Tax Day TEA Party - The Aftermath

Many have tried to summarize what the Tax Day TEA Parties were all about, but I think Laura Ingraham, who attended the TEA Party in Washington DC, said it best in an interview about 5 minutes into this video:

"What I think what these these people all are saying is that neither political party is representing their interests. They're tired of Republicans who act like Democrats, and they're tired of Democrats who don't care about mortgaging their future. . . The common sentiment here is that at some point, this bill is going to come due. . . [These are people] who are dismissed by most of the media, who are flicked off as fleas by so many in the so-called objective media, and they're tired of it. . . This is not about politics. This is about America."

When the Tea Parties erupted on February 27, we tried to provide a fairly complete list of links to coverage of the events in various cities. There was precious little media coverage of that hastily organized event. But on April 15, there were hundreds of TEA ('Taxed Enough, Already') Parties attended by hundreds of thousands of taxpayers - estimates range from 450,000 to 1 million - an event too big for the old media to dismiss and old-guard politicians to ignore without comment. Unfortunately, they didn't listen to Laura.



Evidently, Susan Roesgen isn't happy about ordinary folks expressing opinions she doesn't personally agree with, but CNN is still happy to call her a "reporter". (This guy wants her job.)

In case you don't remember what real journalism looks like, compare the above to a surprisingly even-handed report from ABC 7 Chicago:



The old media absurdities didn't stop with that ridiculous excuse for a report by Roesgen. Many have already commented on the the frat-boy sexual terminology they used to describe their fellow Americans' attempt to (finally) be heard. Other than this mention, I won't elaborate on the gutter humor used on MSNBC, CNN, and others. It is the puerile, juvenile commentary of a sick and dying media.

Since TEA Party participants will never be a political flavor-of-the-month, old guard politicians didn't like the protests much either. Rep. Jan Schakowsky described it as "despicable", and a "shameful political stunt". To Axelrod, evidently it was 'disaffection mutated into something unhealthy'. Other commentary: "They don't know what they're protesting." (A variant of stupid-bumpkin in flyover-country political theory.) "It's racism." It was "astroturfing" by the RNC, or by Fox News, or by the Heartland Institute, or by a bewildering list of individual Republicans. And of course, the old standby: "It's Bush's fault."

Translation: Shut up and pay your taxes.

So, once again, responsible working Americans are both denigrated and "flicked off as fleas" by the "so-called objective media", dismissed and insulted by Democrats "who don't care about mortgaging their future", and I'm going to guess that didn't make them less angry. What do these awful protesters look like? Just click an epithet to see videos and photos of your fellow despicable, shameful, selfish, mutant, disaffected, astroturfed, stupid Americans, and you'll see for yourself what denigrating Democrats and a disintegrating media simply cannot understand. This really is not about politics. It's about America.

Attend a Tax Day Tea Party - If You Can't, There's a Mail-In Alternative

The Tax Day Tea Party is next Wednesday, April 15. Chicago's Tea Party will be at Kluczynski Federal Building Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn (information for this location and for other locations in Illinois is here.) And as usual, there are those (other than the old media) who don't want to allow ordinary taxpayers to have their say. World Net Daily is reporting that ACORN may be planning to crash the demonstrations:

With only one week left before citizens in 2,000 U.S. cities take to the streets in protest of government spending this Tax Day, will ACORN and the Huffington Post crash the party?

ACORN spokesman Charles Jackson told WND his group will be rallying on the same day.

"ACORN is going to be engaged in a series of rallies across the country on April 15 in support of the priorities outlined in President Obama's first budget – investments in education, health care, and getting Americans back to work," Jackson said.

He continued, "This is the first we've heard of these 'tea parties' and, frankly, a gripe-fest by a bunch of conservatives whose preferred economic policies got us in this mess in the first place is of no interest to us."

Here's a bird's eye view of the little "gripe fest" by location:

These are non-partisan events, by the way. (You don't have to be party-affiliated to be fed up with excessive taxation and government spending, as it turns out. Who knew?) According to World Net Daily, "The American Family Association is reporting tea parties for 1,856 cities Wednesday, and WND has confirmed information for more than 450 protests." WND also has a comprehensive list of locations, and a Tea Party Forum.

Because this truly is a grass roots movement, there is no single, centralized place for information, but the Tax Day Tea Party site is as close as it gets. If you absolutely cannot make it, there is still a way for you to be heard. Well before Rick Santelli's unscripted outburst on CNBC led to spontaneous tea party demonstrations all over the country nine days later, we told you about the online tea-party revolution that erupted on February 3rd over tax-evading nominees. This Twitter Tea Party has resources for you to protest by mail if you cannot attend a rally on the April 15th. (The inability to take off work to attend protests is a common malady among taxpayers, strangely enough.)

Oh - almost forgot about Huffington Post's "tracking" effort:

"The Huffington Post wants to have citizen journalists at as many of these events as possible," the website states. "If you think you'd be interested in attending one of the Tea Parties and reporting back to us with dispatches, photos, or video, click here to sign up. We'll contact you shortly with further instructions."

A link takes readers to a sign-up page where the Huffington Post explains, "On tax day, April 15, there will be protests with conservative movement leaders across the country, railing against government and high taxes. HuffPost is developing a citizen reporting team to keep track of this movement."

So, for a bit of fun, be sure to take your still or video camera so you can keep track of them while they keep track of you, and if you're attending the Chicago Tea Party, be sure to bring lots - I mean lots - of quarters.

Here's Something for Every American!

If you feel your American History class failed you - this will help.

Blagojevich, His Brother, 4 Others Indicted

The criminal complaint issued last December has now culminated in the expected indictments:

Disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich, his brother Rob, who managed his campaign fund, two former Blago chiefs of staff, John Harris and Lon Monk, Blagojevich pal and fundraiser Christopher Kelly, and longtime Springfield political insider and the only Republican in the bunch, William Cellini.

It's the third time Kelly has been indicted, but the first time for public corruption--Kelly has already pleaded guilty to tax charges. Cellini was indicted last fall for allegedly attempting to extort campaign contributions for Blagojevich--who of course is a Democrat. (more...)

You can find the indictment, fact sheet, and press release at the DOJ Chicago Press Room (2009). Legal Insurrection explains:

The nineteen Counts in the Indictment contain allegations which mostly have surfaced before, including alleged attempts to sell Barack Obama's open Senate seat in exchange for campaign contributions and a possible job for Blagojevich after leaving office, attempted extortion of campaign contributions from Chicago Children's Hospital, attempted extortion of a racetrack owner, and attempts to have Blagojevich's wife, Patty, benefit in her real estate business. (more...)

While in the machine establishment Democrats would like you to believe otherwise, Anne at Backyard Conservative is reminding us that there are No Dem Victims:

Before we go any further down this road, I noted last night at least one news organization was referring to Rahm Emanuel as a "victim". Please. Rod Blagojevich was Rahmbo's predecessor in the 5th congressional seat and Emanuel was a big supporter of Blago early on, helping in his first run for governor. (more...)

She's calling for you to support transparency, too. I think there's something else you can do. Corruption on the scale achieved by Chicago politicians can't happen without corrupt citizens. Yes, I said citizens. Citizens who are willing to use the government to take your money for their benefit, whether it's double dipping, or contracts unfairly obtained, or legislative favors. If you are not one of them, please understand that this is NOT "just the way things get done". They are using you for their own self-promotion, benefiting their families, not yours, and they will vote the status quo. I think it's possible that honest folks may still outnumber them. Wake up, register if you haven't, and VOTE THEM OUT.

More info:
DOJ Press Release at Illinois Review
Clout Street: Blagojevich, brother, aides indicted
US DOJ Northern District Press Room (2008)
Blagojevich & Harris Criminal Complaint: Index, Outline