Capitol crowds are smaller but outrage still high at Tea Party II(Sacramento Bee alert)

Sacramento Bee ^ | 8/29/2009 | Jack Chang

[GVnana]

Memories of April's massive Tea Party protests returned Friday as thousands gathered on the west side of the Capitol for what organizers billed as a sequel.

While Friday's protest didn't match the first one's crowd numbers – the California Highway Patrol said the crowd ranged from 1,500 to 4,000 – the level of outrage and volume was high.

Salvador Trejo, of Riverdale, stands by a tractor that was driven to a Tea Party rally on Friday, August 28, 2009. Trejo said he was at the Capitol supporting his friends as they protested the lack of water in the Central Valley. Hector Amezcua | hamezcua@sacbee.com

Organizers had called the rally an uprising against runaway environmentalism and, in particular, water policies that California farmers say have killed their crops.

But that focused stream soon became a rushing torrent of conservative causes as speakers railed against everything from health care reform to government education policies.

Scott Morrison, of Pioneer, holds a banner as he takes a drink of water on Friday August 28, 2009 near the West steps of the Capitol as he joined a large group for a Tea Party rally focused on water and environmental policy. Hector Amezcua | hamezcua@sacbee.com

[His sign reads, "Bear Bones"]

[GVnana]

While environmentalists didn't stage a counterprotest, they camped out in a fourth-floor office near the Capitol to tell their side of the story to reporters. The rally occurred without any major incidents, police said.

Kathryn Phillips, director of the Environmental Defense Fund's state transportation and air initiative, said three years of drought played a big part in agriculture's woes, although environmental protections had some impact as well.

Phillips called on all sides to stop shouting slogans and work together to craft a sustainable water plan that would preserve the environment and help farmers.

"Solve the problem," Phillips said. "Standing on the steps of the Capitol saying climate change doesn't exist is just whining."

Easy to spout prepared talking points from a 4th floor office. These arrogant self-serving creeps need to go.

BTW the Sacramento Bee, aka Sac Bee, or "suck bee," is a reliably Democrat and labor union mouthpiece.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Kathryn Phillips, director of the Environmental Defense Fund’s state transportation and air initiative, said three years of drought played a big part in agriculture’s woes, although environmental protections had some impact as well.”

Is she ok with Sacramento and Stockton pouring sewage into the Delta?

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

So instead of “Thousands Attend Protest” it’s “Fewer People Attend This Protest Than The One We Ignored A Few Months Ago”

[M Kehoe]

BTW the Sacramento Bee, aka Sac Bee, or "suck bee," is a reliably Democrat and labor union mouthpiece.

You should check out the editorial pages of the Sac. and Chico News and Review. That will raise your blood pressure.

5.56mm

[DHSMostWanted]

We held a healthcare rally last Saturday in Omaha that had a smaller crowd. Their passion of the people was still strong

[CottShop]

The justified outrage will not hold until the next elections- whiel there will still be small protests, the majority of people will simply get tired of being ignored, intimdated, and insulted by the administration, and iwll move on and submit to further reductions of our liberties- the administration is counting on disinterest, and on people’s outrage waning i nthe coming months

[Guenevere]

well aren’t you a bit of sunshine :^

[GVnana]

The enemy is counting on that.

[Bhoy]

More pictures:

http://doctorbulldog.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/exclusive-photos-of-the-tea-party-express-kickoff-in-sacramento-california/

[GVnana]

Saw this at the rally. Loved it.

[CitizenM]

Perfect! Glad you caught that. I am sending it around.