September 6, 2009

TEA PARTY EXPRESS

The “Tea Party Express” – town hall concerned citizens grilling Congressional representatives at home on summer recess -- got underway Wednesday in several cities.  It is scheduled to hold rallies in 33 cities

The Express will reach Washington, D.C, on September 12 with a rally to impress the returning Congress.

Tone of Express rallies, generally, is anti-tax confrontational.  Folks are not yet ready to storm aboard freight ships and heave bales of taxed-tea into harbors -- as Bostonians did 235 years ago.

Note our opening illustration.

Though the Express crowds are universally upset about President Barack Obama’s spending plans, they were restrained – dangling tea bags and hooting.

Nonetheless, Congress reps are getting the message about “tax and tax, spend and spend, elect and elect.”  Some politicians attend rallies in their districts and chime in with anti-tax rhetoric.

Democrats blame the Republican minority for all government problems large and small.

Republicans credit “Blue Dog” Democrats who understand that a nation cannot spend its way to prosperity and often vote with Republicans.

TAXED  TEA

The Tea Party Express was organized by Mark Williams, a conservative radio talk-show host in Sacramento, California.  He defines Tea as: “taxed enough already.”

As the TEA bus set out on its journey, sympathizers elsewhere gathered to cheer it on.

In Salt Lake City, Republican Gov.  Jon Huntsman was booed for accepting $1.5 billion n stimulus money!

In Alaska – where there is no statewide income tax or sales tax -- hundreds of people chanted: “No more spending!”

Poor weather and permit problems dampened well-wishers in Washington, D.C., according to Fox News.

One million tea bags delivered to Lafayette Park, across from the White House, were sent away because the Tea Party did not have the proper permit.

A rally scheduled outside the Treasury Department (also near the White House) was canceled by the U.S. Secret Service for lack of a permit.

In Texas, Gov Rick Perry is reported as firing up a Tea Party in Austin as the crowd shouted “Secede!”

TEA  PARTY  EXPRESS

TEA PARTY EXPRESS ROUTE

The Dallas Morning News reported Friday: “The mobile protest known as the Tea Party Express rolled into Dallas -- drawing a large sign-waving crowd for speeches decrying President Barack Obama, his health care reform effort and big government in general.”

“To boil it all down, it’s a government takeover that we feel is happening,” said Kurt Pflieger, a Rockwall pediatrician who took the morning off to attend the rally held in a shopping center parking lot.

“Ron Rivioli -- who as part of the Rivioli Revue performed protest songs against big government at the event -- estimated attendance at 2,500. “The crowd was really focused,” said Rivioli who is traveling with the Tea Party Express.

Brenda Waldron, of Plano, carried a sign saying: Disagreeing With Obama Doesn’t Make Us Racist. “I don’t care if he’s green with polka dots,” she said. “I don’t agree with the way he’s facing issues.”

Mike Brown, (a local hairdresser) who helped organize the Dallas stop, said that beating back major health care reform was just part of the protest. “We want big government gone.”

The tour’s speakers include Mark Williams, a national radio talk-show host.

The Dallas stop had a bit of carnival atmosphere – with tables and tents set up to sell T-shirts, buttons, books and recordings.

If there were dissenters in the crowd, they weren’t conspicuous.  But nearby was Trent Bowman – and he wasn’t happy.

Though he, too, has problems with current proposals for health care reform, Bowman said the rally reflected the hostile spirit he sees in the country today. “Everybody’s being ugly about it. Everybody’s throwing fear,” he said.

Bowman had another bone to pick.  Those attending the rally had claimed nearly all of the parking spots in the shopping center where he works as a hairdresser.  “It’s messing up my business.”

Dallas was the 13th stop of the Tea Party Express, which ends up September 12 in Washington, D.C., with a rally against health care reform as touted by Obama and Democrats in Congress.

ROAD  AHEAD

The Tea Party Express seems to have gotten off to a successful start.  However, the road ahead is bumpy and full of potholes.

By the time the Tea Party Express pulls up to the National Capital building in Washington, D.C., opposition and support for it will have had time to organize.

Affecting the reception, of course, will be the state of our national economy that is floundering a bit at present.

President Obama’s plan for raising taxes, and borrowing scads of money -- and appointing 30 unelected “czars” reporting only to him to run the nation – has the rest of voters jumpy.

COWBOY WISDOM

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist