 4965 Location: Peru Indiana

swordofdestiny · Joined: Sep 25, 2008 Posts: 164

Sgt Schultz · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 7378 Location: St. Louis area

swordofdestiny · Joined: Sep 25, 2008 Posts: 164

I don't know enough about government to know what to cut. What would you cut? I also think that some things can be left to private contractors. Private enterprise is a lot more efficient than the government, so let private enterprise handle health care by making it harder for people to sue doctors for malpractice and let malpractice insurance go down. Our power grid is pretty good, and if things go out, it doesn't go on a government waiting list of "things that need to be fixed" the company in charge of the line fixes it themselves. We need to find things that the government is doing that private enterprise could do. Oh wow, wouldn't that mean... more companies, who need workers, ergo more jobs, less welfare, etc.