America, F@#$ Yeah!
Tonight, the 2nd District Tea Party Patriots hosted all non Dem congressional 2010 candidates to debate issues and confer (aka meet & greet) with the public. I was inspired and encouraged by the process. More to share tomorrow plus pictures.
Be damned to ALL the Dems right Rich… just shaking my head.
Well when the Republicans give us Simmons vs Blumenthal you might as well just re-elect Dodd.
Simmons voting records reads like a natural disatser story. He likes to give tax cuts which I know you love… but spends on top of all that. Do you buy things for your business when your revenue is lower because you discounted your prices??? No I didn’t think so.
Either way Schiff will have my vote in November even if it has to be a write in.
1The Dems in power have their voice…this was an “everybody else” event. I haven’t picked my dog in this race just yet. Like many others, I was window shopping last night.
I thought that Dan Reale killed. He surprised a lot who haven’t seen him before.
I credit the Geen candidate for showing up and facing the skeptical crowd.
2Why just the Dems Rich? The Dems say the tea partyers are all GOPers yet the tea party folks say the attendees are from both/all parties. Is there a GOP tea party and a Dem tea party? You said the tea party was for the “everybody elses” I think it’s great that they debate the issues NOW, but if you get only one side with a few independent candidates like Dan, don’t you skew the process? Was it a formal debate and any chance of getting their responses on video? The Dems in power do have their choice but the only rebuttals I see are from the pundits or a sound bite from a candidate. I would like to see constant debates until we get to the bottom of this mess and end up with a clear truth to any particular issue and finally put the bullshitters in their place!
3Window shopping I like it
4Rich — Isn’t it nice to see your progeny mature? “Hats off” to Jenn and her monumental efforts!
I wasn’t as impressed with Dan Reale as you were, but he did a good job getting his message across…particularly the “…if I don’t do what I say I will do you can put me in jail”.
I still can’t get over Schiff’s “off audio” gaff on WXLM…
5John D… good point. Wasn’t even thinking of that. The TEA Party goers who are “neutral” forego asking the Dems. So much for “neutral”. Pretty much makes the point I have been saying all along.
Rich —- still say I am wrong??? I think not. Did you teach Jen that move??
6What happened with Schiff Lou?
Gotta do some more homework on Dan but this line could become catchy.
if I don’t do what I say I will do you can put me in jail”.:-)
Then again who you going to get to say that in the crowd we have in office and vying for office
7Scott,
I’ll try to answer. We know what Dems are (they have power right now). We know what Rs do (as we’ve seen in Bush’s 8 years). Now is our chance to test potential candidates.
How can I answer better?
For the record, Courtney & Dodd were invited to every Tea Party event and didn’t even respond. Joe Lieberman did respond and couldn’t come to one because of his sabbath.
I can tell you that unless one of these candidates grows horns, I won’t be voting for Courtney or Bloomie.
8Rich,
But you will vote for Simmons. You have not thrown his name out yet. Do you actually believe him now? Like I said a few posts ago that he is worse than a Democrat… he is for LESS REVENUE and MORE EXPENSES. How does that work out for you??? Again try that in your business and let me know how it works out.
I am not asking you to vote for Courtney or Blumenthal. My votes right now are with Reale and Schiff.
9Rich,
Jen should have invited Blumenthal if she is truly for listening to everybody. By not inviting Blumenthal, now the leading candidate for the Dems, it absolutely shows the bias of the TEA Party movement. Blumenthal is not in the Senate now… Dodd is. Blumenthal is not part of that power you speak of.
10The whole put me in jail theme is joke. You would have to sue him in civil court so you would have to put the money out, and he would be protected by your tax dollars. Secondly nothing says WHEN or BY when he’ll accomplish anything on the “pledge”. Example….how do you prove he voted on something he didn’t read in its entirety? Suggestion, a comprehensive test on the bill to be voted on prior to holding the vote. He’s reserving the “right” to tell lobbyists “life is tough” or to “pound sand”. Please…….. simply crass and a stunt that has no teeth or simply put neither would he.
He fumbled and then attempted to punt away the question where he was quoted to have said they would do away with Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid with leave it to the states and do it over time. His no party is any good but his own theme is old and tiresome. How does Mr. Reale hope to get ANYTHING done with his single vote when all he can do is run everyone else and every other party down? Maybe he should reach out to others for some help since he obviously couldn’t even get his filing to be included on the ballot done correctly the last time around.
I like his constitutionalism theme but the rest is a circus act.
11Reale was almost as laughable as the green party candidate that wants to cut the military but 35%, and attempted to push his global warming theme.
I thought Schiff, Novak, Forras did very well. I think Rob would have really shined had he been able to make it.
As for the comment regarding the Dems, they have the offices they currently hold to run their campaign from.
Ms. Ezzell also did VERY well in her speech. Maybe she should be running for office!
12It was a joke about ” send me to jail if I don’t perform” Ray
I really think the Tea party debate should put the candidates toe to toe and ya don’t come out of the ring until the truth is told. Reale at the very least has to deal with the others in a reasonable manner. He will be an island unto himself if he doesn’t cooperate with fellow candidates/lawmakers. Like it or not that’s politics you call me a flaming a hole all the time and I will be damned if I’m gonna help you get something done. It’s unfortunate but it’s human nature to go into the bunker when someone blasts you. The GOP does the same thing as the Dems Ray. They use their office for their own gain. Of course I’m painting with a broad brush, probably shouldn’t but that’s the facts. Unfortunately I haven’t even started window shopping as Rich is. I’m so damn busy I don’t have time for a deep breath! I sure wish we could get the debates on video. All I have is an old HI8 analog camcorder. Both you and Lou saw the debate yet came away with totally different takes about Reale?
13rsurlich,
So when can we be expecting the Republicans to put themselves on the line for their own promises?
And that was the Secretary of State’s doing last time – not ours.
And if you remember, I said personally I would not be for government having involvement in those things I would be transitioning to the states. Aside from the constitutional issues, the reason is simple. They become more of a slush fund than a safety net over time, and eventually, they become worthless. Your only hope to save these programs at this point is to return this responsibility to the states and the people.
But the problem here is simple. If it’s done in the Republican Party and it’s handing out a slush fund, it’s just not such a problem to enough Republicans.
Your party will be complaining earmarks, pork, czars and other such things unless your candidates actually bind themselves to shrinking government. It’s only concern is power. As long as Republicans create the earmarks, pork and czars, it’s not a problem in the eyes of your party. And if people have the illusion that Obama was the first, your party makes a dishonest attempt to ride on it – as if Bush was no different.
And you can also say things like “how does he hope to get anything accomplished” all you like. The fact is that sending a libertarian to Washington will scare some sense into your own party. If I can’t get in done in a bill, I can do it with an amendment. And if they want to gang up on my bill to end earmarks, I want them to kill it and I’ll make sure the American people see them kill it – then there will be a lot more where I came from.
And again, I think it’s nice that your party seems to support the resignation of Geithner, but the fact is that he should be impeached for violating Sarbanes Oxley, helping banks lie on the balance sheets and covering up a criminal operation. But again, this is no different than the GOP that prefered to impeach Clinton for being a bad husband instead of giving nuclear technology to the North Koreans, negotiating treaties in secret without the advice and consent of the senate, ect.
Then again, your party opposed the citizen’s election program too. And they took the money. Meanwhile, it took the Green and Libertarian parties to actually do something about it. Personally, I thought it was amusing that your chair referred to it as an “incumbency protection program”, which it is, but your party didn’t lift a finger until someone did the work for you. To the contrary, taking the money was actually working against the solution until someone lifted a finger to be done with it.
And what will your party do when Obama goes ahead and enforces the Copenhagen agreement through regulation if the senate doesn’t ratify the treaty? Absolutely nothing. Conversely, I’d impeach him.
I already have draft legislation written. Compare and contrast with the other candidates who have nothing written and no more than generalized one paragraph statements. It’s important to show up to any job site with actual plans – whether you’re building a house or trying to fix a country.
And Rob Simmons. That should speak for itself.
But then again, a defeatist attitude of “how can we possibly do this?” and “oh, the odds!” has gotten us absolutely nowhere and stuck with decades of more of the same. Fortunately, you have a free country because people didn’t adopt that philosophy in 1775.
So that said, name me a single insane big government proposal your party has actually fought to repeal – when they had the power to do it.
14Dan,
Right on!!! You still have my vote. You may not be a public speaker but you do have the absolute right idea of what is going on.
Second, that email you posted on the Simmons interview… was that a hoax?? Because the 2nd District TEA Party is supporting Brown
15That was from the people who put together the proposal to eliminate the income tax that Brown opposed, Carla Howell and Michael Cloud.
Here’s the story with Howell and Cloud. They actually tried to shrink government and Brown opposed them every step of the way.
It’s very well documented what Brown was up to… and it’s exactly what the RINO will scare us into supporting when rubber meets the road.
The second email goes over some of the response they’ve recieved. It’s even quite revealing how many actually know what they’re doing – but they’re afraid.
And before I do, it’s necessary to remind the naysayers that yes, I am fully aware of who I am running against and that this isn’t the race. But I am running against the same thing the same group of people are trying to do – again.
I’ll post their second email here –
Part 2 Warning to Tea Party Activists: Massachusetts Republicans Concede that Scott Brown Repeatedly Voted for NEW Big Government Programs, INCREASED SPENDING FOR Big Government Programs, and FOR Higher and Higher yearly Massachusetts state Government Spending during his 11 years in the legislature.
by Carla Howell and Michael Cloud
Thursday, January 14, 2010
When we sent out Part 1 of this Warning to our fellow Tea Party Protesters, we expected lively responses from our fellow Tea Party Activists and our small government subscribers.
We got it. Everything from agreement and “Well, who should we vote for then?” to courteous disagreement. Thoughtful insights. Expressions of support for our alternative. We hope to address the issues and concerns raised in a number of emails in this and future messages we send out.
But we also got a flurry of hostile and vicious emails that surprised us: littered with profanity, name calling, ad hominems, and groundless accusations. Most of it from self-identified Republican Party members. 81 of them unsubscribed to this newsletter.
Finally, some very strange things happened: we got numerous emails from Massachusetts voters, mostly Republicans, who conceded that Part I of this message tells the unvarnished truth about Scott Brown’s 11-year legislative voting record.
“Yes, everything that you have said about Brown is true, but..” wrote Susan.
“I agree that Scott Brown is a Big Government Republican, but…,” wrote several.
“I don’t take issue with what you’ve said about Brown…He is not a small government candidate, but…,” wrote several.
Among those who emailed us, person after person agreed that, throughout his 11-year state legislative career, Scott Brown has repeatedly voted for higher government spending, bigger government, and higher taxes. “But….”
After they agreed that we’re right about Scott Brown and his sorry, Big Government legislative record, these people added “But…I’m voting for him anyway.”
Several people said, “I DON’T CARE whether you’re right! I DON’T CARE what the facts are! I DON’T CARE that Scott Brown votes for bigger and bigger government, for higher and higher spending and taxes! We’ve got to beat the Democrats – no matter what.”
Many Readers Wanted More Facts on Big Government Republican Scott Brown’s 11-year Legislative Record.
How shocked would you be to find out that, in 2008, Republican state senator Scott Brown voted for a Northeastern states CAP-AND-TRADE law?
Scott Brown joined the Democrats and passed legislation requiring Massachusetts to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in a cap-and-trade pact among Northeastern states requiring power plants to reduce emissions or to buy credits from cleaner industries.
“Reducing carbon dioxide emission in Massachusetts has long been a priority of mine,” Brown said in a news release in 2008. “Passing this legislation is an important step . . . towards improving our environment.”
Now Brown says he’s against it [Dan Reale commentary: Sound familiar?]. In the tradition of John Kerry, Scott Brown might say,
“I voted for CAP-AND-TRADE LAWS before I planned to vote against it.”
Globe article 1-10-2010
+++
How stunned would you be to hear that Scott Brown said, “I believe that every American is entitled to health care”? He said this on Sean Hannity on FOX and during the US Senate debates broadcast on radio and TV.
He is part of the single-payer, universal medical care faction that is moving us toward a government-managed, tax-funded government medical care monopoly. Scott Brown says medical care is a government-granted right of every American. [Dan Reale commentary: Who'd logically toss Obamacare for Obamacare?]
Entitled to a doctor’s labor? Entitled to a hospital room? Entitled to prescription drugs? At whose expense? Guaranteed by whom? And remember the Forgotten Men and Women who are obligated by government, compelled by law to shoulder the costs of this medical care entitlement.
+++
Scott Brown brags about his vital role in designing, writing, and passing RomneyCare in Massachusetts.
How astonished would you be to learn that Scott Brown pledges to stop ObamaCare – so he can install a federally-run and managed RomneyCare to the United States of America? He’s said this during more than a half dozen national media interviews. And during the debates.
Before you cheer, take a page out of Dr. Phil’s book and ask, “How’s RomneyCare working out for you, Massachusetts?”
“Bay State health insurance premiums highest in country” answers the headline in the Boston Globe (8-22-09).
Between 2003 and 2008, the average Massachusetts family’s health care insurance premium rose from $9,867 to $13,788. A 40% increase! 21% higher increase than the national average.
This is exactly what US Senator Scott Brown will try to inflict on the other 49 states. Don’t let him do to America what he’s done to the men and women of Massachusetts.
+++
How surprised would you be if the Boston Globe printed an article tomorrow telling you that Scott Brown VOTED WITH the Massachusetts Teachers Unions over 94% of the time?
+++
FINALLY, how flabbergasted would you be if WGBH-TV (the Boston PBS affiliate) revealed that Scott Brown VOTED WITH the Democratic Majority in the legislature over 91% of the time?
+++
Can you see why we spoke up – and shared these prickly facts with you?
Why we want you to be able to make an informed choice on Special Election Day, January 19th?
Remember, we do NOT want you to stay home on Election Day. We do NOT want you to vote for the other Big Government candidate, Martha Coakley. Tomorrow, we’ll show you a choice that will give your vote 100 times the impact – and will REALLY dramatically advance the Tea Party cause this November…and beyond.
Tomorrow, the conclusion of this controversial and vital message….
Please send this to every Tea Party blog or web site, every Town Hall Meeting blog or web site, every tax cutter blog or web site, and please share it with your friends in Massachusetts. You may hold the fate of the Tea Party movement in your hands.
To ensure proper delivery of our emails, please add sgn@smallgovernmentnews.com to your address book, trusted sender list or company white list. Thank you.
2009 Copyright Carla Howell and Michael Cloud
16small government is possible, small government is beautiful, Small Government Pledge, Small government solutions to Big Government problems, and Small Government News are Service Marks (SM) of Carla Howell and Michael Cloud.
So then does the 2nd District TEA Party have an item in a show of support for Brown??????????????????????????????????
17Dan,
You aren’t putting yourself “on the line” and you know it. The “put me in jail” thing is the same sort of political stunt you attack others for. Be honest with the voters, say here’s what I pledge to do and if I don’t do these things I invite my opponents to use this list against me in the following election.
As I see it, you put the blame on the Secretary of State but take no ownership in issue. Seems you would fit right into the Obama administration.
You crack me up, I’d impeach him, I killed the bill…… pssssstttttt it takes a simple majority to pass the articles of impeachment.
Clinton was impeached under the charges of perjury, obstruction of justice, and malfeasance in office.
The malfeasance charge may have been a result of the actual affair however I believe the rest to have been a result of his subsequent actions while serving as the President of the United States and as such were serious (at very least) in the minds of persons that voted for the charges.
As for the different take-away’s, I know the reality of not having being the majority on a board or commission. After all take a look at the Connecticut legislature, or what’s going on today in Washington. 60/40 tells the tale. The 40 NO votes all have legitimate suggestions, complaints and solutions but that doesn’t sway the 60 that are dead set “for” the bill despite what the majority of their constituents are saying. That’s why Reale’s “I’d do this, and I’d do that” are comical to me.
This is the reason I think the Tea Party movement is really making a difference. They have a loud voice that will continue to influence those lawmakers who 1. really care to represent their constituents, or 2. want to be considered for re-election. They have the power and the commitment to either be listened to, or work their tails off to ensure people aren’t re-elected.
18Scott…. I suggest you ask the second district Tea Party folks. There are several blogs on the main site about the topic. I don’t have time to read them. If I were a Mass. resident I would be reading every single thing I could on the race.
The real story is the swing away from the Democrat in a heavily democrat state.
If you want to push the Kennedy is for small government stance and loss the race in Mass. and subsequently the healthcare takeover race, I suppose that’s your choice.
I hope for the sake of the country that Brown wins so the Democrats begin to understand what the price will be for their unwillingness to listen to their constituents.
19No one hates the RINOs more than this Republican. But when it comes right down to it, you have to remember that this is Connecticut.
If this were Texas, things would be different.
But this ain’t Texas.
Got me so far?
You are not going to elect Ann Coulter here folks. Of the people that can be elected AND are worth being elected comes only one name.
Rob Simmons. He is just the right mix. I can’t see CT voting for any one more conservative than Simmons. I never considered him a RINO even though I disagreed with a few of his positions. He is a damn good man. He is the best congressman the 2nd ever had.
Simmons has my vote and if you want a Republican to be the next senator, he has yours too.
Close the ranks.
20Lastly, take a look at the influence of the Tea Party movement locally. How many Tea Party Patriots have become influential in your local parties? How many ran as part of either the Democrat or Republican party tickets in your town. I think you’d be surprised. It wasn’t that they were locked out in the past. They have became more involved, more vocal and more determined to be heard. They have made their way into areas their vocal opponents have said and continue to say can’t or couldn’t be done.
21Lou, what was Schiff’s “off audio” gaff on WXLM? I don’t know that I’ve heard about it.
22Just to explain and set something straight…Courtney and Dodd (who was in the race at the time of planning this event) were not invited for a reason…they are/were incumbents…we all know their stance on the issues…they are part of the current problem…that we are trying to correct. With this coming election, we need to try and upset the majority at the state and federal levels…we need to do this in order to send the signal that we have had enough.
This was an invite to all candidates other than incumbents…the fact that they both happen to be Dems was not our doing. This was a chance to level the “playing field” (something the Libs are always telling us they are trying to do with their social programs) for those not so well known…whereas Courtney and Dodd have the power of their offices (and so does the Blumenidiot) to grab headlines, get on TV and the Radio…most of the candidates invited are not getting “face” time…this was their chance. This was not a debate of any kind…it was a Meet and Greet. The candidates were given a few minutes to talk and asked a couple of questions…then the attendees had the opportunity to come up and speak personally with any candidate they wished too.
We are looking into doing one or two more before the nominations…if there is a primary we will try to get one with just those candidates, after May.
Once the nominations (or if there are any primaries)…then we will work to get an event set up with all Federal candidates that will appear on the ballot. I don’t hold out for Courtney to attend…he has been invited to the tea parties and didn’t even bother to RSVP, as requested. We were outside his office one day and he was there…never bothered to come out and speak with us…and when he left…he went out the back way…
All in all…never having done something like this…the folks from the 44th, 50, & 51st districts did a very good job…getting 356 people there and another 170 veiwing live, online. We learned from this event, will continue to learn as we go…that is all we can hope for..we are not perfect…
Our success will not be judged on this election, though…it will be in 2012…if those we elect in 2010 do not do the work needed to start correcting the economic problems…we need to vote them out. The true test will be if the people in this state will have the stamina to continue to pay attention and be involved. If we are able to keep people involved and working to find and elect the right people to office, that will be true success.
23Oh, there is a video of the debate online…it is awfully long…1 1/2 hours…I have asked that it be broken up and repackaged so that each candidate’s speech and questions/answers be combined. If it can get done…then I will post them under our candidates section.
24As to Scott Brown’s record…ProjectVoteSmart.org is a good place to look:
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=18919
As to Coakley:
http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=69567
Though she doesn’t have a vote record…I found that 100% ACORN rating distrubing.
But the bottom line in this race is the Health Care Reform, Cap n Trade, Illegal Immigration…and the supposed Schumer bill for Nationalized Voter Registration…hopefully the 2010 election will see the demise of the super majority in the Senate…and a possible flipped House.
The problem then lies in the horse trading that will most likely start to happen (between Dems & Repubs…instead of just the Dems that we have now), we have to be vigilant to make noise if it does.
25The Village News has a nice article on the Meet & Greet:
http://www.villagernewspapers.com/pdf/WOO.2010.01.15.pdf
26I do know several 2nd district patriots are in Mass. assisting with the campaign. You’ll have to look for yourself for specific articles of support. Why would this matter to you anyway. I thought you were an independent thinker?
27Dan, I just don’t get the point of your last post here. What are you advocating or complaining about? It would appear you are not in favor of the only candidate who has said he will not vote for the largest expansion of government that the passage of the health care bill will be. Would you rather distribute the vote to a third party candidate to cut your nose off to spite your face? The biggest problem with third party candidates is the the voter base itself. 90% aren’t as involved or well versed in the issues as would need to be to elect a third party candidate. Hell, the voters are just barely aware of anything more than the vote on “American Idol”. All your doing is creating more confusion.
In your reference to Geithner, are you referring to his AIG emails or mark to myth accounting? The relaxing of mark to market is not Geithner, but the FASB. The AIG issue is just starting to heat up so there is an investigative and legal process to get through before impeachment. A resignation is much more likely prior to impeachment proceedings.
I’m glad you’ve taken the time to write draft legislation. But that’s putting the cart before the horse. You have much work that needs to be done before that legislation is even heard. And unless you have some sort of base of support or standing in the community, starting out in smaller political arenas is necessary to make it a national level office.
28Paul
First, it’s a simple fact that the only way you will get small government is from a third party. That’s the point of my last post. This case just goes beyond the typical approach of only talking small government and doing the opposite. This time, you have a Republican candidate advocating big government right out in the open. We can be afraid all we want here, but these are the facts. Like it will be here, MA voters have two options for expanding government.
It’s time to recognize how we’ve treated this. Basically, we’ve told both major parties that they have a free pass – that there’s no burden of proof on them whatsoever. Isn’t the point of the tea party movement to reign in spending, or is there something I’m missing here?
I would also submit that I haven’t put the cart before the horse with the draft legislation (“draft” being the key word). You can liken what both parties to do a contractor showing up for a job without a blueprint. And we’d have no right asking why the foundation was 14″ lower on one end than the other if we hired such a contractor.
I’m referring to Giethner’s myth accounting and the emails. This one’s quite the gem -
http://market-ticker.denninger.net/archives/1833-Aig-And-Geithner-More-Lies.html
http://market-ticker.denninger.net/uploads/2010/Jan/saupload_geithneremail100107.png
And I’d be doing this thing from the community office level up if the time existed. See below for details.
A voter may not be well versed in the issues, but he or she certainly understands economic pain. And the Republicans went just far enough that their contribution to that economic pain is fresh in their mind. By the time this is over, both parties will be attacking the moderate middle.
At least I can explain in detail how this happened, what must be done about it and how it must be done.
rsurlich,
I did acknowledge that our mistake was not submitting signatures directly to the towns, not making copies of everything and not sending everything certified mail. Aside from waiting on the Barr campaign, these are the mistakes I made. What SOTS did after that was out of my hands. But unlike both major parties, I have taken these mistakes into consideration and gone with a different approach. Thanks to that different approach, I actually recieved my petition page yesterday (as opposed to getting it in May).
I will agree that the tea parties are making a big difference. However, I have seen exactly the same thing that’s happening now to them that happened with MoveOn.org when the Democrats took it over. While their issues were ending the war in Iraq and universal healthcare, the goal with MoveOn became supporting Democrats for its own sake – forget that it allowed them to backtrack on both. If you ask MoveOn to respond to that today, they’d say, “What war? What universal healthcare? We never asked Democrats to do THAT”.
And I really doubt what you say as far as it could mean holding any major party to account. We’ve already gotten it backing Scott Brown, probably the first of many big government candidates (unless we address it now) in the name of shrinking government? If I were Scott Brown, that would tell me I could tax and spend to the moon and it wouldn’t matter. This is how we hold people to account? Is our story the same next time he’s challenged by a Democrat? The thing is that people like Scott Brown are laughing at well meaning people like you every day. That’s Slick Willie slick – getting people opposed to cap and tax and government managed healthcare to support a candidate who considers both among his proudest achievements.
My advice is not to move to Jamaica for the snow while we’re on the same train of though.
Now we can sit here and say that we know the realities of A, B, C or D. But the fact is that there is a job to do. Regardless of the odds, it must be done. What you are proposing through the major parties would be like Washington joining the Tories to end taxation without respresentation. And it was just as comical in their day as my approach is to you to take on the world’s most powerful army.
Let’s also consider that the method behind your argument has failed to shrink governmemt, at all, period, for any intent or purpose. It’s just the Great Society onward looking right back at you. Conversely, Americans see that and trust Republicans just as much as Democrats. And the only reason it hasn’t changed is because they haven’t been made aware of a reason to show up.
That oath is not a stunt. It’s time for all candidates to bind themselves to what they say for three reasons –
1) Treasury markets and even more unprecedented expansion of government power. If we can’t get a major rollback of government started by 2012 (as in January 2012, nevermind waiting for the presidential election), the federal government is a lost cause. We’re already sailing back to $4/gallon gas because your party worked with Democrats to print money out of thin air to save the banks. There will be no recovery, period, if this runs past 2012 and we can’t start rolling it back. You’re either going to commit to rolling back government like I have or you’re getting elected to be part of the problem.
2) We can clearly identify an out of control tax code and treaties that offshore jobs as a major problem. With those in the way, we will have no savings, ergo, we will have no credit, long term investment and production. Again, talk about the realities of doing things all you like – don’t expect well paying (or even more) jobs until you get these out of the way. You’re either going to commit to being done with these things or you’re getting elected to be elected.
3) The Federal Reserve is effectively trying to jump start the economy with speedballs. We know this will lead to a heart attack. The problem is that you don’t know when, but when you find out, it’s too late. But based on how far they’ve taken this, you don’t have beyond 2012 to stop it. And unless you can find someone committed (let alone someone who understands this) to stopping the Fed from doing this, the odds of success go down. You’re either serious about stopping them from reinflating the bubble or you’re there to help tank the economy again.
Let me also posit another fact on the housing crisis that neither major party will face. It’s based on fradulent lending. We may blow up the “too big to fails” by forcing them to eat their own debt (and taking it off gov’t books), but it has to be done if the housing market is to recover. If John Q Public borrowed $400,000, his home’s value is $200,000 and he makes his payments – the loan is still underwater. No amount of tax credits, deductions, subsidies or relief schemes will fix that – if it’s too big to fail without blowing up the world, it’s too big to bail out.
And we say “too big to fail” as if there aren’t enough credit unions and small/medium sized banks to take over.
The last thing we need is another Contract with (“on” depending upon who you ask) America where NAFTA stays put, the tax code increases in complexity, Wall Street runs the treasury, government continues to expand and the constitution is violated.
And again, we can talk about conventional wisdom all we like. Unfortunately, it always goes to conveniently forgetting the Constitution. That’s what created this mess in the first place. And thanks to Republican failure to roll back government in any meaningful way, we need a tea party movement.
29Ray,
Well the Scott Brown backing is now off of the TEA Party site. Doesn’t do any good to swing votes away when there is a chance Brown would vote for many of the Democratic initiatives.
Plus shouldn’t ALL TEA Party members be on the same page. I mean they all say they want fiscally conservative candidates. Brown is NOT fiscally conservative.
30That would be your opinion
I’m still seeing a tremendous amount of support coming from them.
31Paul I totally agree with you last sentence regarding Reale. It seems to me that most 3rd party candidates wjile making great points don’t have much of a chance of winning more than 4-8% if their are lucky. The only 3rd party that came close was Ross Perot ( like him or not) when at one time he had upwards of 39% of the vote the best since 1912 T Roosevelt!
June 1992, Perot led the polls with 39% (versus 31% for Bush and 25% for Clinton).
Granted his rise was helped with a ton of money but he was a charismatic reformer. Unless Dan has that kind of money he will have to start at the beginning and build his base as you noted. Ray also noted correctly IMO that he used stunts. They will work but he CANNOT personally bash the opponent and expect the voter to like him. People are just sick and tired of the tit for tat BS bashing! As far as the tea baggers they are just another group that are fed up with the status quo. I hope they, combined with a good popular 3rd party candidate and a truthfully informed activist electorate will come to fruition. Don’t see anyone out there right now but things do change fast in politics.
32What’s with the “Tea bagger” comment? Taken straight from the left wing blogs and news? Isn’t a teabagger some kind of freakish gay sex act? The libs who use it so often know it well?
33Yes, it is, as it was so eloquently and tastefully spoken on air by that dirt[b]ag Anderson Cooper.
34The most important and meaningful initiative Tea Party Patriots can take is push our state to do what Tennessee and other states have done or are doing: Passing resolutions asserting the sovereignty of our statehood and 10th Amendment rights.
35Thats a copout by the Tea Party on why they did not invite Blumenthal. He has not voting record and he is not the incumbent. You need to make up your mind. The TEA Party as has been exposed around America is nothing but another group supporting Republicans. The problem is that they are supporting the WRONG Republicans like in CT.
They should be supporting Schiff not the NO TAX and SPEND A LOT SIMMONS….
36Was that “teabagger” question for me Donna?
37I have to agree with Scott that we’re starting to support the wrong Republicans. Schiff’s been spot on, fighting the problem a lot longer and more a part of the solution than any senate candidate in CT.
And after all, what could it hurt inviting Blumenthal? It could be great fun.
38Scott…Blumenidiot has the power of his office to grab face time in the media…just because you want to disparage the tea party movement…doesn’t mean you are right.
As to supporting candidates…just who are we supporting? You cannot answer the question…becasue we have not come out and supported any one of them…as I said the other night…we are not about picking and choosing…for you…we will campaign against Courtney, and we will campaign against the Blumenidiot (as he is a Dodd 2).
39Dan, that is coming…10th Amendment Rights…probably won’t see it on WFSB or read it in the NB.
40Jen,
Every statement you make you mention Simmons… so please don’t tell me you aren’t looking to send him in as the Republican candidate…. give it a rest.
As for Blumenthal… if you are going to bring candidates together to talk about issues face time on tv doesn’t let people hear him against other candidates… again your reasoning is a copout
41Scott, I just went back over the posts in this thread…there is no mention of Simmons in any of them, by me…
Furthermore…I have as much of a right, as you do, to support any candidate out there…but as far as the CT 2nd District Tea Party Patriots coming out and supporting any particular candidate we haven’t…within our group people have their favorites…and we don’t all agree.
As to the Blumenidiot…say what you will…you are wrong. He has the media to put his face and views out there for the whole state and country to hear….how many of the candidates in CT have been able to just call a press conference and have all of the state media outlets there to record their statements and then put it out over the air, in print, and on tv? Ask Reale, Novak, Daly, Forras, Schiff, Simmons, Desfrey, McManhon…what happens when they hold a press conference.
Again, you just want to disparage the tea party movement….take you cheap shots.
42You came running to Simmons rescue during the interview when I questioned him in posts there. They have since been erased but I am sure I could refresh your memory.
So in 2012 it would be ok if Obama never steps in a room with the GOP candidate and talk about issues together?? Now that is funny Jen!! I mean he does have all of the media outlets at his disposal. Again its a lame excuse….
43Jen and Scott,
I think you’re both making valid points. If I were to emphasize one very important thing, it’s to be extroardinarily vigilant.
I say this for three reasons –
1) The GOP is making a very energized attempt to absorb the Ron Paul and Tea Party movements without making a single, substantive change to its approach. In some areas, they succeeded, hands down.
2) A lot of libertarians like myself and paleo conservatives had to pick their jaw up off the floor when they saw this – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc8XRhcn1hY
Unfortunately, it just again proved everything I’ve been saying about the GOP correct. And it’s no different whether we’re talking about social conservatives, home schoolers or gun owners.
But I should point out that Simmons can immediately get his stuff in the press. As for Schiff and the rest of us, there indeed is a blackout. In fact, Simmons can get his stuff in there verbatim.
44Dan, you are a politician!
“Unfortunately, it just again proved everything I’ve been saying about the GOP correct. And it’s no different whether we’re talking about social conservatives, home schoolers or gun owners.”
A libertarian that will label the opposition as social conservatives? Sounds very much like trying to have your cake and eat it too. So much for live and let live. As for the gun owners and being the fledgling constitutional scholar sounds right out of Washington speak, out of both sides of your mouth that is. My daughter is home schooled and I am extremely grateful that she has a teacher that is so far more degreed and thoughtful than any teacher I ever had in school. She has a 15 year old that is acing CLEPP tests as fast as she can take them.
Schiff has raised a ton of money. It’s no ones fault but his own he hasn’t gotten his name out there. Not to mention the times he has gotten media play he insults those that are giving it to him. Sound familiar? I would venture that last weeks 2nd District Tea Party candidates forum was your largest public appearance to date, yet since then you have maligned everything they stand for. I am sure you’ll get invited to more in the future. /sarcasm off. By the way how’s the fund raising going? Or is this a campaign run from a keyboard?
45FreeNorwich admins contacted Peter Schiff, Rob Simmons and Linda McMahon for pre-primary interviews.
Only Rob took the time to return our calls.
No press blackout for you here Dan, just 200+ viewers every day and you DO contribute!
Want free press everyone else? Answer your emails.
46Scott, once the nominations and primaries are over…then the Dem selection, the GOP selection will have their chance to sound off…not now…furthermore..set up your own Meet and Greet…do it instead of just complaining…
47Gee Jen I would love to but I am hardly in the area due to my job…. I know Simmons wouldn’t be invited… the only one I like is Schiff.
Simmons is a dog…. Vote in more of the same.
48