The American Spectator : Tea Time Again

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Tea Time Again

By Robert Stacy McCain on 4.16.10 @ 6:08AM

New faces keep the movement growing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Lauren Sheriff calls herself a "newbie" in the Tea Party movement, but she was partying with the best of them Thursday on Pennsylvania Avenue.

"It's fabulous," said Sheriff, a housewife who first attended a rally a week ago in her hometown of Milwaukee, then followed the Tea Party Express tour on through another seven stops. She then returned home before catching a plane to D.C. for yesterday's final rally of the spring tour, which filled Freedom Plaza, two blocks east of the White House.

Spending a few days following the third nationwide bus tour -- which hit 47 cities in 19 days -- inspired respect for those who made the whole trip.

"I don't even know how they did it. I'm tired… it was grueling," Sheriff said.

Grueling as the tour has been since starting March 27 in Harry Reid's hometown of Searchlight, Nevada, the voices and faces on the stage were still cheerful, and none so cheerful as the blonde woman who stood backstage a few steps away from Mrs. Sheriff.

Former Saturday Night Live star Victoria Jackson entertained the mid-day crowd with her song, "There's a Communist Living in the White House." In her trademark ditzy-blonde style, the comedienne's tune humorously reprises the history of President Obama's leftist associations and actions, and has already gathered more than 270,000 views on YouTube.com.

An evangelical Christian who belongs to an L.A.-area Tea Party group, the Pasadena Patriots, Jackson crossed the country on the bus as part of a tour that also featured special guest appearances from Andrew Breitbart, Rep. Michelle Bachmann, Joe the Plumber, Ann Coulter and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Palin headlined a rally Wednesday in Boston, not far from the site of the original 1773 Tea Party, but didn't make it to D.C., where the mid-day event at Freedom Plaza was followed by an evening rally in front of the Washington Monument that drew a crowd estimated at 25,000.

"I'm really happy with the turnout," said Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks, main sponsor of the later rally.

Thursday's attendance was a fraction of the massive crowd that attended last year's September 12 rally in front of the Capitol, but that was a Saturday, not a weekday when millions of Americans were struggling to finish their federal 1040 forms in time for the midnight tax-filing deadline.

"The crowd is energized," Kibbe said. "I think the message, after [last month's passage of] ObamaCare, is that [Tea Party activists] aren't… backing down, they're not going home. They're mobilizing and they're going to make November 2 a referendum on ObamaCare."

FreedomWorks has been involved with the Tea Party movement from the beginning. Kibbe noted that Mary Rakovich, an activist from Fort Myers, Florida, who had been trained by his organization, helped organize a February 2009 protest against the stimulus bill that was then pending in Congress. Rakovich gathered fewer than a dozen conservatives for that protest at a joint appearance of President Obama and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. But from that tiny demonstration grew a groundswell of activism that has, among other things, pretty much destroyed any possibility that Crist can win the GOP Senate primary, despite backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Perhaps the biggest sign of Tea Party success is a new wave of attacks on the movement from the Left and a surge of attention from the liberal media. Most bizarre of the attacks was the announcement earlier this week of "Crash the Tea Party," an effort by liberal activists to infiltrate rallies in an effort to discredit the movement. That project was organized by Jason Levin, who told the Associated Press that he believes most Tea Party attendees are "homophobes, racists or morons" -- although perhaps not so moronic as a saboteur who gives advance notice of his plans for sabotage. He was put on paid leave by the Oregon public school that employs him, under suspicion that he may have done his activism during work hours. How did his infiltrators fare Thursday? "They came, they saw, they failed," as Michelle Malkin summarized it.

Whereas the liberal media once ignored the Tea Parties, they now seem obsessed with the movement, commissioning polls and sending reporters to cover rallies. Obama himself has begun taking shots at the movement, telling a Democratic fund-raising crowd in Miami that his opponents should thank him for cutting their taxes.

Of course, nearly half of all American households don't even pay income tax, but one who does was driving a cab in D.C. yesterday. Shewagezaw Tilahun is also a small businessman who says he sometimes puts in 17-hour days between his job as a cab driver and working at the convenience store he owns. A native of Ethiopia and a Christian who keeps an Amharic-language Bible in his cab, Tilahun voted for Obama in 2008, but said he plans to vote Republican this year.

As he drove down 15th Street toward the rally at the Washington Monument, the cabbie praised America as the "land of opportunity" and stressed the importance of hard work and education. He asked about the purpose of the Tea Party rally. Told the movement is about economic freedom and defending the Constitution, Tilahun proclaimed, "I support this idea 101 percent."

He was too busy working to attend the rally, but the cabbie's message was as powerful as any spoken from the stage.

About the Author

Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (111) | Leave a comment

Tim*| 4.16.10 @ 6:35AM

The Valley Forge Patriots had a great rally last evening with plenty of new faces , congressional candidates ,veterans , musicians , kids ,and grandmas.
Good spirited cheers went out as passing trucks and cars flew flags,honked and gave thumbs up . And the guy ,who gave the Tea Party Crowd ,The Italian Salute , got the biggest laugh ,which really honked him off.

A Fun Time Was Had By All .

George Washington| 4.16.10 @ 2:18PM

Freedomworks is an insurance company sponponsord lobbyist organization headed by corporate lobbyist Dick Armey. Wake up people.

Quartermaster| 4.16.10 @ 6:11PM

Armey is a RINO who also just happens to be an open borders type. In his eyes anyone that wants to stem the illegal alien invasion is Raaaaaaaacist. Simply wanting your country to not be inundated with people that come from a country whose ideals are inimical to those the US was founded upon is certainly NOT a racist. Anyone favoring such an inundation, as Armey does, is an idiot who does not have the country's best interests at heart. Armey was a protege of Gingrinch who is also a RINO and betrayed the revolution of 1994.

Purpleguy| 4.16.10 @ 6:39PM

It's hard to get a movement going when few people care. Several mill - I mean thousand show up for the Tax Day in Washington? Sean Hannity is pulled back from headlining the Tea party rally ... ruh-roh, Fox is pulling it's support ... it's hard to get a movement going when nobody cares....

Alan Brooks| 4.17.10 @ 12:00AM

Wingnuts are very industrious; they possess a maniacal energy--
though what they are selling might not be what you'd want to purchase. Caveat emptor.

But you dig your own graves.

carnot| 4.18.10 @ 5:00PM

said with a big smile: ok....let's play this one out. You want bogeymen? I am now fully willing to tolerate the "wingnuts". perhaps they'll show up in your neighborhood. I NO LONGER CARE.

Perhaps neo-fascists like you are the real "wingnuts".

martin j smith| 4.16.10 @ 7:49AM

The Tea Party Movement is the only force that can save this country. They have a very braod base ( unlike the views of the NYT ) and that is what scares BHO et al. And, they can push the Republican Party to the right positions especially on the economy and National Security. As some have already said, the Democrat Party and their fellow travelers signal what they are afraid of--So keep up the good work Tea Party!!!!!!!!!

Wallace J. Sandaber| 4.16.10 @ 2:20PM

What is the Tea Party movement all about?

Well, it’s not about taxes. Taxes are at nearly historical lows. It’s not about deficits, or they would have organized while huge deficits were run up between 200 and 2008. . It’s not about the constitution or they would have been protesting the Patriot Act. It's not about big government or they would be protesting the enormous growth of the Pentagon for eight years.

I it is not entirely about race, although it’s a factor.

This is about the us vs them mentality the right have been cultivating for years. Describing liberals as enemies, traitors, nazis etc.

What we’re seeing the Tea Party movement is a conditioned response to the Democrats winning an election. It, in their conditioned minds, is the most horrific thing on the planet.

Starting needless wars, torture, direct damage to the constitution, huge deficits, big company giveaways: no big deal as long as it’s not a liberal doing them.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.16.10 @ 2:31PM

Wallace-"useful idiot"- heh,
The tea-party movement is an upraised middle finger to Soros employees like you.

Yeah, I have a conditioned response. I pray for idiots like you...you poor slave. Without my taxes you will get very hungry.

Wallace J. Sandaber| 4.16.10 @ 2:43PM

Excellent TeaParty comeback. Paranoid and angry. Now you could respond point by point as I did to yours but I doubt that will happen.

"Without my taxes you will get very hungry." Um, Obama just cut your taxes. Unless you are George Soros or an AIG exec. Why are you so dedicated to scruwing the middle class and helping the uber wealthy?

LiveFreeOrDie| 4.16.10 @ 4:17PM

I stopped reading your ignorant post when you said taxes are at "historic lows." No need to engage someone who doesn't live on earth.

GW| 4.16.10 @ 4:26PM

I guess Wallace doesn't know the US didn't have an income tax before 1917.

Purpleguy| 4.16.10 @ 6:49PM

Ruh-Roh - hate to burst your right-wing bubble - but those pesky facts just won't let you have your way .... see this: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index......mailView=1 and weep.
Americans are paying historic lows, 2nd lowest tax rate in 50 years - 4.4% for family of four ... You should be thanking the Democrats - you are paying less taxes than in any year of GW Bush or Ronald Reagan - but facts don't matter do they? We'll see if you care about truth....

loulou| 4.16.10 @ 9:07PM

Tax rates ARE low for those freeloaders who do not pay federal income tax. And that means you, purpleguy.

Mike| 4.17.10 @ 11:09AM

Well Purpleguy how do you square your current tax post with your mantra of "Tax cuts for the rich"? I wonder which one YOU believe is the lie. As for me I know they are both false.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics

Mike Johnston
SFC USA (RET)

Bob the Engineer| 4.18.10 @ 4:13PM

There is no 4.4% tax bracket! One time tax credits do not lower tax brackets. The total tax burden is what congress spends not what the IRS collects, therefore the real tax burden is at a record high.

Alaskan for Global Warming| 4.16.10 @ 4:52PM

Really, are you this stupid?

Bydand76| 4.17.10 @ 11:44AM

Are YOU really that stupid?

Quartermaster| 4.16.10 @ 6:19PM

Wallace, you made the mistake of assuming that anyone not of your leftist views would see your statement as factual and cogent. This is a common failing of leftists, miseducated as they are.

The statement about how taxes are at a historic low was probably the most uninformed of the lot, and that is going some giving your statement about Tea Party types.

The truly hilarious statement about "direct damage to the Constitution" takes the cake. The left has been ignoring the constitution whenever it got in the way, and giving lip service to it when they thought it supported them.

When you can get past what I've pointed out, maybe you can grow up enough to really read and come to your senses about what the left is up to. Until then, you are right, it is us, who support the Constitution, against the radical left who want either some form of National Socialism, or outright Communism.

Purpleguy| 4.16.10 @ 6:59PM

You think you know what you're talking about - you need to stop listening solely to the echo chamber of Fox and Rush who are indoctrinating you like a bunch of sheep willingly going to the slaughter. Taxes Are at an historic low - you have been lied to, by those who pay high taxes 'cause they make a lot off your folly of watching/listening to the idiots. Check this if you have the guts to see the truth: http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index......mailView=1

Oh, and how about this sugar plum - ""direct damage to the Constitution" ... The only time the Constitution was violated like GW Bush has done was during the Civil War, when Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus (you know what it is and why it's important, don't you Einstein? ) which is to be suspended only in time of insurrection or invasion. Civil War = Insurrection; why did Bush do it? Over a bunch of Towel heads that got lucky?

Bydand76| 4.17.10 @ 11:42AM

Purpleguy,
Sorry but your numbers are deeply flawed and please dont extract your information from a left wing think tank either. Talk about being biased!
Hypocrite!

The truth of the matter is that as we stand right now the taxation rate of all Americans has increased significantly over the past 10 years.

Do you smoke? Tobacco? You will understand what I mean if you do.

Anyways,

Look at these numbers.
Federal Income Tax Brackets For 2010 – Based On TAXABLE INCOME!
Tax Rate
Married Couples Filing Jointly /Most Single Filers
10%:Not over $16,750/Not over $8,375
15% :$16,750 – $68,000/$8,375 – $34,000
25% :$68,000 – $137,300 /$34,000 – $82,400
28%:$137,300 – $209,250/$82,400 – $171,850
33%:$209,250 – $373,650/$171,850 $373,650
35%:Over $373,650 Over $373,650
(These numbers are directly off of the IRS's website for taxation rates if you would care to look them up.)

Now if you go back and look at the taxation rates for even the past 5 years you will understand what people mean about taxes going up and why they are angry about it. Why is that so troubling to the left in this country?
Would it surprise you to learn that the the biggest growth in the job sector has in been in the Government? Both Fed and State? Now why is that not surprising?
You need to quit listening to Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews because you are spouting the same exact nonsense that they do!

Not to rub your nose in the turd you left on the floor but seriously you sound like you have no clue what you are talking about just like they do because all you are doing is cherry picking data for your own talking points.

Kinda of the same thing the Administration is doing as well

What all of you Ding-a-lings fail to understand is that the money HAS to come from somewhere.
You cannot simply say that since people need more of whatever it is they want, we have to give it to them because in order to do that? You have to take the money from someone else.
Economics 101. I cant understand why this principle is so hard for Democrat/Progressives to grasp.
Whatever though,
Also your civil war historical reference is deeply flawed as well. GW did not do anything any more drastic than what any of the previous administrations did. Clinton, Bush1 Reagan, Carter, and if you looked at it objectively he didn't do anything nearly as bad as FDR! I defy you to prove otherwise because you will fail regardless of whatever argument you provide.

Revisionist history is always more convenient when you con-volute fact. Typical of the left again though.

You sound an awful lot like Lib Reader!

I leave you with a quote from a proud Progressive dingbat.

"I'm sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic. We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration"-Hilary Clinton

REMEMBER THAT the next time you disparage the Tea Party activists!
They have a right to do what they want to do and we will see what happens in Nov.

Right now the numbers are not looking to good for your side though.

Pro Libertate!

carnot| 4.18.10 @ 5:55PM

I know the withholding tax on my military pension went up last year! a net loss to me when foregone interest is included in the calculation.

axbucxdu| 4.17.10 @ 11:54AM

"The only time the Constitution was violated like GW Bush has done was during the Civil War"

Not the only time, and it pays to remember that Bush was a statist and not a conservative. Then let's not forget Wilson's unconstitutional approval of the Fed, and FDR's illegal Executive Order 6102. Pot, kettle, black.

And when the shrub was in charge, your boys at the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities were often whining about the decreased progressivity in the tax code.

I for one would now like to see your friends retain their new found neutrality vis-a-vis tax rates, regardless of congress or administration. Indeed, hope springs eternal.

South Texan| 4.17.10 @ 8:39PM

Wallace, you responded point by point to what? Your first post had no point. I get tired of people like you that think a comment has to have certain facts, points or specific arguments. Join a debate club or something like that if you want. This forum is for comments which can include opinions and ideas. Perhaps you don't have any original thoughts to share?

Purpleguy| 4.16.10 @ 6:42PM

Otis, my man!| 4.16.10 @ 10:51PM

Purpleguy,

Its obvious that YOU care.

carnot| 4.18.10 @ 6:03PM

bingo!

Mr Plouffe has his OZs scouring the hustings in a manner similar to the last Prez election. only this time there is the minor drawback of a track record. the whole schtick here is to ignore that record and thrust the glare back onto the Tea Party strawpeople. Not gonna happen. it's not about right wingers and Tea Partiers...it's about a egregious grab for power effected in very corrupt ways. we saw it on its reified glory during the health care fiasco. the shady aspects to what has been going on has been connected yet into a fuller story (e.g., American sellout by Guantanamo lawyers, Fanny/Freddie pocket lining with impunity, Fed Reserve duplicity, stimulus bill slush fund, etc., etc.). There is the makings of a best seller here for someone industrious enough to do the legwork.

carnot| 4.18.10 @ 6:07PM

geez......need better editting!

Mr Plouffe has his OZs scouring the hustings in a manner similar to the last Prez election. only this time there is the minor drawback of a track record. the whole schtick here is to ignore that record and thrust the glare back onto the Tea Party strawpeople. Not gonna happen. it's not about right wingers and Tea Partiers...it's about an egregious grab for power effected in very corrupt ways. we saw it in all its reified glory during the healthcare fiasco. the shady aspects to what has been going on have not yet been connected yet into a fuller story (e.g., American sellout by Guantanamo lawyers, Fanny/Freddie pocket lining with impunity, Fed Reserve duplicity, stimulus bill slush fund, etc., etc.). There is the makings of a best seller here for someone industrious enough to do the legwork.

Indy Voter| 4.17.10 @ 9:25AM

Much of what we pay in taxes is wasted, too many examples to list, taxes will go up for all when Bush tax cuts expire; 47% don't pay federal income taxes (yes, I know they pay sales, gas, and payroll taxes) and many of those 47% receive tax credits, in part due to Bush tax cuts; some Dems are now discussing European VAT; state and local taxes have increased in many areas with more likely to come; Taxes increases, current and future republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/DemTaxIncreases1.pdf

Constitution, oh please, 20 states suing new healthcare law; Patriot Act was extended, media / left silent. Both the Senate and House Judiciary committees proposed bills to renew these provisions with reforms that would establish greater oversight, but neither bill went to a floor vote. epic.org/privacy/terrorism/usapatriot/default.html Hm, why?
Promise - "Obama: No warrantless wiretaps if you elect me", news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9845595-7.html and reality "The Obama Justice Department has adopted a legal stance identical to, if not more aggressive than, the Bush version. It argues that the court-forced disclosure of the surveillance programs would cause "exceptional harm to national security" by exposing intelligence sources and methods. Last Friday the Ninth Circuit denied the latest emergency motion to dismiss, again kicking matters back to Judge Walker." online.wsj.com/article/SB123638765474658467.html and eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/obama-doj-worse-than-bush Also, Feds push for tracking cell phones, "the Obama administration has argued that warrantless tracking is permitted because Americans enjoy no "reasonable expectation of privacy" in their--or at least their cell phones'--whereabouts." news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10451518-38.html
EPA proposing new regulations, online.wsj.com/article/SB123531391527642021.html

Congressional budget office: Fiscal policy is 'unsustainable' thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/91161-congressional-budget-office-fiscal-policy-is-unsustainable
Graph on debt/deficit http://hillbuzz.org/2010/02/16/debt-and-deficit/ yes, GOP spent like drunken sailors, Dems, drunken sailors on steroids
It's not about race, we are all Americans and all need to learn more about our history floppingaces.net/2010/03/31/the-other-side-of-the-race-card/ Black GOP candidates in 2010 frederickdouglassfoundation.com/2010Candidates.html

Big government / big corps = both parties, interesting stuff here http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?order=A Labor and Trial Lawyers = democrats

Tea Party Movement means different things to different people, but some core themes are limited Federal government, protect our freedoms,/ Constitution (including 10th Amendment); fiscal conservatism and the movement includes GOP, Dems and many independents (myself included), etc.

Indy Voter| 4.17.10 @ 10:08AM

Here's one video discussing race from a 4/15/10 Tea Party
http://randallforcongress.com/
Bill Randall comes from the 9th ward in New Orleans now lives in NC and is running for Congress

Allen West is another who has spoken at Tea Parties http://allenwestforcongress.com/

Jay Dee| 4.17.10 @ 7:41PM

There are 37 or 38 African- Americans running for Congress in '10. Imagine that, Conservative non-kool-aid drinking Americans with dark skin. This is what is great about this country.

carnot| 4.18.10 @ 5:10PM

arrant nonsense. anyone who spent any time in Liberal blogs in the year and a half leading up to the election understands where the real violence and hatred has been lurking. Did Mr Plouffe and the Maobamaites not imagine the the proverbial "equal and opposite" reaction would eventually occur?

The Maobamaites know that for their legerdemains to survive in the long-run they still have to win the compliance...if not support....of the majority of the population. they understand all too well that their revolution took well over 100 years to fully unfold. the counter-revolution is just budding; hence, the Maobamaist urgency in undermining and minimizing its significance.

Hang in there all......defeating this incipient fascism will in itself be a substantive achievement. and don't fall for the "where's your ideas?" bait. the present charge is to undermine and defeat THEIR bad ideas - a time consuming responsibility to be sure.

STOP THE FASCISTS!

tj| 4.19.10 @ 3:13PM

Go troll some where else you add nothing of value to this site except gibberish... we are on the rise and most of the 111th congress will be gone come NOVEMBER!!!! Remember November 2010/2012 Talk to pigliso about calling people Nazis...

Son Of Sam| 4.16.10 @ 7:54AM

We had a great rally in my neck of the woods, and apparently, it would seem that decent patriotic Americans did so all across this great nation of ours. Good people, fine weather,inspiring speeches and the knowledge that we are part of something great that will help to renew America: what's not to like?

I would also like to note that the little jerks who were going to "crash" our Tea Party were nowhere in evidence. Plus, that jackass from Portland who set up the "crash" website has taken down his website, probably after getting pummeled by us patriots on his message boards for the past several days.

Who knows,maybe the "crashers" DID show up, then they blinked, rubbed their eyes, looked around and saw HUMAN BEINGS and decided to LISTEN to us,instead of blindly mocking people they didn't even know.

So,how did it shape up for the rest of you guys?

stand strong until freedom dawns
Son Of Sam

Nancy| 4.17.10 @ 4:29PM

About the same for us. We did have about 7 infiltrators, but they were pathetic. I think somebody slipped them $50 to show up, but their heart really wasn't in it. Their signs were lame, and probably took 10 minutes to create with cardboard and spray paint.

Otherwise, had a beautiful day and a good turnout for a Thursday. Many people said that it was their first event, so our numbers are growing all the time.

Mike| 4.16.10 @ 8:47AM

If there is a consistent message from the Tea Party, it seems to be: (1) government is too big (2) taxes are too high and (3) budget deficits and the national debt are out of control.

Concerning # 3: I would remind everyone that the only government official I've heard say deficits don't matter is Dick Cheney.

Concerning # 2: Taxes for many Americans went down as a result of the stimulus plan despite the failure of many to understand or acknowledge this. With regard to those who don't pay federal income tax, haven't they achieved what members of the Tea Party appear to want for themselves?

Concerning #1: When queried about what should be cut from the Federal government, few people seem to have an answer. Social Security, Medicare and Defense appear to be sacrosanct.

Ned | 4.16.10 @ 10:24AM

Not only consistent, but consistently wrong, too. Nice work.

John W.| 4.16.10 @ 10:40AM

Concerning 1. Read more. Beginning with Krugman. Continue with every other pseudo-Keynesian economist writing in support of the current administration. Complete your education with some of Keynes' later thoughts on deficit spending.

Concerning 2. A tax rebate is not a tax cut, Obami spin and Newspeak notwithstanding.

Concerning 3.
Eliminate Dept. of Education. Replace with block grants to states at 25% to 50% of current funding. Leftist can find a way to finance their collegiate indoctrination without tax dollars.
Reduce EPA to 50% of 2008 funding. As one example of waste, if they have “scientists” who think the dramatic increase in polar bear population is evidence of endangerment, they have a lot of “scientists” who should be flipping burgers instead.
Eliminate Bureau of Land Management.
Eliminate Bureau of Indian Affairs. As best anyone can tell, their sole purpose is to steal from the various Indian Nations and tribes.
Eliminate all DoE and other agency funding for “alternative energy.” To the extent there is any economic viability to these schemes, they will be developed by people who understand the difference between base load and peek load.
Eliminate all elements of Dept. of Agriculture that don’t involve food safety inspections.
Eliminate EDA, MBDA, and NTIA from Dept. of Commerce. (Look them up.)
Reduce Dept. of Labor to 50%. Restrict activities to workplace safety, Arbitration, and oversight of union formation votes. Add in oversight of union controlled pension funds, with a requirement that they be 100% funded before the union can spend anything on political activities.
Eliminate all of Dept. of Health and Human Services except CDC, FDA, and NIH.
Eliminate Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Reduce DoT by 25%. If they think their charter includes bike paths, they have budget to waste.
Eliminate Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists from DoE.
Eliminate 75% of independent agencies.

John W.| 4.16.10 @ 10:42AM

"peek load" should be "peak load."

Heatpacker| 4.16.10 @ 12:18PM

A kindred spirit! I love the list. May I repectfully add -
eliminate all of those federal agencies which directly fund the left: NPR, Public Television, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Science Foundation (there are others, but I don't want to take any more time)
Deprive NOAA and EPA of the power to fund climate research.
How about just getting rid of the Energy Department?

Wally| 4.16.10 @ 2:28PM

All of those cuts are peanuts. PEANUTS, compared to the growth in defense spending. And they are microscopic peanuts compared to SS and Medicare. So what your proposal is is essentially to stop scientific research and eliminate services to all the poor people in america but keep up the subsidies to the rich. Which would not put a dent in the deficit but would make us something like Haiti or the Congo. Now if you go a little further and eliminate taxes, you can make us like Somalia.

BTW, EPA has very little funding for climate change research. NSF does that and indeed funds most of the research at our universities. Why so anti science? Is ignorance preferable?

Heatpacker| 4.16.10 @ 3:21PM

I don't care if it is 'peanuts'. I want taxpayer money out of the hands of people who are using it to tear down the constitution and the free market system. And I love defense spending! I want more of it! At least IT is constitutionally sanctioned. I am not anti-science. I simply don't want the government funding it. When the government funds science you get science that benefits big government.
BTW, the last time I checked, NPR had never done anything to alleviate the plight of the poor.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.16.10 @ 6:28PM

Wally,
Not peanuts.

In the words of (Senator) Everett Dirkson, (before your time)............"A billion here...a billion there, pretty soon you are talking about real money."

Joe Heathen| 4.16.10 @ 11:58PM

Heatpacker sez: "How about just getting rid of the Energy Department?"
-
Vern, you are a real piece of work and a wonderful example of why the tea baggers are like folks dancing with one foot nailed to the dance floor.
-
This is probably gonna shock the shit outta you, given your demonstrated stupidity, but see if you can make a connection between the Dept of Energy and the National Nuclear Stockpile.
-
You wanna leave the US vulnerable to nuclear blackmail, don't you? And you think you're a "patriot"?
-
My cat leaves more patriotic turds in her litter box than you'll ever amount to.

Dean| 4.17.10 @ 10:46PM

Better tea-Bagger than Tea-Bagged

Mike| 4.16.10 @ 4:38PM

John W.

Do you consider Supply Side theory to be better than Keynsian theory?

I take your point about a rebate as opposed to a tax cut, however, I still plan to bank my rebate.

Concerning your suggested list of cuts in the federal government: I must admit that, at first blush, I find a couple of suggestions attractive. I would have to research others to form an opinion one way or another.

Would you support a reduction of these agencies by attrition over time to minimize the negative effects of leaving so many people unemployed?

John W.| 4.19.10 @ 1:47PM

My approach to economics is understanding how things will play out at the micro level, then working up to the macro level. Sometimes, that leads to support for supply side policies, at others to support for Keynes policies (of limited scope and duration).

In general, I’d enact the reductions by:
1. Some percentage riffed on a last in first out basis.
2. Early retirement/buyout.
3. Attrition.

Purpleguy| 4.16.10 @ 7:10PM

Why not abandon the entire cabinet? How about disbanding the Armed Services? Your single-handedly cutting jobs left and right, just because you are in the UNIQUE position of not liking where someone spends the Government's budget. Once you pay the Government your taxes - it's not your money anymore - so get over it, and pay up, then shut up and say thanks for making this the best country in the world.

Freddy| 4.17.10 @ 3:12PM

"Once you pay the Government your taxes - it's not your money anymore - so get over it, and pay up, then shut up "

Precisely the mentality we need to get away from.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.16.10 @ 10:49AM

Uh, Mike,
Let's start by laying off a hundred thousand or so federal employees.

Two: ending government employee unions...period.

Three: means testing Social Security and Medicare recipients.

Four, privatizing medicare....and maybe medicaid.

Cancelling the hires of an additional 16,000 IRS agents.

Canceling the show-trials of 9-11 terrorists.

Ending teachers' unions, and replace with private schools K-tru-12.

Cut congress critters' staff in half.

Immediately freeze Mr. Soros' profits stolen by shorting the dollar.

Chop ALL tax-payer funding for Acorn and derivatives.

Well, a lot more, but that will do for the first six months...uh except for de-funding Obamacare.

Lei| 4.16.10 @ 12:17PM

On some blogs (Comcast) Democrats are stating that Republicans don't have any ideas about how to cut the budget. I guess you could prove them wrong. I tried to tell them they could start by getting rid of the $90 BILLION in Medicare fraud.
The illegals on Medicaid. School lunch program - parents CAN make their child a lunch - and cheaply. After-school snack program - and breakfast program - (parents CAN provide meals - especially if low income and getting food stamps and WIC!). All these programs are growing by leaps and bounds as they increase the ceiling for "low-income" - communities now having over 50% qualifying!

Wally| 4.16.10 @ 2:50PM

Bush did ... NOTHING on medicare fraud. From Wiki - "The first "National Summit on Health Care Fraud” was held on January 28, 2010 to bring together leaders from the public and private sectors to identify and discuss innovative ways to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse in the U.S. health care system. [7] The summit is the FIRST national gathering on health care fraud between law enforcement and the private and public sectors and is part of the Obama Administration’s coordinated effort to fight health care fraud."

The FBI investigates Medicare fraud claims. But conservatives want to CUT gubmint and the militia wingnuts fear the FBI. Make up your mind.

The rest - Peanuts. All peanuts. SS, Medicare and defense are probably about 70% of our budget deficit.

Otis, my man!| 4.16.10 @ 4:14PM

Wow, the Libs are all over this column today!

A sure sign the Tea Parties have 'em runnin' scared.

Franklin| 4.16.10 @ 7:13PM

Hahahaha ... that's hilarious. Poor Tea Party, nobody gives a shit - I'm sorry - the radical right wing conservablobs do ... all 200,000 of them.... but we have 64,000,000 on our side ... hahahaha

Otis, my man!| 4.16.10 @ 10:05PM

Well fine and dandy. That leaves just 243,000,000 for us - from whom you will be hearing on Nov 2.

Wally| 4.16.10 @ 2:38PM

Let's start by laying off a hundred thousand or so federal employees. PEANUTS. AND WHO WILL BUILD HIGHWAYS AND CATCH CROOKS AND GIVE VAST SUMS TO WHEAT AND COTTON FARMERS.

Two: ending government employee unions...period. RIGHT. VIOLATE 1st AMENDMENT RIGHTS. THAT'LL CUT THE DEFICIT.

Three: means testing Social Security and Medicare recipients. HAH! OLD CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN RECIPIENTS WOULD GET THEIR GUNS OUT.

Four, privatizing medicare....and maybe medicaid. SAME GUNS. AND YOU MEAN ELIMINATE. WHICH WOULD MAKE INSURANCE FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE NONEXISTENT AS THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD NOT INSURE THEM.

Cancelling the hires of an additional 16,000 IRS agents. NOW THAT'S A GOOD ONE. EACH ONE OF THOSE GUYS CATCHES ABOUT $5 MILLION IN TAX CHEATING. btw, IS THAT YOU?

Canceling the show-trials of 9-11 terrorists. HUH? THEY DIED.

Ending teachers' unions, and replace with private schools K-tru-12. YEP, THAT PESKY 1ST AMENDMENT AGAIN. LETS HAVE AIG OR AMWAY RUN THE SCHOOLS.

Cut congress critters' staff in half. YEAH, THAT'L BALANCE THE BUDGET.

Immediately freeze Mr. Soros' profits stolen by shorting the dollar. RIGHT. LET'S INTERFERE IN FREE TRADING OF CURRENCY AND STEAL PROFITS FROM LIBERALS. THAT ONE REALLY SHOWS YOUR "COLORS."

Chop ALL tax-payer funding for Acorn and derivatives. EXTRA BIG HUH? TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR DERIVITATIVES? LETS ASK YOUR HOMEYS PHIL GRAMM AND JOE LIEBERMAN ABOUT WHO STOPPED THE REGULATION OF DERIVATIVES.

Well, a lot more, but that will do for the first six months...uh except for de-funding Obamacare. HCR CUTS THE DEFICIT BY GETTING RID OF MUCH OF BUSH'S MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ABOMINATION.

Ron Ferrell| 4.16.10 @ 6:03PM

Wally-

Who are the Federal Employees who build highways? Guess I just never ran across any of them.

SS Means Testing -- My gun is clean and sighted in, but its not coming out over Means Testing.

Privatizing Medicare -- Same gun clean and sighted in but not coming out for this either.

9-11 Show Trials -- Guess you haven't heard of the Sheik.

Private Schools -- Doubt AIG or Amway could do WORSE, even on a bad day.

Soros -- "Actuarily Speaking" he'll be in hell soon, so no matter.

ACORN Funding -- Cute word play on derivatives, though incorrect conclusion negates the extra point for cuteness.

Otis, my man!| 4.16.10 @ 10:48PM

Ron,

BTW, do you know what a DERIVITATIVE is?

I was thinking perhaps it was an investment in breast implants, but just speculating...

Ron| 4.16.10 @ 10:54PM

Otis--

Good one! I missed the extra syllable Douchbag added to derivative. (not the only thing he had wrong!)

Mike| 4.16.10 @ 4:44PM

Ken,

Having paid into Social Security and Medicare during my years of working, and having achieved a degree of financial security, I have to say that means testing these two programs raises a red flag for me. Now, if the government would return all of the money it collected from me for these two programs, along with a reasonable rate of compounded interest for the opportunity cost I paid, I might have less anxiety over this issue.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.16.10 @ 6:23PM

I hear you, Mike, and I'm pithed too....but the money has already been spent...on able people who will not work.

I have finally accepted that I must work till I die...or go senile, to retain our standard of living. A thousand a month will make little difference.

...Heh, if/when I go senile, just sit me under a tree by a fishing hole, and forget to come get me.

In fact, I and a cousin have that covenant.

Mike| 4.16.10 @ 7:44PM

Ken,

There has been abuse in Social Security. But, I perceive that you are a person who worked and paid into Social Security. I think you deserve more and better than, " I have finally accepted that I must work till I die...or go senile, to retain our standard of living. A thousand a month will make little difference."

Dai Alanye| 4.16.10 @ 11:15AM

Immediately freeze all "stimulus" disbursements. Halt funding to outside groups such as Planned Parenthood.

Place a freeze on government hiring. Should one department have a legitimate need for more employees, transfer people from Dept of Education, Small Business Admin and other more or less useless functions.

Require givebacks from all government employees as Christie is doing in New Jersey. But start right at the top with BO and Congress.

Change the way the Social Security increment is calculated from wage growth to general inflation. It's a long-term fix but ultimately very important.

Given how bloated goverment was even before the Messiah took charge, the possibilities are endless.

Purpleguy| 4.16.10 @ 7:03PM

Great Post ... but let me add that Ronald "Conservative God" Reagan said deficits don't matter either. He also wanted to ban nuclear weapons and everywhere right-wingers heads are spinning ..

Nancy| 4.17.10 @ 4:36PM

#1: government is too big. Almost as many people work for the government as works for private industry. The government produces nothing.
#2. taxes are unfair: about 47% of the population pays nothing. Everyone should have some "skin" in the game.
#3: Washington is corrupt. The people were disgusted with the shenanigans to push through the health care deal.
#4: Government is inept. Note: post office, Amtrak, any government ran entity.
#5: Social Security and Medicare are bankrupt. Give me back what I've contributed and I'll be happy. I've actually saved for the future, a concept that both programs have weakened. Both need to be trashed. There's lots of waste in the defense as well.
Guess none of this would happen, but it would, I think, help out the country.

carnot| 4.18.10 @ 5:22PM

vis #3: and every last Keynesian economic advisor on Maobama's inner circle.

vis #2: more dissembling. broad statement. the issue is whose taxes went down, by how much, and the clear knowledge that Maobama has larded recent legislation with billions of dollars of new taxes. and let's not forget that the Bush tax cuts disappear next year. I realize it's au courant to fashion the message according to the latest Maobama propaganda. the reality is that this man and HIS Congress have increased taxes hugely in the last year - but phased them in so that they don't all hit at once.

vis #1: at both the State and Federal levels there is growing appeal to the idea of cutting Unions who are bleeding taxpayers dry.

nope....Maobama can't squeeze out of this one. He owns these unparalleled deficit increases. Bush's spending spree pales in comparison. The purveyors of virtue are going to learn the hard way that the golden growth machine that is ultimately needed to succor and sustain their redistributionist dreams can be killed - and that is what will happen if the part of the population that does the actual work and pays the actual bills hits that threshold where "screw it...I'm outta here" takes effect. The irony? I have some Liberal friends who live in New York who have recently been saying just that!!!

CopyKatnj| 4.16.10 @ 10:04AM

The Morristown (NJ) TEA Party rally had a fine afternoon attendance. News reports stated there were counter protesters at the event, I did not see or hear them.

Lei| 4.16.10 @ 12:10PM

I think I will go to the Democratic Party's office, sit down with them and explain face to face why I quit their party.
They play dirty while claiming to be "above" dirty politics. Never again will I vote for any of their candidates.

Mike| 4.16.10 @ 4:58PM

Lei,
Are you familiar with the following: “Frankly,” wrote Mr. Luntz, “the single best way to kill any legislation is to link it to the Big Bank Bailout.”

I think every American citizen would be well served by banking reform that would forestall in the future what we are living through now.
Yet, Frank Luntz is advising the GOP to tell the American public that bank reform is another bank bailout.
I urge you to look into this.

carnot| 4.18.10 @ 5:30PM

what ultimately precipitated the financial crisis? the collapse in value of the underlying assets the Wall Street derivative Ponzi scheme was built on. That is an incontrovertible fact.

Until there is accountability - read heads role - for the Barney Franks/Chris Dodds of the world as well as the Fanny/Freddie CEOs who pocketed millions...I don't give a rats patout about Wall St. This a sham coverup for an intentionally precipitated fiasco that has ruined millions of future retirements.

The Democrats/Libs cannot survive over the long haul with this huge lie festering in their core.

RacerJim| 4.16.10 @ 10:42AM

Rockville MD (DC suburb) TEA Party rally also had a fine late-afternoon thru early-evening attendance. I only saw one counter protester at the event, a 9-11 "truther" who had no effect whatsoever on the event. :-)

Dai Alanye| 4.16.10 @ 11:22AM

The leftist infiltrators are a blessing in disguise to the Tea Parties. Now all adverse aggressive actions, misspelled signs, over-enthusiastic cheering of bad news, threats, etc right down to plugged toilets can be blamed on Democrats.

And fittingly so.

carnot| 4.18.10 @ 5:31PM

lol! I had the same thought when the numbnut teacher went public with his plan.

fake watches china| 4.16.10 @ 11:31AM

fake watches china

Blackwatch| 4.16.10 @ 12:36PM

Why would FAKE watch China? What is China going to do anyway?

Seriously Ms./Mr. Moderator can't you delete the commercials?

Jim Woodward| 4.17.10 @ 12:10PM

Blackwatch,
Been advocating the same thing for months. Never get a response from AmSpec, or any one else for that matter. Other sites don't seem to have the problem.

Mike from Wixom MI| 4.16.10 @ 1:31PM

Excellent article!!!!
God Bless Shewagezaw Tilahun, the small businessman who puts in 17-hour days between his job as a cab driver and working at the convenience store he owns. Who is a native of Ethiopia and a Christian who keeps an Amharic-language Bible in his cab - who voted for Obama in 2008, but said he plans to vote Republican this year.

BREDNG10| 4.16.10 @ 2:15PM

I went to a Tea Party in Rockford Il.lastweek.Had a great time.Met many respectful people who were unhappy with the direction of the country.Well mannered people who cleaned up after themselves and were certainly not racistd and biggots.
I agree with blackwatch-please delete commercials.

keyboard jockey| 4.16.10 @ 2:23PM

Captain Stimulus from D.C., shows up at Missoula, Montana Tax Day – Tea Party.

Captain Stimulus: There is going to be 5 border stations built in Montana, and they’re gonna get 77 Million dollars of the Stimulus fund. ” Those border stations, they are very busy some of them get 2 or 3 vehicles a day…..Video included.

Yeah that stimulus money being handed out like well tax payer money not like the people handing it out earned it or anything.

http://youhavetobethistalltogo.....ty-15.html

Anthony| 4.16.10 @ 2:35PM

If you have any doubts that America is heading for a showdown, just look to see the groups that ridicule and impure the Tea Party activists.
First there's Obama and his smarmy, smart -assed comments. that the sky has fallen on America yet; then the D party and its constituants as a whole, followed by their whores in the Media.
The lines are clearly drawn.

Mike| 4.16.10 @ 5:02PM

Anthony,
Yes, the line appear to be clearly drawn. And who could be more pleased over this development than the Taliban, al-Qaeda, Ahmadinijad, the Chinese, Putin and a few others who would like to see our demise. There best bet is to sit back and watch us do it to ourselves.

breffnian| 4.16.10 @ 6:03PM

The tea-parties show we have a vibrant democracy of concerned and active citizens. That make us immeasurably stronger than the totalitarian states you mention and is the essence of America as de Tocqueville recognized 200 years ago. The best way to arrest our demise is to stop the statist Obama and restore authority over their lives to the people.

Franklin| 4.16.10 @ 7:19PM

Statist? positioning the government to help business provide jobs is statist? I agree with your description of the Tea Party being evidence of vibrant democracy, but the statist comment is really offbase.

carnot| 4.16.10 @ 9:58PM

yawn.

Maobama has been in bed with the big corps/banks and unions right from the beginning.

Tim*| 4.16.10 @ 2:44PM

We Tea Party Rebels Are Tanned ,Rested & Ready For A Showdown !
On major issues, 48% of voters say that the average Tea Party member is closer to their views than President Barack Obama. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 44% hold the opposite view and believe the president’s views are closer to their own.

Purpleguy| 4.16.10 @ 7:21PM

I'm not surprised you're rested - there ain't many at the rallies - must be having a beer at home. Rasmussen is so biased I won't even comment.

JimE| 4.18.10 @ 7:41PM

Purpletard,
If the teaparties are so pitiful and useless why do you waste your time worrying about them? It obvious that you are very worried. What's it feel like to be a 40 year old latch-key kid?

Purpleguy| 4.20.10 @ 8:21AM

I don't worry about them; I might worry if they weren't primarily all Republican, white, well-to-do, educated citizens. But, alas, they are. A movement is a excellent thing for our Democracy, but this isn't it.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.16.10 @ 6:51PM

As I stated above...

Tea-partiers EQUAL "tax-payers".

What happens when the tax-payers just say >>>"nope, I will just sit back this year and watch the takers EAT each other."

Do you silly idiots really want to push us that far?

Darn! you are going to get hungry and cold!

Sad persons, your cannibalism has already begun. Look around you.
You truly do do have one last chance to grow up. If your guys "win" in November...YOU LOSE.

OF COURSE YOU ARE FRIGHTENED. You should be. But not frightened of we tea-partiers. We are the folks who have always fed you. All we have to do is stop.....feeding you.

Your gubmint can't feed you if we stop feeding them. Can't you get that between your ears?

OK, learn the hard way. God bless.
Who is John Galt?

carnot| 4.16.10 @ 9:50PM

ahhh...comedic relief has arrived!

OZs away!

carnot| 4.16.10 @ 9:54PM

whoops! fat fingered that one. not intended for you Tex.

but you're exactly right. the fascists on Penn Ave think once the "transformation" is in place the folks who oppose it will simply roll over and learn to live the new "reality". and they would be wrong. they are grossly underestimating the percolating anger coming from the bill paying side of the ledger. they also are grossly misunderstanding things if they think their value structure is the only viable and rationale path. there a million and one legal ways to undo any system.....

Bob Belvedere| 4.16.10 @ 8:25PM

Quoted from and Linked to at:
Ide Say It Went Very Well

Tim*| 4.16.10 @ 8:30PM

The Liberal Media Agendists say , " We ,Tea Party Rebels Have No Leader ".

As usual,they don't get it.

We,Tea Party Rebels Lead Ourselves !

We neither want nor need "A Designated Leader " .

Aaaand ,We are at war with the Liberal Media Propagandists.

seen leaving the scene| 4.16.10 @ 11:52PM

purple boy is more to be pitied than scorned. Has diarrhea of the mouth, constipation of the brain and is defending the indefensible. Moreover, his ally seems to Wallace, the sand dab. I think we used to use those as bait, fishing off the Faralones.

Following a veritable blizzard of posts, purple boy comments, "I won't even comment." Dare we hope?

All of those below average liberals scooped up in the NY Times/CBS survey of education and income of Tea Partyers vs. Average Americans are in a snit tonight! When are we going to have a poll of Tea Partyers' income and education vs. Far Left Loons like Jason Levin,the loser middle school teacher and Tea Party Crasher. Levin will get his job back in Oregon, due to teacher union protection. His defense: Well, I can't teach my subject, too dumb ass to write a lesson plan - had to fill up class time somehow. So I created a website on classroom time, at district's expense. It might make an interesting interview with some of his students, as to politics discussed in class.

Let's hear it for home schooling.

I know the drill. We have a second grade teacher who could not hack high school, moved down to middle and then to second grade - where he happily researches gorillas on his computer when he should be teaching. Hasn't found his "happy place" yet, within the halls of academe.

Etiquette Man| 4.17.10 @ 12:54AM

Guys, please stop feeding the trolls. All kidding aside, it only makes things worse.

If you must answer, use a one-word response: "Troll."

That says it all.

defeated pigs| 4.17.10 @ 9:19AM

Only half the number of tea party racists showed up to my capital as opposed to last year. The movement is sinking. The original Tea Party is being sorely misrepresented and is making a mockery of one of the greatest moments in US history. You can't have morons like Sarah Palin selling her crappy book in the name of democracy. That's how we got in this mess in the first place. Republicans misusing their power for monetary gains a la Dick Cheney and George Bush Jr.

defeated pigs| 4.17.10 @ 9:25AM

Actually the new tea party is misrepresenting the original tea party. I erroneously wrote it above but I' sure you know what I mean. The new Tea Party is a joke. We are laughing at you and not with you. When I say we, I mean the non sheeple.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.17.10 @ 12:23PM

Folks,
I do highly recommend each of you enjoy Sarah's speech linked to in the article by Robert Stacy above.
Our tea-party group here in Houston had a great get-together Thursday, but the really cool things going on are the quiet sign-ups for all the poll watchers positions and Republican party precinct positions across America's third largest "metro-plex".
We probably won't be able to fire Sheila Jackson Lee in November. She has a gerrymandered "safe district" with few tax-payers.

We do hope to fire Gene Greene Demo. but again, it will be close since he has quite a few on the dole as well.
The tea-party here is now moving solidly into quiet actions that can win elections, one vote at a time.
I am so proud to be a member.

Progress| 4.17.10 @ 1:30PM

Taxed Enough Already

replaced with

Totally Enraged About Blacks And Gays Getting Equal Rights.

Bydand76| 4.17.10 @ 5:56PM

Riiiiiiiight.

Does the same old tired argument EVER get tired for you lefties? Seriously.

What a bunch of douchebags!

I doubt you have ever been to a T.E.A Party but that's OK because your pathetic argument grows old. If you had been to a T.E.A Party you would realize how stupid you really are.

Keep it up though because I for one really do enjoy the simpleton game the progressives are playing right now.

All I have to say to you is "DETROIT"!
Na na na naaa Na na naa naaa Hey! Hey! Hey! GOODBYE!

Pro Libertate!

Indy Voter| 4.18.10 @ 8:16AM

Please listen to Bill Randall discuss race, he has some powerful words. His video from 4/15/10 can be found at http://randallforcongress.com/

Tim*| 4.18.10 @ 9:08AM

Little Progress Plays The Race Card.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz !

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.17.10 @ 4:52PM

Progress,
That was so lame, I got a chuckle. Thank you.

Yosemeti Sam| 4.17.10 @ 5:00PM

What Tea Partiers espouse is honesty and integrity - per CONSTITUTION guidelines - from their government employees.

As simple as that!

Versus the Leftoid mantra of - ooh eeh ohh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang mumbo jumbo machiavellianism-speak.

Leftoids fear the unknown - and that unknown is November 2010 and parenthetically 2012 and parenthetically beyond.

Who are the more agitated to that portend - the Leftoids or the Tea Partiers?

The CONSTITUTION motivated Tea Partiers - or the rabble-rousing Leftoid-excusing rumor-mongering LBSM PEN1 et al?

Actually, come November there will be a - purple people eater phenomenon to behold.

Marc Jeric| 4.17.10 @ 8:23PM

Judging by the venom and invectives issued by various communists and eco-nazis here it seems the Tea Party movement has scared them to distraction. Abu Hussein from Kenya has his system of local soviets wound up - all those ACORN and SEIU brownshirts and teachers union goons are feeling the heat!

martin j smith| 4.18.10 @ 9:57AM

When BHO and his fellow travelers rail and demonize any entity or individual you know they are on the right track. The tea Party Movement is no exception. I am a Tea Party Symp at heart. I do not trust either R or Ds. But in this case I will vote R as avote against Ds and against the Left agenda and against BHO in particular. ( that would be for 2010 and 2012. ) After that we will see.

A point about Fox News: It has been my imp -ression not just this latest flap that Fox has been going down a slippery slope of appeasement to to the BHO regime. Perhaps there should be a message to FOX via decline in viewers that if they are going to go via CNN who needs them. But, keep your eyes open on that.

Bill from Wv| 4.18.10 @ 10:19AM

As a member of the Tea Party Patriots, I can tell you our membership is growing 2% per day! Now over 60,000 registered members, in over 1600 local chapters.
Obama can smirk and Pelosi and Reid can continue their socialist march. They will all pay the ultimate political price in the next two years!
Bill from Tea Party Patriots

The Olde Man| 4.18.10 @ 9:06PM

Tea Party source? They come from those people who have suddenly realized what a trillion dollars is. And the fact that their grandchildren are going to be hung with a pile of them.

And everything has flowed from that.

BerlGoetz| 4.19.10 @ 12:20PM

I work at a college in the South, and at a staff meeting today the discussion was about campus safety and gun violence. Our boss stated that we should be concerned that Tea Party participants are advocating the use of violent revolution and include anti-government activities in our safety precautions.
!