Tea Party U.S.A.: The movement grows

By Michelle Malkin  •  February 21, 2009 04:16 AM

Seattle on Monday. Denver on Tuesday. Mesa AZ on Wednesday. Overland Park, Kansas today. What a week, huh? We got the anti-stimulus, anti-entitlement protest ball rolling — and now the movement, spurred further by CNBC host Rick Santelli’s call for a “Chicago Tea Party,” is really taking off.

David Hogberg at Investor’s Business Daily has a nice piece out today spotlighting the growing taxpayer revolt the rest of the MSM won’t cover. He interviewed our registered commenters Liberty Belle Keli Carender, who spearheaded the Seattle anti-pork protest, and HuskerGirl Amanda Grosserode, who organized today’s anti-stimulus demonstration against Democrat Rep. Dennis Moore in Overland Park, KS.

I’m happy to report on several new protest events now on the docket.

My friend Michael Patrick Leahy of Top Conservatives on Twitter and his crew are spearheading “simultaneous local tea parties around the country, beginning in Chicago, and including Washington DC, Fayetteville NC, San Diego CA, Omaha Nebraska, and dozens of other locations” for next Friday.

Time: February 27, 2009 from 12pm to 1pm
Location: Chicago, Washington DC, other cities, Twitter

Go to OfficialChicagoTeaParty.com for all the info.

Co-sponsors of the events with #TCOT include #DONTGO, Smart Girl Politics, Americans for Tax Reform, Heartland Institute, and American Spectator Magazine. The tea parties will be “simultweeted” with the hashtag #teaparty. You can find me tweeting here.

There’s a Facebook page here for the DC Tea Party. I hear that PJTV will also be stepping up to the plate.

If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, reader Mark Christopher Frimmel has come forward to put a Tea Party ’09 event together. He put up an ad on Dallas Craigslist, has contacted local radio and TV, and wants you to be there. The protest will be held on the outside stage at The Cowtown Bar & Grill on Friday, Feb. 27, from 3pm to 7pm, located at 7108 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth, TX. Music, food, and great fiscal conservative company guaranteed.

Are you in Georgia? Reader Patrick e-mails that he’s “getting a tax protest off the ground in Atlanta. I’d appreciate it if you’d pass on the word. The blog is http://atlantataxprotest.blogspot.com.” He needs your help. Calling Neal Boortz!

Here’s a snippet from Hogberg’s IBD piece to get your motors running:

As unemployment soars and anger over Wall Street bailouts mounts, public outrage will seek an outlet. Populism could go in many directions — and could easily ebb when the economy revives. But if it takes shape as an anti-spending movement, it could revive conservatives much as the 1970s tax protests did.

To be sure, the protest sizes so far are a far cry from the left’s anti-globalization and anti-war demonstrations of the past decade. But they appear to have grass-roots origins. The organizer of the Kansas protest, Amanda Grosserode, calls herself a home-schooling mom who is “fed up” with the spending in Washington. She has been a member of Fair Tax Kansas City since last fall.

“My husband and I were feeling frustrated that the stimulus had passed with very little debate and no one had read it,” she told IBD. “I said, ‘We need to do something.’ ” She began contacting family and friends, and eventually received attention via Fair Tax Kansas City and local talk radio.

Grosserode received considerably more publicity after e-mailing popular conservative commentator and blogger Michelle Malkin.

“I think the taxpayer revolt is the new counterculture,” said Malkin, who has been publicizing the protests on her blog. “People want to stand up and say, ‘Hey, I’m paying for that, I do not support that.’ “

Brendan Steinhauser has a terrific set of detailed tips on how to organize your own tea party protest.

Don’t wait for someone else to do it.

Don’t make excuses.

Don’t think you can pull one off because you’ve never done it before? Look at mom-bloggers Liberty Belle and HuskerGirl.

Yes, you can!

***

I’ve put together a playlist of tunes for Tea Party USA — and several parodies submitted by commenters and readers. Bailoutmania is apparently bringing out the songwriters in you, too.

My favorite Schoolhouse Rock Tea Party song, “No More Kings:”

And check out my second Schoolhouse Rock classic, rewritten by the fabulous Jim Treacher and Batton Lash: How a “stimulus” bill became law.

George of EU Rota reminds me of the perfect Spinal Tap song for the cult of entitlement, “Gimme Some Money:”

Royce Dunbar produced “The Subprime Mortgage Blues.”

Reader L.C. e-mails:

I made this up as I watch[ed] the ridiculous, sad, terrifying vote on the Stimulus Package! Thanks for your good work on covering it all!

Sing to “American Pie”

A long, long time ago…
we can still remember
How Ronald Regan made us smile.
And we knew if we had a chance
we could make those Democrats dance
And, surely we’d be happy for a while.

But this February should makes us shiver
With every promise Nancy delivers.
Bad stimulus on the doorstep;
We shouldn’t take one more step.

We will remember when we cried
As we read Harry’s big fat lies,
But something is foul deep inside
The day responsibility died.

So bye-bye, to our kids piece of the pie.
Obama Drives us to the brink,
will leave us all high and dry.
Coburn and the boys were tryin’ all they could think
Singin’, “You’re making our economy die.
you’ve taken our kid’s piece of the pie.”

Can we still trust in our gov,
We will need our faith in God above,
If we want to make them go.
Do we believe in principles,
Can we be saved from those liberals,
And can Mitch and John keep their troops in tow?

Well, the Unions are in love with them
`cause they read the same liberal hymm.
They change all the rules.
Now we got those stimulus blues.

We’ll end up lonely and without a buck
Just a Green job and a hybrid truck,
Right now, we are out of luck
The day responsibility died.

We started singing,
“bye-bye, our kid’s piece of the pie.”
Obama drives us to the brink,
will leave us all be high and dry.
Coburn and the boys trying all they could think
singing “You’re making our economy die.
you’ve taken our kid’s piece of the pie.”

Now for two months we’ve been on our own
Ried, Nancy and Obama have clearly shown,
Their way is how it’s gonna be.
They’re jesters, jokes and drama queens,
Throwin’ cash around like they’re seventeen
Not listening to the voice of you and me,

And while they read a book of Marx,
We praise Friedman in the dark
The day responsiblity died.

We were singing,
“bye-bye, our kids’ piece of the pie.”
Obama drives us to the brink,
will leave us high and dry.
Coburn and the boys were tryin’ all they could think
singin, ” You’re making our economy die.
you’ve taken our kid’s piece of the pie.”

But we can not sign the blues
We will work for happy news,
Freedom is 21 months away.
We must go to the roof and shout “no more,”
Like we did 15 years before,
It is time to put an end to the Lib’s day.

For today believers in responsibility screamed,
Conservatives cried, But we still will dream.
Loud words must be spoken;
“Our Liberal government is broken.”
And three men to whom we could turn:
Pawlenty, Jindal and Coburn,
From their leadership we can surely learn.

Today, responsibility died.

‘Til then we will be singing:
“bye-bye, our kid’s piece of the pie.”
Obama drives us to the brink,
will leave us all be high and dry.
Coburn and the boys were trying all they could think
singing “You’re making our economy die.
you’ve taken our kid’s piece of the pie.”

From mm.com commenter Mark x, sung to the tune of Janis Joplin:

Oh Barry, wont you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So lord, wont you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?

Oh Mr. President, wont you buy me a color tv ?
Dialing for dollars is trying to find me.
I wait for delivery each day until three,
So oh Barry, wont you buy me a color tv ?

Oh Messiah, wont you buy me a night on the town ?
Im counting on you, Messiah, please dont let me down.
Prove that you love me and buy the next round,
Oh Messiah, wont you buy me a night on the town ?

Reader Barry e-mails:

I wrote this parody of “Dixie” to protest the socialistic programs hidden in the stimulus bill…

NIX-FREE VS. FIX-ME LAND

I wish I was in the land of bought ‘n’
Sold; times there were not so rotten.
Congress say, no delay, take away Nix-free land.
In Nix-free land that I was born in,
Clearly I was not forlorn in,
Made my way, saved my pay, had a say, Nix-free land.

Chorus:
Now I wish I was in Nix-free like yesterday!
In Nix-free land I took my stand to live and vie in Nix-free.
Could pray or stray with wayward mouth un-P.C.
If they hold sway, they’ll stay my mouth from D.C.

Obama’s massive bill was eager;
Billions cost but jobs were meager.
Cooked entree books flambe, took away Nix-free land.
Just try to get your arms around it;
Miles of paper haven’t yet bound it.
Ev’ry way, give-away, to create Fix-me land. (Chorus)

Our bucks he takes and brings to scatter;
Makes you mad but it doesn’t matter.
Took away, won’t repay, it’s new day, Fix-me land.
Then slow it down and hatch your babble;
To Nix-free land we’ll rouse the rabble,
For the range of the change makes a strange Fix-me land. (Chorus)

And here’s Woody Guthrie’s remake of Tom Paxton’s “I am changing my name to Chrysler,” which he updated to “I am changing my name to Fannie Mae.”

Oh the price of gold is rising out of sight
And the dollar is in sorry shape tonight
What the dollar used to get us now won’t buy a head of lettuce
No the economic forecast isn’t right
But amidst the clouds I spot a shining ray
I can even glimpse a new and better way
And I’ve devised a plan of action worked it down to the last fraction
And I’m going into action here today

CHORUS:
I am changing my name to Fannie Mae
I am going down to Washington D.C.
I’ll be glad they got my back
‘Cause what they did for Freddie Mac
Will be perfectly acceptable to me
I am changing my name to Fannie Mae
I am headed for that great receiving line
So when they hand a trillion grand out
I’ll be standing with my hand out
I’ll get mine

When my creditors are screaming for their dough
I’ll be proud to tell them all where they can go
They won’t have to scream and holler
They’ll be paid to the last dollar
Where the endless streams of money seem to flow
I’ll be glad to tell them all what they can do
It’s a matter of a simple form or two
It’s not just remuneration it’s a liberal education
Ain’t you kind of glad that I’m in debt to you

Chorus

Since the first amphibians crawled out of the slime (of the slime!)
We’ve been struggling in an unrelenting climb
We were hardly up and walking before money started talking
And it’s sad that failure is an awful crime
It’s been that way for a millennium or two
But now it seems that there’s a different point of view
If you’re a corporate titanic and your failure is gigantic
Down in Congress there’s a safety net for you

Chorus

Rock on.

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Posted in: Tea Party

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Comments


  1. #201
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm, freemind25 said:

    How can the private sector get us out of this? Most the major banks are insolvent. 2 of the largest investment banks are gone others are no longer investment banks. Most major companies are cutting back spending. It would be wonderful if the private sector could get us out of this mess, but while you are waiting for that you may want to also wait for the tooth fairy and santa claus. This stimulus can work if the people hold the administrations feet to the fire and point out all wasteful activity.

  2. #202
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm, happyscrapper said:

    Off topic, but timely…

    http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/02/obama-birth-cer.html

    Isn’t it strange that Obama refuses to allow the State of Hawaii to release his original birth certificate, even though it is REQUIRED to prove citizenship in order to become POTUS? He could put all this speculation and controversy to rest once and for all. Why won’t he??? And why is he allowed to get a pass on this?

  3. #203
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 2:54 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On February 22nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm, freemind25 said:
    How can the private sector get us out of this? Most the major banks are insolvent. 2 of the largest investment banks are gone others are no longer investment banks. Most major companies are cutting back spending. It would be wonderful if the private sector could get us out of this mess, but while you are waiting for that you may want to also wait for the tooth fairy and santa claus. This stimulus can work if the people hold the administrations feet to the fire and point out all wasteful activity.

    Let me explain a little about our capitalist society. The private sector, the large and small businesses generate the jobs, thus the economy hinges on them. To get the private sector to generate more jobs, you need to cut taxes so they can move ahead with their business and hire more people. I’m sorry, but you are thinking like a liberal…seriously! Big government won’t work. Cutting taxes WILL. I know I’m shouting because you aren’t listening. And the only tooth fairy or santa claus these days are the liberal democrats!

  4. #204
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 2:56 pm, happyscrapper said:

    By the way, freemind, how do you propose we “hold their feet to the fire”? No one in DC is listening. They are laughing at us. We are the “chattering class”, remember? They don’t care what we think. Why would they all of a sudden start listening?

  5. #205
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 3:00 pm, happyscrapper said:

    I remember hearing Obama a few weeks ago referring to the public as “ordinary people” and Obama’s administration as “prominent people”. That statement showed his true opinion.

  6. #206
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 3:04 pm, nlebou said:

    On February 22nd, 2009 at 3:00 pm, happyscrapper said:
    I remember hearing Obama a few weeks ago referring to the public as “ordinary people” and Obama’s administration as “prominent people”. That statement showed his true opinion.

    I saw that, and remember thinking “that is exactly why I could not vote for you”.

  7. #207
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 3:08 pm, freemind25 said:

    To get the private sector to generate more jobs, you need to cut taxes so they can move ahead with their business and hire more people. I’m sorry, but you are thinking like a liberal…seriously! Big government won’t work.

    Tax cuts only go far. If a company is not making any money they aren’t paying any taxes anyway. So you cut the tax rate of GM or Ford, Citbank, etc, to 0% is not going to make 1 bit of difference.

  8. #208
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 3:16 pm, MichaelO said:

    All of us PERPs need to get together against the CLICs. Whining about it won’t get it done.

  9. #209
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 3:31 pm, happyscrapper said:

    Tax cuts only go far. If a company is not making any money they aren’t paying any taxes anyway. So you cut the tax rate of GM or Ford, Citbank, etc, to 0% is not going to make 1 bit of difference.

    O.K. There are other things besides cutting taxes. You mention GM and Ford. The unions are destroying those businesses! They refuse to make any concessions in order to bring down the cost of producing the autos and become competetive. If they won’t give even an inch, then GM and Ford should go down. Period. It’s the Unions!!! They are forcing the company to pay so much in wages, benefits and pension that they are losing $2,000 per car. Do the math. And our dear dictator is in their back pocket. As for Citbank. Bye bye. There are other banks who do business better, obviously. Painful? Yes! But it is the only way. Government is printing money to make this all better! In a very short time, a loaf of bread will cost $10.00.

  10. #210
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 3:37 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Well, just heard that Obama is going to no only raise taxes on the “rich”, but also raise taxes on business.

    How this will help the economy is beyond me. Mark my words:

    High spending, combined with the influx of printed money will result in massive inflation, and depression.

    High taxes will prevent any kind of recovery, and will only make matters worse.

    Obama’s socialist plans are going to fail. BIG TIME.

    And for those who think tax cuts on business only go to big business think again as small business is the backbone of this country. When you raise taxes, you will strangle the ability for growth, hiring, etc. Those of you who have never owned or operated a business will never know.

  11. #211
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 3:55 pm, katablog said:

    This stimulus can work if the people hold the administrations feet to the fire and point out all wasteful activity.

    Really? so you think dirty harry is going to drop his $8 billion light rail from LA to Nevada? Tell you what, you go work on dirty harry and I’ll find you some more wasteful projects, like electrolyzing my medical records so the government can spy on me.

    The government is no miracle worker, O is no Messiah and this bailout will NOT work. As I’ve said before, watch the stock market on Monday and Tuesday as O’s plan to raise taxes business and the “wealthy” hits the streets! Then you will see capital being withdrawn from the market in huge portions and watch our economy really drop like a rock.

    You simply don’t understand economics freeman25 and you don’t understand freedom.

  12. #212
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 4:09 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    For people who think this fake spending stimulus plan will work, I suggest a short read here about Japan’s lost decade.

  13. #213
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 4:30 pm, Misscheryl said:

    9:05 am, Flyoverman said:

    Why in the world you included me in your post is beyond me? Either you have confused me with someone else, or you aren’t paying attention.

  14. #214
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 4:31 pm, happyscrapper said:

    From Drudge Report: “President Obama is putting the finishing touches on an ambitious first budget that seeks to cut the federal deficit in half over the next four years, primarily by RAISING TAXES ON BUSINESSES AND THE WEALTHY and by SLASHING SPENDING ON THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN administration officials said.

    In addition to tackling a deficit swollen by the $787 billion stimulus package and other efforts to ease the nation’s economic crisis, the budget blueprint will press aggressively for progress on the domestic agenda Obama outlined during the presidential campaign. This would include KEY CHANGES TO ENVIRONMENTALIST POLICIES and a MAJOR EXPANSION OF HEALTH COVERAGE that he hopes to enact later this year.”

    Key changes to environmentalist policies will cost billions. major expansion of health coverage will cost billions. And this will cut the deficit in half in four years? He truly must be the long-awaited messiah! Need I say more? He is moving faster than anyone predicted and we are so screwed. I have a feeling this will accelerate the protests!

  15. #215
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 4:37 pm, happyscrapper said:

    Obama’s economic plan…Increase already huge taxes on the rich and on businesses. Slash the defense budget. Expand environmently wacky policies that will bankrupt most of our energy sources. Expand healthcare coverage to take care of all the illegal aliens who are invading our sovereign nation. This was predicted, but no one listened. These people are certifiably insane. Almost half this country did NOT vote for any of these bozos. Revolution is now.

  16. #216
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 4:40 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    We’re already on our way to becoming a third world country…the liberals have successfully dumbed down America (union controlled schools with programs aimed at social justice instead of science and math), created a dependency state, and the icing on the cake will be to punish (tax out of oblivion) those who create wealth for themselves and others, and to hammer them down (confiscate their earnings) all in the ultimate goal of “fairness” and “equality”. Every time I hear those two words coming out of a liberal’s ugly mouth, I cringe.

    If socialized medicine does make it through congress (I have my doubts), that will be the ultimate end to R&D, research and excellence in medicine from the United States. It will also bankrupt the government.

    Who would want to get into medicine then? Who wants a job as a government doctor making 1/4 of what they would be making in the private sector? What motivation will there be to become doctors or nurses for that matter?

  17. #217
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 4:44 pm, Misscheryl said:

    2009 at 2:40 pm, happyscrapper said:
    I am also getting really tired of hearing, “You have no heart. If you had your way, no one would get help

    Happy – ever notice how the left really relies heavily on guilt. It’s amazing to me because the leftist uptopic vision was founded on freedom from religion imposed guilt…go figure.

  18. #218
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 4:45 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Happyscrapper, I wouldn’t agree with you more. Yeah, Obumbo won based on his “cool” personality and nothing else. The popular vote was won by a little less than 10 million people (not all that great considering he spent $750 million to buy his election.)

    Sure, the ultimate win was in electoral votes which I support 100% but that doesn’t matter now, as these economic plans are affecting individuals not the electoral states.

    Just wait until the plan falls flat on its face, and you’ll see the civil unrest you’re talking about. Once the [uneducated] sheeple find out they’re not getting everything for free off the “rich” people’s backs like Obama promised them, you’ll see massive looting and taking of personal property and chaos.

    Be prepared.

  19. #219
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 5:06 pm, happyscrapper said:

    We are taking steps to protect what is ours. We live in a fairly safe suburb, but crime can happen anywhere and it will increase, thanks to Barack. How can one man be so unbelievably clueless and still actually be elected to the most powerful job in the world? I still can hardly believe this has happened. Just wait…freedom of speech and assembly will be the next to go. I can’t imagine they want us “talking amongst ourselves”! I am so afraid for my grandchildren.

  20. #220
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 5:11 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    ever notice how the left really relies heavily on guilt.

    You can only feel guilty if you let someone make you feel guility – for something you have done or wanted. You can still have a conscence without having guilt.

    When the ego is negotiating with the external world, the id must have had a want or desire. But without a desire, why should the internal id be influenced by an unimportant external stimuli?

    So when the left has a cause du jour, is is very easy to dismiss them without waking up in the middle of the night with an irrational desire to buy a plane ticket to Gaza and lay down in front of an Israeli Army bulldozer.

  21. #221
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 5:13 pm, happyscrapper said:

    We are over 3 generations away from the Civil War and freeing of the slaves, yet the blacks of this generation think the white people owe them for slavery. Now, Obama has found a way to give them the reparations they have been demanding. It wasn’t enough to ensure they had equal rights. They want to turn the successful and rich white people into the slaves. Well, if that is to be, I hope they incude Hollywood!

  22. #222
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 5:14 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Here’s another piece from Spiegel Online titled “What Obama can Learn From Germany”

    Excerpt:

    No US president governed on credit with such abandon as FDR. Obama, however, is now trying to emulate him. He has already asked Congress for $1.5 trillion in debt-financed public spending. Another $2 trillion could follow, if the banking sector continues to be unsettled.

    But nobody should worry about the cost, say those who are trying to sell the FDR model. That is exactly the clever thing about this product: Everything pays for itself. If a country has enjoyed too many economic excesses — so says the instruction manual — it should simply keep partying. The merry reveler knows no hangover, as the Germans like to say.

    And anyone who feels a bit unwell has drunk, not too much, but too little from the credit punchbowl. The limiting factor is not money, writes the Nobel laureate Paul Krugman, goading on the Obama administration, but the timing and the speed of the borrowing.

    Erhard called such rhetoric “cheating the people.” His key words were not consumption and credit, but pay and performance. He insisted, practically to the point of stubbornness, that work and only work is the foundation of prosperity: “We must either make do with less or work more.” He felt that the third way, which leads to the vault of the next best bank, was a dead end.

    Read the rest here, it’s worth it.

    Unfortunately, thanks to liberals, they have already formed a society of dependency with welfare without accountability, etc. Hard to take away something that’s become a lifestyle.

  23. #223
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 5:17 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    How can one man be so unbelievably clueless and still actually be elected to the most powerful job in the world? I still can hardly believe this has happened.

    Kinda reminds me of the book “Being There” by Jerzy Kosinski (movie with Peter Sellers).

    We’ve been had.

  24. #224
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 5:18 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    an irrational desire to … lay down in front of an Israeli Army bulldozer.

    OMG, it never dawned on me before!

    I just realized that Rachael must have read too much ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy‘ and thought it was a true story. Then again, maybe she just forgot her towel…

  25. #225
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 5:26 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    Well, Im off to go stimulate the economy.

    Just bought a new house last week, so I am heading to the stores this afternoon to spend about 10K on new furniture, big screens and surround sound systems.

    Oh and none of that will put me in debt. I’ll be spending the cash that I have been saving by living in an apartment for the past several years.

    And here I cant believe I was stupid enough to be financially responsible for all this time.

  26. #226
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 6:09 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    RabbidSquirrel,

    Congratulations on your new home! Have fun getting new stuff! Always nice when you have the cash to spend, and not put yourself into debt.

    Liberals…please take note.

  27. #227
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 6:28 pm, Misscheryl said:

    flyover - I can only say re: your post. Clinton and China are both enemies of our country. But I will agree with your point that it is unfathomable that the USofA is soliciting China for money. However, knowing what buddies the Clintons are with China – what better person to send but her. She is just glowing in her Secretary of Statedness, I mean gloating! ick!

  28. #228
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm, dadinseattle said:

    How can the private sector get us out of this?

    Get government out of their way!
    The weak will fail, the competitive will continue and unless this is allowed to happen than the false “prop up” just prolongs the problem.
    We have bankruptcy laws that allow for all this.
    Businesses must be allowed to succeed and to fail.
    Government does the same with our children’s education, they prop up and push along students that really have failed to learn what they needed to before moving on.

  29. #229
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 7:31 pm, katablog said:

    freeman25: Let’s back track for a minute. Just who do you think the Government gets its money from?

    Surly you can’t argue that the government can purchase as well or as smartly as consumers. Everyone knows the government overpays for everything (latest example is $78 billion overpaid for bank stock). Do you think the American taxpayer should suck up another $78 billion loss on stupid government spending? Would any consumer get such a raw deal?

    Next, where do you think banks get their money? Pick it off trees?

    Are you aware there are thousands of banks across the USA who have not taken any bailout money, don’t need any and are quite profitable?

    So tell me again why the People (who supply the money to the government and banks) should bail out those who made bad decisions. What’s to guarantee that they won’t make more bad decisions?

  30. #230
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 8:11 pm, freemind25 said:

    So tell me again why the People (who supply the money to the government and banks) should bail out those who made bad decisions. What’s to guarantee that they won’t make more bad decisions?

    Its called too big to fail. A collapse of Citigroup or Bank of America, as well as AIG, would cause a ripple effect in the world economy that would pale in comparison to what we saw when Lehman went under. It will cost us more in the future to allow these institutions to fail than it would to bail them out. Does it reward bad behavior? Absolulty. But at this point there are few alternatives.

  31. #231
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 8:28 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Let them fail. Deal with the pain.

    That’s the ONLY they will learn. Otherwise, we have just become a nation of enablers.

    When does it stop?

  32. #232
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 9:24 pm, happyscrapper said:

    Does it reward bad behavior? Absolulty. But at this point there are few alternatives.

    I see you have been listening to our dear Leader, President Crisis. I wouldn’t care if it was the ONLY alternative. It is wrong. It won’t work. I’m sorry you can’t wrap your brain around simple economics, but that’s the story. Government cannot save us. It is We the People who made this country great, not the politicians in Washington DC. They are only there at the “pleasure” of the voters. And they can be voted out. And they will. I am tired of defending the capitalist system against those who just don’t get it. I want to talk about something else. Maybe tomorrow, new and intesting threads will take us to exciting places! Goodnight.

  33. #233
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 9:26 pm, happyscrapper said:

    intesting = interesting. Phooey.

  34. #234
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 pm, happyscrapper said:

    God Bless The U.S.A.
    by Lee Greenwood

    If tomorrow all the things were gone,
    I’d worked for all my life.
    And I had to start again,
    with just my children and my wife.

    I’d thank my lucky stars,
    to be livin here today.
    ‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
    and they can’t take that away.

    And I’m proud to be an American,
    where at least I know I’m free.
    And I wont forget the men who died,
    who gave that right to me.

    And I gladly stand up,
    next to you and defend her still today.
    ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
    God bless the USA.

    From the lakes of Minnesota,
    to the hills of Tennessee.
    Across the plains of Texas,
    From sea to shining sea.

    From Detroit down to Houston,
    and New York to L.A.
    Well there’s pride in every American heart,
    and its time we stand and say.

    That I’m proud to be an American,
    where at least I know I’m free.
    And I wont forget the men who died,
    who gave that right to me.

    And I gladly stand up,
    next to you and defend her still today.
    ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
    God bless the USA.

  35. #235
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 pm, chapoutier said:

    I am shocked, SHOCKED, I say, that there is no Oscars thread.

    I was really looking forward to RedPill’s theories as to why Slumdog Millionaire isn’t really eligible for Best Picture as well as lgm’s postulation that its okay that Penelope Cruz won because actresses much worse than her (I’m looking at you Kim Basinger) have won best supporting actress in the past.

  36. #236
    On February 22nd, 2009 at 11:23 pm, katablog said:

    Its called too big to fail.

    Freeman25: you are not free at all. You’ve drunk the koolaid and you simply are here to reiterate what dear leader has told you. You are playing politics.

    We’ve given you some excellent information and answered your arguments but you simply won’t open your mind. You are trapped in there and you refuse to let your self out to open to new ideas and thoughts. There’s simply no more reason to talk with you.

    You certain won’t change any minds here because your argument are shallow and full of socialism – except when it comes your turn to share, you aren’t even willing to do that.

    We won’t change your mind because you won’t allow any sound argument into your head. I feel sorry for you; there will be a time when you come to really realize socialism is never the answer because the model doesn’t work the way it was built.

    I can only suggest you read Atlas Shrugged.

  37. #237
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 12:05 am, chapoutier said:

    I can only suggest you read Atlas Shrugged.

    I would suggest anyone read the first 150 pages or so of Atlas Shrugged and then skip the rest.

    Let’s be honest people…you may like the message of the book. But it is not well written. It is repetitive, pedantic, over-wrought, verbose and self-indulgent.

  38. #238
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 12:33 am, Kevin K. said:

    On February 23rd, 2009 at 12:05 am, chapoutier said: (#237)

    I can only suggest you read Atlas Shrugged.

    I would suggest anyone read the first 150 pages or so of Atlas Shrugged and then skip the rest.

    Let’s be honest people…you may like the message of the book. But it is not well written. It is repetitive, pedantic, over-wrought, verbose and self-indulgent.

    Is there a Reader’s Digest Condensed Books version? I waded through it once–except for most of the seemingly interminable John Galt speech (which was probably the whole premise of the book in 50 pages)–and would like to refresh my memory of what I read without all the pain. Ah, heck, maybe I’ll just look for the Cliff Notes on it.

    I agree with Chapoutier on the pedantic and self-indulgent critique. The book needed some serious editing. But it’s still worth reading. Once in full and then look for shortcuts.

  39. #239
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 12:34 am, thefoundingfathers said:

    I spent the weekend with some of my relatives who are financial people in NYC. According to them, most of the financial people are saying DC has no clue in what they are doing and have little confidence the gov’t plan will work.

    Freemind25, nothing is too big to fail, including the US gov’t. The consequenses might not be pretty, but throwing good money after bad only makes the situation worse.

    Downturns in the economy clean out the deadwood and allow the economy to start moving again. Will there be pain? Yes and lots of it, but it beats the prolonging of the inevitable. Mother Nature in her wisdom burns down old forests for new ones. The result is a stronger forest until it grows old again, which is a natural progression.

    This crisis will work itself out much quicker if the so called “experts” that got here in the first place get the hell out of the way. We have been through much worse and survived, but if we rely on the gov’t and other ‘ism’s other than the capitalism that allowed us to become the strong country we have been and will continue to be, we won’t be fine.

  40. #240
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 1:02 am, RetFireman said:

    One thing is clear, you didn’t read blogs. We spent GBs of space making tons of noise. Many of us held our noses (even after declaring we wouldn’t) and voted McCain. Some of us even donated to GOP campaigns. We spent a lot of time calling and emailing.

    Then you aren’t the one’s I was referring to, now are you?

    Where was I? Are you new? I was actively working AGAINST Obama getting elected. I was sending letters, calling Congress, blogging, working for the Republican Party, even when it hurt as I watched daily the Republican Party leave their base.

    I was working to get the word out about who and what Obama was and is, what an Obama Presidency and Administration would mean BEFORE the election.

    So if you are taking offense because of what I said and what you are claiming to have done, then you either did not read what I wrote, or you have one hell of a guilty conscience.

  41. #241
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 2:48 am, a crapweasel said:

    If they nationalize banks I’m pulling my money out and buying a safe.

  42. #242
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 5:17 am, Socky said:

    This stimulus can work if the people hold the administrations feet to the fire and point out all wasteful activity.

    The entire “Stimulus” is wasteful activity. Racking up trillions of dollars in debt to build dog parks and golf courses is wasteful activity, and it’s in the bill. Bailing out the gold-plated pension systems states give to public employees is wasteful activity… but it’s exactly what the Spendulus does.

  43. #243
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 5:20 am, Socky said:

    If a company like CitiGroup is too big to fail, does that mean the rest of us are too small to succeed?

  44. #244
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 5:34 am, wild thing2 said:

    I love it thank you so much Michelle.

  45. #245
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 5:59 am, graysonret said:

    This stimulus can work if the people hold the administrations feet to the fire and point out all wasteful activity.

    Unfortunately, there are too many people with their “hand out” for money to care whether it will work or not. It’s the old, “Money talks, etc.”. In our declining values and morals, there aren’t enough people to care about liberty and freedom, than there are caring about how much money they will get. Feeding frenzies respect nothing; something the government, today, is banking on(pun intended).

  46. #246
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 8:39 am, jangar said:

    This so called ‘stimulus’ bill, and others like it, are nothing more than tools to buy Democrat votes in preparation for 2010 and 2012.

    Add to that socialism, and growing government to a size that can never be reduced, is another benefit.

    Otherwise, there is no logical reason for it. Democrats’ Perfect Storm.

  47. #247
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 8:43 am, Misscheryl said:

    would suggest anyone read the first 150 pages or so of Atlas Shrugged and then skip the rest.

    Personally, (I really didn’t want this to get out), but that’s what I did.

  48. #248
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 8:46 am, Misscheryl said:

    jangar said:

    nail..head.

  49. #249
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 9:23 am, katablog said:

    Is there a Reader’s Digest Condensed Books version? I waded through it once–except for most of the seemingly interminable John Galt speech (which was probably the whole premise of the book in 50 pages)–and would like to refresh my memory of what I read without all the pain.

    I listened to Atlas Shrugged on my iPod (about 60 hours), thereby skipping parts I felt were redundant, including Galt’s speech. I find it fascinating that a book written in 1957 is coming true today.

    The point is – there are many people who need to understand how socialism actually works, not on paper, but in action.

  50. #250
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 9:25 am, jangar said:

    On February 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 pm, chapoutier said:
    I am shocked, SHOCKED, I say, that there is no Oscars thread.

    Breaking tradition, I actually watched it for the first time in 10 years (daughter wanted to see gowns). It was sick and appauling to see the usual crowd of self-appointed heros of the human experience break their arms off slapping themselves and each other on the back over issues that have brought this once great nation to its knees (praying to their porcelain god).

    Oh, and Penn is a puke…he just doesn’t know it yet.

  51. #251
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 am, Misscheryl said:

    Breaking tradition, I actually watched it for the first time in 10 years (daughter wanted to see gowns). It was sick and appauling to see the usual crowd of self-appointed heros of the human experience break their arms off slapping themselves and each other on the back over issues that have brought this once great nation to its knees (praying to their porcelain god).

    Oh, and Penn is a puke…he just doesn’t know it yet.

    you are a better parent than I. It’s a disgusting display of golden image worship..and displays human nature at it’s worst. Even though these people pat themselves on the back about how “good” they are. Saving children from other countries while they ignore ours and spew about love and caring while they divorce each other for the next schmuck…they are to be pittied.

  52. #252
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 9:48 am, jangar said:

    On February 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 am, Misscheryl said:
    you are a better parent than I.

    It can serve as a teachable moment. The daughter didn’t last very long until she found something better to do with her time (talk on the phone).

  53. #253
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 9:52 am, happyscrapper said:

    On February 23rd, 2009 at 5:20 am, Socky said:
    If a company like CitiGroup is too big to fail, does that mean the rest of us are too small to succeed?

    That is the official quote of the month!

  54. #254
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am, Misscheryl said:

    It can serve as a teachable moment. The daughter didn’t last very long until she found something better to do with her time (talk on the phone).

    Smart girl!

  55. #255
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 am, happyscrapper said:

    I heard that there are just 5 states that will be getting the bulk of the mortgage bailout money. California, Michigan, Florida…two other southern border (I think) states. Hmmmm…that is a bit suspicious, don’t you think? We can pretty much figure CA is because of illegals and moonbats. Another reason is probably due to house flippers. Other than Michigan getting really screwed by the unions, I doubt most of these people have exhibited responsible behavior.

  56. #256
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 am, jangar said:

    On February 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 am, happyscrapper said:

    The never-ending-democrat-campaign strategy.

  57. #257
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 10:22 am, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah; Michelle, you forgot last week’s Billy Idol song. . . .

  58. #258
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 10:40 am, Salt said:

    On February 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 pm, chapoutier said:

    I was really looking forward to RedPill’s theories as to why Slumdog Millionaire isn’t really eligible for Best Picture as well as lgm’s postulation that its okay that Penelope Cruz won because actresses much worse than her (I’m looking at you Kim Basinger) have won best supporting actress in the past.

    Funny. :)

  59. #259
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm, RedDog said:

    From Ed Morrisey: “Basically, we’re going to get a replay of failed liberal economic policies in the next two years — nothing we haven’t seen before, but nothing that worked before, either. It’s the kind of populist nonsense on which Obama got elected, but still far milder than some of the lunatic economic policies we saw during the 1970s. When these taxes go up, expect the economy to slow even more and Obama to miss his targets for revenue, as he and his team have apparently never heard of dynamic tax analysis. When that happens, the GOP will be poised to win back control of the House in 2010.”

    This goes way beyond bad policy. This is criminal. When the Republicans do get back in power they must initiate investigations to start sending these people to prison. Politicians and their NGO hit men.

    When working Americans understand that the rule of law will be enforced, things will stabilize. They must pass constitutional amendments that will hamstring Congress forever regardless of who is in power: Fair Tax, Balanced Budget, and Economic Impact Analyses on Legislation-preclude wealth confiscation and onerous tax policy. The Founders framed the Constitution assuming a principled and moral leadership. That assumption was wrong.

  60. #260
    On February 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm, Schweggie said:

    San Antonio Tea Party here.

    San Antonio and Hill Country: Let’s Roll!

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