Tea Party activists continue quest to change America

STLToday (St. Louis Post Dispatch) ^ | September 25, 2012 | Brian Flinchpaugh

[Da Bilge Troll]

For a group of Tea Party activists, their mission to change the direction of the United States continues every Saturday at highways K and N in O'Fallon.

Since 2009, members of the K&N Patriots have waved signs from 10 a.m to noon at the busy intersection, usually along the east side of Highway K.

The often hand-made signs usually touch on familiar conservative themes — repeal "Obamacare" and President Barack Obama, restore liberty, protect the right to bear arms, cut government spending and remember veterans. The signs were much the same on Sept. 15 — "Repeal Obama,” “Stop Spending” and “Dissent is Patriotic.”

Sandy Garber, president of the group, said its core principals are smaller government, fiscal accountability and responsibility and strong defense.

“That's what the Tea Party stands for,” Garber said. “If I see it written any other way, I'll be livid. We're very used to biased and opinionated lame-stream media, so we don't need that.”

Participants weren't as numerous that day as they were a few years ago during the beginning of the Tea Party movement.

Fifteen to 20 group members began to show up on Saturday mornings in July 2009 with founder Janet Allquist, according to the K&N web page. The numbers increased to 150 to 200 people.

Participants say some activists have moved on to supporting candidates for public office or issues on the ballot.

“They're not sitting on the couch; they have gone into other areas like myself. I'm actually on the Wentzville school board," said Garber, who was elected to a six-year term last April.

Claudine Nielson of Wildwood held a sign that read “Obama Must Go.” She said the Tea Party is still active. “We may not see as many people on the street corners, but it's still out there.”

[Da Bilge Troll]

Only one small question, Which O’fallon.

Yup, O'Fallon MO. Southern Illinois isn't all as "blue" as the northern part of the state, so it might be possible to take a similar picture there.

[A Navy Vet]

I am sick and tired of how the MSM/Liberal politicos say Patriots want to "Change America", as in revert to some bad days of yesteryear. The TEA Party and conservatives in general want to restore America to what once worked and gave everyone opportunity.

It was the USA that changed the world for the better when other nations followed our early example.

RESTORE AMERICA!
It should be a Romney/Ryan theme.