TAXES: Angry citizens stage revolt (Buffalo, NY - plus Tea Party links & updates)

Tonawanda News ^ | March 29, 2009 | Bill Wolcott

[abb]

BUFFALO — About 1,000 men and women encircled speakers Saturday afternoon at the Buffalo inner harbor to protest taxes and almost everything about Albany.

With the USS Little Rock as a backdrop and the dilapidated Memorial Auditorium in the foreground, many people carried protest signs. An emotional Clarence man rushed up to the speaker and put $20 in protest money on the podium. Protesters were discouraged from tossing tea in the water, but a stream of citizens rushed to the stand and donated cash.

“People came forward with loads of cash. I had no idea this would happen,” said Jim Ostrowski of Free New York Blog. “I was flabbergasted. I didn’t know what to make of it.”

Citizens voiced a lot of gripes against Albany and the federal government. Some called for a revolution, some want to break New York City away from the state. The “three men a room” issue got people hot. Some were angry about illegal aliens. Lies, pork and more fees fired up the folks.

“We got to let people know what the hell is going on,” Jake Zimpher said of him emotional burst. “It’s got to start somewhere. It should have started a while ago. We lost it when we had this election. People didn’t know what the hell they were doing. Look what we got in New York, three men in a room!”

Lee Bordeleau, the Lockportian who put the billboard on Transit Road, noted the state Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, at the podium.

“It’s interesting,” Bordeleau said of Republicans. “They’re not in power anymore so they can come out and protest ... Now, they’re all against big spending. Where were they when they were in power? They were spending.”

“Niagara County is No. 1 again,” Bordeleau continued. “We have the highest taxes in the country and the highest unemployment (11.5 percent) in Western New York.”

Dee Fredrickson and Steve Monson of Rochester came to the party. “I think it’s important that we the people stand up to let these clowns in Albany and Washington, D.C. know where we are coming from,” Fredrickson said. “It’s up to us. Let’s have a revolution.”

Monson carried an Upstate United sign. “I don’t like the fact that upstate New York has almost no representation,” he said. “They’re talking about new fees. They’re just getting into our pockets for everything and driving away business.”

Steve Pasquale, a retired school teacher from Gowanda said, “I’m here to stand with other people to show New York state and the federal government that they’re getting absurd. They’re taking all the power away with us and leaving us with nothing. All they want is our money.”

Amy Parker of Lancaster said, “Let them (New York City) become annexed from the state. They’re sucking the money from us. Let them go on their own. We have to cut government. It’s time to cut back.”

“Power to the People!” Lancaster’s Debbie Lett said. “I can’t wait for someone to do it for me. I’m here. Who is going to save our state and our country.”

James Miller, a recent Buffalo State graduate who is looking for a job, carried a “Don’t Tread on Me” banner from the Culpepper Minutemen of the Revolutionary War.

“I want to let the government know I’m against this government spending and the unprecedented government debt that Obama is taking on,” the West Seneca native said. “They are spending money they don’t have and taking it from us.”

A speaker complained about the media and the “dumbing down” of America. Ostrowski called out lawyers to participate in the protest.

A Clarence resident who works in Lockport had some fun with attorneys and carried a Dewey, Cheatum and Howe ("Do we cheat 'em? And how!") sign made famous by the Three Stooges, Groucho Marx and Daffy Duck.

“That’s what the three men in the room are doing right now,” said Greg Thrun. “It’s how they cheat us out of our money, making their deals and making the budget.”

Organizer Russ Thompson of Grand Island was dressed as John Adams.

“It started as a little fun and grew legs of its own,” the Massachusetts native said. “You see the results of it today. There’s a bunch of fed-up taxpayers, and they got the right to be.”

Jean Kiene of Lockport said, “We have to stop what’s going on if we’re going to continue to survive. Look at the condition our state is in. Look at our taxes. Can you imagine someone wanting to tax pop! Haircuts! It’s unreal.”

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott

at 439-9222, ext. 6246.

[abb]

More links and updates downthread.

[abb]

ping

[abb]

http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1132746.cfm
Peeling the Orange

http://everymansoapbox.blogspot.com/2009/03/tax-revolt-thoughts.html
Tax Revolt Thoughts

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=307503
Hundreds Join In As Tea Party Tax Revolt Takes On Buffalo

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/Tea_party_tax_revolt_at_the_waterfront_20090328
Tea party tax revolt on
the waterfront

[Tarpon]

Thanks for posting ...

[briarbey b]

Gov.keeps trying to divide us... we are not WE THE PEOPLE...we are just Democrats and Republicans...wonder when WE THE PEOPLE will get it!!! Anything to keep eyes off the REAL thing!

“A house divided falls.”

[abb]

http://www.rightsidenews.com/200903294190/editorial/florida-gov-t-cancels-tea-party-fearing-too-many-attendees.html
Florida Gov’t Cancels Tea Party Fearing ‘Too Many Attendees’

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/622528.html
Exasperation over taxation

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-tea-party-politics-0329.artmar29,0,2154911.story
Tea Party Crowds Protest Federal Spending And Intervention

http://www.democratherald.com/articles/2009/03/29/news/opinion/1edi05_tea0329.txt
Letter: Invitation to a ‘tea party’ (March 29)

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/03/29/edi_516275.shtml
Take our country back
Augusta Tea Party planned for April 15 is a good place to start

http://www.annistonstar.com/opinion/2009/as-columns-0329-bdaviscol-9c27w1756.htm
Bob Davis: Think twice about tea parties — Look at these Alabama examples

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local/local_story_088004519.html
TAXES: Hundreds show up for ‘Tea Party’

http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/42067352.html
Local GOP Protests

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/29/pa-local-residents-joining-national-tax-protest/
Local Residents Joining National Tax Protest

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/03/29/ddn032909grassroots.html
Political activists continue partisan, nonpartisan efforts

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_12021082
Angry taxpayers protest Obama budget in Stamford

http://www.thehour.com/story/467163
Demonstrators hold ‘tea party’ over bailout

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

I lived in Tonowanda as a 5yr old!

Buffalo is a very hardworking town, lots of Catholics.

[3D-JOY]

Great reading this after-action report, the folks are getting “stirred up” everywhere aren’t they?

[stockpirate]

“Citizens voiced a lot of gripes against Albany and the federal government. Some called for a revolution”

That last sentance says it all. Everyone is saying revolution is the only action that will save the republic. If it is the road to take then it must happen before his national police force is in place.

“If this be treason, than let’s make the most of it.”

“A people unwilling to use extreme violent force to maintain their liberty deserves to tyrants that rule them” SP 2009

[WVNan]

You betcha! I see that Rus was mainly responsible for this one. Way to go Rus! Explain to us the “three men in a room”. I’m lost on that one.

[abb]

http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2009/03/sean-hannity-joins-tea-party-movement.html
Sean Hannity joins tea party movement

http://jconline.com/article/20090329/NEWS02/903290344/
Tax Day Tea Party organizers eager for April 15

http://lornakismet.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/spread-the-word-nationwide-tax-day-tea-party-april-15th/
Spread the Word: Nationwide Tax Day Tea Party April 15th

http://mnprager.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/mn-tea-party-april-15-5-8-pm-at-the-capitol-in-st-paul/
MN Tea Party - April 15, 5-8 PM, at the capitol in St. Paul

http://thebuffalobean.com/2009/03/28/buffalo-tea-party-mad-as-hell/
Buffalo Tea Party: Mad As Hell

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=6730804
Tea party comes to Houston

http://cristyli.blogspot.com/2009/03/buffalo-tea-party-angry-taxpayers.html
Buffalo Tea Party-—Angry Taxpayers Protest

http://www.speakupwny.com/article_3964.shtml
Russ Thompson’s speech highlights Buffalo tea Party

http://politicalclassdismissed.com/?p=5554
Buffalo Tea Party Huge Success

http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/xn/detail/2488056:Event:43681
BLUEGRASS TAX LIBERATION DAY

http://www.wvva.com/global/story.asp?s=10088601
“Tea Party” protest held in Beckley, West Virginia

http://nbjr.speakupwny.com/news-coverage-of-todays-tea-party/2009/03/28/
News Coverage of Today’s Tea Party

http://albanysinsanity.wnymedia.net/blogs/category/albanys-insanity/
Tea Party Highlights

http://wnymedia.net/blogs/2009/03/video-buffalo-tea-party/
Video: Buffalo Tea Party

[abb]

http://mereconservativity.blogspot.com/2009/03/decatur-alabama-tea-party.html
Decatur Alabama Tea Party

http://www.conservatives4palin.com/2009/03/ap-blacks-out-tea-parties-but-reports-7.html
AP Blacks Out Tea Parties - But Reports 7-Person Anti-Palin Protest

http://nsv-teaparty.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-is-tea-party-effort-all-about.html
Northern Shenandoah Valley Tea Party

http://facefwd.com/?p=284
How to Organize a Tax Tea Party

http://buffalopundit.wnymedia.net/blogs/archives/8476
My Post-Tea Party Interview with Rus Thompson

http://buffalopundit.wnymedia.net/blogs/archives/8465
Rus Thompson’s Buffalo Tea Party

http://restlesspatriot.blogspot.com/2009/03/got-tea-lets-go.html
Got Tea? Let’s Go!

http://ameriborn.com/?p=1722
Stamford Tea Party (Dump Dodd 2010) March 28, 2009

[penelopesire]

Thanks for the ping! This is giving so many of us REAL HOPE!!

[The Mayor]

I have to upload all the pics from yesterday. Great turnout for Buffalo.

[abb]

You done good! I’m proud to call you a fellow FReeper.

[The Mayor]

Here's me dressed up like John Adams my cousin.

[HighlyOpinionated]

"Ironically, the Tea Act had nothing to do with the American colonies but everything to do with rescuing the East India Company from bankruptcy: the result of the legislation was the loss of the American colonies." Marjie Bloy Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow, National University of Singapore

[abb]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2217411/posts
Tea Party Crowds Protest Federal Spending And Intervention: STAMFORD CT

[abb]

http://www.dakotavoice.com/2009/03/tea-party-in-buffalo-new-york-yesterday/
Tea Party in Buffalo New York Yesterday

http://thenewbostonteaparty.com/2009/03/29/tea-party-in-stamford-connecticut-saturday-march-28-2009.aspx?ref=rss
TEA PARTY IN STAMFORD CONNECTICUT, SATURDAY MARCH 28, 2009

http://www.newsherald.com/news/protests_72999___article.html/city_tea.html
Tea Party protests Obama’s policies

http://reasonbellpundit.blogspot.com/2009/03/teaparty-movement-in-indiana.html
teaparty movement in Indiana

[abb]

http://www.crystalclearconservative.com/2009/03/29/the-tea-party-has-gone-global/
The Tea Party has gone Global

http://tucsonteaparty.blogspot.com/2009/03/press-is-starting-to-notice.html
The Press is Starting to Notice. . .

http://amykane.typepad.com/northhampton/2009/03/tea-party-in-newburyport.html
Tea Party in Newburyport