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Archive for the tea parties Category

Tax day tea party draws thousands - demand accountability


Tax day tea parties brewed across the country with hundreds of thousands taking a stand against many social ills like health care reform, Cap and Tax, 2nd Amendment infringements and looming tax increases.

The 2nd annual Oceanside rally saw thousands shout, share personal signs and support the tea party movement in San Diego, but what most didn’t know in Oceanside was more turned out for this rally than to catch a glimpse of the first lady, Michelle Obama who was also in San Diego on tax day.

The patriotic crowd started the rally with the pledge of allegiance and singing the national anthem. Many attendees were either currently in the military or retired members who took time to listen and learn about state and local leaders running for public office.

Local heavyweight, Sandy Lehmkuhler of the Warrior Foundation brought fellow wounded veterans to the rally and announced their organization had raised more than $6 million to assist returning injured warriors. “Welcome, Home of the free and land of the amazing,” she began.

“I love our military town. It’s an honor to be a part of Wounded Warriors. We are able to fly both parents to San Diego to see their child when he/she returns injured. Our organization gives palm pilots and other devices to assist with their rehabilitation process.” The crowd greeted Lehmkuhler’s message with loud applause and support. Keep reading

Tea Parties mark their one-year anniversary - rain or shine


One year ago today, concerned citizens throughout America began the arduous task of organizing a movement. The movement would grow like wildfire and be known as the Tea Party. The leaderless grassroots group would focus on big-government spending and infringement of laws threatening American liberty and freedom.

Tea Party members say this will be the first battle of the Second American Revolution. Across America the calls were heard and citizens formed a vast patriot social network. By April, the Tea Party movement included millions of Americans, and on April 15th, 850 tea parties across the nation hosted 1.2 million patriots voicing their defiance of an out-of-control government.

“To date in California we have 173 different Tea Party groups and we are home to the largest coalition in the country – we are even bigger than Texas,” said Dawn Wildman co-founder of the Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition in San Diego. “It’s great to see the rain or the last minute parking charge (formally a free lot on the weekends) didn’t keep the 1,000 Tea Party supporters from our first anniversary.”

The parking charge didn’t sit well with the Tea Party organizers and after the event it was back to work doing what the citizen activists do best – hit the phones. Keep reading

Tea party movement fights political push back from Clinton machine


Tea Party organizers have found their voice, grown exponentially and have exerted their political will into both parties. Many of these grassroots organizations are now celebrating their first anniversary, but one thing is certain, they won’t rest until Washington politics is restored to its roots and begins to live within its means.
According Dylan Ratigan at MSNBC the Tea Party movement has “no coach, no game plan, and did we mention, the tea party has a bit of an integrity problem, as everybody from birthers, to open racists, to outright Nazis are actually on the team. And no one involved, including its leadership, seems to mind the fact.”
Ask the millions of everyday Americans who attended political rallies for the first time in their lives about main stream media view of their cause and you get something along the lines of “sticks and stones.”
While the mainstream media continues to mock the grassroots movement, the Tea Party folks look at the swelling ranks assuring their value in the political process.
“There are two things I have discovered during the course of the past year regarding the media. First, San Diego is blessed to have very engaged and fair-minded local news organizations. Second, in terms of national coverage, Tea Party participants rely mainly on the internet, Facebook, and Twitter and we really don’t expect much out of the beltway/New York media organizations,” says Leslie Eastman founder of the Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition. Keep reading

Whole Foods boycott turns into a buy-cott in California

Looking to capitalize on the recent health care publicity, the Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition group stormed their local Whole Foods market and bought plenty of food.

After liberal Democrats went after Whole Foods CEO, John Mackey for his op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal, questioning the Obama Administration’s rather large health care bill, tea party groups across the country responded with a buy-cott.

Whole Foods is an environmentally-aware company where management as well as employees most likely voted for the President in overwhelming numbers; It recently became an unlikely target of the left.

This action spurred many groups across the nation to point out that this legislation affects every American and should be pared down.

“In the spirit of Flaming Capitalism, our group did this event to support Mackey and the long-term success of Whole Foods as an engine for job creation and free markets,” said Leslie Eastman of the Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition.

More than 100 new shoppers were introduced to Whole Foods, Eastman says.

Once all the receipts are tallied, Eastman will be writing a letter to Whole Foods demonstrating the power of capitalism and counter-protests.

“Hopefully, Whole Foods management learns a lesson and figures out that other corporations have also been unfairly deemed ‘evil profiteers’ (e.g. there were tree mugger t-shirts for sale insulting loggers) then perhaps they might expand their customer base,” Eastman explains.

For more stories; www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner

From California to D.C. by Dawn Wildman

Well I have returned from an exciting time in our Nations Capitol. On Saturday September 12, 2009 myself, my husband Geoff and my father Patrick, Sarah and her sister Ruth joined over one million other patriots in a march to the Capitol Steps in Washington D.C. This was an honor for me that I will always remember and I would like to share a few  my experiences with all of you. After driving up from North Carolina, where we picked up my father and step mother, we arrived in Washington the day before the March.  I was excited and a bit ambivalent, after all this could either be a huge event or an enormous disappointment. When we arrived at Freedom Plaza 8:30 on Saturday morning it was already packed at the Plaza. I could not tell how big the Plaza actually was because there were too many people in it, around it, over it, everywhere. Geoff put together our flag pole and lifted up our California flag which we used as a marker for other Californians to see and find us, and as a way to express our inclusion as a state that is full of patriots. No sooner did our flag get raised when other people from around

California found us, some we knew, some became new friends. We all gasped at the growing size of the crowd.    We were supposed to begin our March at 11:00 am and instead started one hour sooner due to the crowd size. The police wanted to move the crowd off the streets as we were now spilling out into the side streets. So we began to move down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol. People were cheering and shouting various slogans and enjoying this monumental occasion. As we moved along on the street someone shouted out, “Hey are you from California?” when we replied YES they started to cheer. Then they chanted “

CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA!” They couldn’t believe we came all that way to show our support and to be part of this auspicious day. Their exuberance for our flag and us was quite a surprise and left me with a warm feeling towards all of these strangers who were in fact friends in the fight for liberty.
 
We got to the Steps where the event had already begun and saw the crowd starting to fill in all the open areas. It was astonishing how quickly the people moved into the designated areas with ease and order. We were situated on the left side of the stage area and there we planted our flag and listened to the speakers. It was a wonderful array of speakers such as our own Ben Bergquom from the Central Valley speaking about the water issue. And Daun Devore from Palm Springs spoke about the Constitution and the place it continues to hold in this great land of ours. San Diego’s own Mason Weaver was also a speaker and moved the crowd with his usual zeal. 

As we looked down the Mall from our vantage point we could see nothing but people and signs. After leaving we walked around to see the crowd and noticed that the attendees were stationed all the way down the Mall and around the Reflecting Pool and back up to the Washington Monument. It was incredible! It was announced during the event that the National Park Service said that there were over 1.5 million people in attendance and that we had shut down the City to all traffic getting to the City. Now that is amazing! What a glorious day and one hell of an achievement. It was a record breaking crowd size for any event ever held in D.C. according to the National Park Service. 

Saturday night we took a tour of D.C. and went to the Lincoln Monument. It is far more stunning than any pictures and far more serene even with many people there. There is an essence of true grace and dignity in a monument to a National leader who gave his life for this country, in the pursuit of making it better. All the ideas you have about these National treasures go out the window when you are standing in front of them especially in the time we currently find ourselves. I had the feeling of understanding for all of those leaders and patriots who came before us, those that risked all including their lives to save the country from tyranny. I understood this in a way I never expected to and I appreciate that above all else. This is the reason we all do what we do, to save our country and ensure their sacrifices were not in vain.  

We strolled along the Viet Nam Memorial and ended up at the memorial for the women in the services, which was amazing, and found a young couple there looking intently at the enormous bronze. The young woman began to talk to us about what a great day this was for her and her husband. She explained that they lived in Ohio and had driven to DC for the march and that she took part in every Tea Party she could in her town. When she met an older lady at a garage sale they got to talking about the tea parties and the older woman  said she wanted to go but no longer drove and had no way to get to them. The young mother exchanged phone numbers and information with this lady and told her she would pick her up and take her to the next tea party. While they spoke they both shared their excitement about the DC event and how sorry they were about not being able to be present but that they would try to catch footage of it on television. The young woman said she couldn’t go because she and her husband couldn’t afford the gas to get there on top of lodging but that they were still excited for all of those going. Evidently, a few days later there was an anonymous letter in the mail with some money and a note that said they needed to go and participate in this historical event and off they went. The young woman suspects her anonymous benefactor was the older lady from the garage sale. 

I must say this story made me cry. This is also the reason I do what I do because behind every person involved is a story with this same serendipity and emotion. For every person that comes to a Tea Party or helps with calling representatives there is story about lives that are affected every day by decisions made in Washington and behind each story is consequences that are all too often left unexamined. The people who organize and attend Tea Parties love this country and their fellow patriots and want nothing more than to see us all and The United States of America succeeds.  So I would say I got more out of my two days in Washington than I ever expected. I have a renewed sense of purpose and energy and every time I feel let down or tired or like giving up I know that this experience will be the thing that sustains me. The absolute historical nature of that day has changed my life forever and I hope yours, whether or not you were in DC. We represented all of us, near and far, all Americans, and we carried your spirit with us down Pennsylvania Avenue and up those steps! 

On a side note, when we returned, Sarah found out that the Smithsonian asked for a t-shirt (which Sarah designed) from the event and bumper stickers to use in a display in the future. Pretty cool huh? I couldn’t be more proud and overjoyed for Sarah and San Diego, we represented very well that day!

DeVore has his eye on Ma’am Boxer’s Senate seat


Looking ahead to the 2010 election, Chuck DeVore hopes a Reagan-style landslide is in his future. This five-year veteran in the California State Assembly sees this upcoming election as a way to change the future.

Speaking before a tea party crowd in El Cajon, seasoned-politician DeVore took a few jabs at the sitting Senator, Boxer, as well as the ACORN scandal.

“There are two reasons why I am running against Ma’am Boxer; because we so badly need to beat her,” the crowd erupts with applause.” And number two, I know we can do it in 2010,” DeVore enthusiastically said.

Talking about the deficit and out-of-control spending in Washington D.C., DeVore says you and the person to your right and left are paying taxes, “this isn’t an ACORN rally.”

Since he began his quest to replace Boxer a few months back, this Conservative Republican has made more than 130 public appearances garnering support from San Francisco to San Diego.

After an El Cajon tea party event, DeVore took some time to answer questions about what he will do if elected Senator.

Q. Recently two San Diego town hall meetings were the center of controversy when Sheriff Gore placed military Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) at events discussing health care. What’s your reaction?

A. I don’t feel comfortable with that at all. It’s a right to meet with elected officials and you don’t want a free people who want to assemble to feel intimidated. If I was California’s Senator, I’d immediately ask the Sheriff why they (LRAD) were placed at the event and why I wasn’t informed before my town hall if there was a credible threat. I’m not afraid of my constituents. Keep reading

Its official, Mason Wever will run for Congress with grass roots support


After a whirlwind tour that started in Sacramento and ended in Washington D.C., Mason Weaver, a self -professed conservative, will launch a grassroots campaign against Susan Davis-D Calif. The journey to decision making took Weaver to eight tea party rallies across the country.

“Americans are screaming that they want representation. I’ve decided to give it to them,” Weaver says.

Weaver who is known for saying “I’m black, no hyphen required,” says all the paper work will be filed next week.

“I’ve been encouraged from a broad spectrum of leaders, spiritual, economical, grass roots and most importantly my family and friends to represent the people in California in 2010,” he says.

This normally shy guy says God took a shy person who stuttered and made him into a public speaker and now a possible Congressman.

After meeting with former Majority Leader for the Republicans, Dick Armey, who leads Freedom Works, Weaver decided he was tired of “seeing the hollow look in voters eyes who reside in his 53rd district.” Keep reading

Surprise, main stream media dropped the ball on tea parties, again


 Yesterday more than a million Democrat, Republican and Independent American citizens gathered in Washington D.C. The protesters were standing up for the country’s drastic change to big government in a time of deep recession.

It amazed me that reading coverage about the thousands of events that took place across the country and the big enchilada in D.C.; no one would have learned that there was anybody other than the conservative right in attendance.

Try telling that to the lifetime Democrats, who are seniors, who say they are literally fighting for their lives. Try telling the young adults who are politically active for the first time in their life and realize the numbers don’t stack up.

It’s funny how the main stream media, and by that I include ABC, CBS, NBC and all the big city newspapers, will report on a handful of Code Pink protesters sitting at former President Bush’s house, but fail to recognize the million plus of ordinary working-class citizens spending their vacation money to donate to candidates or attend rallies. Keep reading

Nightingale discusses California’s future at rally in Oceanside


The latest entry into the gubernatorial race in California, Chelene Nightingale opens up after a Stop Taxing Us rally, where she and Congressman Darrell Issa-R Calif. spoke to a crowd of 3,000. If the short speech meant anything, Nightingale was warmly received.

Nightingale started the year out unsure what the future would hold, little did she know that a run for California’s highest office was in the works. Ever so candid, Nightingale has embraced her political career and looks forward to the long hours ahead of her as the race for Sacramento pushes forward.

“Overwhelmingly positive,” is how Nightingale explains her governor’s bid. “A majority of us are waking up to the fact that our two-party system is failing us and thus are seeking alternatives.”

This mother of one is running on the Constitution Party ticket, and points out that she “is not a career politician.”

Taking the helm of a top 10 economy like California lends itself to daunting decision making. For this enormous task, Nightingale will seek assistance from many in order to find solutions for  Keep reading

Poem lady shares words with Oceanside Tea Party


As summer winds down and the lawmakers begin to make their way back to Washington D.C. for the fall, Terri Lannell, the poem lady, had a few parting words…
I Learned

I learned in a small neighborhood of 20 homes, 11 families stood up and asked the city to fight crime. For the next 4 days our little protests were aired on national TV and the crime we protested was erased… from the whole city for months and our neighborhood for years.

I learned when the people stand up, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as regular people, our elected officials listen.

I learned six percent of the people not paying their mortgage can collapse the whole banking system.

I learned the dirty game of politics. If you can’t beat them, join them, then divide and conquer them. That’s why the politicians, along with the media, are creating a divide. The conservatives are announcing tea parties on their websites, while the Democrats are saying tea parties are un-American. Politicians are shaking in their boots at the number of regular people rising up. Keep reading