Frustrated, angry, fed-up, and outraged...
When you talk to Americans of all economic backrounds, ethnicities, and political persuasians (Yes, even a few clear thinking Liberals, who don't even partake of the sugar free Kool-aid their more radical party members might try to get them to imbibe.), those words describe just some of the moods of the people toward what President Obama, and the folks in Congress, including more than a few misguided Republicans, are doing these days.
Today, all across the nation, more than 700 Tea Parties took place, in big cities, and small, and it was an awesome feeling to participate.
Americans are getting tired of the behavior of our government.
While bailing out the irresponsible, the government is pushing hard-working citizens of all types to express their displeasure.
As the government works to redistribute wealth, Americans work more for less – and the government takes more and more.
Concerned citizens are stepping forward to protest bloated pork projects and huge government programs. These are burdens on American families which threaten our livelihoods, now and
well into the future.
Michelle Malkin points the way to understanding the history of the Movement, up to this moment in time, that will hopefully awaken the country to the peril we face.
It is an excellent explanation to counter the lies that will be spilled, from this day forth, about what the Tea Party Movement is all about:
"For the Johnny-Come-Latelys in the MSM who will be dispatched by their editors to file obligatory stories about the hundreds of Tax Day Tea Party protests across the country today, here is a cheat sheet to get you up to speed."
Let me tell you my experience of this day, what I saw, and heard, and the people I talked to.
I walked for an hour, this morning, 2 miles south on Bristol, east on 17th, and south on Flower, to the Plaza of the Flags in the County Seat of Orange County, Santa Ana, Ca..
I waved my sign, keeping hold of it in the brisk wind, as best I could, humbled, excited, and amazed at the sheer number of motorists (20) who honked their support as I marched along, giving a jovial Thumbs Up to my supporters.
Fancy cars, regular cars, old cars, and new, trucks, and SUVs, white folk, black folk, Hispanic, male, and female, the mix was as varied as the make-up of this great nation, the home of the brave, land of the free, and the Constituional Republic that has been a shining light unto the world since it declared its independence in 1776, and fought a war to make that declaration a reality.
At 17th and Bristol I got into an animated discussion with an older black gentleman, who very kindly took the 1st picture above, even after he discovered that I wasn't protesting in support of his man Obama. ;-D
Along Civic Center Dr. I came across an old woman, with her young grand-daughter, waving flags, and a Taxed Enough Already sign, guiding folks to the event.
One passer-by told her she needed a new slogan that made sense, and this led me to loudly observe, as he walked away, that I guess he didn't feel like he was being taxed enough. ;-D
I made my way to the plaza, and with 45 minutes until the event got under way I wandered around taking it all in, and chatting with people about their signs, and mine.
So as not to get in trouble by having something too heavy to hold up my sign, I had one of those Christmas Wrapper pipes.
Something 32in. in length, and far too lite to even use in a simple, harmless, game of Whack a Socialist! ;-D
One of the first people I met was a tiny, elderly, lady who told me she came from the Soviet Union, 32 years ago. In her Russian Accent she said she came, like my Father, to America to escape Socialism, not to see her adopted country become what she escaped.
She said she was Conservative, and concerned about the direction America was now headed.
I also talked with an older gent who came to America, from East Germany, for the same reason, the year I was born, 1960, and was concerned about the same things as the Russian woman.
Like me, they are, um, Ethnic Group-Americans, those folks that Homeland Secuity seems to think we Conservatives have serious issues with.
Look, I'm Strange, even Conservative, But There's Never a Dull Moment! ;-D
I want my country back, and like people all across the country, I came out to publically express my displeasure with the direction of the country I love.
Ian Mitchell, of the Bay City Rollers, sang every stanza of America the Beautiful (When this was sung I got teary-eyed), and Taxman, and Revolution, the Pledge was recited, a poem was read.
I saw signs that expressed the concerns of those in attendance:
One Big A$$ Mistake America, Taxation Without Representation: You are not listening to us!, Keep the Change, We'll keep our Freedom.
There were many speakers at the event.
Andrew Breitbart--Big Hollywood, Washington Times Columnist, www.breitbart.com.
Gary Graham--www.garygraham.com, Big Hollywood.
Teresa Hernandez--www.teresahernandez.com, small business owner, candidate for US Congress, 32nd District.
Shawn Black--www.shawnblack.org, Veteran, State Assembly Candidate, Founded Project Prayer Flag.
Don Watkins--Ayn Rand Institute.
Others, whose names I didn't catch, spoke, including one woman who was never named, but was Hispanic, I think, and spoke haltingly, but passionately, with an accent, of wanting real hope, and legal immigration, and wanting Americans to be happy.
What follows is what was said, as captured in my notes, in the hopes that, along with the photos, readers will get the flavor of an event that was not a Festival of Anti-Obamaism, but a Pro America, Pro Freedom, Celebration, serving as a Statement to the leaders of our nation, putting them on notice that we are displeased.
1. There is too much taxing, and spending.
2. Unless we stand for something, we won't change a thing. We must stand for Limited Government, for the Ideas of the Founders.
3. Individual Rights are Selfish Rights, and so are the Bill of Rights, and we must defend both, and our right to the Pursuit of Happiness, with a Political, Moral, and Intelectual Defense of Freedom.
4. Rethink the Moral Purpose of Government.
OBSERVATION: Loved the DON'T TREAD ON ME FLAGS boldly waving in the breeze!
OBSERVATION: Loved the extra tall Uncle Sam juggling his way around the plaza, and the many folks dressed in different period costumes!
5. California is the most taxed state in the nation, and the Governator wants to tax us more! Speakers encouraged everyone to vote no on all the Propositions in the upcoming election in the state, and to support an upcoming attempt to recall the Governor.
OBSERVATION: By 1145am the plaza was really filling up, and continued to do so as the program got underway at Noon.
6. The last time we had an American Leader who bowed to a Foreign King...we had ourselves a Revolution!
7. Party like it's 1773!
8. Today is a great day to be a Revolutionary!
9. This is our moment to change history!
10. We are all volunteers, and Right-Wing Extremists, out today to make a difference, standing side by side, friends, and like-minded people, all of us Americans, getting involved because we care.
We believe our freedoms, and dreams are being crushed, and the laws, and beliefs, of our nation are in danger.
11. We are not the Party of Yes We Can, but the Party of Yes We CARE!
12. We are not a Movement of Extremists, but a Movement of Americans!
OBSERVATION: When everyone sang along with America the Beautiful I suddenly lost it.
I got all teary-eyed, and emotional, singing that song, even as, like most folks in attendance, I didn't know all the words to the less familiar stanzas of the song.
I mean, for cryin' out loud, how often do you encounter a performer who can sing the whole wonderful thing, anyway? ;-D
13. The Left, and Mainstream Media, want America to believe that FOX NEWS, the Republican Party, the Rich, and "Big Business" is funding the Tea Party Movement.
THEY WISH!
The Movement is funded by Bailout Pork, and Government Waste, and so much more that has got our dander up.
OBSERVATION: Old Glory! God, ain't she beautiful? ;-D
OBSERVATION: Lots of Americans didn't vote for Socialism. Some of those folks even voted for Obama. Go figure. ;-D
OBSERVATION: Lots of negativity toward this Socialism thing. Obviously not too many folks wandering the plaza are subscribers to The Nation, or The Progressive. ;-D
Wonder if there are any readers of LA Weekly, or OC Weekly?
Psst...Don't tell anybody, but on occassion, over the last 30 years, I've found all 4 to be interesting reads (Quick, pass the smelling salts, someone fainted!), even though I disagree with their politics.
Meet 10 yr. old Hayden, quite possibly a future President of these United States. ;-D
This kid is proud to be an American!
He stood up, in front of God, and everybody, to defend his Grandpa, and Father, to Obama, and to plea for the saving of his future.
He had obviously made a valiant effort to memorize his speech, but had his notes just in case.
He was extremely reluctant to resort to his notes, and this made him nervous.
With the vocal encouragement of an adoring crowd he managed to bravely, proudly, complete his speech.
OBSERVATION: Wonder what was going thru the mind of the kid in red as he watched his peer do something he probably would never dream of attempting himself? ;-D
14. More people were at this event than attended similar, recent, events in Huntington Beach, and Pasadena. I heard one speaker who thought the crowd would be 1000, express surprise that it might be closer to 2000.
OBSERVATION: Numbers don't matter, except as a way for critics to call the day a failure if the same number of people as dollars in a "Stimulus" or "Bailout" Package, fail to show up.
The fact that people came out in the numbers they did makes the day a historic success, and that will be something the Left, and the Mainstream Media, will be unable to cope with, or understand.
15. Arnold on a Stick! Yes, Californians, myself included, are having Buyer's Remorse, as Arnold taxes, and spends, our state into bankruptcy. A Recall effort is in the works.
OBSERVATION: Doesn't look too pleased, does she? ;-D
She was holding a most interesting sign, but not exactly enthusiastically waving the thing around, even though she was in the front row for all to see her message.
She was the only person against the proceedings that I encountered. ;-D
When I finally got a brief glimpse of it (Cameramen kept blocking my view!) here is what it said:
LIBERALISM IS NOT DISORDER.
Oh, REALLY? ;-D
16. Twice, during, the event, everyone with a cell phone was encouraged to enter the number 69302, and the word teaparty, so as to get updates about future events.
OBSERVATION: Ain't technology grand? ;-D
Eat yer radical heart out Move On, 2 can play this game! ;-D
17. To hear the supporters of the President tell it we must let the Prez run up the deficit to save our country that's in crisis.
OBSERVATION: Just what the hell are they smokin, anyway? ;-D
18. No more lies from Politicians, and the Press!
19. We are sick and tired of the Politicians, and the Press, and we will not take it anymore!
20. We are sick and tired of being attacked by the Left, tired of illegal immigrants, and of being Obama's punching bag!
21. Maybe, with the Tea Parties, they will get the message.
22. Obama blames our troubles on everyone but himself, Barney Frank, and bailed out companies.
23. The Mainstream Media will look at the Tea Parties, and call us a bunch of terrorists in the making.
OBSERVATION: What the Left can't defeat with its ideas, it will try to demonize into silence.
OBSERVATION: Love Ian Mitchell of the Bay City Rollers! ;-D
OBSERVATION: PSST...Hey you, with the sign! You DO know that Santa Ana is probably the most Hispanic city in Orange County, right? ;-D
While you are right about Illegal Immigration being a huge problem for our state, I still wouldn't advise that you march down the nearby 4th street Shopping District with this sign. ;-D
OBSERVATION: Yes, we are.
24. When the Government treats Conservative Talk Radio, American Military Veterans, and ordinary good citizens, as just Politcal Extremists in the making then we must be concerned.
25. What is on trial, today, is the Mainstream Media.
26. The Mainstream Media promotes the Myth that we don't have the right to protest, if we are protesting against what they, and the Left, think is good, and right for us.
27. It's not the job of the Mainstream Media to tell us, before we show up, why we are showing up!
28. Educate yourself.
29. Become active, and take back America.
30. Blog about what concerns you.
31. Learn to use the Internet.
32. Join, or form, a Politcal Action Committee.
33. Run for Political Office.
OBSERVATION: Now, ain't that a bitch? (For you folks in Rio Linda...NO, I'm NOT refering to Magnificent Maggie!)
OBSERVATION: Um, Hee, hee! Somewhere some Mullah is pulling his beard out by the roots over this T-Shirt. ;-D
Or maybe not. He could be encouraged that some folks here in the land of the Great Satan are admiting to being sinners. ;-D
OBSERVATION: Change...it does a body politic good...
OBSERVATION: ...NOT, NOT, NOT!!
OBSERVATION: This woman, who was never named, but was Hispanic, I think, and spoke haltingly, but passionately, with an accent, of wanting real hope, and legal immigration, and wanting Americans to be happy.
34. 40 years ago Hollywood presented powerful, admired, American Values, and Patriotism to the world, and then the Left took the Industry over.
35. About Hollyweird...PSST...behind the scenes there are some in the Industry who are saying enough is enough!
OBSERVATION: What part of NO do our leaders not understand?
NO on Big Budgets! NO on Big Spending! NO on Tax Increases!
OBSERVATION: God Bless them, every one! ;-D
35. YOU, the American People, are the power in this country!
36. WE THE PEOPLE, are the power in this country!
37. We are NOT Acorn! We are NOT Leftists!
38. We DON'T Destroy!
39. We BUILD!
GOD BLESS THE FOUNDING FATHERS!
GOD BLESS THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
***UPDATE: 4/16 - 1030AM***
One more picture that I took...
This message was posted on the Official Facebook Page of the Event, this morning:
The Tea Party was a great success in the OC.
We had over 3500 people attending.
We know that because the Santa Ana police told us today that they stage a horse platoon for protests.
The platoon is mobilized when they determine the crowd exceeds 3500.
The platoon appeared.
The police were extremely cooperative.
We think we had about 4000 to 4500.
Doug F. Landrum
This morning the OC Register put the number at 800.
Who ya gonna believe yer own eyes, and the policy of the Santa Ana Police Dept., or the bean counters the local newspaper relied on, even if they ARE sympathetic to the cause. ;-D
The LA Times had better bean counters reporting to them: The paper said the number was 1000. ;-D
***END UPDATE***
Love the photos...especially Glenn, Rush & Sean! God Bless America!
Posted by: Linda Edwards | April 20, 2009 at 01:05 AM