Posted on 04/15/2010 6:51:32 PM PDT by SandRat
In the shadow of government buildings in downtown Tucson, about 2,000 people gathered today for the Tea Party event.
Many carried flags and balloons at the packed plaza in Presidio Park. Several posters are aimed at Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
One depicted Donald Trump telling Giffords she's fired.
Andrew McMurrich, 43, a former police officer, carried a sign that read: "Stop wasteful spending"
"We understand that taxes are necessary to support a government," McMurrich said. "But - especially at the local level - there are a lot of funds that have been misappropriated."
He said the city puts too much emphasis on arts and parks versus law enforcement.
Frank Evans, 74, a retired Marine, carried a sign with a teapot that read: "Revolution is brewing" referring, he said, to a voter revolution that "must start in the White House"
The president, he said, "is not a friend of America. He is always apologizing when a president should be a cheerleader for his nation. Instead he is belittling this country and bankrupting it. You can't spend yourself rich."
Find more coverage in tomorrow's Star.
A woman who refused to give her name holds a sign as a large group gathers.
A large crowd turns out to show support during the four-hour rally.
I went to the Party in downtown Tampa. It was great and we packed the Park. I really wish there was a Free Republic Flag I could of had. is there a Free Republic Flag?
A Spring party in the courthouse park...how nice
and
Arizona tea party groups protest gov’t intrusion
StoryCommentsPosted: Thursday, April 15, 2010 4:13 pm | Comments
Font Size:Default font sizeLarger font sizeTea party groups planned rallies across Arizona on Thursday to protest what they see as the federal government trampling on the rights of states and citizens.
Most the events are planned for Thursday evening, including a big rally organized by Americans for Prosperity at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
The Tempe event boasts speakers prominent in the tea party movement, including former Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado and GOP state Sen. Russell Pearce of Mesa.
About 2,000 people showed up for an afternoon rally in Tucson. Events also were planned in Bullhead City, Green Valley, Prescott, Show Low and Yuma.
Tea party activists say they’re opposed to recent federal health care legislation and government support for banks and automobile manufacturers.
NOVEMBER is coming!
We went to the Sacramento gathering. I would guess between 5-10,000 people were there. One nut case jumped on the stage and started yelling something. Didn’t take them long to take the guy down and the police hauled him off.
Something to look forward to. When does early voting start. It can’t be soon enough. Meanwhile back at MSNBC they are embarking on a project to openly espouse Socialism and try to sell it. The Commies are going to come out of the closet.
Oh my, look at these dangerous hooligans. I’ll probably have nightmares.
This can NOT be "MEET, EAT and RETREAT". We need to expand this DYNAMIC national movement into electoral and community organizing across the land, and not just meet once in awhile, complain amongst ourselves or just on talk radio shows as callers, shows some signs, sing some country music type songs and then leave. Something static and ongoing in IN YOUR FACE (toward the liberals in this land at all levels of power) needs to be established locally in each community under local leaders... I do believe this is the next step of the Tea Party and the National Tea Party recently seemed to be a step in that direction. It is actually rather easy to run for and win school board for example, and then you just use it as a stepping stone go go upward (of course doing a good job as school board member in the process). But it is an "in" for us. We have not been organized in this sense. Great job but much more to do!
Apparently, somebody decided the after-party was to be held at the In-N-Out at El Con Mall - I went there for lunch and there were about 20+ Tea Partiers, many still carrying signs, chowing down in the patio area.
Of course, then there will be
SPEAKER LINE UP:
Jon Justice — Local Talk Radio Host
James T Harris — Talk Radio Host
Stephen Kruiser — Comedian / PJTV Personality
Stephen Green– Vodka Pundit/ PJTV Personality
Starlee Rhoades — Goldwater Institute
Dr Lee Vliet — Arizonans for Health Care Freedom
Eric Ruden — Tucson First Coalition
Tanner Bell — Arizona Policy Institute
Dr Dave Mason– Radio Personality
Stephen Kruiser, a native Tucsonan did a fine and funny job as co-emcee. He partnered with James T. Harris, of Wisconsin, soon to be a weekend radio host here, reminding us of our shared Christian values. Dr. Lee Vlet revealed in the Healthcare Law would ask insidious medical questions about gun ownership. Tanner Bell works to keep the brain drain from the U of A. And another speaker and his organization sue the government when they do not fulfill their word. And their were audio clips of previous tea party events from Tammy Bruce and Judge Andrew Napolitano.
Thanks to Trent Humphries and his band of four, for their solid leadership. Because of them, we've had lots of protests against Rep. Gabby Giffords and all the issues of our malevolent congress, entertaining and inspirational events, like the one last night, with the Harris and the Stephens from PJTV.
Tucson is grateful to them and to all my fellow citizens who are bold in their repudiation of tyranny.
PING
LOL, I like the woman who didn’t want to give the Red Star her name!
It would be nice to see FR's logo made up on a flag. This is a quick grab of the one that's on the home page.
One speaker spoke about how the entrenched Chamber of Commerce has been slacking off compared to other comparable cities like Salt Lake and Albuquerque. They were there on the ground inviting us to ask their sign holders how they will work to make Tucson more business friendly.
Another speaker warned us about the new 1% sales tax increase proposed; how historically a temporary one became permanent, and how the waste and abuse were of those funds, only magnified our current problems. This guy's comments turned my husband ( the libertarian) opinion around, because previously he (my husband) was willing to fork over more out of the family coffers to help our state out of the hole. My argument would be that it would like be giving a crack addict another pass of the pipe.
Like the new rallying cry, repeal and replace, tea parties like ours can offer alternative solutions to other already inclined for improvement.
There was another one at El Charro right down the street; aobut 60 of us were there, along with some CD8 and other candidates.
It was great to see you.
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