Posted on 07/03/2009 6:47:01 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Atlanta - Concerned about taxes, bailouts, government "pork," and rising deficits, thousands of Americans will spill out in cities from Atlanta to San Francisco this weekend, as part of a "Tea Party" movement that began earlier this year in protest of the economic stimulus bill.
The July 4 event will be the second major Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party protest, following an April 15 event that drew as many as half a million people to over 800 separate protests across the country. This weekend's protests – sure to feature Colonial garb, witty signs ("Don't tax me, bro!"), and references to the Declaration of Independence – come amid rising concerns among Americans that the $787 billion stimulus package isn't doing much to restore the economy.
The movement has been panned by liberals and praised by conservatives. Libertarian blogger and law professor Glenn Reynolds says the protests represent "an energy that our politics hasn't seen lately."
The holiday weekend and the absence of Republican stars may reduce the size of the protests this time around. But the movement faces a bigger challenge – knitting a viable political coalition out of a geographically and ideologically dispersed community.
When did Tea Parties start?
The movement did not begin, as is often thought, with MSNBC reporter Rick Santelli's famous on-air rant against government bailouts at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Feb. 19, but several weeks earlier, when blogger Keli Carender organized a small protest against the stimulus bill in Seattle and homeschooling mom Amanda Grosserode organized a similar one in Overland Park, Kan. The cause was subsequently taken up by conservative bloggers such as Michelle Malkin.
The protests gained nationwide attention when Fox cable news network heavily covered the April 15 events.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
In fact, we are attending two of the Tea Parties in the area, along with kicking off the campaign for our Conservative/Republican candidate who will be running against the Democrat in this district.
The wife and I just got back from the Cobb County Georgia tea party.. Herman Cain (local radio personality on WSB) did his show live from there. Somewhere between 4000-7000 folks there..need to find out the actual attendance, but it looked pretty well packed.
I just attended a Tea Party this evening in my small town in western PA. About two hundred people gathered in front of the county courthouse and along the street out in front. Drivers who passed by honked their horns in support. What really got applause were line mocking Obama’s bow to the Saudi king and slams against government spending. People are really angry. They despise Obama.
I am in Italy but you guys have a great time and good luck. Knock em dead. Should Palin’s name for me...Something like Palin 2012!!!!!
Holy cow! 4-7 thousand people for a little chinsey town. That is incredible. Can you imagine how awesome a turn out the cities will be. This is great news!!!!
What a co-inky dink! I was at a Tea Party at a courthouse in Western Pa too! Did a guy in a colonial outfit emcee yours too? ;-)
I attended a Tea Party in Scranton, PA on April 15th. A Homeland Security truck drove by LOL.
“Low level Terrorism” Ping!
At best this is a chance to make connections with others.
We had 12,000 at a water rally here in Fresno a couple of days ago.
Asheville NC - July 4, City/County Plaza, 3 to 5 PM
Older guys? Are you kidding? We had younger folks at ours - including my two nieces - 15 and 16 - who are learning what all of this is really all about. Sure there was ‘a lot of older guys’. There was all ages!
These Tea Parties are educating young folks who haven’t been paying attention. At our Tea Party today, they got an education in American History. We had a conservative history teacher speaking. The Bill of Rights was read. They saw the finest traditions of America demonstrated; The right to gather and protest. They also learned that our elected officials are there to serve the people, not the other way around.
Most of all, these Tea parties show that we, as individuals, are not alone. It’s the most invigorating and encouraging thing in the world to know that our numbers are much greater than the MSM is letting on. I can’t tell you how good it felt to hear my fellow Americans saying “VOTE THEM OUT!” over and over again in one voice. (Part of our town is in John Murtha’s district, and Arlen Specter is one of our senators).
A “Million Rifleman” (and women) march on D.C. would surely get their attention, but they’d declare martial law before it could even get organized.
What are you talking about? Did you attend one? Try going to one or even looking at the pictures before you talk about something you know NOTHING about. All sorts of people attend.
The Tea Parties have numerous benefits. It galvanizes people who feel things have gone too far. It lets people know that they are not alone in their concerns.
It acts to make others think. And for others, it provides education on the basic idea of our Republic and the posture of the citizen.
Namely that government needs to fear the citizens. And when was that last the case?
Last, it strikes abject fear and anger in leftists and liberals alike. The idea that this took has been taken from them by average people makes them ill.
Their rage is symbolic of the frothing at the mouth by the likes of Jeanne Garagargoyle.
Yep, I like that a lot! lol! We had ONE counter-protester at our Tea Party today who claimed that Obama saved his parents from losing their home. Their mortgage was taken care of for them. He was "all aglow for the 'O'". He got loud a few times. I've got to give him credit though. Even the lefties know they're safer with the conservatives than the looney left! It was a peaceful, patriotic Tea Party. Everybody clapped and cheered when the emcee pointed out that even HE had the right to free speech!
My brother and I will be at the one in Louisville, KY tomorrow. There will be ones in Frankfort and Lexington also.
We need overwhelming numbers.
We MUST have a million people in DC. Anyone that is not already committed better get committed....NOW.
Sufficient numbers will intimidate congress. We need to be civilized of course, but it is time for them to start seeing more belligerence in our attitudes. They have to start wondering about what we may be capable of doing. A little fear of the unknown.
You're too cynical my friend. I attended in blue state Hartford, Ct with my 25 year old daughter, and 31 year old son. Both are black conservatives. By far the most prevalent group in attendance were white females 35-50 years old. there were more than 3000 people in attendance....lots of families.Conservative Americans have never taken to the streets before. It will grow, raise consciousness and have more impact than you realize. Make sure you get out there tomorrow.
Ya betcha... I’ll be there along with the spouse ...I just wish it would be less than 100 degrees outside. Oh well, that’s just the part of living in the San Joaquin Valley in the summertime.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.