The Ron Paul Tea Parties

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Here’s an AFP report on “tea party” demonstrations: Anti-Obama ‘tea party’ protests mark US tax day.

NEW YORK (AFP) – Critics of President Barack Obama marked national tax day Wednesday with “tea party” protests that Republicans are calling the birth of a grassroots opposition, but Democrats dismiss as a fraud.

Initially small crowds gathered under blustery skies in Washington, New York and Boston to protest taxes, government bailouts, and Obama’s big-spending budget proposals.

Organizer Eric Odom said protests would take place across almost 800 cities in a “new day for the freedom movement.”

Who is Eric Odom, in addition to being the organizer and spokesman of the tea parties?

A big supporter of Ron Paul.

UPDATE at 4/15/09 11:15:46 am:

Here’s Eric Odom, with an article at wacko conspiracy website “The National Expositor,” arguing that Ron Paul’s Poll Results are Valid.

Take a look through some of the other stuff at the National Expositor site, if you want to know why I label them as “wackos.”

Jump to bottom

393 comments
1 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:11:18am

I'm actually taking my kids to the Portland tea party, as a lesson in civics if nothing else.

It's being held in the evening, probably because the people they most want to attract have, you know, jobs.

2 zombie  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:11:23am

Luckily, I prefer coffee.

3 pink freud  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:12:26am

re: #2 zombie

Luckily, I prefer coffee.

No Zom-coverage of the tea parties, zombie?

4 NYCHardhat  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:12:52am

I am staying away from the Tea Parties for a few bad apples will ruin the bunch.

5 Ward Cleaver  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:12:57am

Just great. Paulians.

/gah!

6 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:13:04am

re: #2 zombie

Luckily, I prefer coffee.

Good point. I have no coffee to take, and I'm not throwing out good hot chocolate.

Also, I'm taking my camera, as I fully expect to see some Nirth Certifikit'ers.

7 Shanimal1918  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:13:22am

No, I don't think so. I'm going to the Boston Tea Party today. Taxed Enough Already, it actually has nothing to do with Ron Paul. They are about to raise taxes across the board in Mass, this one is a legit tea party, to protest taxes.

8 Emerald  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:13:36am

No surprise. There is a national outrage at the wasteful spending, and it's easy to tap into that. These groups see an opportunity, and they're going to jump on it. I think more than a few people are going to be surprised by the fringes that will show up at these events.

9 Killgore Trout  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:13:42am

Here's another Odom article....
Ron Paul is making the constitution “cool” again

Tea Party!

10 Ward Cleaver  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:13:49am

re: #4 NYCHardhat

I am staying away from the Tea Parties for a few bad apples will ruin the bunch.

A friend of mine is going to the Knoxville tea party. Maybe I'll get the scoop on it tonight.

11 Erik The Red  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:14:20am

And the MFM chose to interview him why?///

12 Killgore Trout  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:14:28am

Eric Odom is one of the main national organizers of Tea Parties.

13 Kragar  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:15:44am

re: #2 zombie

Luckily, I prefer coffee.

Where does Dr Pepper fit in?

14 Anthony (Los Angeles)  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:16:04am

It's not surprising about Odom --this should be a red-meat issue for Paulians-- but it doesn't take away anything from the thousands of others attending who are concerned about runaway spending, borrowing, and coming taxation.

We'll just gag the Paulites and put them in a corner before they say anything too embarrassing.

15 Ward Cleaver  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:16:07am

Charles, can you please put up a post-tea party thread tonight, so lizards that attended them can post their observations?

16 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:16:24am
17 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:16:50am

See the update above. Odom also writes for Alex Jones New World Order websites.

18 Idle Drifter  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:17:14am

Imagine if Ron and Medea got together............oh, God, what have I wrought upon the world!

These two are the biggest attention whores in the country! Bar none.

19 Idle Drifter  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:18:30am

re: #17 Charles

See the update above. Odom also writes for Alex Jones New World Order websites.

This Tea Party/Tax Day is just full of nutters.

20 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:19:06am

re: #11 Erik The Red

And the MFM chose to interview him why?///

Because he really is the primary organizer for the tea parties. This is his website:

[Link: taxdayteaparty.com...]

21 Anthony (Los Angeles)  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:19:16am

re: #4 NYCHardhat

I am staying away from the Tea Parties for a few bad apples will ruin the bunch.

I made the same decision about Santa Monica's protest, largely because the Paulians seem to be a part of the group organizing it:
[Link: www.meetup.com...]

22 Kragar  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:19:44am

re: #18 Idle Drifter

Imagine if Ron and Medea got together............oh, God, what have I wrought upon the world!

These two are the biggest attention whores in the country! Bar none.

Their eyes would lock from across the room, with a wicked little twinkle in their eyes, there would be a strange silence as they exchanged knowing smiles and then......MAGIC TIME!

23 Ringo the Gringo  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:19:45am

Damn, I feel like I'm surrounded by kooks and loonies.

24 Kosh's Shadow  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:20:15am

Any good slogans, like maybe
Oolong can this go on?

25 zombie  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:20:17am

re: #3 pink freud

No Zom-coverage of the tea parties, zombie?

Nope. I'm spending all day with my new best friend, Mr. 1040 Form, along with his children, Little Susie Schedule A and Billy Schedule C. I think we'll have a grand time.

But I worry, at the end of the day, that they're expecting me to pay the tab.

26 Athens Runaway  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:20:39am

Michelle Malkin just tweeted that the Secret Service just shut down the DC Tea Party. Some moran threw a tea bag over the White House's fence.

27 MJ  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:20:42am

Oh hell, I forgot to honk 3 times:

Youtube Video
28 Idle Drifter  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:20:52am

re: #22 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Their eyes would lock from across the room, with a wicked little twinkle in their eyes, there would be a strange silence as they exchanged knowing smiles and then......MAGIC TIME!

The Dark Magic from the Deep.

29 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:21:19am

Is Rick Santelli a kook?

30 Ward Cleaver  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:21:42am

re: #17 Charles

See the update above. Odom also writes for Alex Jones New World Order websites.

There's some serious nutbag credentials.

31 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:21:47am

re: #26 Athens Runaway

Michelle Malkin just tweeted that the Secret Service just shut down the DC Tea Party. Some moran threw a tea bag over the White House's fence.


Hey! You can only do that with Navy Medals!

32 jdog29  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:22:24am

Today won't be the judgement day for whether or not these "Tea Parties" whatever they amount to, are effective or are a bust. The congressional elections in 2010 will be.

33 Oh no...Sand People!  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:02am

Me and the tinfoil hat are good friends. One day we might have to part. But I don't know when....

34 Egregious Philbin  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:10am

A Paulbot is a delusional person that thinks that their God, Ron Paul (Peace be unto him) is a major force in America.

Despite the fact that he often finished 5 in a group of 6, never won a primary or came remotely close, or that the Libertarian party has been in existence for 29 years, has never gotten 1% of a presidential vote, has never elected a federal official and its only "wins" have come in completely insignificant races where no one else ran.

What has the LP accomplished? A few goobers serving on flood control boards and rural land boards and some Mayberry type city council seats.

Sheeple.....

35 Erik The Red  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:14am

re: #20 Charles

Because he really is the primary organizer for the tea parties. This is his website:

[Link: taxdayteaparty.com...]

Where does this leave the rust of us who feel that your voices need to be heard?

A great idea has been hijacked by the kooky right. I am starting to feel left out in the cold.

36 nikis-knight  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:19am

re: #25 zombie

Nope. I'm spending all day with my new best friend, Mr. 1040 Form, along with his children, Little Susie Schedule A and Billy Schedule C. I think we'll have a grand time.

But I worry, at the end of the day, that they're expecting me to pay the tab.

Aren't there, like, parties and stuff to go to today in San Francisco? After all, to the left, paying taxes is the most patriotic activity around, right?
Surely it's like a holiday.

37 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:22am

re: #30 Ward Cleaver

There's some serious nutbag credentials.

Just as nutbag as being friends with a Weatherman, IMHO.

38 Athens Runaway  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:23am

re: #31 Ben Hur

Hey! You can only do that with Navy Medals!

The nerve!

Throwing anything over Da Fence is stupid, but shutting down the whole protest over a teabag is a bit overkill.

39 MandyManners  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:30am

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?

40 Jetpilot1101  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:32am

I'm all for protesting high taxes and excessive government intervention into the affairs of private citizens but until this movement and the GOP divorce themselves from extremists, Ron Paul supporters and religious nutjobs, TEA parties will be nothing more than a fringe movement laughed at by the vast majority of level headed Americans in this country.

41 Shanimal1918  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:39am

re: #26 Athens Runaway

Michelle Malkin just tweeted that the Secret Service just shut down the DC Tea Party. Some moran threw a tea bag over the White House's fence.

I'm not surprised. The progressives are frothing at the mouth over these tea parties. Almost as if they have nothing better to do. They have turned it into tea bagging as if that is funny.

42 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:42am

re: #18 Idle Drifter

Imagine if Ron and Medea got together............oh, God, what have I wrought upon the world!

Where is one of those websites where you can morph two face together to create "what would their child look like?". It would be a hoot!

Just because Paulians are involved does not mean these tea parties are their doing. The Tea Parties are an upwelling of all sorts of people that think the Federal Gov't is finally overstepped its Constitutional boundaries and is imposing future taxes yet unlevied. As the Big O's people say, never let a good crisis go to waste.

43 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:23:53am

re: #32 jdog29

Today won't be the judgement day for whether or not these "Tea Parties" whatever they amount to, are effective or are a bust. The congressional elections in 2010 will be.

Strange how you never read/hear, "How will this effect the Dems chances to hold onto power in the next elections....." like you did every 5 minutes leading up to the 2008 mid terms.

44 Erik The Red  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:24:11am

re: #35 Erik The Red

Where does this leave the rust of us who feel that your voices need to be heard?

A great idea has been hijacked by the kooky right. I am starting to feel left out in the cold.


REST

PIMF

45 NYCHardhat  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:24:15am

re: #39 MandyManners

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?

That's demoralizing.

46 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:24:44am

re: #38 Athens Runaway

The nerve!

Throwing anything over Da Fence is stupid, but shutting down the whole protest over a teabag is a bit overkill.

You can't be too careful, with that new DHS report, and all.

47 pink freud  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:24:49am

re: #35 Erik The Red

Where does this leave the rust of us who feel that your voices need to be heard?

A great idea has been hijacked by the kooky right. I am starting to feel left out in the cold.

You are in good company, Eric. I think many of us feel this way.

48 brookly red  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:24:51am

re: #33 Oh no...Sand People!

Me and the tinfoil hat are good friends. One day we might have to part. But I don't know when....

/Please remember to remove the hat before using a cell phone :)

49 Idle Drifter  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:24:51am

re: #22 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

The Balrog.

50 Shanimal1918  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:24:54am

re: #39 MandyManners

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?


Negative. The one in Boston today (Columbus Park 4pm) is organized by a couple of hosts at WTKK. Michael Graham and Michelle McPhee.

51 Anthony (Los Angeles)  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:25:03am

re: #39 MandyManners

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?

No, but some people will use them to denounce the whole thing.

52 Desert Dog  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:25:04am

re: #32 jdog29

Today won't be the judgement day for whether or not these "Tea Parties" whatever they amount to, are effective or are a bust. The congressional elections in 2010 will be.

My guess is they will harm the right more than help them. Too many wackos in the mix. IMHO, It makes the right looks bad when Paulians, NWO nuts and other assorted conspiracy burrheads show up and "represent" the right.

53 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:25:05am

re: #39 MandyManners

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?

Between the Paulbots and the Obamabots, I'm starting to wonder what the heck is happening to people.

54 Cygnus  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:25:12am

re: #25 zombie

Nope. I'm spending all day with my new best friend, Mr. 1040 Form, along with his children, Little Susie Schedule A and Billy Schedule C. I think we'll have a grand time.

But I worry, at the end of the day, that they're expecting me to pay the tab.

I had all that done a couple of weeks ago and am now waiting for a visit from my newest best friend, Mr. Tax Refund.

55 Erik The Red  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:25:22am

re: #39 MandyManners

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?

God, I hope not.

56 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:25:24am

re: #29 Ben Hur

Is Rick Santelli a kook?

Everyone is a kook to someone somewhere.

57 unrealizedviewpoint  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:25:37am

re: #31 Ben Hur

Hey! You can only do that with Navy Medals!

...or somebody else's Navy Medals, as obviously Lt. for life Kerry did.

58 Kenneth  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:25:39am

The National Expositor uses Prison Planet as the source for many of their "news" items.

'Nuff said.

59 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:25:58am

re: #50 Shanimal1918

Negative. The one in Boston today (Columbus Park 4pm) is organized by a couple of hosts at WTKK. Michael Graham and Michelle McPhee.

SILENCE! You're gonna f*ck up the thread!

60 Typicalwhitey  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:26:02am

I am listening to people calling in from the tea parties and they aren't extremist at all.

61 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:26:23am

re: #57 unrealizedviewpoint

...or somebody else's Navy Medals, as obviously Lt. for life Kerry did.


Effen A.

62 Athens Runaway  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:26:30am

re: #39 MandyManners

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?

I don't have the time to sit down and research all 500+, but I can vouch for the Ohio ones. The Columbus one is organizer by this blogger,

63 Lincolntf  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:26:30am

Just got back from the local Tea Party. A brief synopsis:
As I got close to the event, the local radio guy said that there were 2,000 people there. Couldn't park anywhere near it. Got pretty close to the site and could hear the speakers clearly. Pretty mild stuff, with the occasional "boo" line being met with more laughter than actual booing. Had a few short conversations with some of the people holding signs. Everyone in a good mood (the weather was a perfect 65 degrees and sunny, which never hurts), and some of the signs tended towards being funny or ironic. A few notable signs/themes were "Leadership by Example" which I took to mean that the Gov't should cut back while taxpayers are forced to, multiple variations on the "Don't Tread On Me" emblem, a few about kids owing X amount of dollars on the National debt. I honestly didn't see 2,000 people, but definitely more than 1,000.
If the local (Lefty) paper comes up with an article about it, I'll post it.

64 Killgore Trout  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:26:39am

As demonstrated in the previous thread: RON PAUL RALLY, SOUTH LAWN, US CAPITOL, WASHINGTON DC: APRIL 15, 2008

The Paulians have been holding Tax Day Tea Parties for years. They are not infiltrating a mainstream conservative movement. It's the other way around. Mainstream conservatives are joining a fringe movement. Conservatives are the interlopers, not the Paulians. The same costumes, colonial theme, the same economic agenda, the same predictions of economic doom of the empire, the same blather about the Constitution. You are becoming them.

65 Athos  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:26:47am

re: #39 MandyManners

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?

I don't think so - my local one isn't being organized by any Paulians, but I fully expect them to show up in force.

66 Desert Dog  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:26:47am

re: #54 Cygnus

I had all that done a couple of weeks ago and am now waiting for a visit from my newest best friend, Mr. Tax Refund.

They are probably waiting for my "Mr. Tax Payment" to arrive first.

67 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:26:50am

re: #56 Max Darkside

Everyone is a kook to someone somewhere.

Good point. Everyone thinks of themselves as "normal". It's some other guy who is abnormal.

68 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:27:00am
69 AMER1CAN  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:27:10am

Here’s a list of the local Houston Tax Day Tea Parties:

• HOUSTON Jones Plaza Downtown Houston 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

• SUGAR LAND Sugar Land Town Square 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

• THE WOODLANDS Rob Fleming Park Creekside Village 6055 Creekside Forest Dr. 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

• FRIENDSWOOD Centennial Park 2200 Friendswood Dr 5 p.m. -7 p.m.

• PEARLAND Independence Park 3919 Liberty Drive Noon

70 Idle Drifter  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:27:29am

re: #42 Max Darkside

See Charles #20. The Tea Parties are being used for political gain.

71 Ward Cleaver  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:27:31am

re: #60 Typicalwhitey

I am listening to people calling in from the tea parties and they aren't extremist at all.

I'm sure there are lots of normal people at the tea parties, but the MSM will focus on the kooks.

72 Killgore Trout  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:27:37am

re: #35 Erik The Red

A great idea has been hijacked by the kooky right.


See my #64. Conserrvatives have joined a Paulian movement, not the other way around.

73 IslandLibertarian  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:28:04am

I will be attending the "Tea Party" at the State Capital Building today.
I'll let you know if there were any "Paulians" there.
But, I will be there primarily to protest high taxes and the wasteful government spending.
/Mad as hell, and not taking it anymore.

74 notutopia  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:28:22am

I'm having a personal latte party. I'm faxing, emailing, and dissenting the unfair Tax structure and letting my congresspersons and Washington, DC know I'm an unhappy voter.
Skip the Paulian's and the umteen attention whores. Skip the subliminal messages. Skip the triangulated and political warfaring. The GOP can successfully dissent at home or in their own communities. Get involved in your local GOP political party.

Tax Day Becomes Protest Day
By GLENN HARLAN REYNOLDS
How the tea parties could change American politics.
[Link: online.wsj.com...]

75 Killgore Trout  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:28:29am

re: #26 Athens Runaway

Michelle Malkin just tweeted that the Secret Service just shut down the DC Tea Party. Some moran threw a tea bag over the White House's fence.


Ugh. Embarrassing.

76 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:28:30am

re: #72 Killgore Trout

See my #64. Conserrvatives have joined a Paulian movement, not the other way around.


Not the ones in Colombus and Boston, apparently.

77 Ward Cleaver  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:28:40am

re: #68 taxfreekiller

Ward

Just talked to the Rockwall county people, not one person connected to laup non has been allowed any where near their deal there. The leaders are a bunch of vets, R women, local sheriff, county judge, atty's and the like.

I have been asked to take my vid camera and go to the one down town Dallas and stay on the edges and film. Seems the CBS crew has been hacked some how and the tax tea people know they do intend to slant the coverage. ACORN has said they will counter protest, as well as some others.

Have you heard any thing more.
I think I will require ms tfk to stay home and not go, and I'm taking an old truck just in case of paint and stuff.

?

That's good to hear. I can't make it to one because I have to watch my kids later, while June runs an errand.

78 Egregious Philbin  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:28:47am

What bothers me is how many people let radio hosts think for themselves.

Our local guy, who used to be a sports jock, but they needed a morning guy, so he created a new persona. Today, he was crowing about the Saul Alinski tactics the left uses.

Irony is, five minutes later, he was using those same tactics to support his case.

Sad part? His listeners can't discern that, they tend to be (and, yes, I am sounding elitist here) uneducated buffoons who just want someone to tell them where to direct their anger, because of the sad state of their lives.

79 NYCHardhat  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:28:49am

I'm having a wine party with myself later.

80 doppelganglander  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:29:17am

re: #54 Cygnus

I had all that done a couple of weeks ago and am now waiting for a visit from my newest best friend, Mr. Tax Refund.

Sadly, Mr. Refund has been snubbing me for years now. But I get frequent visits from Ms. Quarterly Estimate. If everyone had to deal with her, these tea parties would number in the millions.

81 freetoken  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:29:26am

re: #60 Typicalwhitey

I am listening to people calling in from the tea parties and they aren't extremist at all.

Do you believe Glenn Beck is an "extremist"?

82 Oh no...Sand People!  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:29:47am

re: #48 brookly red

/Please remember to remove the hat before using a cell phone :)

It's made of chewed gum wrappers. I chewed each tinfoil wrapper for 5 minutes.
/

83 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:29:51am

re: #67 Honorary Yooper

re: #56 Max Darkside

Everyone is a kook to someone somewhere.


Good point. Everyone thinks of themselves as "normal". It's some other guy who is abnormal.

Ya, I blew out my "Wisdom Fuse" burping up that one. No more for today!

84 Cygnus  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:30:03am

What's sad is after today all those sign wavers for various tax preparation companies will be out of a job.

85 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:30:03am

re: #64 Killgore Trout

Are they joining them, or just finding the occassion to be convenient for their own purposes? The organizations on the "left" also pre-date the anti-Iraq War protests, but that did not stop more typical people left of center from using the occassion.

It'll be more telling if this keeps up over the year, or if it burns out, as I think it will.

86 Spare O'Lake  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:30:29am

kook kook kook

Youtube Video
87 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:30:51am

re: #70 Idle Drifter

See Charles #20. The Tea Parties are being used for political gain.

I hope they are. I'd like to gain a voice to the idiots running the 'guvument'.

88 Desert Dog  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:31:05am

re: #80 doppelganglander

Sadly, Mr. Refund has been snubbing me for years now. But I get frequent visits from Ms. Quarterly Estimate. If everyone had to deal with her, these tea parties would number in the millions.

I hear ya brother (sister?). Even with a bad economy, my business still made enough profit to erase any "tax refund" I would have gotten otherwise.

89 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:31:44am

re: #81 freetoken

Do you believe Glenn Beck is an "extremist"?

I do. Or sick. One of the two. He defines himself just by what he does.

90 Russkilitlover  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:31:47am

re: #14 Anthony (Los Angeles)

It's not surprising about Odom --this should be a red-meat issue for Paulians-- but it doesn't take away anything from the thousands of others attending who are concerned about runaway spending, borrowing, and coming taxation.

We'll just gag the Paulites and put them in a corner before they say anything too embarrassing.

I think a lot of the ones in California are primarily focused on the State's recent rape of the citizens, rather than focused on any of the Obama actions to date. There is a lot of anger in California at being hit with a $52 Billion tax increase. I've heard a lot of radio and talked to some folks going to rallys who are directing their ire against a local (well, state, actually) issue moreso than a Federal one.

91 Athos  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:32:06am

re: #88 Desert Dog

I hear ya brother (sister?). Even with a bad economy, my business still made enough profit to erase any "tax refund" I would have gotten otherwise.

Nothing like punishing success.

92 vagabond trader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:32:39am

re: #88 Desert Dog

Don't be jealous, we received our $11.00 from the feds the other day.I slapped it on the fridge for a laugh.

93 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:33:00am

re: #89 Walter L. Newton

I do. Or sick. One of the two. He defines himself just by what he does.

He could very well be both, extreme and sick. It need not be either/or.

94 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:33:05am
95 unrealizedviewpoint  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:33:28am

re: #26 Athens Runaway

Michelle Malkin just tweeted that the Secret Service just shut down the DC Tea Party. Some moran threw a tea bag over the White House's fence.

Really? Someone litters and the SS shuts down a demonstration? I'm going to MM to confirm.

96 'Nam Grunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:33:30am

From Previous thread:

Doesn't matter if people don't like conservatives having Tea Party's to protest the terrible direction the left wing radicals are trying to take our Nation, it's a fact that they want to turn America into a socialist communist Country in order to have power over regular folks and stop them from even mowing their yards. The people that are out in public squares and wherever today protesting against what our Gov. has become (75% of them) would never have dreamed of going out into the streets of America to protest against our Gov. because they aren't involved in political back and forth, that we see in the MSM, they are just normal Americans that have had enough and don't want to see our Country taken down by communists!

97 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:33:44am

re: #81 freetoken

Do you believe Glenn Beck is an "extremist"?

He is an entertainer.

98 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:33:50am

Let me get this straight, I should not go to a tea party because a Ron Paul nut ob supports it as well? Fuck Ron Paul and his loons, I am going to the one in NYC after work and am damn proud to do it. I am deeply concerned about the financial direction this country is headed.

99 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:34:32am

re: #97 Max Darkside

He is an entertainer.

More like a clown, but that just my opinion of the man.

100 Cygnus  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:34:42am

re: #92 vagabond trader

Don't be jealous, we received our $11.00 from the feds the other day.I slapped it on the fridge for a laugh.

I used to work in health insurance. I've seen a few payment checks for under a dollar going out to people. That is totally nuts.

101 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:35:02am

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's incredibly weird, after what we learned about Ron Paul and his followers in the last election, to argue that it doesn't matter whether Paulians are in charge of the majority of the tea parties.

Not just weird, disturbing.

102 looking closely  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:35:18am

The fact that this organizer is a lunatic doesn't invalidate criticism of ridiculous amounts of gov't overspending.

The big irony here is that the REAL taxation has yet to begin.

103 Desert Dog  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:35:20am

re: #91 Athos

Nothing like punishing success.

Funny, I don't feel rich. But, according to the powers that be, I am blood sucking capitalist, bent on milking the proletariat to death!

104 Athens Runaway  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:35:37am

re: #95 unrealizedviewpoint

Really? Someone litters and the SS shuts down a demonstration? I'm going to MM to confirm.

MM's Twitter page. Appears to be a "temporary" shutdown.

105 calcajun  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:35:46am

My wife wanted to take my kids (especially my obstreperous 15-year old son) to a local tea party. He likes Ann Coulter--can't blame him given her turn of phrase. I thought funny was good at his age, too. Am trying to get him to see past the hyperbole, though.

I told her to go as an observer to look at the proceedings but not to get drawn in. Look at the groups gathered --to prove my point about the ongoing struggle for the soul of the GOP. Waiting to hear what she see.

106 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:35:52am

My personal tea party is going to consist of writing obscenely large checks to the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board.

107 doppelganglander  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:36:07am

re: #88 Desert Dog

I hear ya brother (sister?). Even with a bad economy, my business still made enough profit to erase any "tax refund" I would have gotten otherwise.

Sister. It's just me, myself and I on a 1099. We have extra withheld from Mr. Doppel's check but I always end up owing.

This morning, I also had the fun of filing taxes for one daughter and an extension for the other, who is out of the country. The latter had withholding from THREE different jurisdictions, even though she only needs to file in one. I am going to have tons of fun straightening that one out.

108 KingKenrod  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:36:14am

re: #64 Killgore Trout

As demonstrated in the previous thread: RON PAUL RALLY, SOUTH LAWN, US CAPITOL, WASHINGTON DC: APRIL 15, 2008

The Paulians have been holding Tax Day Tea Parties for years. They are not infiltrating a mainstream conservative movement. It's the other way around. Mainstream conservatives are joining a fringe movement. Conservatives are the interlopers, not the Paulians. The same costumes, colonial theme, the same economic agenda, the same predictions of economic doom of the empire, the same blather about the Constitution. You are becoming them.

This is a hysterical overstatement. Just my opinion, but most of the people attending the tea parties are just regular conservatives who know or care nothing about Ron Paul's agenda, but are mad at America for electing leftists to the White House and Congress. They see this as a chance to be heard and start the pendulum back in the other direction. There's no question these rallies are going to draw plenty of kooks looking for cameras, but most of these people will never attend another rally.

109 libertyvista  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:36:28am

It's amazing how much animosity is directed at rallies which are essentially about fiscal responsibility.

110 Athos  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:36:40am

re: #90 Russkilitlover

I think a lot of the ones in California are primarily focused on the State's recent rape of the citizens, rather than focused on any of the Obama actions to date. There is a lot of anger in California at being hit with a $52 Billion tax increase. I've heard a lot of radio and talked to some folks going to rallys who are directing their ire against a local (well, state, actually) issue moreso than a Federal one.

There is definitely an anger with the state budget issues and the May 19th vote on the propositions that were part of the 'deal' could go against passing the ones needed to complete the deal. The fact that the deal was basically a sham and there is an additional $8B or so of deficit that remains doesn't help either. But there will be a strong message towards the current Administration's tax and budget policies.

But, bottom line, unless the R leadership changes / get's smarter, and starts to articulate a cogent vision for the vast majority in the middle (ignoring the demands of the fringe elements), I fear not much will change.

111 Cygnus  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:36:45am

Well, I'm off. Going to our local Tea Party and bringing my camera in case any nutjobs show up.

112 unrealizedviewpoint  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:36:57am

re: #104 Athens Runaway

MM's Twitter page. Appears to be a "temporary" shutdown.

Must be the Secret Service.
/

113 vagabond trader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:37:00am

So, Glenn Beck is now some kind of litmus test? Ridiculous.

114 tompaineftw  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:37:15am

One great thing about a tax day protest is that anyone against it is, in effect, an agent for the government. Hilarious.

115 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:37:49am

We've not already met Mr. 1040 this year, but we also met up with Mr. 1040X because of an ammended form sent to us.

116 looking closely  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:37:50am

re: #101 Charles

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's incredibly weird, after what we learned about Ron Paul and his followers in the last election, to argue that it doesn't matter whether Paulians are in charge of the majority of the tea parties.

Not just weird, disturbing.

It remains to be seen how much it "matters" since it remains to be seen what, if any, impact these "tea party" rallies actually have.

What I would say is that Ron Paul really didn't get much political traction this last election cycle, and trying to cynically exploit people's anger against excessive gov't spending and taxation probably isn't going to buy him that much more next election cycle either.

117 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:38:04am

re: #92 vagabond trader

Don't be jealous, we received our $11.00 from the feds the other day.I slapped it on the fridge for a laugh.

Har. My FIVE FIGURES Federal payment (above and beyond that paid already in 2008) will pay for a lot of those.

/no, I'm NOT rich.

118 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:38:17am

re: #106 Charles

My personal tea party is going to consist of writing obscenely large checks to the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board.

Had to look that one up. It seems to be a California term. Other states tend to call theirs a version of IRS, i.e. Illinois IRS.

119 AMER1CAN  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:38:23am

OT: Man, this guy thought Tax day was bad enough. He also gets sentenced to death and his executaiton date is on Tax day, today. You know what they say, there are only 2 guarantees in life. Death and Taxes.

I guess just death for him. You just know that lucky SOB never paid any taxes!

120 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:38:46am

Wait until the hyperinflation starts in 2 -3 years.

I keep hoping that I am going to wake up one day and find that this has all been a nightmare.

121 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:39:08am

re: #54 Cygnus

I had all that done a couple of weeks ago and am now waiting for a visit from my newest best friend, Mr. Tax Refund.

Wanna hear something darkly... and I do mean darkly... funny?

People who are owed refunds from New York State are being told that they have to wait, because the State doesn't have the cash to pay out refunds until the quarterly and annual tax payments come in.

Scary stuff.

122 Spare O'Lake  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:39:12am

Crazy, crazy, crazy

Youtube Video
123 Big Steve  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:39:20am

re: #69 AMER1CAN

Here’s a list of the local Houston Tax Day Tea Parties:

• HOUSTON Jones Plaza Downtown Houston 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

• SUGAR LAND Sugar Land Town Square 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

• THE WOODLANDS Rob Fleming Park Creekside Village 6055 Creekside Forest Dr. 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

• FRIENDSWOOD Centennial Park 2200 Friendswood Dr 5 p.m. -7 p.m.

• PEARLAND Independence Park 3919 Liberty Drive Noon

Hey thanks....very helpful for me

124 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:39:53am

re: #121 Occasional Reader

Wanna hear something darkly... and I do mean darkly... funny?

People who are owed refunds from New York State are being told that they have to wait, because the State doesn't have the cash to pay out refunds until the quarterly and annual tax payments come in.

Scary stuff.

Racist.

125 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:39:54am

re: #116 looking closely

It remains to be seen how much it "matters" since it remains to be seen what, if any, impact these "tea party" rallies actually have.

The main organizer of the tea parties is affiliated with Ron Paul, Alex Jones, and completely insane New World Order websites.

I can predict what the impact of this will be.

126 calcajun  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:39:57am

re: #109 libertyvista

A few bad apples will subvert whatever noble purpose lay behind the rallies--and that, I assure you, will be the images you see in the media.

127 Shanimal1918  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:40:04am

Relief. I have confirmed the Tea Party at 4pm Columbus Park Boston, isn't assiciated with the paulians. They had theirs today at Boston Common. So anyone in Mass, get to Columbus Square in the North End 4-6pm. It's a paulian-free protest about being "Taxed Enough Already".

The REAL tea party in Boston today

128 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:40:11am

re: #106 Charles

My personal tea party is going to consist of writing obscenely large checks to the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board.

You must be one of those RICH PEOPLE!

Someone get a rope!

129 doppelganglander  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:40:12am

re: #121 Occasional Reader

Wanna hear something darkly... and I do mean darkly... funny?

People who are owed refunds from New York State are being told that they have to wait, because the State doesn't have the cash to pay out refunds until the quarterly and annual tax payments come in.

Scary stuff.

Who is running the show there, Bernie Madoff?

130 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:40:27am

re: #121 Occasional Reader

I got my NY State refund the other day. That David Paterson has been a hell of a governor hasn't he been? /not

131 Idle Drifter  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:40:32am

re: #87 Max Darkside

I hope they are. I'd like to gain a voice to the idiots running the 'guvument'.

You do have a voice in the Government right now with Senators and Representatives. The least you can do is right to them or even go so far as to set up a meeting with them to express your concerns to them directly that is your right as a US citizen. They ignore you or dismiss you get behind a new candidates and work on their campaigns.

132 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:40:32am

re: #121 Occasional Reader

Wanna hear something darkly... and I do mean darkly... funny?

People who are owed refunds from New York State are being told that they have to wait, because the State doesn't have the cash to pay out refunds until the quarterly and annual tax payments come in.

Scary stuff.

I've hard about that, there and California. Illinois, as much as I get disgusted with them, sets aside a fund specifically for tax refunds so this does not occur.

133 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:40:49am
134 doppelganglander  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:40:56am

re: #119 AMER1CAN

OT: Man, this guy thought Tax day was bad enough. He also gets sentenced to death and his executaiton date is on Tax day, today. You know what they say, there are only 2 guarantees in life. Death and Taxes.

I guess just death for him. You just know that lucky SOB never paid any taxes!

I guess he can forget about requesting an extension.

135 Ringo the Gringo  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:40:59am

Just as the media went out of their way to avoid filming or photographing the crazies and Leftists that made up a majority of the anti-war protesters of the Bush years, so they will now go out of their way to shine a spotlight on every nutcase at these Tea Parties.

This you can count on.

136 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:41:01am

re: #120 Joel

Wait until the hyperinflation starts in 2 -3 years.

I keep hoping that I am going to wake up one day and find that this has all been a nightmare.

We have not seen the worst of this economic problem yet. This is the "nice part. I don't know if the inflation will go "Hyper", but if the Chinese and Russians have their way it will. Only thing worse than being unemployed is having a loaf of bread cost $15.00 (and then $30 next week).

137 nikis-knight  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:41:03am

re: #101 Charles

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's incredibly weird, after what we learned about Ron Paul and his followers in the last election, to argue that it doesn't matter whether Paulians are in charge of the majority of the tea parties.

Not just weird, disturbing.


It's not just you, but I'll admit it isn't me. Being at the same place as someone for one cause is not the same as signing on to everything they've ever done. If a speaker at these parties gets into "white culture" or white whatever, and isn't shouted down and chases off stage, then those there are wrong to stay. If someone who sent out some e-mails or bought the permit to show up has at some point expressed evil thoughts, but doesn't here, and the protests aren't about or supporting them, then I don't think it does matter, sorry.

I don't think any of this noise will make a difference, but it's silly to insist that every idea RP has is invalide because he has several other disturbing or vile or wicked ones.

138 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:41:13am

Walter?

139 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:41:21am

I can't believe all these idiots running around trying to file their tax returns today. Why, I filed mine over a year ago! Stupid procrastinators!

140 Erik The Red  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:41:27am

re: #121 Occasional Reader

Wanna hear something darkly... and I do mean darkly... funny?

People who are owed refunds from New York State are being told that they have to wait, because the State doesn't have the cash to pay out refunds until the quarterly and annual tax payments come in.

Scary stuff.

And if you don't have the money to pay your taxes what happens?

I hope you at least get interest at the rate they would charge you.

141 Colonel Panik  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:41:40am

re: #39 MandyManners

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?

NO NO NO NO NO!

Go to Michelle's site. She's got the lowdown on who actually started them.

I think Charles and Killgore are going overboard with this Luap Nor stuff.

The main forces behind the getting the Tea Party ball rolling are Smart Girl Politics and Top Conservatives on Twitter.

142 lawhawk  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:41:45am

re: #129 doppelganglander

Who is running the show there, Bernie Madoff?

Almost as bad, the New York Democrats - Silver, Paterson, and Smith (if it sounds like a law firm, that's because they all have law firm connections).

143 Big Steve  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:42:00am

re: #106 Charles

My personal tea party is going to consist of writing obscenely large checks to the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board.

Well one consequence of having a hurricane rip snort up half your property is that the casualty/losses keep a little less out of Uncle Sam's pocket.

144 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:42:18am

re: #138 Ben Hur

Walter?

What?

145 AMER1CAN  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:42:36am

re: #134 doppelganglander

I guess he can forget about requesting an extension.

Money quote right there!

146 Lincolntf  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:43:04am

re: #108 KingKenrod

I didn't see a single (open) Ron Paul advocate. Nor was anyone angry. The speakers were local Chamber of Commerce types. I know it's only one example, and the chronic politeness of central NC might prevent some of the loons from hooting, but I was pleased to see that at least my local iteration of the theme seems like a straightforward and reasonable group. I'll get on the mailing list and see what comes of the movement. Obviously, the Tea Party thing is not going to be all things to all people, but I'm hopeful for it's future.

147 lawhawk  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:43:22am

re: #141 Colonel Panik

NO NO NO NO NO!

Go to Michelle's site. She's got the lowdown on who actually started them.

I think Charles and Killgore are going overboard with this Luap Nor stuff.

The main forces behind the getting the Tea Party ball rolling are Smart Girl Politics and Top Conservatives on Twitter.

It's more likely that there's been quite a bit of coopting - the Paulians taking on a greater prominence in the tea parties, and spreading the message even further than if it grew on its own. The GOP is glomming on to anything that can give it a pulse at the moment.

148 nikis-knight  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:43:31am

re: #121 Occasional Reader

Wanna hear something darkly... and I do mean darkly... funny?

People who are owed refunds from New York State are being told that they have to wait, because the State doesn't have the cash to pay out refunds until the quarterly and annual tax payments come in.

Scary stuff.


Some in CA were getting IOU's. I've made sure to change my allowances so I won't have to rely on refunds next time.

149 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:43:33am

re: #131 Idle Drifter

You do have a voice in the Government right now with Senators and Representatives. The least you can do is right to them or even go so far as to set up a meeting with them to express your concerns to them directly that is your right as a US citizen. They ignore you or dismiss you get behind a new candidates and work on their campaigns.

Hahahahahah.....

Meeting with them? HA! NO flippin' way. I can't even get a response from my senator (I have only one... cuz AL FRANKEN is going to be the other). My conservative REP already thinks like I do.

I'm afraid, my friend, for me representation has broken down.

150 'Nam Grunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:43:39am

I'm just glad I live in the great Republic of Texas.

151 LGoPs  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:44:21am

re: #118 Honorary Yooper

Had to look that one up. It seems to be a California term. Other states tend to call theirs a version of IRS, i.e. Illinois IRS.

I had the same question when I moved to CA. Just what the fuck is a Franchise Tax Board. I guess I must be a franchise.......

152 debutaunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:44:43am

re: #121 Occasional Reader

Wanna hear something darkly... and I do mean darkly... funny?

People who are owed refunds from New York State are being told that they have to wait, because the State doesn't have the cash to pay out refunds until the quarterly and annual tax payments come in.

Scary stuff.

California is onto that idea too.

153 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:44:52am

re: #150 'Nam Grunt

I'm just glad I live in the great Republic of Texas.

And that's going to save you from what?

154 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:44:53am

re: #136 Max Darkside

We have not seen the worst of this economic problem yet. This is the "nice part. I don't know if the inflation will go "Hyper", but if the Chinese and Russians have their way it will. Only thing worse than being unemployed is having a loaf of bread cost $15.00 (and then $30 next week).

I think we are headed both domestically and internationally to Carter II. Remember those years of stagflation? I fear they are around the corner (I hope that I am wrong because I wanted to retire one day eventually). Overseas we will have weakness, appeasement, denigration of our own country by its commander-in-chief. I think (sort of like the show Life on Mars) that I have returned to 1979 and the unqualified charlatan is in the White House.

155 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:45:00am

re: #144 Walter L. Newton

What?

Not you.

Was making a Big Lebowski reference.

I would never presume to call you by solely your first name.

156 Daria Emmons  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:45:03am

The Tea Parties are out there trying to make a difference. That is a meaningful and worthwhile exercise. Eric Odom may or may not be an extremist, but he is one organizer amongst hundreds. It is next to impossible to police every person in an organization as widespread as this, short of a loyalty test. This does not mean that the Tea Parties are in and of themselves "extremist" or "crazy."

The question is what is the overall message of the Tea Parties, and outside of some random loons, I see the message is a good one.

Question: is it not possible to simply support the message of the Parties, while disavowing some of the random loons? Is it necessary to seek to discredit the entire movement, rather than the loons attached to them? Isn't this cutting off your nose to spite your face?

157 Killgore Trout  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:45:11am

re: #141 Colonel Panik

Bulshit. Her "history" starts in February. See my #64. Paulians have been holding tax day tea parties for years.

158 johnnyreb  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:45:17am

re: #120 Joel

Wait until the hyperinflation starts in 2 -3 years.

I keep hoping that I am going to wake up one day and find that this has all been a nightmare.

Most people think you are joking, but if something does not change, we will see at a minimum double digit inflation for the foreseeable future form these budgets. Or one huge a** tax increase on everyone.

159 Kosh's Shadow  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:45:24am

re: #106 Charles

My personal tea party is going to consist of writing obscenely large checks to the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board.

Ours weren't as bad as we were afraid of, even though my wife made more money last year (there's a lot of business defending sex offenders, and they still end up locked up). Which reminds me, in my new job I forgot to set my withholding high so we wouldn't get socked at the end of the year. I'll do that now, and also find out how big our estimated tax payments are supposed to be.

160 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:45:38am

re: #155 Ben Hur

Not you.

Was making a Big Lebowski reference.

I would never presume to call you by solely your first name.

What :)

161 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:45:52am

re: #124 Ben Hur

Racist.

New York State is not a race!

162 Desert Dog  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:45:56am

re: #107 doppelganglander

Sister. It's just me, myself and I on a 1099. We have extra withheld from Mr. Doppel's check but I always end up owing.

This morning, I also had the fun of filing taxes for one daughter and an extension for the other, who is out of the country. The latter had withholding from THREE different jurisdictions, even though she only needs to file in one. I am going to have tons of fun straightening that one out.

I paid my CPA $2000 last year and I still have to pay up. I asked him what I can do to reduce the tax payments. He told me to make less money. I could be worse, it could be the opposite, so this is not a complaint.

163 Big Steve  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:46:02am

re: #153 Walter L. Newton

And that's going to save you from what?

Hey....he fought for your right to be sarcastic/

164 libertyvista  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:46:15am

re: #126 calcajun

A few bad apples will subvert whatever noble purpose lay behind the rallies--and that, I assure you, will be the images you see in the media.

No doubt about that, the subversion efforts began well before the events did.

165 Opinionated  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:46:19am

To have an impact, political protests have to frighten the politicians in office.

Not make them laugh.

166 lawhawk  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:46:25am

re: #148 nikis-knight

Some in CA were getting IOU's. I've made sure to change my allowances so I won't have to rely on refunds next time.

It's a problem that is going to get worse as states deep in the red need to hold on to the refunds even longer so as to get a minor boost in interest payments (which is where these states make money during the course of the year via withholding your taxes owed in the first place). CA and NY are among those who are in the worst shape financially.

167 jaunte  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:46:33am

Texas is succeeding, not seceding.

168 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:46:34am

re: #153 Walter L. Newton

And that's going to save you from what?

at least he does not live in California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Minnesota.

169 Lincolntf  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:46:48am

re: #165 Opinionated

Baby steps.

170 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:46:51am

re: #141 Colonel Panik

NO NO NO NO NO!

Yes.

It doesn't matter who started this.

The main organizer of the tea parties right now is Eric Odom. TaxDayTeaParty.com is his website.

A Paulian is in charge.

171 ellcon  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:47:03am

The interesting part of all of this is that these 'Tea Parties' is that they grew out of the Ron Paul movement. It was started with Paul's first 'money bomb' which fell on the anniversary of the Boston Tea party, and they've been having demonstrations since then linked to Tea Party ideals. Doing some reading on the internet, a lot of Paulites believe that 'their' Tea Parties have been hijacked by neocons and social cons to promote other agendas - I'm really not surprised that many organizers are of the Ron Paul persuasion.

Here's the surprising thing: Looking at the current state of the GOP - the infighting, the numerous factions, the disagreement, and general lack of direction - It seems to me like the only faction that is gaining any ground is the Libertarian-leaning faction. I'd never thought I'd say this, but the Ron Paul revolution is actually gaining ground.

172 vagabond trader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:47:10am

re: #117 Max Darkside

Oh we pay our share, just had them withold a little more this year.

173 JimmyTheClaw  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:47:13am

re: #17 Charles

See the update above. Odom also writes for Alex Jones New World Order websites.

reason why i'm not going the once good friend who urged me to go discovered alex jones and is a big ron paul fan i jost dont want to hear his bs

174 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:47:15am

re: #156 Daria Emmons

The Tea Parties are out there trying to make a difference. That is a meaningful and worthwhile exercise.

No, it's a feel good exercise that will make you all feel like you are doing something, and the politicians, right and left in Washington DC don't give a rat's ass about your little protest.

Fooled you!

175 looking closely  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:47:17am

re: #125 Charles

The main organizer of the tea parties is affiliated with Ron Paul, Alex Jones, and completely insane New World Order websites.

I can predict what the impact of this will be.


What do you think it will be? Seriously.

You know I agree that Paul is a kook, as are many/most of his followers. I also think this is largely the reason why he and his sort haven't been able to gain traction with the mainstream electorate, and probably won't be able to in the future.

But all that said, I don't think that EVERY political idea he subscribes to is necessarily insane. I think many mainstream conservatives, or even non-conservatives can agree with Paul on the principle of limited gov't, as the biggest and relevant example here.

176 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:47:24am

re: #151 LGoPs

I had the same question when I moved to CA. Just what the fuck is a Franchise Tax Board. I guess I must be a franchise.......

I've been noticing that with California. They seem to feel the need to come up with unique names for their agencies.

CalTrans anywhere else would simply be CDOT (maybe CalDOT).
The DMV is simply the Secretary of State here in the Midwest.
etc, etc.

177 debutaunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:47:31am

re: #151 LGoPs

I had the same question when I moved to CA. Just what the fuck is a Franchise Tax Board. I guess I must be a franchise.......

Have you met Mr. EDD?

178 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:47:35am
179 Sifty  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:47:48am

I can solemnly swear that dipshit Odom has absolutely nothing to do with my protest of an oppressive, confiscatory, and intrusive government. Fuck Erik Odom and his creepy leprechaun Ron Paul.

It is insulting to normal people that want to participate in this movement to question our ability to come to this decision without some kook convincing us.

For every Martin Luther King Jr. in a righteous movement, there are a few Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons glomming on to make money. It's a fact of life that any large group of people will contain a few bad people.


For every hundred or thousand hard-working people sick of this government's bullshit, there are going to be some repugnant, ignorant, and untrustworthy nut-jobs.

Please try not to get too far up on your high-horse and paint us all as rubes and nuts. After a while it begins to smell a little like smugness and Prius-driving self-satisfaction.
Some are doing the right thing for the right reasons.

180 Killgore Trout  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:47:53am

Paulians in 2007

Youtube Video
181 Russkilitlover  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:48:09am

re: #121 Occasional Reader

Wanna hear something darkly... and I do mean darkly... funny?

People who are owed refunds from New York State are being told that they have to wait, because the State doesn't have the cash to pay out refunds until the quarterly and annual tax payments come in.

Scary stuff.

Already happened in California; although they did start releasing refunds in mid-March.

We in California are just such trend setters! I'm so proud. /////

182 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:48:09am

re: #171 ellcon

I'd never thought I'd say this, but the Ron Paul revolution is actually gaining ground.

What's that smell?

183 LGoPs  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:48:31am

re: #151 LGoPs

I had the same question when I moved to CA. Just what the fuck is a Franchise Tax Board. I guess I must be a franchise.......

Franchise:
1. a privilege of a public nature conferred on an individual, group, or company by a government: a franchise to operate a bus system.
2. the right or license granted by a company to an individual or group to market its products or services in a specific territory.
3. a store, restaurant, or other business operating under such a license.
4. the territory over which such a license extends.
5. the right to vote: to guarantee the franchise of every citizen.
6. a privilege arising from the grant of a sovereign or government, or from prescription, which presupposes a grant.

None of the definitions above make any senese except for maybe # 4.
I hate it when words are used to obfuscate what something is......

184 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:48:40am
185 Bloodnok  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:48:49am

I visited the Tea Party in Boston for a few minutes this afternoon. It was tamer than I expected and the signs were not particularly offensive.

I did spot several Ron Paul supporters on the outskirts, trying to pick off the gawkers when they stopped to see what was going on. One Paulian I saw a guy with a shirt with the Anarchy symbol on the front, a grenade on the back and the word "MILITIA" underneath. He was waving a "Come and Take It" flag with a gun pictured and had a bag full of Ron Paul signs at his feet.

But hands down my favorite of the day was a guy with an Obama mask, a flesh colored body suit, "Y Front" underwear (worn on the outside), and holding a balloon of "Elmo" from Sesame Street. If he doesn't bring change to the tax code, then nothing will.

186 looking closely  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:49:16am

re: #165 Opinionated

To have an impact, political protests have to frighten the politicians in office.

Not make them laugh.

The former would be helpful, but not absolutely necessary.

They only have to motivate the electorate.

Either to throw out the bad ones in office, to select better ones, or even to run themselves.

187 Russkilitlover  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:49:20am

re: #110 Athos

The Republican party in California is dead. It has expired. It has ceased to exist.

188 Bubblehead II  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:49:25am

re: #101 Charles

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's incredibly weird, after what we learned about Ron Paul and his followers in the last election, to argue that it doesn't matter whether Paulians are in charge of the majority of the tea parties.

Not just weird, disturbing.

Yep, why should we not object to the paulians being involved with these protests, when we would vehemently denounce them if they were being put on by a group with white nationalist ties?

This story from your link I think helps make my point.

/Well you encouraged us to look around.

189 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:49:28am

re: #178 taxfreekiller

Walter,

Keep in mind, Colorado's economy is just the discretionary spending of Texans.

be nice to Texas

I am nice to Texans, I lived there for 15 years, in your neck of the woods. And up your's about the discretionary spending, we don't need it.

190 vagabond trader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:49:32am

re: #162 Desert Dog

Or become a landlord. We could not sell our condo for a few years so we leased it out. Nice fat returns for those years, depreciation and all.

191 filetandrelease  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:49:52am

Too busy trying to make money to pay taxes to protest said taxes. But I would love to be there.

A few nuts double the attention these protest would otherwise get, and most people only pay a little attention. "Wow, code pink is protesting taxes". That kind of thing.

Besides, there is something about protesting taxes that just feels good.

192 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:50:21am

I thought it was mainly about protesting spending.

193 'Nam Grunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:50:40am

re: #153 Walter L. Newton

People like you think.

194 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:50:43am

And paying other people's mortgages.

195 Ringo the Gringo  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:50:44am

re: #111 Cygnus

Well, I'm off. Going to our local Tea Party and bringing my camera in case any nutjobs show up.

I'll be doing the same this afternoon.

I will not just be looking for nutjobs. I will try to be fair and document what I see as best I can, but if what I saw last Saturday is any indication, there will be no shortage of nutjobs.

196 Daria Emmons  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:50:50am

re: #179 Sifty

For every Martin Luther King Jr. in a righteous movement, there are a few Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons glomming on to make money. It's a fact of life that any large group of people will contain a few bad people.


For every hundred or thousand hard-working people sick of this government's bullshit, there are going to be some repugnant, ignorant, and untrustworthy nut-jobs.

This is exactly right and what I have always believed. By the logic I have been seeing on LGF, the entire Civil Rights Movement would have been discredited, due to some of the repugnant nutters who stuck their noses into it.

It is possible that a) Tea Parties have a good message; b) some random nutters are affixing themselves to the movement and seeking to use it for their own benefit.

I believe both are happening. Just because (b) appears true does not mean (a) is not also true.

197 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:50:52am

And paying ACORN billions.

198 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:51:07am

And finding the Joo cave with all the gold.

199 albusteve  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:51:10am

I'm a radical Less Paulian....he invented music

200 jcbunga  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:51:19am

Please let there NOT be any hey hey ho ho chants.

201 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:51:20am

re: #175 looking closely

What do you think it will be? Seriously.

Tea party protesters will be dismissed as far right kooks. And letting a Paulian conspiracy monger organize them is certainly not going to do anything to change that.

202 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:51:23am

re: #163 Big Steve

Hey....he fought for your right to be sarcastic/

And what the fuck are you talking about, you big jerk. I never questioned his service to this country. I was talking about something totally different, and you know it.

Don't jump on my comments to fight your battles, you chicken assed dishonest piece of crap.

I would never say anything like that about someone's service.

You sir are on my shit list.

203 SixDegrees  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:51:24am

re: #18 Idle Drifter

Imagine if Ron and Medea got together............oh, God, what have I wrought upon the world!

These two are the biggest attention whores in the country! Bar none.

In fairness, I don't hear much at all from Paul himself. Mostly, it's the bushels of fruits and nuts he surrounded himself with that make all the noise.

204 Killgore Trout  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:51:27am

Austin Tea Party / Ron Paul rally 12-16-2007

Youtube Video
205 Ben Hur  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:51:28am

And wiping out the invading Jewbot army.

206 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:51:42am

re: #198 Ben Hur

And finding the Joo cave with all the gold.

Joo-ish leprechauns? Makes no sense.

207 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:52:01am

re: #158 johnnyreb
I know that I do not manage my own finances the way the government does and I hope that you do not either. My prediction (I hope to hell I am wrong) for the coming years

1. high inflation
2. high unemployment (8 -10%)
3. high interest rates
4. low growth
5. The Dow tumbling even more
6. the forces of jihad emboldened as we go back to a 9/10/01 mentality
7. racial hucksters like Sharpton gaining in influence
8. a load of left wing liberal judges playing sociology professors on the court and going wobbly with criminals
9. the politicization of the CIA, FBI, DHS
10. blatant quota systems put into place

Again, I hope I am wrong because I want the best for America.

208 nikis-knight  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:52:04am

re: #176 Honorary Yooper

I've been noticing that with California. They seem to feel the need to come up with unique names for their agencies.

CalTrans anywhere else would simply be CDOT (maybe CalDOT).
The DMV is simply the Secretary of State here in the Midwest.
etc, etc.


I think the california tax agency was called the "Board of Equalization." That phrase and it makes my stomach turn.

209 Idle Drifter  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:52:29am

re: #149 Max Darkside

Hahahahahah.....

Meeting with them? HA! NO flippin' way. I can't even get a response from my senator (I have only one... cuz AL FRANKEN is going to be the other). My conservative REP already thinks like I do.

I'm afraid, my friend, for me representation has broken down.

Why not set up a meeting with your political opposite to express your concerns? They are elected, get enough people to voice the same opinion will give them pause. Well, except for Al Franken you are SOL on that senator.

210 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:52:41am

re: #205 Ben Hur

And wiping out the invading Jewbot army.

That's why we have Robert Smith (from The Cure).

211 LGoPs  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:52:52am

re: #177 debutaunt

Have you met Mr. EDD?

No, what is that?

212 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:53:18am
213 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:54:03am

re: #175 looking closely

On the flip side of this is Obama. Not every idea he has is bad, but just like Ron Paul, he has a number of terrible ones. If we're going to weigh the idea of kooky politicians, we should look at the kooky and non-kooky ideas they all have. I'm sure even Dennis Kucinich may have a good idea or two (OK, I may be pushing it with two). Any good ideas from them however, does not in any way excuse their bad ideas or the bad actions of their followers.

214 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:54:07am

re: #184 taxfreekiller

Big Steve

Your goint to start something there is no need of starting.

IMO

Yea, Big Steve, and make sure you see my reply in re: #202 Walter L. Newton

215 Opinionated  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:54:16am

re: #201 Charles

Tea party protesters will be dismissed as far right kooks. And letting a Paulian conspiracy monger organize them is certainly not going to do anything to change that.

All true.

But to be fair, if there wasn't a Paulian within a thousand miles, the evening news on all the networks would still paint the protest as an unimportant phenomena of beaten and impotent extreme Right Wingers.

216 Big Steve  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:54:17am

re: #202 Walter L. Newton

grow up

217 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:54:40am

O-B-A-M-A
One
Big
Ass
Mistake
America

218 Lincolntf  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:54:55am

In my brief searches about the Tea Parties while trying to find one, I always found that the closest thing to a "main" organizer was "Americans For Prosperity". That's who got the permits, speakers, etc. for today's event here. I never saw any reference to TaxDayTeaParty on the local sites or at the event.

219 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:54:56am

re: #216 Big Steve

grow up

Fuck you.

220 Erik The Red  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:55:08am

re: #217 Joel

O-B-A-M-A
One
Big
Ass
Mistake
America

See my Avatar.

221 Dustyvet  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:55:11am

re: #211 LGoPs

No, what is that?

Awww, Wilbur...:)

222 Russkilitlover  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:55:23am

re: #127 Shanimal1918


The REAL tea party in Boston today

From your link.....

Terrific signs!

Debt is the problem; how can it be the solution too?

Don’t Bail Out The Boat: FIX THE LEAK

Read my teleprompter: NO MORE BAILOUTS

Don’t Tax Me Bro

Free Markets, Not Free Loaders!

Help Me Mr. Obama, They Want Me To Work and Stuff!

Freedom Works – Bailouts Hurt

Give me liberty; don't give me debt!

So, How's That "Hope And Change" Workin' Out For Ya?

No Public Money for Private Failure

Armed and Dangerous … WITH MY VOTE

Born Free, Taxed to Death

Can We Bankrupt The Country? YES WE CAN

Can We Lay Off Congress?

223 redmonkey  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:55:32am

re: #39 MandyManners

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?

My co-worker is organizing for Norristown, NJ Tea part. Independent, voted for McCain and She does not know who are Ron Paul is.

224 nikis-knight  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:55:39am

re: #196 Daria Emmons

It is possible that a) Tea Parties have a good message; b) some random nutters are affixing themselves to the movement and seeking to use it for their own benefit.

I don't even think it's that underhanded. Some good messages will appeal to "bad people" who have the same right to protest bad policies.

225 wrenchwench  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:56:01am

re: #201 Charles

Tea party protesters will be dismissed as far right kooks. And letting a Paulian conspiracy monger organize them is certainly not going to do anything to change that.

Or, a worse-case scenario, the Paulians gain credibility in their local Republican party organization, and start rolling out some more of their agenda.

226 Athos  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:56:09am

re: #187 Russkilitlover

The Republican party in California is dead. It has expired. It has ceased to exist.

I told them just that last week when they called for money. Unless changes are made, State and National, I'll continue to directly support the candidates that I prefer and not the larger ineptly led organizations.

227 Idle Drifter  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:56:21am

re: #203 SixDegrees

In fairness, I don't hear much at all from Paul himself. Mostly, it's the bushels of fruits and nuts he surrounded himself with that make all the noise.

Good point.

228 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:56:30am

re: #220 Erik The Red

Great minds think alike!

229 Colonel Panik  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:56:31am

I don't see much evidence of Paulian involvement in the Tea Party movement here in AZ, and we had a fairly large contingent of Paulians in the primaries. It seems to be largely driven by small business associations and local mainstream conservative Republican figures like John Shadegg and J.D. Hayworth. J.D. is not a big fan of Paulians, when they call in to his radio show he cuts them off pretty quick.

I'll be attending the local Tea Party at the state capitol this afternoon and will report later on what I see.

230 Erik The Red  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:56:33am

Walter please go for a walk around the block.

231 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:56:38am

re: #210 Occasional Reader

That's why we have Robert Smith (from The Cure).

The Jewbot Army was Eric Cartmam. Robert Smith took out Mecha Streisand.

232 debutaunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:56:54am

re: #211 LGoPs

No, what is that?

Employment Development Department.

233 SixDegrees  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:56:55am

re: #131 Idle Drifter

You do have a voice in the Government right now with Senators and Representatives. The least you can do is right to them or even go so far as to set up a meeting with them to express your concerns to them directly that is your right as a US citizen. They ignore you or dismiss you get behind a new candidates and work on their campaigns.

Well said. In a Representative Democracy, one vote is worth...one vote. You can exert a great deal more political power by getting even just a little bit involved with party politics, and influence what candidates get selected to run in the first place. You also get a wider pipeline to those already holding office, and your voice carries more weight.

234 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:57:00am

Now I DID see a reporter for ABC News at the Lafayette Park tea party, and as I walked by he was saying to the camera, "... but despite this, a majority of Americans support President Obama's tax policies." I guess just reporting the news was too much to ask.

235 LGoPs  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:57:01am

re: #201 Charles

Tea party protesters will be dismissed as far right kooks. And letting a Paulian conspiracy monger organize them is certainly not going to do anything to change that.

Then IMHO the task at hand is to counter that portrayal. Loudly and consistently to overcome the smearing.
The alternative is that we'll never be able to organize any protest since it's impossible to sanitize them from kook infiltration and the media will always try their best to emphasize the negatives

236 'Nam Grunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:57:02am

Tea Party's are not about taxes, it's about the ruination of America by the Gov.'s big spending and freedom of The People, and the future of our families, wake up folks.

237 kywrite  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:57:04am

re: #73 IslandLibertarian

Hey, holler extra-loud for me, will ya? My hubby doesn't want me to go due to pregnancy -- and he doesn't feel free to go due to his military status. But damn, I want to be there.

238 Sifty  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:57:29am

I'm organizing my own ass out the door, into the car, and down to the party. No Ron Paul within miles of my decision.

239 Killgore Trout  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:57:53am

Tax Protest Origins: Ron Paul Supporters Make Case On "Rachel Maddow" (VIDEO)
....
Paultards Started This Tea Party Business, So Shut Up GOP


You guys have joined a Paulian movement. There's no doubt about it.

240 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:58:01am
241 Sifty  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:58:06am

re: #225 wrenchwench

And we may start losing elections...

242 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:58:09am

re: #231 Honorary Yooper

The Jewbot Army was Eric Cartmam. Robert Smith took out Mecha Streisand.

Actually I was thinking about Mecha Streisand, but of course you're right, Cartman did battle with a Jewbot army in the "Fishsticks" episode. Well, according to his own recollection.

243 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:58:38am

re: #154 Joel

I think we are headed both domestically and internationally to Carter II. Remember those years of stagflation?

It is in the cards to be significantly worse than that. It depends on how our currency is handled and whether the Fed can pull back $'s fast enough.

244 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:58:40am

re: #216 Big Steve

grow up

Go to hell. My comment to Nam Grunt had nothing to do with his service. And you know that. You jumped into my comment to carry on a fight you were having on the LAST THREAD. That's chicken assed and dishonest. And I don't want to have anything to do with your argument with Nam Grunt.

What kind of slime ball are you? Is this the way you fight all you battles, like some little snake wiggling in when ever you can. Hit and run butthole.

245 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:58:47am

re: #236 'Nam Grunt

Tea Party's are not about taxes, it's about the ruination of America by the Gov.'s big spending and freedom of The People, and the future of our families, wake up folks.

I agree. I see them as calls for fiscal sanity.

246 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:59:30am

re: #235 LGoPs

Then IMHO the task at hand is to counter that portrayal. Loudly and consistently to overcome the smearing.

Good luck with that. All I'm seeing at this point are excuses and denial.

247 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 11:59:47am

re: #187 Russkilitlover

The Republican party in California is dead. It has expired. It has ceased to exist.

It's just pining for the fjords.

248 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:00:51pm

re: #243 Max Darkside

It is in the cards to be significantly worse than that. It depends on how our currency is handled and whether the Fed can pull back $'s fast enough.

In order to halt the rising inflation, Obama and congress will be forced to significantly raise taxes, which will then put us back into a recession. The man is a neophyte amateur and is not qualified (even remotely) to be president. Theo only Dem worse qualified to be POTUS was Dennis Kucinich who was a raging loon.

249 nyc redneck  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:00:54pm

re: #98 Joel

Let me get this straight, I should not go to a tea party because a Ron Paul nut ob supports it as well? Fuck Ron Paul and his loons, I am going to the one in NYC after work and am damn proud to do it. I am deeply concerned about the financial direction this country is headed.

exactly, i'm not going to stay home. what a defeatist attitude to stay home and quake and wonder if a moonbat will show up w/ an agenda.
they are immaterial to a greater statement that decent citizens have a right to make.
i'm going w/ an american flag and a sign.

250 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:00:55pm
251 Dustyvet  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:00:58pm

re: #247 SanFranciscoZionist

It's just pining for the fjords.

Neat, I've been thinking about pining for the fjords for the past two hours...:)

252 IslandLibertarian  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:01:36pm

re: #153 Walter L. Newton

And that's going to save you from what?

You're not aware of the Texas governor standing up against the Fed's?

253 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:01:41pm

re: #247 SanFranciscoZionist

It's just pining for the fjords.

It is as dead as the idea of a Stuart Restoration in England.

254 Daria Emmons  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:01:56pm

re: #201 Charles

Tea party protesters will be dismissed as far right kooks. And letting a Paulian conspiracy monger organize them is certainly not going to do anything to change that.

The mainstream media claimed Odom was the "organizer" of the Tea Parties. Yet the Tea Party website does not list Odom as organizer. Source: [Link: taxdayteaparty.com...]

I see no evidence that Odom is somehow the originator of the Tea Parties or "in charge" of this group.

255 ellcon  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:02:09pm

re: #182 Charles

What's that smell?

It's true, it's the RonPaulization of the GOP. Beck was converted in 2007 while on CNN, you blogged about the interview. Paul is on the air like 3-4 times a week on the major networks. Only O'Reilly is sticking to his guns, Hannity is moving toward the Beck-FoxNews-Libertarian bent, and that Freedom Watch web show is probably going to get a weekly spot. Most righty blogs are going gaga over these tea parties and are moving libertarian in tone (example being the recently released DHS security report hysteria). The most telling sign is the Republicans left in congress trying their hardest to cash in on the anti-government movement, hell Texas just declared Sovereignty!

256 looking closely  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:02:18pm

re: #201 Charles

Tea party protesters will be dismissed as far right kooks. And letting a Paulian conspiracy monger organize them is certainly not going to do anything to change that.


OK, fair enough.

The former is already the attitude being put out by the mainstream media, with what little coverage it has given these tea-party protests.

I would also argue that it probably would be regardless of Paul-type involvement. Its reasonable to think that pro-Obama supporters (and that would include individuals as well as most mainstream media) would want to "push back" against anything that threatens his agenda.

Ultimately, the question is, dismissed by whom?

Again, what is the point of these protests? If the point is simply to vent steam from citizens angry at lousy gov't fiscal policy, I don't think anyone is hurt by that.

I think politicians dismiss these sorts of things at their own peril.

I also think its pretty self-evident that you don't have to be some sort of lunatic or nutjob to think that the Federal gov't is being fiscally irresponsible.

From what I have seen, none of these protests have turned violent, and most of them have in fact been fairly light-hearted. If you were at one, I don't think you would get the impression that you were standing in a mob of right wing extremists (say, in contrast to the many LEFT-wing protests, covered here by Zombie and others).

257 Daria Emmons  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:02:56pm

re: #224 nikis-knight

I don't even think it's that underhanded. Some good messages will appeal to "bad people" who have the same right to protest bad policies.

That is true. I agree with you.

258 Spare O'Lake  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:03:31pm

re: #101 Charles

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's incredibly weird, after what we learned about Ron Paul and his followers in the last election, to argue that it doesn't matter whether Paulians are in charge of the majority of the tea parties.

Not just weird, disturbing.

It's what's inside that counts.
And in laup nor's case that ain't tea.

259 Big Steve  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:03:56pm

re: #244 Walter L. Newton

Walter.....no one, but no one, at this site takes you seriously. You are the class clown with a foul mouth. You are so foolishly prickly, that it is difficult to dig through your posts for anything that is enlightening.

260 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:03:59pm

re: #252 IslandLibertarian

You're not aware of the Texas governor standing up against the Fed's?

I am, and what do you think that is going to accomplish. Boy, the American public really think that they count, don't they.

It's out of your hands, keep thinking that you have some control, that's what they want you to think, it's the same as drinking the koolaid, anyones koolaid, as long as you're happy.

You must have missed the GIANT MIDDLE FINGER you are getting from Washington DC.

261 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:04:37pm

re: #256 looking closely

From what I have seen, none of these protests have turned violent, and most of them have in fact been fairly light-hearted. If you were at one, I don't think you would get the impression that you were standing in a mob of right wing extremists

Yep... I note that the ABC reporter I mentioned above was standing in the middle of the crowd, with nothing but a cameraman. Some people snickered at his Obama-plumping lines, but there was not the slightest hint of menace toward him.

262 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:04:42pm

re: #259 Big Steve

Walter.....no one, but no one, at this site takes you seriously. You are the class clown with a foul mouth. You are so foolishly prickly, that it is difficult to dig through your posts for anything that is enlightening.

Big whoop.

263 Joel  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:04:45pm

re: #249 nyc redneck

Great. I hope to see you there too as well as our friend.
From the last tea party over a month ago I can tell everyone here that Paulians would not be welcomed there. The crowd is patriotic and if any Paulians shoewd their true colors we would be in their faces pronto. We are not anti American, "troofers", anti Semitic, isolationist creeps.

264 'Nam Grunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:04:51pm

Tea Party's are not kooks they are you and me and America, we don't pay attention to the kooks that come to our party's, we just step in front of them when the MSM camera shines!

265 Sifty  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:05:49pm

I kinda feel I have to ask this question of Charles, with respect.

Is it that you just don't think we are smart enough to do anything?

266 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:06:12pm

re: #260 Walter L. Newton

It's out of your hands, keep thinking that you have some control, that's what they want you to think, it's the same as drinking the koolaid, anyones koolaid, as long as you're happy.

As I asked on the previous thread: If you truly believe this... i.e., our democracy is dead, it's beyond salvation, we're controlled by plutocrats, etc.... why don't you emigrate?

(And by the way, the "you're all stupid sheeple and I'm the only smart one who sees the real truth" schtick gets old fast.)

267 albusteve  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:06:26pm

re: #259 Big Steve

Walter.....no one, but no one, at this site takes you seriously. You are the class clown with a foul mouth. You are so foolishly prickly, that it is difficult to dig through your posts for anything that is enlightening.

speak for yourself...it's the most you can do

268 LGoPs  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:06:32pm

re: #261 Occasional Reader

Yep... I note that the ABC reporter I mentioned above was standing in the middle of the crowd, with nothing but a cameraman. Some people snickered at his Obama-plumping lines, but there was not the slightest hint of menace toward him.

I do resent his editorializing when reporting the news. That is what's gone largely wrong with the media. Leftist opinion and slant substituting for news. If there's a threat in any of this to America, it's in that bias......

269 SixDegrees  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:07:15pm

re: #254 Daria Emmons

The mainstream media claimed Odom was the "organizer" of the Tea Parties. Yet the Tea Party website does not list Odom as organizer. Source: [Link: taxdayteaparty.com...]

I see no evidence that Odom is somehow the originator of the Tea Parties or "in charge" of this group.

Here's the whois listing of his website:

Registrant:
Eric Odom

Registered through: OODADomains.com
Domain Name: TAXDAYTEAPARTY.COM

Domain servers in listed order:
NS1.AEORI.COM
NS2.AEORI.COM

[Link: cqcounter.com...]

270 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:07:44pm

I took some time to fish around the crazy at the main website. I think pretty much all of us should take a look at it to get the full depth of the NWO psychosis that is running through here.

The right is searching to reconstitute itself. We should not be surprised that the freaks and the cranks are the loudest voices. We should however, understand just how whacked out tehy are, so that we do not let them become our voice.

271 DhimmiMoore  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:07:55pm

I think Killgore is wearing the tinfoil hat today.

I'm happy to see these tea parties. The principals of liberty are dying--quicker now under Obama--but they were still dying under Bush.

Don't be a lemming.

Demonizing everything you disagree with (or feel threatened by) by spelling it backwards and denouncing anything associated with it in any way (however haphazard the association) makes you look paranoid.

272 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:08:13pm

re: #254 Daria Emmons

The mainstream media claimed Odom was the "organizer" of the Tea Parties. Yet the Tea Party website does not list Odom as organizer. Source: [Link: taxdayteaparty.com...]

I see no evidence that Odom is somehow the originator of the Tea Parties or "in charge" of this group.

A Whois lookup for taxdayteaparty.com:

Registrant:
Eric Odom
[Address deleted]
United States

Registered through: OODADomains.com
Domain Name: TAXDAYTEAPARTY.COM
Created on: 28-Feb-09
Expires on: 28-Feb-10
Last Updated on: 03-Apr-09

I don't post things like that unless I know what I'm talking about.

273 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:08:19pm

re: #209 Idle Drifter

Why not set up a meeting with your political opposite to express your concerns?

Because they do not have time for me, they know what I will say, they disagree, they don't believe in the limitation of powers in the Constitution, regardless of what they swear when they take office.

No, I'm overpowered by the libs in Minneapolis, who out-number me and the other conservatives in the state. Fight or flight. For now, I'm in the process of moving westward to a more conservative state and taking at least my state tax revenue out of MN. Nationally, I can join others that are draining out of NY, for example, to go to other freer more conservative countries. Mrs. Darkside says stay and fight. I say we are past the tipping point and getting back to the Constitution will be difficult. Maybe when the pain and the $-drain of these policies are felt, the pendulum will swing the other way. I suspect that it may be too late by then, the good people, and their revenue, will be gone. Did you know in NY that only 5,000 tax payers foot nearly the entire state budget? What happens when they leave?

/happier thoughts to you, hopefully.

274 filetandrelease  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:08:40pm

re: #236 'Nam Grunt
Yep, that is true, thanks for clarifying my thought.

275 IslandLibertarian  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:09:33pm

re: #239 Killgore Trout

Tax Protest Origins: Ron Paul Supporters Make Case On "Rachel Maddow" (VIDEO)
....
Paultards Started This Tea Party Business, So Shut Up GOP

You guys have joined a Paulian movement. There's no doubt about it.

I haven't joined ANYTHING!
Speak for yourself.

276 calcajun  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:09:35pm

re: #177 debutaunt

Have you met Mr. EDD?

The wrong end of the horse who talks.

277 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:09:49pm

re: #265 Sifty

I kinda feel I have to ask this question of Charles, with respect.

Is it that you just don't think we are smart enough to do anything?

"Smart enough" has nothing to do with it. I'm not seeing any motivation to shun the kooks.

278 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:10:37pm

re: #270 LudwigVanQuixote

I took some time to fish around the crazy at the main website. I think pretty much all of us should take a look at it to get the full depth of the NWO psychosis that is running through here.

The right is searching to reconstitute itself. We should not be surprised that the freaks and the cranks are the loudest voices. We should however, understand just how whacked out tehy are, so that we do not let them become our voice.

Yeah, it's completely batshit insane.

279 reloadingisnotahobby  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:11:00pm

re: #261 Occasional Reader

Zactly O.R......
The people who attend(including me)are not a menace to anyone!
Unless.....we find ourselve in a moment that requires the excersize of our second amendment rights!
I do not see that in the foreseeable future!
The luny left is no threat in themelves!
They're 85% un armed!
Dumbasses!

280 big steve  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:11:10pm

re: #262 Walter L. Newton

Big whoop.


Q.E.D.

281 looking closely  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:11:21pm

re: #213 Honorary Yooper

On the flip side of this is Obama. Not every idea he has is bad, but just like Ron Paul, he has a number of terrible ones. If we're going to weigh the idea of kooky politicians, we should look at the kooky and non-kooky ideas they all have. I'm sure even Dennis Kucinich may have a good idea or two (OK, I may be pushing it with two). Any good ideas from them however, does not in any way excuse their bad ideas or the bad actions of their followers.


With respect to Obama, I can in all sincerity say that I haven't yet heard one political idea from him that I like, though I haven't given up hope that maybe one day I will.

I also can't say there is a single thing he's done yet in office that I know about that I can support, with the exception of authorizing the use of force against the Somali pirates. Even there, he's let me down, because he hasn't to the best of my knowledge come up with any strong position against piracy.

With respect to the "tea parties", I just don't see the harm here. To the extent that they increase awareness of core principles of limited government, they're a good thing.

If they turn into vehicles for espousing right-wing conspiracy theories, or turn violent, then they won't be.

282 VioletTiger  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:12:35pm

re: #39 MandyManners

Are Paulians the ONLY organizers of ALL these protests?

I think the Paulbots co-opted the tea parties. They can't be the only ones involved.

Then again, if somebody had told me a couple of weeks ago that there is a blog called -The Daily Paul- I wouldn't have believed that either.

283 nonic  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:13:15pm

April 15 Tax Day Tea Party Coverage at
[Link: www.pjtv.com...]

284 'Nam Grunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:14:06pm

Bottom line is that the left wing wacko's are scared about waking the silent majority of real Americans, and it's displayed right here on LGF (of all places) what happened to the place that screamed against kos, DU and the rest of that crap?

285 nonic  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:14:27pm

re: #282 VioletTiger

I think the Paulbots co-opted the tea parties. They can't be the only ones involved.

See Tax Day Becomes Protest Day at WSJ
[Link: online.wsj.com...]

286 calcajun  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:15:06pm

re: #278 Charles

Yeah, it's completely batshit insane.

Charles, you're being too easy on them.

What the GOP needs is a leader who will tell these people to shut the hell up and get to the back of the bus. Clinton had the ability to do it in '92 to the far-left nuts. Now, we need someone to do it to our own party. Trouble is, the GOP leadership is too afraid to alienate any part of the constituency to do what is necessary to save the party.

287 nonic  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:15:30pm

re: #284 'Nam Grunt

Don't know what, but sumthin' for sure.

288 capitalist piglet  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:15:37pm

re: #254 Daria Emmons

The mainstream media claimed Odom was the "organizer" of the Tea Parties. Yet the Tea Party website does not list Odom as organizer. Source: [Link: taxdayteaparty.com...]

I see no evidence that Odom is somehow the originator of the Tea Parties or "in charge" of this group.

You know, I thought this entire thing started with Rick Santelli. I honestly did.

289 stevieray  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:15:51pm

Just got back from the Tea Party at Belmar, NJ. It is 40 degrees, raining and sometimes sleeting, with a 20 - 30 mph wind... a classic spring nor'easter... and there was 250 - 300 people there. Since no one was staying too long. and there was a constant stream of families coming and going from the rally, I'd guess the total turnout was 500 - 700 people.

Funny, there were few, if any, kooks.

I saw a few local business owners, many of whom I know for a fact are Democrats (of the sane JFK/Truman variety).

I saw a few signs ripping the exploding debt (too wet and windy, most folks had no placards with them).

I watched a steady stream of cars go by, honking and waving in support, on a road that normally would be nearly empty on a cold, rainy day in April.

I heard a few speakers leading the crowd in anti-bailout chants.

I didn't see any obvious signs of Paulian infestation... just cold, wet. yet smiling Americans.

290 IslandLibertarian  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:15:51pm

re: #260 Walter L. Newton

You must have missed the GIANT MIDDLE FINGER you are getting from Washington DC.

No, I've been aware of that middle finger since Jimmy Carter.
So having a state governor take a stand against the Federal government is useless?
Go look in the mirror.
Your platitudes are useless.
You've surrendered.

Take a Soma.......a gram is better than a damn.

291 filetandrelease  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:16:10pm

Consider that traditionally right wingers don't protest. Remember, we actually work, own business's and the like. The fact that currently there are actually dozens of right wing protest occurring around the nation being attended by many who contribute to this blog is amazing in it's own right. And quite possibly indicative of something much larger than seen.

292 Daria Emmons  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:16:17pm

re: #272 Charles

I don't post things like that unless I know what I'm talking about.

Even if Odom is running the website (news to me), I still believe the overall message of the movement is good, though it has some kooks attached to it.

Is it not possible to simply denounce the kooks while supporting the message? As was mentioned already, the Civil Rights Movement had some BAD people associated with it, including Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton. These are *organizers* of the movement! Yet the overall message and goals were good.

Was it not possible *then* to say the message is good, the deliverers bad? Why bash the entire movement?

I support the Tea Party message and do not support Ron Paul or book burnings. I also do not see the Tea Party message as "Ron Paulian" or kooky, even if Paulians and kooks attend events.

293 SixDegrees  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:16:25pm

re: #284 'Nam Grunt

Bottom line is that the left wing wacko's are scared about waking the silent majority of real Americans, and it's displayed right here on LGF (of all places) what happened to the place that screamed against kos, DU and the rest of that crap?

For some of us, it's particularly noxious when we start to become that which we've spent so long condemning.

294 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:16:45pm
295 AMER1CAN  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:17:12pm

How is this Eric Odom in 800 cities at the same time? I guess I fail to see how a guy who owns a domain name all of a sudden is "in charge" of protests across 800 cities. Did he get permits himself for all these protests? If so, then that's impressive.

296 A Man for all Seasons  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:17:50pm

re: #240 taxfreekiller

avanti is missing his chance,
he must be at a tea party,
holding his little finger just 'so'
as he drinks more kool aid from Obama.


Hi TFK! Hope today finds you well.. Since this is Tax day and you are a taxfreekiller...Is today your Birthday? :)

297 lefty201  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:17:55pm

If I have to choose between the loony left or the radical right, I am going to go to the right.

/you can't sit on the fence forever.
//flame on

298 VioletTiger  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:17:58pm

re: #289 stevieray

Thanks, Stevieray. I live in S. Jersey and there are no protests down here--and it is pouring rain. Glad no nutbags showed up and it was a good crowd.

299 freetoken  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:17:58pm

re: #246 Charles

Good luck with that. All I'm seeing at this point are excuses and denial.

In looking at various forums associated with Beck (912, WeSurroundThem) I've yet to see any posts by people aware of the conspiratorial paranoia involved with Beck and the things he pushes (such as Skousen.) I have to go to Mormon-specific sites to find people who are cognizant of these things.

Looking at generic "Tea Party" forums (such as on Meetup.com), I think I came across one post of a person lamenting the Paulian influence. Many others are just eating it up.

There is a noticeable lack of self-awareness.

300 Daria Emmons  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:17:59pm

re: #295 AMER1CAN

How is this Eric Odom in 800 cities at the same time? I guess I fail to see how a guy who owns a domain name all of a sudden is "in charge" of protests across 800 cities. Did he get permits himself for all these protests? If so, then that's impressive.

Exactly right. This movement is not Eric Odom's movement, it is much wider than this one individual.

301 Parker in US  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:18:28pm

This country is now 11.1 trillion dollars in debt, our congress and senate are in the pocket of big business, there is a large segment of our society that relies on the government for their very existence, our boarders are wide open to anyone who wants to just walk in, our government thinks they can just poke their noses into our personal lives whenever they want, our government wants to tell us how to raise and educate our children, our government throws every road block possible in front of us to block our success but the minute you become successful they want to be your partner and stick their hands into your pocket and pull out as much money as they can.

This is not the America I want to leave to my son, we have a responsibility a "Duty" to leave this country in better shape than we found it.

It's time for you to lead, follow or get out of the way!

302 nonic  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:19:10pm

re: #288 capitalist piglet


[Link: online.wsj.com...]

The protests began with bloggers in Seattle, Wash., who organized a demonstration on Feb. 16. As word of this spread, rallies in Denver and Mesa, Ariz., were quickly organized for the next day. Then came CNBC talker Rick Santelli's Feb. 19 "rant heard round the world" in which he called for a "Chicago tea party" on July Fourth. The tea-party moniker stuck, but angry taxpayers weren't willing to wait until July. Soon, tea-party protests were appearing in one city after another, drawing at first hundreds, and then thousands, to marches in cities from Orlando to Kansas City to Cincinnati.

As word spread, people got interested in picking a common date for nationwide protests, and decided on today, Tax Day, as the date.

303 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:19:51pm

re: #278 Charles

Yeah, it's completely batshit insane.

No two ways about it. These folks are the real deal (insanity wise).

Part of what I hate about Beck and Fox, is that I honestly think it is just an act. The fact that his "act" legitimizes the most fringe of the crazies does not matter. It is all entertainment.

What we are seeing is Jerry Springer for politics. I do not like being Springerized.

304 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:21:21pm

re: #284 'Nam Grunt

Bottom line is that the left wing wacko's are scared about waking the silent majority of real Americans, and it's displayed right here on LGF (of all places) what happened to the place that screamed against kos, DU and the rest of that crap?

Says the guy with 20 deleted comments, who's been that close to being blocked from LGF more than once.

Nothing has happened to me. But your comment is a perfect example of the denial I'm talking about. Bash me, and ignore the conspiracy freaks in the room.

305 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:22:07pm

re: #294 Iron Fist

My opinion: Pay your highest variable rate first. If hyper inflation does hit, the card companies will jack rates further, if they can. Anything with fixed rate comes next, ranked by rate. Keep a cash reserve, of course. More than you think you should. Don't count on that credit card available credit to be there. They can cut it to current balance at any moment.

If and when inflation starts rising quick, borrow as much as you can at a fixed rate and buy things that will go up with inflation, oh, like maybe land.

/I am not qualified to give financial advice.

306 HippieforLife  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:22:19pm

re: #234 Occasional Reader

I always wonder who that "majority" is. I don't remember being asked how I felt about all the excessive spending.

307 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:22:23pm
308 Vet_Missing_Parts (1LT, Ret)  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:22:25pm

Back from the Champaign-Urbana Tea Party.

Politest, cleanest bunch of protesters I've ever seen (OK, my exposure has been limited mainly to Zombie's updates on the fruits and nuts in Berkley).

Just regular folk. About 400 would be my guess (many more than I thought might be there). The MC made a statement about how the event had nothing to do with any party, but did ask if there were any Ron Paul supporters in the crowd (the miniscule response could very well have been characterized by the number "one").

Got a speech from some guy wanting to run for governor who told us he was a Marine for 22 years, didn't mention any political party. His big thing was to repeal the 16th and 17th amendments.

We had one counter-protester. Some well dressed late middle aged woman who walked through the crowd shouting various things (I learned from her that "Obama cares about people", well, thank goodness for that) various things at the crowd. Most everyone ignored her, but one bonehead went and had a confrontation with her. That guy was asked to leave. 1960's retro nut-bag got her face time on camera by the both the news crews in attendance... her main argument was we were opposed to good schools.

I noticed one woman hat had ACORN written all over her, but she did nothing but observe with a body language that exuded disgust. She left pretty early on.

Mrs. Vet was interviewed by one of the local TV crews... she didn't say anything radical or flakey, so I'm sure that will find its way to the edit-room floor.

Once the speeches were done, the group milled around for a while chatting. Very pleasant gathering, glad I went.

309 'Nam Grunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:23:59pm

We at LGF used to be all for one and one for all back in the good old days, I don't see that anymore here. We seem to be split on what is keeping the eye on ball for the better of America, sad really.

310 lurking faith  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:24:29pm

re: #25 zombie

Nope. I'm spending all day with my new best friend, Mr. 1040 Form, along with his children, Little Susie Schedule A and Billy Schedule C. I think we'll have a grand time.

But I worry, at the end of the day, that they're expecting me to pay the tab.

I mailed mine in this morning and then went out to buy cupcakes. Here, have a couple.

311 'Nam Grunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:25:08pm

re: #304 Charles

Now you of all people attack me Charles? WOW,WOW!

312 Just_A_Grunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:25:48pm

Eric Odom himself has tried to distance himself from the label national organizer, but yes he did have a lot to do with leveraging the tools he had to get the ball rolling. I am not writing in defense of Eric, and folks who know me know I am not a Paulian.
I worked on the fringes with the Atlanta rally, and I mean the real fringe. I did my work for a group called the Don't Go Movement.
In addition a group known as Smart Girl Politics did a lot of the leg work.
These things took on a life of their own and to be totally honest having Hannity come to Atlanta wound up costing us $25,000 dollars that we had to raise from donations.
So please don't jump the shark and try to cast these rallies as some sort of Ron Paul event. That is as disingenuous as the left claiming we are getting corporate sponsorship.
Now if you will excuse me I need to go get ready to attend the Atlanta rally.

313 Erik The Red  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:25:51pm

re: #309 'Nam Grunt

We at LGF used to be all for one and one for all back in the good old days, I don't see that anymore here. We seem to be split on what is keeping the eye on ball for the better of America, sad really.

Like I said to Walter. Go for a walk around the block NG.

314 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:26:01pm

re: #305 Max Darkside

and buy things that will go up with inflation, oh, like maybe land.

Max, this is Iron Fist you're talking to here. He won't be buying land... he'll be buying ammo.

315 Lincolntf  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:27:12pm

re: #300 Daria Emmons
The thing is that "Tea Party" isn't a magic codeword that turns people into a monolithic entity. If Ron Paul or Louis Farrakhan holds a "Tea Party", it has nothing to do with me. Plus, what's with the emotional investment in "rooting" for or against this thing before it's even semi-formed? Whatever "historical" Tea Parties others have held, these are new people, talking about new things, in a new economy. Anyone subverting the name for their own purposes should be ignored, no matter how "mportant" they claim to be to the whole movement. That goes for politicians as well as the media remoras.

316 Dustyvet  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:28:00pm

re: #310 lurking faith

I mailed mine in this morning and then went out to buy cupcakes. Here, have a couple.

Youtube Video
317 capitalist piglet  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:28:06pm

re: #302 nonic

[Link: online.wsj.com...]

Interesting. Thanks. I am in Seattle, and this is the first I've heard of those bloggers or their protest. I can't imagine who they were. The most popular local political blog here, that I know of, is soundpolitics.com - I don't check in every day though, so I could very well have missed something there.

Is there some evidence the Seattle bloggers were Paulistinians?

318 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:28:12pm

re: #309 'Nam Grunt

We at LGF used to be all for one and one for all back in the good old days, I don't see that anymore here. We seem to be split on what is keeping the eye on ball for the better of America, sad really.

Exactly. There is genuine disagreement about whether and to what extent well-reasoned protest against the Democrat government's policies is being co-opted by fruit loops. Isn't that a good thing? Open discussion?

319 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:28:12pm

re: #314 Occasional Reader

Max, this is Iron Fist you're talking to here. He won't be buying land... he'll be buying ammo.

Har... That'll work, too, eh? That'll go up with inflation so long as you can "liquidate" it, one way or another, to recover your inflated value.

320 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:28:33pm
321 calcajun  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:28:40pm

re: #309 'Nam Grunt

We are--and we are trying to get our focus back. I alluded to the fact some days ago that the GOP is a ship with a number of groups all fighting for control of the tiller. The one thing that we cannot allow is for the party to become the modern equivalent of the Dem party in 1972--instead here we now take a radical lurch to the kooky right. If that happens, we will not win again for sometime.

322 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:29:02pm
323 capitalist piglet  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:30:09pm

re: #322 taxfreekiller

White House:

1 hr ago.

Obama unaware of the Tea Party deal.
He is having an event of his own today.

Ass Clown Government, and an extremely high priced Ass Clown Government too.

I don't believe for a second that he is unaware of this. Not for one second.

324 calcajun  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:30:13pm

re: #309 'Nam Grunt

No, I'm not attacking you--just trying to explain that there's a sea-change coming and that is the reason for the varying differences of opinion.

325 tfc3rid  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:31:21pm

re: #121 Occasional Reader

Wanna hear something darkly... and I do mean darkly... funny?

People who are owed refunds from New York State are being told that they have to wait, because the State doesn't have the cash to pay out refunds until the quarterly and annual tax payments come in.

Scary stuff.

I know this is true in CA but I did not know NY too... When I received something telling me this, they are finished...

Loved Gov. Patterson getting the loudest boos at the Grand Opening of Citi Field.

326 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:31:27pm
327 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:31:56pm

re: #320 Iron Fist

I don't have any real cash reserves. That is my worry. I feel like I am just waiting for the boot to drop.


Right. I feel like the condemned waiting for the executioner. So, what I'm doing is building some cash reserves and paying down variable high rate debt. I"m splitting what I can between savings and CC payments so I can make progress on both.

328 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:31:57pm

re: #311 'Nam Grunt

Now you of all people attack me Charles? WOW,WOW!

I'm going to give as good as I get. If you attack me like you did in your comment, I'm not going to just sit here and take it.

329 calcajun  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:32:11pm

re: #325 tfc3rid

I know this is true in CA but I did not know NY too... When I received something telling me this, they are finished...

Loved Gov. Patterson getting the loudest boos at the Grand Opening of Citi Field.

I gotta ask--did he throw out the first pitch?

330 Erik The Red  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:32:31pm

Good Night Lizards. See some of you on the LNDT.

Play Nice.:)

331 JacksonTn  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:32:39pm

re: #322 taxfreekiller

White House:

1 hr ago.

Obama unaware of the Tea Party deal.
He is having an event of his own today.

Ass Clown Government, and an extremely high priced Ass Clown Government too.

TFK ... Obama did not know about Tea Parties ... that is the biggest fuckin lie yet from this administration ... if anyone thinks Axelrod and his minions did not know and inform Obama of this ... I suggest they take their head out of their ass ... they are kings of propaganda ... astroturf ... it is really Axelturf ...

332 Darwin Akbar  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:32:49pm

I attended the first Tea Party protest in Orlando FL on 3/21. There were 5000 people there, and it was primarily organized by a local radio station (WFLA) that carries Glenn Beck, Rush and a local conservative in the 3 - 6 PM slot. There were a handful of Truthers there, but very few other fringies. The crowd was very well-behaved.

I will attend todays and see who's there. One of the co-sponsors is one of FLA's main competitors WORL, which carries Bill Bennett, Dennis Miller, Mike Gallagher and Hugh Hewitt.

I will be on the lookout for kooks, ACORN and others.

PS: I heard Ron Paul interviewed about the deficit a few weeks ago, and had to say I agreed with him...but on that point only.

333 Occasional Reader  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:32:53pm

re: #326 Iron Fist

Ack, I have a dentist appointment this afternoon. That's going to be fun.

"Is it safe?"

/always a good line

334 hazzyday  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:32:55pm

re: #311 'Nam Grunt

Hmmmm. You don't see that you started it? learn 2 post.

It's common society that we criticize a quality in someone that in ourselves we see it as innocence.

335 Shanimal1918  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:32:59pm

Eric Odom has a website, no big deal. I've never heard of him before this tea party bashing thread. The media has it correct for once, Rick Santelli started this, not Eric Odom or Ron Paul.

336 'Nam Grunt  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:34:13pm

Charles is right, I have been deleted 20 times for comments and I apologized just about every time, but those that know me here, know that I am a Patriot and only want what's good for our Country that I love soooo much and maybe these Tea Party's are just the thing to wake up America, that's all I'm trying to say.

337 lurking faith  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:34:54pm

re: #316 Dustyvet

I think I'll go into diabetic shock now.

338 danshelb  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:36:22pm

Harrisburg, PA teaparty was awesome. About 1800 or so people there despite a steady rain. Just because some "radical right wingers" support something doesn't ipso facto make it bad. Just like the fact that Obama doing the right thing in the pirate situation doesn't make his handling of the situation bad.

339 nonic  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:37:05pm

re: #321 calcajun

instead here we now take a radical lurch to the kooky right

What is "kooky" about protesting fiscal irresponsibility? Anyway, I haven't seen any evidence that the tea party protests are a GOP phenomenon. It seems to be a taxpayer phenomenon.

340 Dustyvet  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:38:12pm

re: #337 lurking faith

I think I'll go into diabetic shock now.

Sorry...:)

341 Emerald  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:38:44pm

re: #335 Shanimal1918

Eric Odom has a website, no big deal. I've never heard of him before this tea party bashing thread. The media has it correct for once, Rick Santelli started this, not Eric Odom or Ron Paul.

It's not a matter of who started, or why. The issue is what they've become - an attraction for fringe groups who only hurt any legitimate efforts to counter bad policies.

342 tfc3rid  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:39:32pm

re: #329 calcajun

I gotta ask--did he throw out the first pitch?

No... Tom Seaver threw to Mike Piazza, completing their 'last pitch' from Shea Stadium.

343 nonic  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:40:42pm

re: #323 capitalist piglet

I don't believe for a second that he is unaware of this. Not for one second.

LOL! If he IS unaware, what does THAT tell you? That the guy is totally clueless about what goes on in this country? And that's supposed to be reassuring?

A very long time ago I read that the reason we hate liars is because they ASSUME we're stupid enough to believe them.

344 Dustyvet  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:41:51pm

Ron Paul's plan to fend off pirates


[Link: rpc.blogrolling.com...]

345 snowcrash  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:42:07pm

Just back from Southlake TX Tea Party. Radio personality Mark Davis and Congressman Kenny Marchant spoke. Crowd estimated at 500. Parking was a pain. Weather beautiful 70*. Lots of signs! Best ones: "It's the $pending, $tupid" and "We'll keep our money, You keep the change". lol. Many flags. Some counter protesters, supposedly Obama supporters present. No confrontations that I could see. The focus was mostly on government spending and the expansion of government. Very tame and civil, just as one would expect in a small town. City of Dallas tonight will probably be a very different story. I'll watch that on the news.

346 redstateredneck  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:42:10pm

re: #336 'Nam Grunt

Charles is right, I have been deleted 20 times for comments and I apologized just about every time, but those that know me here, know that I am a Patriot and only want what's good for our Country that I love soooo much and maybe these Tea Party's are just the thing to wake up America, that's all I'm trying to say.

I hear ya', {'Nam}.

347 kywrite  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:42:47pm

re: #305 Max Darkside

Yep - we plan to buy a house when we get to Georgia. Pay off everything, keep a reserve, and focus on real property with real value no matter what happens to the currency.

348 Emerald  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:42:48pm

re: #284 'Nam Grunt

Bottom line is that the left wing wacko's are scared about waking the silent majority of real Americans, and it's displayed right here on LGF (of all places) what happened to the place that screamed against kos, DU and the rest of that crap?

You're creating a false argument. Pointing out that there are idiots on the right in no way refutes that there are idiots on the left. In fact, it is a good thing. It shows that Charles is being honest, and it gives his arguments more credibility.

349 ladycatnip  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:43:49pm

Personally I think the tea bag was a brilliant idea as a protest. It's been civil, peaceful, non-partisan, and successful - thus far. It's too bad Ron Paul is associated with it, but I think in situations as broad as peaceful tax revolts it's going to draw a lot of people across political lines.

If, however, the fringies start taking over with their bilge and bile, then it's going to be a huge disappointment. I don't want this movement to be derailed by kooks. It's a valid protest.

350 Lincolntf  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:43:53pm

re: #341 Emerald

Have you read any of the statements from people on here who have attended these events? The Ron Paulian thing is largely an Internet-deal, not a real world deal. Of course wherever there are crowds of people and media attention, everyone from hotdog vendors to the guy with the rainbow afro will show up, but they don't define the event.
For the time being, when I reference the "Tea Parties", I'll be referring to the ones somewhat organized (I don't know the nitty gritty on their operation yet) by Americans for Prosperity. They were largely responsible for the one I went to and it was nothing like what I've seen described/portended online.

351 redstateredneck  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:44:26pm

re: #341 Emerald

It's not a matter of who started, or why. The issue is what they've become - an attraction for fringe groups who only hurt any legitimate efforts to counter bad policies.

So we should throw out the baby with the bathwater? People are mad as hell and don't want to take it any more. Everybody should just go home and shut up because the kooks have gotten involved?

352 calcajun  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:44:44pm

re: #339 nonic

What is "kooky" about protesting fiscal irresponsibility? Anyway, I haven't seen any evidence that the tea party protests are a GOP phenomenon. It seems to be a taxpayer phenomenon.

Agreed. Read all my posts. I'm not referring the people who are genuinely disaffected by the stimulus (all of us) but the people that would co-opt the movement to further their own radical agenda--which was the initial topic of the thread as I recall.

It is really very simple. The media is hostile to the GOP and the conservative movement. There is the narrow sliver of the electorate which usually swings elections. You do not do anything to alienate that portion of the electorate if you want to win--that mean depriving the media of any fodder which makes the whole party look bad.

The problem is that the further lurch to the right by Fox, and people like Ron Paul's followers are giving the media that very fodder.

Napoleon said that it was bad manners to interrupt your enemy while he's making a mistake. No one else is going to tell us how bad the GOP is getting--we have to do it ourselves.

353 Max Darkside  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:45:25pm

re: #347 kywrite

Yep - we plan to buy a house when we get to Georgia. Pay off everything, keep a reserve, and focus on real property with real value no matter what happens to the currency.

Cool. Stock up on Kudzu repellent. It's a jungle out there (snickers).

354 Axiom  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:46:02pm

I can tell you that my left of center friends are horribly misinformed about the Tea Party here in Chicago. As much as I want to lay all the blame at their feet, the real issue is that they get their news from different sources than I get my news.

This used to be a problem that drew the lizards together here. We all seemed to gravitate to LGF to get the WHOLE story rather than the few paragraphs, soundbites, and video clips selectively filtered by the Eason Jordan's in global newsrooms.

I know I didn't wake up one day asking to be part of the Internet Haganah. It just sort of happened when the opposition landed on my digital doorstep. I didn't want any more shells near my home. So I started reading. I started interacting. I started registering with sites like LGF. I had found an outlet where fellow shell receivers no longer wanted to wait for the next shot to land near them.

We could hope that no more Rachel Corries would suffer a similar fate by warning all the future Rachel Corries that standing in front of bulldozers is just plain stupid. Doing it in front of lands for smuggling tunnels is outright crazy.

Now, links to Ron Paul are scarlet letters. Even if a lot of the things that were otherwise pretty crazy last year are turning out to look like the sound policy going forward today. It's not comprehensive, but the judgment applied appears as such.

Maybe you saw this CNN clip where a reporter cites White House talking points on the stimulus. Is this not crazy? The reporting class is confronting the people it's allegedly covering?
CNN Video at TV Newser

355 tfc3rid  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:47:37pm

It's a tough situation...

We Conservatives are not great at getting out and letting our voices be heard. We have no ACORN or Code Pink or other lefty nutty groups who actually ARE mainstream...

This is an opportunity for regular Joe's and JAne's to get out there and protest the government overreach.

However, there are always kook fringe nuts... In the Libs case, it doesn't hurt them, but for us, it will kill us...

But here is my thing... We've gotten trounced in 2 straight elections... Maybe this provides an opportunity to get people back interested...

356 nyc redneck  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:48:58pm

i am going to the tea party because i want to see w/ my own eyes who may or may not be there. i will take note of any loons.
but i don't want to write off this movement before it even gets started, because of unfounded fears abt. how the events will play out.
i think we have reached a point in this country where it is inevitable that decent citizens can no longer stay home and remain silent.
the first amendment is my right too.
i'm going to try it out tonight.

btw, a friend just told me she got an e-mail from someone downtown
at city hall. there are already 1000 people there.
it doesn't even start until 7pm

357 kywrite  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:49:53pm

re: #349 ladycatnip

Personally I think the tea bag was a brilliant idea as a protest. It's been civil, peaceful, non-partisan, and successful - thus far. It's too bad Ron Paul is associated with it, but I think in situations as broad as peaceful tax revolts it's going to draw a lot of people across political lines.

If, however, the fringies start taking over with their bilge and bile, then it's going to be a huge disappointment. I don't want this movement to be derailed by kooks. It's a valid protest.

If they do that, we fight back -- don't let them take over. The person who started something's not always the person who finishes it. And there's more of us than there are of them. (We just have jobs and lives and stuff.)

358 nonic  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:50:11pm

re: #352 calcajun

I see your point. But I don't think you can be SO politically correct and tippy toe SO carefully to avoid being "tainted" by some association you attract but don't approve of that you eventually aren't resisting at all.

But you know what? Discussions, even arguments, here don't really matter. What happens, happens.

359 kywrite  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:51:33pm

re: #353 Max Darkside

Cool. Stock up on Kudzu repellent. It's a jungle out there (snickers).

*PFFFFTT!* (extra wet with sweet tea)

I grew up in Kentucky. I'm familiar with the Evil Plant.

(dang, I miss the South! even the kudzu.)

360 ladycatnip  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:51:43pm

#356 nyc redneck

The tea party close to us will be starting at 3pm at the Ronald Reagan Library. I'm hoping thousands come out for that too.

361 Axiom  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:53:33pm
btw, a friend just told me she got an e-mail from someone downtown
at city hall. there are already 1000 people there.
it doesn't even start until 7pm


I was in NYC on 2/28 when they had the last tea party. There were about 250 people there at 3PM on a Saturday afternoon in 32F weather. No mainstream media was there except for one NY Post photographer. There were a few new media types at the event.

The one thing I've always found about these demonstrations. If you have questions, just go there and ask them. People are eager to get the answers so long as you present them in an objective fashion.

362 Russkilitlover  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:53:51pm

re: #356 nyc redneck

the first amendment is my right too.

Well said.

363 ladycatnip  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:56:36pm

#357 kywrite

If they do that, we fight back -- don't let them take over. The person who started something's not always the person who finishes it. And there's more of us than there are of them. (We just have jobs and lives and stuff.)

Love it! This could be our Braveheart moment in America's political history. I agree with you - there are more of us out there working hard, living our lives, being responsible and law abiding citizens - which is why there hasn't been much of a movement of conservatism - we're too busy paying taxes, mortgages, college education for our kids, etc.

364 leonidasofsparta  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:57:06pm

[Link: www.dcgop.org...]

Out west here, the Denver Tea Party is a Douglas County GOP activity.

IMHO there may be many many other tea parties across the nation today that are local GOP events organized by individuals who are fed up.

And what if Ron Paul came up with this idea of a nationwide tax revolt?

Who cares what he thinks or doesn't think? I don't connect with him or his websites or his rants.

IMHO these Tea Parties are one way to send the message to the Senate and Congress -- "NO MORE!" -- and to remind the federal and local governments that they work for us, the citizens,, not the other way around.
IMHO it's a message that the elected officials need to hear. Regularly.

That message is not one that is owned and spoken about solely by Ron Paul any more than the idea of being taken care of by the government from the cradle to the grave is owned by Obama.

Many people think they are owed something for doing nothing. Conversely, many people think that the government is inept at deciding how to take care of anything other than what is outlined for them to take care of in our Constitution. Between these antipodies, there is a spectrum of opinions.

What's so "fanatical" about protesting the way our "elected employees (aka those in the senate and congress)" spend our tax money?

What's so "fanatical" about saying that Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, are not qualified to determine mortgages or to determine what cars will be made in Detroit or to spend MY taxes to pay for ACORN -- what's so fanatical about saying "we are taxed enough already" ?

I have to work today but I think that protesting against tax increases/ inflation for the past 59 days worth of porkbarrel spending is something we PAY our TAXES to be free to do.

Who cares if nutty people agree or disagree with this idea?

Why naysay the idea of protesting against increased taxes or naysay the idea of a nationwide tax revolt -- just because Ron Paul thinks this or that? Why turn it into something gross or antithetical to Conservative thought?

Ron Paul is a nut. Thinking individuals know this instinctively.

But he's not the only voice pushing back against bigger government and higher taxes.

TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY

365 ellcon  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 12:57:55pm

re: #341 Emerald

It's not a matter of who started, or why. The issue is what they've become - an attraction for fringe groups who only hurt any legitimate efforts to counter bad policies.

The problem is that those bad policies are the same policies Bush had. Now the GOP has to forget about the past eight years and embrace anti-government ideas, otherwise they would have to cheer what Obama is doing. Anti-government positions are pretty universal among the right, so it's obviously going to attract fringe groups.

The problem around LGF is that guilt-by-association is such an over-used line of attack, that they have to attack the tea parties due to a few kooks. LGF is nothing if not consistent.

366 Parker in US  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 1:01:26pm

re: #354 Axiom

That clip is amazing I cant believe that reporter feels like she was the one being attacked.

367 snowcrash  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 1:09:35pm

re: #356 nyc redneck
Did you see my comment? Those were pretty clever signs! No, I didn't make/take a sign but so many people did! Are you making a sign? I will look for your comments on the event tonight.

368 calcajun  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 1:10:24pm

re: #358 nonic

It's not being politically correct--it's who controls the message that matters. If we let the media continue to define us by using the radical fringe of our party, then we are doomed. There needs to someone who can step up and take the mantle. Sadly, there seems the be few people willing to risk anything in order to try and lead the party.

369 Axiom  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 1:19:04pm
GOP has to forget about the past eight years and embrace anti-government ideas, otherwise they would have to cheer what Obama is doing.


The GOP has a very different political standing. In those 8 years they held the White House for 8 of them, the House for 6 of them, and the Senate for 4 of them. For the next two years it will be zero for all three. Naturally, the people don't know where to turn. They are in fact leaderless, but is that because there is no leader or because so many searching for one turned to the most obvious, most prevalent, most noticeable choice - Barack Obama.

I think it's awful that the opposition doesn't have a leader right now. It really doesn't because the opposition isn't aligned to a single political party. It's an amalgamation of parties with very different individual interests, but one inherent mutual interest - the ability to succeed and fail on their own terms.

370 Shanimal1918  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 1:25:18pm

re: #341 Emerald

It's not a matter of who started, or why. The issue is what they've become - an attraction for fringe groups who only hurt any legitimate efforts to counter bad policies.

I guess some want to generalize and stick all Tea Party protests into a cookie cutter ron paul wackos category. I already double checked, the Tea Party I'm about to attend in Columbus Park Boston has no link to the paulians. It was organized by some radio hosts at WTKK, I already posted a link earlier. Maybe it's time to consider that not all tea parties are the same, not all tea parties are linked to paulians.

371 dhimmishelter  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 1:34:00pm

I generally support the Tea Party protests. They are examples of the freedom of expression that supposedly was chilled by the Bush administration. Why is only the left allowed to protest? Perhaps this will draw attention to these horrendous spending policies at the state and federal level and perhaps in 2010 we can have some changes in the Congress so that the Obamacrats won't be in nearly total control of two branches of government.

As to the guilt by association meme ascribed to one of the organizers as being part of the (gasp) Ron Paul campaign, although I think Mr. Paul and his supporters are cranks for the most part, we can't make the perfect the enemy of the good.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

372 PISSED  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 1:52:06pm

Charles,

I don't post here often but i lurk. I think your stand is where we need to be.
Although you can see by these threads the frustration and anger that is out there. Most of it is the hypocrisy that the left gets away with their shenanigans and the right has a TEA Party and hell breaks loose , so to speak.

If we purge the kooks on BOTH sides then maybe a discourse will be forthcoming.

373 fstrat  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 1:54:37pm

re: #272 Charles

Charles, I don't know that Odom is running all the "tea parties". We, at [Link: teapartyrevolution.com...] were created just before taxdayteaprty. Yeah, we're a lot smaller because we haven't had the press, and that's OK. Our message is little different. We're not about one day, but a movement, about the Constitution. We are not supported by any other site, or any political party, or politician.

I agree that some may regard this as a bunch of kooks running this. Truly there are some grass roots folks running most of it.

Mike
[Link: teapartyrevolution.com...]

374 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 2:06:08pm

re: #365 ellcon

The problem is that those bad policies are the same policies Bush had. Now the GOP has to forget about the past eight years and embrace anti-government ideas, otherwise they would have to cheer what Obama is doing. Anti-government positions are pretty universal among the right, so it's obviously going to attract fringe groups.

The problem around LGF is that guilt-by-association is such an over-used line of attack, that they have to attack the tea parties due to a few kooks. LGF is nothing if not consistent.

Of course, that's exactly what a Paulian would say.

375 Emerald  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 2:10:15pm

re: #351 redstateredneck

So we should throw out the baby with the bathwater? People are mad as hell and don't want to take it any more. Everybody should just go home and shut up because the kooks have gotten involved?

No, the kooks never should have been tolerated. But they have been. No one is taking charge of these events to prevent the kooks from running the show. There was an earlier post with a video where a woman wanting to burn books was cheered by the crowd. That is a very dangerous sentiment, and it was encouraged.

376 Emerald  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 2:12:57pm

re: #365 ellcon

Right, because the people that willingly associate with racist hate groups are innocents. There is no legitimate reason to side with evil, and a group that does so cannot then claim any sort of moral authority.

377 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 2:17:33pm

re: #373 fstrat

Charles, I don't know that Odom is running all the "tea parties". We, at [Link: teapartyrevolution.com...] were created just before taxdayteaprty. Yeah, we're a lot smaller because we haven't had the press, and that's OK. Our message is little different. We're not about one day, but a movement, about the Constitution. We are not supported by any other site, or any political party, or politician.

I agree that some may regard this as a bunch of kooks running this. Truly there are some grass roots folks running most of it.

Mike
[Link: teapartyrevolution.com...]

I'm glad to hear that -- but unfortunately Odom is very deeply involved in organizing these events, and he is the one who's talking to the mainstream media.

378 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 2:29:56pm

re: #376 Emerald

Right, because the people that willingly associate with racist hate groups are innocents. There is no legitimate reason to side with evil, and a group that does so cannot then claim any sort of moral authority.

This one's a very sneaky Paulian, who's been throwing in little code words and phrases -- the "Ron Paul revolution" -- and harping about the Federal Reserve and "international governance." He seems to think I'm not on to him, so keep this on the QT.

379 fstrat  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 2:35:34pm

re: #377 Charles
Partly, yes he is one talking, and he is involved. How widespread, I'm not so sure. And we've been in this since the beginning.

Some folks are short-sighted about this whole thing. To us, its the long haul, not the big buck or the press. We're not just about taxes and spending, but more so about the blatant disregard for the Constitution.

But I'm pretty sure that anyone we threw out there to the msm press, that they would spin it in negative way anyway.

380 akarra  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 2:45:59pm

Just wanted to say thanks for the heads-up about Odom. I wonder if this post is making the rounds on social media at all...

381 voluble  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 3:28:30pm

That is an interesting point Charles made about how we must tarnish a whole movement with the sins of worst or the least amongst them. It is telling that this reasoning is only applied in the case of the Tea Parties. Let's see if we can apply it elsewhere to check its validity. I am ambivalent about the Germans being defeated in WWII because the Russians were on our side. I am ambivalent about the Berlin Wall coming down because there was some really neat graffitti on it. I am ambivalent about the Surge in Iraq because the Sunni tribes are full of thugs and have committed atrocities in the past. I am ambivalent about the continued existence of Israel because I had some bad kosher food once. I am ambivalent about global warming because there are eco-terrorists inspired by that particular mythology. I am ambivalent about biking because Lance is a doper. I am ambivalent about Obama because he bowed to the Saudi King in a way no president had ever done before. It seems to me either you want the Germans to be defeated or you do not. There is no middle ground. Either you want limited government and liberty or you want an expansive government and tyranny. Ron Paul has frak all to do with it.

Even as a boogeyman Ron Paul is a failure. Hmmm... who do I want in power? A lunatic like Obama who sees absolutely no limits on government power or a lunatic like Ron Paul who sees very little role for government in our daily lives? Hmmm... that is certainly a tough one. On a moral level Obama is every bit as racist as Charles accuses the Paulians of being. No decent human being would attend the church he did. Nor would they have given Hamas a billion US tax Dollars to re-arm themselves given the way the world changed after 9/11. Whatever anti-semitism the Paulians have engaged in (and I don't doubt it is vile in some cases) it pales in comparison to arming the terrorist enemies of Israel. Wouldn't logic dictate at least that much?

My 78 year old mother went to the Tea Party here. She couldn' tell you who Ron Paul is but she can tell you what a Marxist looks like. The Left would like to pin the protests on someone they can paint as a villain and some on the right are out of touch enough with reality to try and help them. They can't understand that there are actually still people who believe in the quaint notions on which this country was founded and are willing to make efforts to restore our country to what it once was. Some are purblind enough to believe that all of the people (or even more than a miniscule number) attending these rallies are there because Ron Paul has a newsletter (if he still does... who even knows). The Paulians will only be the leaders of this movement if people like Charles and others in the media insist on making them so. I can see the media making such an effort because reporters are basically lazy (and partisan) and want to have one person to whom they can go so they can pretend that person speaks for thousands of others.

Let's not play so obvious a game when so much is at stake.

IMO the Tea Parties protest exactly the same thing the original Tea Party did... taxation without representation. By running up the deficit as we have in the last 90 days we have increased the tax burden on generations yet unborn to insufferable levels. We have no right to do such a thing. There comes a point where this sort of thing has to come to an end or we will witness the absurdity of the people in 2050 paying the interest on the stimulus package of 2009. There is no way such a thing can end well.

382 Noam Chumpski  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 3:40:42pm

Yay - let's take a nation-wide day of civil protest and piss on it because some guy in NY likes Ron Paul. Seriously.

I'm on my way to the Atlanta party and I'm not angry, nor a Paulian. I just want to exercise my Constitutional Right to protest a Federal Government I see as too large and too expensive.

If not now, then when?

The media has been looking for angles all day long to pervert the protests into something they are not... like quoting a Ron Paul guy in an article.

Way to play along.

383 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 3:50:10pm

Here they come again, at the end of a dead thread. Very predictable.

384 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 3:53:40pm

Sure, folks, I think you should just ignore the fact that the guy who's out there talking to the media about the tea parties is a raving Ron Paul "activist" who publishes articles on New World Order websites.

Hey, what could possibly go wrong by ignoring that?

385 Noam Chumpski  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 4:03:43pm

re: #384 Charles

Sure, folks, I think you should just ignore the fact that the guy who's out there talking to the media about the tea parties is a raving Ron Paul "activist" who publishes articles on New World Order websites.

Hey, what could possibly go wrong by ignoring that?

It's only dead when you stop coming in. :)

386 wrenchwench  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 4:33:42pm

re: #312 Just_A_Grunt

Eric Odom himself has tried to distance himself from the label national organizer, but yes he did have a lot to do with leveraging the tools he had to get the ball rolling. I am not writing in defense of Eric, and folks who know me know I am not a Paulian.
I worked on the fringes with the Atlanta rally, and I mean the real fringe. I did my work for a group called the Don't Go Movement.
In addition a group known as Smart Girl Politics did a lot of the leg work.
These things took on a life of their own and to be totally honest having Hannity come to Atlanta wound up costing us $25,000 dollars that we had to raise from donations.
So please don't jump the shark and try to cast these rallies as some sort of Ron Paul event. That is as disingenuous as the left claiming we are getting corporate sponsorship.
Now if you will excuse me I need to go get ready to attend the Atlanta rally.


I looked at the DontGo Movement's website.It says this at the top:

Welcome to the new DontGo Movement National Network of State Based Coalitions!

Our Goals With This Network are:
1) To organize in all 50 states:
--a) State Based News Platoons to identify and expose corruption and lack of accountability/transparency;
--b) Grassroots coalitions that can eventually spawn state Political Action Committees and citizen activists networks

I saw that there was an "organization" for New Mexico, with one member. That member is Eric Odom, of Chicago. Twenty of the 51 "organizations" listed are Odom's "groups."

387 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 5:12:48pm

re: #386 wrenchwench

I saw that there was an "organization" for New Mexico, with one member. That member is Eric Odom, of Chicago. Twenty of the 51 "organizations" listed are Odom's "groups."

People don't want to hear that, obviously.

388 daddio  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 6:41:40pm

I just got home from a teaparty in Clear Lake Texas. That's Ron Paul's district. Ron Paul addressed the crowd. His remarks were fairly tame. There were just a very few paulians way up front (maybe a dozen). The rest of the approximately 2000 folks were, like me, assembling to show their disgust with the runaway federal spending and power grab. But what do I know? I'm a "right wing extremist."

This movement hasn't been hijacked by Ron Paul supporters, what I saw were lots of people who are fed up with the growth of the federal government and feel like their elected representatives have abdicated their responsibility to represent them

389 [deleted]  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 6:53:34pm
390 Charles Johnson  Wed, Apr 15, 2009 9:37:34pm

Insults will get you nowhere, except blocked.

391 Mosse  Thu, Apr 16, 2009 12:43:05am

Charles, I'm glad you picked up on Odom. I checked him out when the first of the tea parties began to surface. I didn't save my research, but he was listed as a political operative on a couple of sites that refered to him. So, certainly the inception of this thing was "astro turf." Now, Armey and Gingrich are trying to cash in on it, too; we'll see where it goes on its own steam.

392 Hollowpoint  Thu, Apr 16, 2009 3:40:30pm

re: #384 Charles

Sure, folks, I think you should just ignore the fact that the guy who's out there talking to the media about the tea parties is a raving Ron Paul "activist" who publishes articles on New World Order websites.

Hey, what could possibly go wrong by ignoring that?

It shouldn't be ignored, and the movement should distance itself from him. However, you seem to be greatly overstating his influence. He runs one of many websites, and managed to get his mug in front of a TV camera. The evidence that he's now the "main organizer" is severely lacking.

393 Hollowpoint  Thu, Apr 16, 2009 3:50:15pm

Oops; meant to post in the new thread, sorry for the necro.


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