As many of you know…we get mail… LOT’s of mail. And many of these e-mails ask “what is going on with the coalition?”
Which is a VERY good question. And a question that is difficult to address because there really is no organized answer.
While many on the left tried their best to dissect this movement, they failed on all fronts because they just don’t get it. And to be quite honest, we don’t fully understand it either. Some will try and claim the fame for putting the Tax Day Tea Party effort together, but in my opinion that’s a dishonest claim and one that should be shunned (trying to start an “official” head of the movement, for example).
The reality is that over 800 local organizers are the rock stars in the Tea Party Movement. Every single one of us local organizers are the people responsible for the success of the April 15th events, and WE should each be stepping up to the plate to launch new efforts, new coalitions, new local taxpayer groups, etc.
It is We the People who should be, as a collaborative effort, driving this movement. Not an individual, not an official organization, and certainly not a well funded special interest group.
Figuring out how all of this is going to work long term is something that will require a bit more time. It’s something we’re all working on, and it’s something that hopefully, through mass collaboration, we’ll be able to get a grip on sooner rather than later.
But in the short term, I wanted to take the opportunity to point you all to what I believe is the best “web presence” available to help continue the “protest” part of the Tea Party Movement.
Tea Party Patriots
If you were an organizer for the first round of nationwide protests, then you know Amy Kremer. Amy stepped up to the plate in a HUGE way and personally worked with all 800 or so organizers. She worked night and day to make sure that everyone knew what was going on, and she did a fantastic job of holding everything together.
Mark Meckler served as State Coordinator for California, which had a TON of Tea Parties on Tax Day and required an enormous amount of time and energy to coordinate and maintain.
And then there is Jenny Beth Martin… who played a significant role in the Atlanta Tea Party, as well as the national organization that happened via TaxDayTeaParty.com.
In my opinion, these three make up a fantastic team to go forward in developing a new web presence for the Tea Party Movement to coordinate and collaborate moving forward. TaxDayTeaParty.com has a few plans in the making for various action items to unroll over the next few weeks and months, but we won’t be using this site to promote a nationwide protest until tax day of 2010, so there needs to be a place to shift the momentum to until next year.
I believe Tea Party Patriots is the place for this to happen. Tea Party Patriots is being organized by a selfless group of grassroots minded individuals who have been a part of this since day one, and I think they are the best equipped to provide a collaborative environment for what we built here at TaxDayTeaParty.com to continue on throughout the year.
So, if you’re asking “who do I join up with for July 4th and beyond in 2009?”, Tea Party Patriots should be your answer.
Outside of the actual protests and rallies, you’ll want to keep an eye on us here at TaxDayTeaParty.com. We’ve got some really cool stuff in the works and we look forward to joining you in the fight against out-of-control government.
-Eric Odom
just wanted to correct my error withg my name.
I would like to volunteer for things you would like me to do. My phone number is 321-537-0918
321-725-2293
I attended the Morristown NJ Tea Party on The Green.
This was my feedback to that group, which you may find interesting or useful or both !
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Greetings fellow Patriots,
First off, thank you for attending the Morristown Tea Party and clearly demonstrating that the concerns and righteous anger you feel regarding the decisions made in Washington, that are compromising the America of our Founding Documents, are held by the highest quality of patriotic law-abiding down-to-earth Americans.
Since that day, I have followed the news coverage of the events held around our nation and pondered next steps.
For me, two come to mind.
It is imperative that we need to encourage each other and our neighbors to join our band and effect “real change”, that is, a restoration of our core American Values. To that end, I will be flying the Betsy Ross flag (13 stars in a circle) to demonstrate support for our traditional values as written and signed in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Additionally, inspired by those flying the Gadsden Flag on The Green, I searched and found a wonderful bumper sticker that includes both Gadsden and Culpeper elements (inclusion of the “Liberty or Death” rallying cry). I’ve ordered it in bulk, to display myself and for friends and neighbors who ask where they can get one ! Check it out at : http://www.zazzle.com/don_t_tread_on_me_bumper_sticker-128076614598969212
I have an additional concern which is a “Call to Action”. From my reading online (not the mainstream media), I have learned that it is uncertain whether Mr. Obama actually meets the clear qualifications for President of the United States as outlined in the US Constitution. Rather than deliver a long-winded description of my research, I encourage you to do some digging of your own. A good place to begin is at the World Net Daily site (www.wnd.com), starting with this article posted recently : http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=95460
Please be fair minded and patient in your research, and you may arrive at a place of amazement that this can be possible in today’s media. The potential ramifications of this are incredible, as it would call into question the validity of all decisions and laws since he assumed office. If we are serious in holding our elected officials to adhere to our Constitution, this would have to be the obvious first step. If we cannot rally behind this clear issue, I fear our cause is doomed to failure.
Again, thank you and Godspeed in your journey, our journey, to reclaim our wonderful and blessed nation,
Warren Andersen
teapartypatriots.org is the site.
Wonderful thing…however, it is
only through OUR INFLUENCE on fellow
misguided Americans, (who don’t
realize what is happening to our
Freedom), we can win the next elections.
TALK, ENGAGE, INFORM, &
EDUCATE them with patience.
When we are more informed and passionate
we can move mountains. Start reading -
start talking……
WARNING-
If we do not explain our fears to our neighbors -
who are oblivious to this govt. take over, we will not prevail
in the next elections! I love having these great websites where
we can plan strategies, They are vital. But, Grassroots Education
is the only way to persuade people by numbers. That means
you and me. Lets start printing out some FACTS about what is
happening. What ever your Main Issue is: ENGAGE, INFORM, REVEAL
and EDUCATE. THIS is our only hope on election day.
Of course - this is an afterthought, but it should have been in the original comments I made - people like you, Eric, and Mike, Scott, and Amy, and some of the verious regional organizers and/or grassroots activists should also be on a speakers list at a hypothetical “dream” rally. Michelle Malkin, also, obviously. And here in Seattle we had a couple of local veterans speak - they served and fought for our county (one of them had served in Iraq) and were able to offer quite a poignant perspective. They fought for liberty and the constitution - they did not want to see it frittered away.
One thing I enjoyed about the Seattle and Bellevue events is the fact that people who worked for different presidential candidates, and people who sharply disagree on other issues such as abortion or Iraq, were able to unite on opposition to what congress and the president are doing regarding taxes, spending, the economy, and our liberty.
Excellent article, Eric. This is an ad hoc, grassroots, non-partisan coalition, and it will be most effective to the extent that it stays that way. The movement consists of Republicans, libertarians, independents, unafilliated conservatives, and disaffected/disappointed Democrats.
Regarding leadership, I think there is room for experimentation on this, and variation from locality to locality. Even if someone proclaims “fame” or “official leadership,” that doesn’t necessarily correspond with objective reality. Leaders are thrown up in the course of events - sometimes to the chagrin of those who think they are the “official leaders.”
Who is a leader at any given moment might change as events proceed and the movement evolves. Individuals increase or decrease their roles, and become disenchanted or more enthused - or involved in other projects. Certainly, each Tea Party group should be proud of its own accomplishments, own events, and own history. We here in Seattle certainly admire Keli Carender (Liberty Belle). It takes nothing away from the hundreds of local organizers to keep in mind that this is, above all, an organic and evolving and malleable movement.
Our principles are quite clear: repeal the pork-laden “stimulus,” no more bailouts, cut taxes, cut spending, no second “stimulus,” hold congress (both parties) and the president accountable. In general, we should have a non-exclusionary policy to the extent that anyone who agrees with these aims is welcome to join the coalition. True, there will be some who jump on the bandwagon, but after all we are seeking to grow, to win over adherents, and to persuade people to join us. It goes without saying that some people currently reticent or skeptical or even opposed will one day join us, and we should welcome them.
Such an evolution in persuasion and participation was evident in both the civil rights movement and the movement against the war in Vietnam. I think one of those was good for America, and one was not good, but that’s not my point right now. Both grew by persuading, pressuring, educating, welcoming, and including more and more people.
One idea often discussed on the PJTV broadcasts and elsewhere was perhaps running candidates in both the Democratic and Republican primaries, if the incumbent is not in line with our objectives. There are several pros and cons to this. The pros have been discussed on PJTV somewhat extensively. The cons vary from region to region. For example, Washington State does not have separate Democratic and Republican primaries for congress and U.S. Senate. We have a mixed party “top two” first round election in August 2010, with each candidate having the option to self-identify party affiliation (or lack thereof), and the top two (regardless of party) going to the general election. So any effort against Jay Inslee, Jim McDermott, or Patty Murray in 2010 would have to go through that single unified primary process.
Also, as a practical matter, let’s be realistic. At least in our region, there are virtually no Democratic politicians who came anywhere close to supporting our goals, with the notable exception of (Democratic) State Auditor Brian Sontagg, who spoke at the Olympia event and sent a message of support to the Seattle event. Perhaps this is not the case elsewhere in the nation.
Also, some people who supported the Libertarian Party and Constitutionalist Party presidential candidates, though small in number, are a legitimate (if small) part of our coalition, and it might not be fair or realistic to ask them to work for candidates within other party primaries.
Finally, the issue of whether politicians or candidates should be invited to speak at events is a local decision. If we are going to promote or seek to involve (if not formally endorse) some candidates and/or politicians, we certainly can’t have a blanket policy of excluding them from speaking and/or other involvement.
I for one would not object to a speakers list which was very diverse, included various points of view, and included people I did not necessarily support or agree with on any other issues. One dream speakers list I can imagine - consisting mostly of people I don’t otherwise agree with - could be a March on Washington, D.C. with Tammy Bruce, Drew Carey, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Jim Cramer, Brian Sontagg, and Glenn Beck as the key speakers. I have my beefs with all of them, on some issues, to one extent or the other.
I supported Romney last year, but he has supported the TARP bailout and has not been strong enough in opposition to the Obama economic agenda, so I would not think he should be on the program - despite the fact that I otherwise support and admire him. I’d like to see people such as Larry Elder, Thomas Sowell, Mark Sanford, and Mark Levin drawn into our activities.
I see today that Obama said in his weekly national address that the deficits are not sustainable and he is taking measures to cut spending for the sake of our future.
I believe this is a direct response to the TEA PARTY protest on April, 15. This shows we have real power.
We must not let up, Obama is just trying to diffuse the power and movement.
We need to let him know we support his efforts to find the cuts in spending, but that we will not back off until the cuts are a reality. And not just a reality but they must be deep enough to produce positive results as measured by the CBO. The CBO must find the new deficit projections do not double let along triple the national debt and that they move to a balanced budget over a 10 year projection.
Now that we know we have Obama’s attention, we must make it clear what an acceptable goal is. We must take care to make it known we support his efforts to cut spending, but that he does not get a pass until the results are a fact, not a promise. We need to double our efforts to pressure Obama and Congress to get serious on the spending cuts. We need a massive national campaign to contact Obama and Congress on an almost daily basis to let them know we expect them to follow through and will not back off until they get the job done.
We need to clarify our protest: the lefties dismiss us as “tax haters” and think we are against taxes. We need to try to open everyone’s eyes to the loss of liberty we are facing if Obama’s government take-over is implemented. The scary thing to contemplate is that, just maybe, most people don’t care, as long as Big Brother takes care of them.
My hat is off to each and everyone of the organizers of the tea parties. I could not believe that such a thing would actually happen. Everyone is always sitting around gripping about the government but never doing anything about it. We just sit and let the government slowly take away our rights while we do nothing about it. It is finally time someone did and my hat goes off to each and everyone of you.
Now that the Tea parties are over I fear that the momentum is slowing. If I don’t open the internet and read about, I don’t see it anywhere else such as continuing news coverage. What is being done to continue the momentum? When is the next rally? Will anything be done in a single location of any massive proportion? Any fundraisers? What’s happening?
I would like invite all to take a look at this nonprofit organization. Make sure you go to the vidoe section, they will inspire you!
In your next “Instructions for Tea Partiers”, PLEASE include that, instead of just sitting around and waiting for news of “the next big event,” tea partiers NEED to be individually proactive: by researching, attending, and vocalizing at their area’s town hall meetings - by keeping abreast of and voting appropriately on all local elections or budgets - and by inundating their state representatives and the White House (and any Congressional members who make headlines based on important issues or policies) with letters, faxes, phone calls, and emails (not just tea bags!). Direct tea partiers to http://www.opencongress.org so they can research bills being considered for passage into law as well as voting records, and refer them to http://www.congress.org to find their representatives’ contact information.
I’m disappointed that establishing a temporary “lead organizer” to unify the nationwide movement and coordinate all the different tea party groups isn’t an option that’s being pursued. One valid point that has come out of our opposition’s generally mindless rants (i.e. that of MSM and their poorly informed watchers) is that we’re disjointed. I’m not suggesting that all tea party groups should use cookie-cutter messages (and give up the beautiful individuality that has allowed us to stand side by side in protest, where one of us may be most angry about bailouts while his neighbor is particularly annoyed at the poor legislative process), but the various tea party websites don’t even agree on how many citizens attended the rallies a week ago, or on how many rallies were held. Am I the only one who thinks this is a problem? Am I the only one who thinks that, by coordinating, we stand a better chance of forcing MSM, the public, and our government to take us seriously?
Everyone is ready to act, and we’re hungry for direction. A figurehead (who, in the true spirit of fair representation, could be changed at any time by a vote) would be called upon to publicly counter the ludicrous statements coming from MSM and would also be responsible for locating, organizing, and consolidating tea party data in cyberspace. Since it’s all Internet-based, changing “leaders” would be virtually pain-free, right? I know there are downsides, but aren’t the upsides more plentiful and, ultimately, more worth it?
Thanks for all the updates and keep up the great work. I’m checking out the patriots’ site and hope you’ve forwarded all of the great ideas you don’t plan on using to them