Looking back on Independence Day weekend, I am reminded of everything our Founding Fathers fought for.  I recently read Glenn Beck’s Common Sense and was blown away  not only by the parallels between now and then but, also by the sheer lack of logic in DC over the past couple of decades.

America suffered from benign neglect and soft tyranny prior to the American Revolution.  Our Founding Fathers were tired of taxation without representation and the obvious sentiment of the English King/government who only cared about padding his pockets and increasing his power, not the people he supposedly represented.

An underground movement began and there was no single leader, but several who were all involved in the name of freedom, liberty, and justice for all.  They sacrificed life and limb to do what’s right for America and her citizens.

While celebrating our independence I was reminded that there is always the possibility that history can repeat itself.  Our government is resembling the same soft tyranny that we fought to escape from.  Many say they feel that the Constitution is an antiquated document; however, the document is more like a rule of law which takes into account the basic principles of human nature.  I like using the analogy of business.  As businesses grow and evolve they require standard operating procedures  so that they run efficiently and effectively.  Standard operating procedures are  based upon lessons learned; much like our Constitution.  As America grew and became more populated over the years, the soft tyranny from across the pond could no longer represent us, especially when their priorities were themselves.  Through lessons learned, observations on human nature and government, our Founding Fathers saw the best way forward to make America the greatest country on Earth.  It would be an absolute travesty if our country let the very republic and practice of democracy slip through our fingers due to our own apathy and complacency.  All that our troops have fought for over the last 233 years would be lost.

I fear that America is becoming the frog in a pot and the temperature is being turned up gradually. Which means the frog will never realize it’s in hot water until it’s too late.  As the greatest generation – those who fought in WWII – slowly leave us, baby boomers are confronted with an ever changing and challenging responsibility to our next generation. Much of the lessons learned through hardship and the traditional values are being lost.  The next great generation (40 and younger) has to wake up soon lest our country be lost forever.   Unfortunately, I see many of the younger generations being indoctrinated and deluded by political propaganda.  I see children who are lazy and complacent and barely leave their house because Halo is more important to play than actual exercise and social interaction.  Divorce rates are up because people run as soon as there is pain and troubles.  We no longer live in a society of tough love but that of coddling and immediate gratification.  If this sentiment persists there will be some very unpalatable changes to American culture – much of which is invariably being taken for granted today.

If we continue down this path we can expect Mommy Government to do everything from feeding us to changing our diapers.  Gone will be the days of free enterprise, the entrepreneur, the days of choice in schools, and the choice of our own doctors.  Gone will be the days of prosperity, America as a super-power, national security, and our entire American way of life.  We could actually find ourselves waking up to a state-run radio or TV station.  We will eat government regulated food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We can rest assured that we will motor down the government built highways in our government owned and regulated vehicles, making sure we aren’t leaving huge carbon footprints.  Many of us will find ourselves working at a government job or a government contractor as the size of government grows and DC becomes the next metropolis.  My weekly paycheck will be deposited into a government-run bank, and that government run bank will also control all of my car, home and student loans.  My 401K will be regulated by the government after social security, medicare and medicaid fail.   The stock markets will be run by the government who, after controlling all the financial institutions, will control the purse strings of this country.  I will quit smoking because the government will control tobacco and eventually ban smoking nationwide.  If my government car gives out on me and I get into an accident I will have to attend a government run hospital with government run health care.  The government will provide questionnaires to receive the latest information on the public from the census, working on behalf of the government.  My home will be government mandated with the passing of cap-and-tax, and I will not be able to sell it or build onto it if it doesn’t reach climate change standards.  The light bulbs in my home will become a government requirement and the mercury in the allowable bulbs will kill those who break them.  The government will run everything to the point that none of us will be able to take care of ourselves.  The addiction ridden citizens of the USA will be “jonesing” for their government “crack” in the name of direction and entitlements.  So I must ask, is this what our Founding Fathers fought for, is this what Americans wanted when they asked for “Change?”

It is time for a movement to take back this great nation.  We need several strong leaders who have the charisma, the common sense, and the real American spirit to drive this message home by going around the media bias and straight to the hearts of Americans.  We have already begun and as people get more fed up with politics as usual the more we see the tea party movement grow.  This is the next grassroots movement and it will change the minds of millions!  This past July 4, although the media didn’t cover many, if any, of the protests they were all over the nation.  I attended a smaller one briefly on the way to a cookout and fireworks.  More and more people are becoming disenfranchised with the entire establishment and the government in general.  It’s time for ‘we the people’ to take back the country.

Tea Party Photos & Videos from different locations over the weekend:

Go to Michelle Malkin’s site for streaming of the Dallas Tea Party which drew crowds up to 37,000!

Phoenix, AZ:

Boston, MA:

Denver, CO:

Fort Lauderdale, FL:

Houston, TX:

A Couple From Maryland:

New Mexico:

Rochester, NY:

Tulare, CA:

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It reminds me of the old junkie commercials from the 90′s… “Nobody said ‘I want to be a terrorist when I grow up.’”

I certainly never thought myself a terrorist or involved in terrorist activities, but that’s not what the DoD manual says.

On the last 2 pages of the DoD manual, (PDF here) obtained by the ACLU, they state that protests are considered low-level terrorism.  That means that Tea Party protesters, abortion protesters, and even David Letterman protesters are considered terrorists.

The DoD refresher course/manual begins:

“Anti-terrorism (AT) and Force Protection (FP) are two facets of the Department of Defense (DoD) Mission Assurance Program. It is DoD policy, as found in DoDI 2000.16, that the DoD Components and the DoD elements and personnel shall be protected from terrorist acts through a high priority, comprehensive, AT program. The DoD’s AT program shall be all encompassing using an integrated systems approach.”

The first question of the Terrorism Threat Factors, “Knowledge Check 1″ section reads as follows:

Which of the following is an example of low-level terrorism activity?

Select the correct answer and then click Check Your Answer.

O   Attacking the Pentagon

O   IEDs

O   Hate crimes against racial groups

O   Protests

***

The “correct” answer is Protests.

Of course the left-wing blogs like Salon associate this with “fascists” on the right.  However, fascism is left-wing and totalitarian.  Fascism can go left or right.  It’s incredibly disingenuous to blame a group based upon the actions of lone “crazies” like Tiller’s killer.  I could say the very same thing for the Arkansas murder of the Army recruiter for the left, or what we learned about the Holocaust Museum shooting (although the below shows a lack of research or knowledge of the shooter’s political leanings, blaming it on the right).

…thus giving the government under the rubric of fighting domestic terrorism unrestrained and unsupervisable power to suppress legitimate political activities, the unleashing and justifications for Christian fascists to murder those they do not like (such as the assassination of Dr. George Tiller and the killing at the Holocaust Museum a few days ago) – this news adds further fuel to the fire.

The far left fails to realize the gravity of this for all of America, not just some political ideology.  We all protest and we all stand up and fight for what we believe in.  To be considered terrorists for our voice is something we should all be concerned about.

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I would probably be there protesting her taxpayer funded Botox, or her addiction to lying.

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Sounds like our very own EU VAT coming to the U. S. of A. How lucky we are that the usual common sense of Congress and the President is kicking in!  When the economy is recessed and there is the possibility it could get worse with an impending bond implosion or inflation in the coming months, why not raise taxes on everyone?

I know that liberals see this as a great idea.  They can raise taxes on all those evil fat-cats, actually wind up hurting the middle and lower class, all to pay for their own fiscally irresponsible habits.

As lawmakers toy with the idea of an across-the-board sales tax on just about everything, tax reform advocates are starting to drum up opposition with the same fervor they employed during last month’s anti-tax tea parties.

The idea of a national sales tax was once unlikely. But now that the federal government is doling out billions in stimulus spending and bailouts, and looking for billions more for health care reform, the prospect could be gaining some traction.

The frenzy over the idea kicked up after a Washington Post article Wednesday reported that Congress is starting to pay closer attention to this largely academic proposal and that the Obama administration, though shushing speculation, is soliciting advise from supporters of the idea.

“It should certainly raise alarm bells that they think they can inject it into the debate,” said Phil Kerpen, policy director at Americans for Prosperity.

The value-added tax, or VAT, as it is called, amounts to a tax-on-everything — or TOE, for the acronym-inclined. It’s a tax on goods that’s applied in pieces throughout the chain of production and distribution and results in an increase in the cost of virtually everything you buy.

The fact that the United States has dug its own hole regarding our debt where Bush and Obama combined can be blamed for a lot of it (I should also state that the liberal congress who has been there since the end of 2006 is also a huge culprit when it comes to voting on and setting budgets).  The National Debt is around $11.3T and growing at a steady pace, while the GDP is somewhere between $13 & $14T, seeing negative growth and possible stagnation in the out years.  This spells disaster for anyone in financial analysis, who understands debt ratios.

Inflation at this point is inevitable and that will mean higher prices for every American.  Each individual household is also responsible for $668,621 based on the latest article out of USA Today.  This obligation includes the total federal debt obligations per household as well as the average debt obligation for an American household at a personal level.  My question is this:  With median household income below $60K in the U.S. (if debt was all your income was used on – no taxes, no food, gas, clothes, shelter etc.),  – do you think Americans would be able to pay that off in their lifetime?  Buhbye American Dream…

The sad fact is that Americans became spoiled – the government was not a good role model, and the sense of saving and living within one’s means quickly flew out the window.

What USA Today, because it’s biased, fails to do is disclose the fact that 2008 alone cannot be blamed for the debt obligations of American citizens tied to the government like serfs.  The Stimulus package, the omnibus package and the budget of Barack H. Obama has increased deficit spending unlike anything this country has seen and his debt obligation alone is more than all presidents in history combined.  His out year budgets are also something to shriek at – he did not have to spend this much money, although the liberal propagandists will spin it and continue to say it was a crisis and he had to do what was necessary because he inherited this mess – I call Shenanigans!  Use Reagan’s model to dig out of a recession/depression – not FDR’s fallacious one, in which he hurt rather than helped.

It should be no surprise to anyone that in order to balance the budget and pay off this debt, taxes have to be raised.  Taxes have to increase to sustain the ever increasing size of government and due to the large drop in tax revenue for 2008 filing it really was an inevitable idea of the beltway gang.

Raising taxes while people are already hurting will make things much worse.  This proposal of a sales tax, much like the EU VAT, will be dreadful on our economy and on average regular “Joe’s.”

Rasmussen just conducted a poll asking Americans what they thought about a national sales tax at this point in time.  A whopping 68% of respondents were against the tax and only 18% approved.  If the White House is really using polling data to govern it may want to take a look at this one!

If the U.S. VAT passes I’ll be happy to point out to the young college-aged waiters that they no longer get tips – just like Europe! You voted for it!

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Unfortunately, Garofalo did not experience the backlash that would have been humorous to watch.  I do enjoy comedy and it would have been apropos to have seen her receive what she deserved after offending middle class America by making those prejudiced remarks.

Although Janeane was only confronted by Fox news prior to the event, unaware of what awaited her at her show, it was obvious that she was nervous about her comedy event being interrupted/disrupted by tea partiers.  She was so concerned that she had to open up her act by mentioning the tea partiers as “tea-baggers” and welcomed them by saying “White Power.”  Poor Janeane just doesn’t get it.  It may do her some good to take a history lesson and learn that her party is more aligned with those that want “white power.”  Neo-Nazi groups and White supremacy groups have always been Socialist by nature and believe in centralized government so they can force their beliefs upon others.  She also forgets that her party created the KKK and tried to block all of the civil rights legislation in the 50′s and 60′s.  The entitlement prorams are actually an addictive means to keep specific groups oppressed and under the thumb of the Democrats.  I recently spoke to a friend who is currently on unemployment who claimed that it was almost like heroin.  He could see how people could get addicted to welfare and government entitlements because he doesn’t have to work and everything gets paid for.  So it seems that Ms. Garofalo can dish it out but she can’t take it – once confronted she stutters and gets upset and lashes out.

She evidently cannot really back up her comments with facts and stooped low enough lie about a sign that stated “What you talking ’bout Willis?”, which I personally doubt even existed, since it has nothing to do with liberal policies or fiscal irresponsibility – which were more along the lines of the signs being held by people.  I attended a tea party in Maryland and I saw various races represented so I would love for one of these liberals to actually attend an event, speak to people, and then tell us what they think.  I’m sure they would not make such slanderous and bigoted remarks if they perhaps knew what they were talking about.  But as Reagan has said before: “It isn’t that liberals are ignorant, it’s just that they know so much that isn’t true.”

Please clue in Ms. Garofalo and let her know that making generalizations and speaking on behalf of race, and in particular blacks, as a white woman, is in fact, racist…

And just to answer your question Ms. Garofalo, many of us were upset about Bush and his spending habits and the way in which he grew government.  There were already plenty of protesters against him and the war – that got way more attention that some simple tea party protesters.  However, various bloggers and conservative forums were up in arms whenever he doled out more money and increased the size of the federal government.  The issue came to a head after this past election though.  Conservatives knew before November that Obama was a big government radical lefty who wanted a more centralized government and was going to increase spending when that is the opposite of what we should be doing right now.  And just to make it fair, McCain would not have been much better… But, enough is enough in DC and on Wall Street and many of us regular “Joes” are tired of the Elite running this country into the ground.  That’s what we are protesting and it doesn’t matter quite frankly if you are on the left or the right.  It’s time to put the founding principles back to good use and put government back on the side of the people.

It’s too bad that Garofalo and other progressives don’t see that.  It’s about the people and about the middle class – something that should concern you since we are the silent majority and the ones who pay taxes.  What happens when we  don’t have the means to pay them anymore?  That’s why we are considered the “Forgotten Men and Women.”

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Three cheers for the Massachusetts conservatives who will show up at Janeane Garofalo’s act this evening!  I can’t wait for the news tomorrow – especially the photos – I hope there will be a lot of people dressed as “tea-bagging rednecks!”  I have heard that most of the tickets to her show were sold to these protesters – oh happy days!

Hey, Janeane Garofalo, how do you like your tea?

It’s been a few weeks since the outspoken comedian and actress (“24”) called tea party tax protesters racists, but she is still in hot water with some Bay Staters.

A group of steamed citizens led by conservative radio talk host Ken Pittman of New Bedford’s WBSM-AM plan to protest outside her gig tonight at the Somerville Theatre.

“She has exposed herself as a bigot,” Pittman said.

About 20 to 40 people are expected to show up, he said.

Garofalo sparked controversy when she criticized the protesters while on MSNBC’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann.”

“You know, there’s nothing more interesting than seeing a bunch of racists become confused and angry. . . . This is about hating a black man in the White House,” she said.

Garofalo, in town to perform in the Alternative Comedy Festival, declined the Herald’s request for an interview.

“She doesn’t really want to talk about that at all,” said Brian Joyce, director of the festival. “She is coming to Somerville to play a comedy festival, not talk politics.”

Pittman said, “I’m not going violate her act or inhibit her ability to earn a living. This is purely satirical, and anyone who is not coming with a sense of humor should not bother coming.”

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Good news Tea Party goers!  The majority of the nation holds a favorable view of the protests.

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Americans have a favorable view of the “tea parties” held nationwide last week, including 32% who say their view of the events is Very favorable.

Thirty-three percent (33%) hold an unfavorable opinion of the tea parties according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure.

Only 33% are unfavorable which should be the larger indicator of how mainstream the movement really is.  The 15% may not know much about the Tea Parties and in my own opinion, much of the 15% are more apolitical to begin with and those who are apolitical tend to lean towards the right when pushed.

While half the nation has a favorable opinion of last Wednesday’s events, the nation’s Political Class has a much dimmer view—just 13% of the political elite offered even a somewhat favorable assessment while 81% said the opposite. Among the Political Class, not a single survey respondent said they had a Very Favorable opinion of the events while 60% shared a Very Unfavorable assessment.

One-in-four adults (25%) say they personally know someone who attended a tea party protest. That figure includes just one percent (1%) of those in the Political Class.

This should be a huge indication of what it is we are dealing with in D.C.  The Politiburo has become so out of tough with mainstream America and the average working “Joe” or “Joanne” that they can’t fathom why so many may think they have become out of control and drunk with power.  If I person wanted to maintain that power and control they would not be pleased with such a movement – Democrat or Republican!

David Axelrod, a top adviser to President Obama, on Sunday characterized the protests in dozens of cities on the day federal income taxes are due as potentially “unhealthy.”

Fifty-eight percent (58%) of Americans say they followed recent new stories about the tea party protests, including 32% who followed Very Closely. Forty-one percent (41%) say they didn’t follow the reports.

Republicans were far more interested in the protests than others. Seventy-six percent (76%) of Republicans followed news reports, with 50% following Very Closely. By comparison, just 47% of Democrats and 50% of adults not affiliated with either major party say they followed the reports at least somewhat closely.

It is still a very good showing that 47% of Democrats new about it and followed the parties and even better that more Independents were aware.

Just 32% of the Political Class was following along. Among those with populist, or Mainstream, views, 68% were paying attention.

While 83% of Republicans and a plurality (49%) of unaffiliated Americans have a favorable view of the tea party protests, only 28% of Democrats say the same.

I’m still happy to see that 28% of Democrats held a favorable view – that’s still a significant amount and shows that the message does at least resonate across the aisle.  I’m sure if things get worse and as people see more spending and higher taxes the numbers, even of the Democrat Party, will rise.

The Political Class and Mainstream classifications are determined by the answers to three questions measuring general attitudes about government.

Most Americans trust the judgment of the public more than political leaders, view the federal government as a special interest group and believe that big business and big government work together against the interests of investors and consumers. Only seven percent (7%) share the opposite view and can be considered part of the Political Class.

On many issues, there is a bigger gap between the Political Class and Mainstream Americans than between Mainstream Republicans and Mainstream Democrats. That was true on the tea parties, but Mainstream Republicans do express a more positive view of the protests than Mainstream Democrats. Still, a majority (54%) of Mainstream Democrats had a favorable opinion of the tea parties.

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With the massive tea party event coming in one week’s time, there has been word that liberals are planning to get in on the action by disrupting the tea party protests.

Just look out for anyone going over the top, saying inciteful, hateful things and bring a camera and just be yourself and have fun!

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