BOOTS ON THE GROUND!!!!!

March 10th, 2010 | By Gina Loudon

America’s Eyes on St. Louis–Go to www.stlouisteaparty.com for more details.

Written by Bill Hennessy on March 9, 2010 – 0 Comments

ACTION, Headline

I received this email from Prudent Patriot of Austin, Texas, even before we announced our plans:
Y’all do know, don’t you, that the public is banned from attending Obama’s 3,588th Health Care Rally in St Louis tomorrow…???
All the more reason that the good people from St Lou’s TEA community need to protest outside the event, and do whatever possible to have the local TV/Radio cover this blacked out event w/ our nation’s highest ranked public servant…

We in the St. Louis Metro area are PROUD to be called upon, once again, to state our case—that our children have a right to self-government, to pursue happiness on their own terms, to live free and honorable lives according to their best judgment. Once again, we in the heartland have the opportunity tell this President and his comrades McCaskill and Carnahan that we intend to keep our freedom—that if the people are unfit to rule their own lives, who among us is fit to rule someone else?

We Expect to be Heard

At the times and places described below and in other places on this site, we will gather as free men and women to tell this President, a servant by law and a ruler in his own imagination, that our will trumps his on all matters of domestic policy. We will express our disgust at his rude ignorance of our desires. We will politely ask him to shut up for once and listen to the people.

We Will Conduct Ourselves with Honor

With the eyes of America on St. Louis, we grassroots conservatives will, again, display behavior that our parents and our children will be proud of. We will not bait those who disagree with us, and we will not respond to their taunts. We will, as always, support the St. Louis Police Department and other law enforcement officers who are risking their lives to protect the President and us. They will, I am confident, treat us all fairly. And we should all return the favor.

We Will Surround Them

In addition to the email from Texas, patriots from Salem, Springfield, Alton, and Quincy, Illinois, have committed to making the trip to St. Louis, some promising to attend ALL events during the day. We have friends from as far as Springfield in Missouri who are making the trek to St. Charles and St. Louis. We will be on KTVI Fox 2 tomorrow in the 7:00 a.m. hour to talk about our mission for today.

Please Join Us

First Event: Rep. Todd Akin has done a great job putting together a rally at the St. Charles Convention Center starting at 9:45 a.m. This rally will include some of Congress’s staunches defenders of freedom via satellite, and many Missouri conservative leaders will be speaking locally. RiteOn.org has a great story on this event.
Second Event: President Obama will be at St. Charles High School at 3:30 p.m. I do not know if anyone’s put together a demonstration, so if you know of one, please put the details in the comments.

Grand Finale: The Renaissance Hotel downtown. 5:00 to about 7:00 p.m. For those who’ve responded to the call for volunteers, Thank you. I tried to reply to everyone who’s emailed that they’ll be there, but I just ran out of time. We also want as many people as possible with signs to demonstrate our values and dreams for keeping America great, prosperous, and free. So grab your signs and Gadsden Flags. I have not received instructions on locations from the St. Louis Police Department, but please assemble in the area they designate.

The other side will also have a designated protest area. We don’t want another incident like Carnahan’s town hall in August.

Thank you. Let’s make March 10, 2010, a great day for St. Louis, for mid-America, and for freedom.

Taken from stlouisteaparty.com

Democrat-Media Complex Accuses Tea Partiers of Being On… the Other Side

March 9th, 2010 | By Gina Loudon

The Mainstream Media’s (MSM’s) latest sport is to try to accuse the Tea Party activists of being Republican hacks. The reality is that their spin is demonstrative again, of their Pavlovian simplicity and lack of vision for their own agenda.

In truth, were the Democrats to give up their agenda of bigger government, more debt, and more spending, some Tea Partiers would return to the party of their grandparents. Sadly, it appears more likely that donkeys will fly than turn from their statist tack. For now, donkeys aren’t flying, and the Republicans have an opportunity to garner the support of the Tea Party if they play their cards right.

Tea Partiers will admit that the Republican agenda is much more closely aligned with theirs than the Democrats, even if they are not ready to be pigeonholed with that label. Most Tea Partiers say that under certain conditions, they might be Republicans, but for now, they are happy “looking in” and demanding changes.

The Tea Party is validated and emboldened when the MSM whines about their rallies and demands. They are enjoying their own sport of watching the MSM frantically rushing to resuscitate a dying agenda of one-world government, socialized medicine, and elimination of state and national sovereignty. Their shrill protestations embolden Tea Partiers to fight another day, while confirming their worst suspicions about the MSM’s true agenda. The fierce individualist American Spirit has awoken from its nap and is ready for action! The MSM might be dismayed to learn that they are the very noise that awakened the giant. They dared Conservatives to show their faces, and they did!

So what will the MSM have to show for their little game of “truth or dare” with the Tea Party? Nothing. Their party gains nothing. They certainly have not improved their ratings, or credibility. Their jobs have gone away. At the end of the day all they will be able to say is, “look, see, we told you they were Republicans!”

So…what?

Instead of daring and cajoling, they should be spending their time drawing upon those in the Tea Party who espouse the old Democrat values of Kennedy, Moynihan, Sam Nunn, and others. Or are they so ideologically left (socialist) that they won’t even admit the game is over when they have clearly lost?

They might want to examine the failures of their tactics and take a new approach, before they are entirely discredited by the new army of journalists who understand the Conservatism in the electorate. A little honesty; a little “my bad”; a little “I am listening”– would do wonders for those who have enjoyed a free run in the media for decades, hiding their socialist agenda behind a thin veil of “journalism.”

Pavlov’s psychological studies predicted that behaviors would be repeated long after the previous rewards ceased, if the rewards were reinforced for long enough beforehand. For years, the MSM could smack down the right and the right retreated. The MSM does not appear to understand the new dynamic or psychological curve ball the right has thrown their way.

Tea Partiers have defined their goals of small government, less spending, and lowering debt. For the Republicans, that is a small pivot. For the Democrats, it’s a complete turn around. Blue Dogs like Evan Bayh of Indiana are recognizing that but the Democrat Party leaders seem to be missing the point.

Tea Partiers are asking Republicans to pivot show fidelity to their own platform and the tenets of the U.S. Constitution. Tea Partiers are asking the Republicans to stop shoving “RINOs” – Republicans In Name Only — down their throats. Tea Partiers are asking to be part of the system that chooses candidates before the primary. Sounds simple enough. Republicans are starting to listen to the Tea Party, and it’s high time they did so.

The day after the election, Democrats and their MSM allies will wake up saying, “see, we told you all those Tea Partiers were Republican hacks.” The Republicans will wake up saying, “we best represented their values, and vowed to return to our platform and Constitution.” The Tea Partiers will wake up and say, “Mission accomplished. Now, let’s hold them accountable.”

The MSM looks shrill to the point of silly. Challenging Tea Party activists to “admit” they are going to vote Republican is like challenging Big Labor to admit they lean left. The difference is the independence of the Tea Party, who will individually think for themselves, and not be told how to vote. Republican leaders are optimistic, and I see no donkeys flying, in the near future.

As posted on http://bigjournalism.com/

Race to the Trough

March 5th, 2010 | By Gina Loudon

Guest Post by Laura Kostial–Home schooling mom who has worked tirelessly for the eradication of Library (taxpayer funded) pornography, Internet Porn, and Online Predators.  Her current fight is against “Race to the Top” that will use Federal Stimulus Dollars to take over much of our local Educational control. Gretchen Logue is working closely with her on this issue.

Laura is also mother of Elise Kostial, Founder of Concerned Young Women for America, Board of Directors for Tea Party Youth, and Chair of the bill that made Icecream Missouri’s official dessert.

Missouri Legislature Poised to Adopt National Standards – Hearing March 16th

In a 2007 HSLDA article, “The Danger of National Standards”  by William Estrada, HSLDA’s Director of Federal Relations, discusses the new legislative movement away from nationalized curriculum and testing towards nationalized standards instead.  Not even three years later, his prediction proved to be on the mark.

He also warned of the danger that nationalized standards pose to homeschoolers in that, “it would also lead to pressure on homeschooled and private schooled students to use the same national curriculum and take the same national test as public school students.”

Race to the Top (RTTT) is the federal government’s current attempt at nationalized standards.  In an effort to remove themselves from the stigma associated with “nationalized standards,” they have taken a new approach.  They are now proposing “state consortium” standards, which is nothing more than nationalized standards under a different name.   Each state accepting the RTTT funding would be required to adhere to the uniform standards set forth by the states jointly.   While they call it a “states’ standard,” it is still just one mutually agreed upon standard to be adhered to by all participating states.

Furthermore, and more important to homeschoolers, is Arne Duncan’s stand on homeschooling.  While homeschooling is not specifically addressed in the legislation, all related local control is ceded to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, who is a strong advocate of homeschool regulatory measures.  In 2006, in his position as Illinois Commissioner of Education he proposed that homeschoolers register, adhere to state standards, …etc.. in a formal written policy recommendation that can be accessed on Illinois archives – here is the link:

There will be a hearing in Jefferson City on March 16th at 1:30 in Senate Room 1 to discuss RTTT.  The hearing is open to the public and public comments are welcome.  This will be your opportunity to make your voice heard and to encourage Missouri legislators to maintain local control over standards and help protect homeschool rights in the future.

http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/200710040.asp

The Danger of National Standards

By William A. Estrada

Director of Federal Relations

HSLDA

Many homeschoolers are aware of the dangers posed by a national curriculum and a national test. Nationalized curriculum and testing would take away local control over education by allowing unelected bureaucrats, not parents and local school boards, to decide what subjects should be taught in schools and how.Over the years, HSLDA and other proponents of local control over education have successfully resisted attempts to create a mandatory national test and national curriculum. However, recent proposed legislation has taken a new direction. Having seen their previous attempts defeated, supporters of nationalized testing and curriculum have now opted to advance “national standards.”

Tea party movement plans one-year anniversary celebration

February 28th, 2010 | By Gina Loudon

Ask Not For Whom the Bell Tolls, MSM: It Tolls for Thee

February 28th, 2010 | By Gina Loudon

With a whiff of nostalgia, I can imagine the old time journalist with the smell of coffee and cigarettes wafting through the click and clang of the typewriter.   Fifty years ago, a “journalist” had the ring of a dispassionate, creative, honest, fair, and trusted detective/storyteller.  Fifty years ago, if you graduated from an accredited journalism school, you were presumed “unbiased.”  Much as the physician takes an oath that she will “first, do no harm,” the “journalist” title meant that you were first, unbiased and balanced. Neutrality in the story was as necessary as it was assumed.

Sometime between half a century ago and today, something went very, very wrong.

We can speculate on what the “something” was, but we may never know for sure.  Much like the wind blows, there is no discernible source, but still we know it blows. Journalism became slanted to the left to the degree that the right had almost no voice by the mid-1980s.   Almost no voice, until Rush Limbaugh came on the scene.  Almost 30 years later, the tables have turned.  The problem for these journalists is that they have functioned robotically and cavalierly for so long, that they are not aware of the reality around them.  Things have changed. Drastically.

At CPAC 2010, I watched as the Mainstream Media (MSM) lashed out at Andrew Breitbart again and again.  He could hardly walk through the hall of the hotel without being accosted by trolling media elites who were anxious to bully him.  I watched as they tried all the old Alinsky tactics over and over, but Breitbart beat them at their own game.  When they got in his face, he smacked them down hard and fast.  It occurred to me; they weren’t aware that everything has changed.

I am the conservative political analyst for a local radio station that has been around forever.  I love media, and I love my job there. I work for a true legend in St. Louis media, who has managed to be very balanced in his approach to his craft.  There is one older, very liberal MSM journalist who’s show is just after mine.  My show is only a 15-minute spot, his is hours long. Since he is on after me, he has taken to using clips (some in context, some out) of my show and lashing out with pejoratives against me and other conservatives.  Evidently, he had no idea that everything has changed.

These four points form the “Perfect Storm” that (I will argue) have forever changed journalism:

1) Andrew Breitbart, established Big Government, Big Hollywood, Big Journalism, and Breitbart TV, and conservative journalists and media personalities are crawling out of the woodwork!  They report and they gain supporters in droves, and are growing.

2)  The Tea Party has arrived.  The Tea Party is cellular and organic, and yet the individual members are remarkably cohesive.  The Tea Party is all about action, and members stand ready and willing to come up against anyone they perceive to be dishonestly reporting the news.

3) There is such a huge rise in the number of citizen journalists that I can’t even count the CJ’s that are in my local Tea Party.  They are becoming more and more tech-savvy and emboldened. The new media is armed and ready with cameras, mics, pen and paper, and beautiful “bloghood.”

4) Alinsky’s tactics were successfully employed for decades by unions, reporters, and liberals.  With the birth of the Tea Party, Alinsky’s tactics were turned upon the secular progressives with a Ninja move by the right.   Now boycotts turn to BUYcotts, bitchers turn to bloggers, and conservatives are behind the camera lenses.

So, listen up, MSM!  The old, liberal reporter at my station found out the hard way. Friends of mine who thrive on this stuff confronted him at a recent socialized health care rally.  He became red faced and angry, and pushed the cameraman with a black gloved hand.  All of it, of course, was caught on tape, because that’s what we do.

The day I returned from watching Breitbart repeatedly smack down the MSM at CPAC10, I opened my email to discover that that old reporter is now subject to legal action for the incident.  I tried to warn him that would happen if he didn’t straighten himself out.  I believe he just did not understand that everything has changed.  If he did believe it, I am not sure he could digest it fully.  There is no way that a 40-year veteran did not know better than to push a cameraman. I believe the reality of the new era of politics smacked him upside the face, and he reacted.

They sit around, black coffee in one hand, cigarette in the other, wondering what has happened to radio and the “legendary” talent that is, well…unemployed.  If they asked me, I would tell them that they should never have become so arrogant that they imposed their will on our craft.  They revoked their right to be “legendary journalists” when they chose self over impartiality and balance. They successfully changed the rules of partiality in journalism; they did not successfully ensure their place in it.  They will continue to die off, and many of them will no longer be working as journalists, if they are working at all.

They will be replaced with people like Andrew Breitbart, Hannah Giles, Glenn Reynolds and others. I would tell them to go find other work before they get into trouble, like the older journalist at my station did.  And then, I would offer them some cream for their black coffee, and a breath mint, because the smoke and coffee smell on their breath really sickens me.

You can find this article as it was presented on Big Journalism at http://bigjournalism.com/gloudon/2010/02/26/ask-not-for-whom-the-bell-tolls-msm-it-tolls-for-thee/#more-29162

St Louis Celebrates Tea Party Anniversary – With a Tea Party!

February 28th, 2010 | By Gina Loudon

Despite the date conflicting with Missouri Lincoln days, a 2nd Amendment Rally, and an event with State Rep Icet, St Louis Tea Party Coalition organizers staged an event at the St Louis Riverfront under the Gateway Arch, to commemorate and celebrate the one year anniversary of the very first Tea Party, at the very site where it all began.

This gathering was different from previous Tea Party events, however. It was not primarily intended to protest, to make a statement, to get the attention of Washington or the Media. This was a celebration. This was a fellowship of the like-minded. This was a motivational challenge to the movement.

The album of videos from this event can be seen at: http://www.vimeo.com/album/188245

When questioned about the small turnout at this event compared to other recent St Louis Tea Party events, Organizer Gina Loudon (http://drginaloudon.com/) stated,

“This was much larger than we intended it to be. Bill (Organizer, Bill Hennesy) wanted this small and low key. Our goal was to gather everyone who could be there from last year in Feb (and anyone else who would like to be) just to commemorate the day in a low key way. It was a great crowd, they were in a great mood, and it was about twice the # of people as last year with ZERO pumping or marketing of any kind. We were actually surprised at the #’s because of Lincoln Days, the 2nd amendment rally, The Icet event, etc etc.  We had offers of free national speakers that we are saving because Bill wanted this low key.”

That’s not to say it wasn’t a well-attended or lively event!

Though a far cry from the 10,000+ attendees filling Keiner plaza on tax day, several thousand did crowd the steps under the Gateway Arch to hear organizers including Dana Loesch, Jim Hoft (perhaps better known as the “Gateway Pundit”), Gina Loudon, and others.

One might point out to MSNBC that 2 of the speakers, Stephanie Rubach and Jay Stewart, are African-American conservatives! (Folks like Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews seem to believe that the Tea Parties are monochromatically white.)

The speakers came with a common theme: to equip and motivate and encourage the grassroots to be PERSONALLY active. Jim Hoft brought the message “You Are Not Alone”. He highlighted how from the very first Tea Parties a year ago, St Louis patriots were united with those in numerous other cities, and that the combined voices of many common-folk individual have been effective in holding the Progressive Agenda at bay.

One year ago, after the first Tea Party, I wrote: “Whether this “Tea Party” movement has legs, or is simply a vent of frustration by a decimated and impotent conservative constituency remains to be seen…” One year later, it would appear that question has been answered!

The Tea Party movement is now a year old. It continues to grow. It continues to be a force to be reckoned with. And it’s not going away.

Copyright © 2010 by Doug Edelman

Doug Edelman is a conservative political analyst and commentator, and has been a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice. His work is also seen on Western Front American, Small Government Times, Western Journalism, News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House and more. Mr. Edelman is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business. He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://starboard.blogtownhall.com.

Stimulus and Tea Parties – One Year Later

February 22nd, 2010 | By Gina Loudon

Guest Column by Doug Edelman

So, here we are, a year out from the Stimulus Package – and where are we?

Let’s review the last year. It’s been a wild ride!

The Housing Bubble had burst. TARP was passed. The torch had been passed from the despised George W Bush to the newly inaugurated “Annointed One”. And the “Stimulus” was brought forth as the salvation for our nation. We stood on the brink… Without the stimulus we would fall over the edge into the abyss.

Unemployment was rising. The economy was failing. We had to pass the Stimulus IMMEDIATELY or we’d have a catastrophe. Without the Stimulus, we’d see unemployment get as bad as 8%!!

So the Stimulus passed, and the Omnibus spending bill which TRIPLED the previous deficit also passed. Goldman Sachs and other fat-cat cronies of the Democrat Party were bailed out. GM & Chrysler became wards of the state. Tax & Spend policies were turned loose to run amok in such an unprecedented manner that drunken sailors were chanting for temperance!!

So many times in the last year, we’ve heard how these actions “pulled us back from the brink”. But rhetoric notwithstanding, reality seems to indicate that we did indeed fall over that brink, and are currently freefalling inside that abyss!!

When the Stimulus passed, 8% unemployment seemed like a catastrophe WORTH spending 787 Billion dollars to prevent! But it DIDN’T WORK – we now have unemployment over 10%. The deficit has now almost been QUADRUPLED and the debt limit is being raised almost monthly!

Big numbers are confusing so let’s break them down for clarity: With approximately 250 million people in the country (men, women & children) that means it costs every human-being in the USA approximately $4 for every Billion dollars congress spends. Maybe that doesn’t sound like a lot… till you realize that they’re spending so much that AFTER THEY SPEND EVERYTHING THEY’RE CURRENTLY RECEIVING, they’re spending more than an additional $3 Billion EVERY DAY! Over a TRILLION a year! That’s DEBT! That’s money you haven’t given them yet, but you OWE!! Every TRILLION is $4000 owed per person (not per family!)!

Our current debt is over $13 Trillion. So you now owe $52,000 over and above your CURRENT tax burden that they’ve already spent! And so do your kids. And they’ve raised the debt limit to almost 15 Trillion. And how soon before they hit THAT ceiling? At what point do they max out the credit card and HAVE to stop spending??

Well… What else has happened over the last year?

Just days after the “Spendulus” or “Porkulus” bill passed the House; Rick Santelli made a now-famous rant on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade – calling for a “New American Tea Party”! Little did he know that these words would spawn a grassroots movement, the likes of which have not been seen since 1775!

Within days, on February 27, hundreds of cities saw the first Tea Parties. Some were small; and some were larger. The largest on that day occurred under the St Louis Arch at the Mississippi riverfront. Organizers expected only a couple hundred dedicated souls; but well over 1200 showed up on a cold, dreary February Friday Afternoon! Productive working people took their lunch hours, or took time off work to send a message to Washington that they rejected BIG GOVERNMENT! (Unemployed people and students were there too – proclaiming how they REJECT dependency upon Government even in the midst of their own hardships!)

On the heels of the Stimulus & Omnibus, the march was on for Socialized Healthcare. By April 15 (Tax Day) the sleeping giant of the American Patriot was fully awakened and engaged – and enraged! The Tax Day Tea Parties were even larger. A MOVEMENT was underway. People were becoming INFORMED about the healthcare bill soon to be dubbed “ObamaCare”. The more they learned, the less they liked. And they let their elected representatives know about it.

As Congress departed Washington for their summer recess… they got an EARFUL from their constituents. The Town-Halls of the summer of 2009 will go down in history as the re-emergence of the American Patriot Spirit!

Grannies stood up pointing fingers and scolding their congressmen! Servicemen, young people, housewives and students all stood up at these town halls and gave congress a piece of their mind. They rejected the spending. They rejected the encroachment and enlargement of Government. They opposed Socialism. They opposed Cap and Trade. They opposed the taxes. And most of all, they resisted “ObamaCare.”

On 9/12, over a million Americans made their way to Washington, DC to march on the Mall against the Progressive Agenda. Smaller events simultaneously took place across the nation, with a sizeable turnout in Quincy, IL!

To date the “conservative resistance” has been very successful!

Obama has not been able to pass his Government Takeover of Healthcare. Cap and Trade has been forestalled. The Global Warming Hoax is being exposed. ACORN has been exposed. Gitmo is still open. Iraq/Afghanistan troops have been reinforced (though only receiving ¾ of the troop levels asked for!). McCain Feingold has been overturned by the Supreme Court. Gun rights have been UPHELD by the Court. We’ve seen election turnarounds in NJ, VA and MA. The NY-23 race showed that RINO Republicans can’t count on support from conservatives. And Scott Brown proved that NO seat is safe for the Democrats. Michael Steele is begging Tea Party Leaders to meet with him!

In all, perhaps the Conservative Majority has much to THANK Mr. Obama for in the last year!

Of course, Obama is STILL saying how all our problems pre-dated him, and he inherited them!

Surprisingly, he’s right to a degree. After almost 6 years of economic growth after 9/11… Our problems DID begin during the Bush Administration… Right after the 2006 elections, with the takeover of the congressional majority by the Democrats!
February 27, 2010 marks the one year anniversary of the Tea Parties. Rallies are taking place, notably in St Louis, to commemorate one year of Effective Conservative Resistance. It will be interesting to see what the 2nd year of this Patriot Movement has in store.

February 27, 2010 marks the one year anniversary of the Tea Parties. Rallies are taking place, notably in St Louis, to commemorate one year of Effective Conservative Resistance. It will be interesting to see what the 2nd year of this Patriot Movement has in store.

Copyright © 2010 by Doug Edelman

Doug Edelman is a conservative political analyst and commentator, and has been a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice. His work is also seen on Western Front American, Small Government Times, Western Journalism, News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House and more. Mr. Edelman is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business. He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://starboard.blogtownhall.com.

Train Wreck!

February 17th, 2010 | By Gina Loudon

Listening to the hype, one would think that if we vote for this tax in April, we were actually going to have an extra Christmas –complete with trains, a shiny new track, and smiling people. I dream of the day St. Louis has an efficient transportation like that in much of Europe! The problem is that we are still in debt for another 40 years for the system we have, and this new proposal offers us none of the shiny new trains we are hoping for. In fact, it promises us nothing at all because there is no plan, only sketchy hope and hyperbolie with absolutely no guarantees.

Proponents argue that major corporations will see this as the reason to relocate here, the poor will all find jobs, 600 Metro workers will keep their jobs, and St. Louis will become the next boom town. It is not quite like that. I have two simple questions regarding the new, whopping 1/2 cent sales tax that St. Louis County Council decided will be on our ballot in April this year:

1) We all want jobs. But isn’t $80 million dollars per year for 600 jobs a bit insane? Is that new math?

2) This is the Show Me State…Why don’t you show US the plan? They can’t, because there IS no plan. That is, and always has been the problem.

Chesterfield residents and business owners remember the last time they told us we were getting a train, if only we would support their tax. ‘Never happened. ‘Never will as long as the budget is bloated and the bureaucracy is oblivious to our ability to reason and do math. South County knows they won’t see a dime. That is why Councilman Stenger, a Democrat (named Political A Lister for that vote by KTRS Political Analyst, Gina Loudon) voted no, along with the two Republican members on the Council. He represents his people. All three of the dissenting votes on the Council (Wasinger, Quinn, and Stenger) deserve acolades for having the insight to ask for a plan before they recommend that voters consider it. This is not the time for an increased tax burden. This is the time for courage and reform.

This is the time for belt tightening, living within means, and tough cuts. Nobody is saying this is easy. We, the taxpayers are looking for heroes, not tax increases. You can bet the next election will reflect the voters’ personal struggles in this economic recession. My guess is that they won’t support either a massive tax increase, or those who have asked them to say “no” yet a THIRD time to the same tax with no plan.

Tea Party Celebrates 1st Anniversary

February 13th, 2010 | By Gina Loudon

Come join us on Februrary 27 for the St. Louis Tea Party on the St. Louis Riverfront and CELEBRATE! One day–TWO Celebrations!

2nd Amendment Rally-Protecting Our Rights!
10:30 AM
St. Louis Riverfront
www.secondamendmentmarch.com
Both Democrats and Republicans will speak in support of our Bill of Rights!

…and then,

One Year St. Louis Tea Party Anniversary Celebration!
1:00 PM
Steps of the Arch
www.stlouisteaparty.com

Join us as we celebrate an entire year of TEA PARTY. And they said it would never happen .

-

Inside the Tea Party

February 9th, 2010 | By Gina Loudon

Last weekend, my family and friends and I attended the Tea Party Leadership Conference in Dallas, TX. The planning was intense, the energy was contagious, the leaders were very, very serious. This movement is being handled well, utilizing the organizational structure that Ken Emanuelson pegged as a “starfish” rather than a “spider.” There are many leaders and cells–too many to count. This design is necessary due to the predisposition of the MSM (main stream media) to seek the head of any conservative group, and chop it off.

Conservatives are getting smarter–outsmarting the MSM again and again. While “legendary” MSM’rs are being laid off and news giants are sinking like raindrops on the ocean, the new media is growing exponentially. Conservatives are becoming the newsmakers, the camera crew, the reporters, the analysts, the candidates, and the techno-gurus that will lead in the new era of politics. That was much of the focus of the meeting in Dallas.

This weekend, my family and friends and I attended the first ever Tea Party Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The energy was electric! More than 600 delegates from across the country, more than 1100 guests for Governor Palin’s speech, and more press than I have ever seen assembled in one place. Press were from all over the world. Interestingly, while our MSM still takes pot shots at the Tea Party saying we “won’t be around” after the 2010 elections, or beyond, it seems the rest of the World sees it differently.

I have attended numerous Republican Party conventions and this convention was a very different tone. Most notably, there were no long speeches by a cadre of politicians. Additionally, attendees were so drenched in press requests that it was hard to make it into the actual convention. Lastly, this is a diverse group (sorry, MSM). I met Cuban Americans, Black people, Puerto Rican Americans, Asian Americans, old and young, and many women–especially moms. There were half a dozen sales booths peddling books, jewelry, and t shirts.

During an interview with an Italian news paper, the reporter asked me how it is that everyone in the Tea Party is so “on message.” I told him I don’t know, because I don’t. We had no preparatory white sheet or press release. We simply believe what we believe. We are on point not because we are well rehearsed with tag lines and sound bites, but because it is our values that unite us—economic freedom, limited government, and National sovereignty.

The Tea Party has taken on the core values of both parties. The conservatives in both parties unite over the above issues, and I think the Tea Party exists to remind both parties of that fact, to hold them accountable, and to lead where they won’t.

The rest of the world sees that our political landscape is forever changed by the Tea Party, and rather than deny it, they are covering it, and getting ratings and sales doing so. Every major media outlet was there from the US and abroad. Time magazine did an impromptu photo shoot of my daughter, Lyda (co-leader of the Tea Party Youth) and me, and interviewed each of us separately about “the movement.” The media numbers were doubled by the conservative and internet outlets there, many of whom have been our mouthpieces as we have birthed and grown this movement.

Unlike other conventions I have attended, my husband, a former Missouri State Senator (R-MO, ret.) was one of the only politicians in the convention. This is probably because John (biggovernment.com, nothingbuttruth.com, taxpayerwatchdogmo.blogspot.com) has been there since the birth of the Tea Party, quietly supporting all we were doing, while other politicians waited to see if we were legitimate. I did meet Adam Andrzejwski that just finished his heroic run for Governor in Illinois, a man running for Congress, and a woman running for something else. But the politicians are generally not invited, and when they come, they are generally treated with skepticism. The Tea Party doesn’t trust sitting politicians, and takes a critical look at candidates talking the talk. If it were up to the Tea Party, I believe the days of “Royalty” for politicians would be over in this Country. The Tea Party gets that these people work FOR US, and treats them accordingly. They are polite, even cordial, but there is no “OH! There is Senator ______________! See if he wants to come up and say a few words.” Rather, when an elected official walks in, ordinarily a whispered warning goes out in the crowd…”Senator _____________ just came in. See what he wants. Let him know that he will find no special treatment, microphones, or cameras here.”

It was interesting to me that even though the crowd cheered Governor Palin during her speech, that fawning reverence was just not there. Maybe 10-20 (out of 1,000) people rushed the stage for autographs afterward (I was one of them) and my guess is that most of them are recovering republicans who still treat politicians with awe and grandeur.

Outside the convention hall people talked and schemed, and kept a watchful eye on the MSM. We had cameras filming THEIR cameras, and our media following THEM around, asking questions. This is our sport. One of our most savvy actually took photos of a hack job a MSM reporter was writing about Sarah Palin BEFORE she even gave her speech! The reporter left her seat at a table to grab something, and left her lousy journalism up on her computer. These are the moments that make us sizzle like a drop of water on a hot tin roof!

Ahhh…yes. The “intense factioning going on in the Tea Party might be its demise” claims the MSM. Good luck with that. The democrat led Tennessee folks who had a problem with the “Capitalism” happening at this convention (God Bless America!) held a “large protest.” Three people attended, and were apologizing to Michelle Moore (A Traditional Life Lived), Dana Loesch (danaradio.com, biggovernment.com, PJ-TV) and myself when they ultimately left with their proverbial tails between their legs. They realized that they are united with us, and that this was a local squabble that had nothing to do with the Nationwide Tea Party.

Then there were the “protesters.” They make for great sport, too! Our group was having lunch when we got word that the “Protestors” were in the convention hall. We dropped our forks and moved straight out to give them some fun. The only problem was, they met their match in protestors. See, we in the Tea Party have become master protestors (thank you, Mr. Alinksky). We are so good, in fact, that the other side doesn’t seem to want to compete. Is it that, or is it simply they have no grounds for argument, because our values are in line with reality? Well, whatever the reason, the moment they saw us coming they practically ran out of the convention hall. So we went back to the little Irish pub and continued our Rarebit and ale.

Other notable moments were nightlife related. Each night, when activities ended for the day, a core group of informal, non-exclusive leaders would retire to a local watering hole. We all sat together and enjoyed the days’ events, recent headlines, and always brainstorming for the future of our beloved movement. One by one, reporters would try to mingle into our group. Immediately the whisper warnings, texts, and other inside alert systems would warn us that there was a stranger in our midst. The fun part was what we did next. We had a blast creating great mystery, false controversy, and dead end rabbit trails to send these reporters into a frenzy or wild goose chase. Then we would sit back and enjoy our spoils. The reporters would be wise to leave us alone. Again, WE have become citizen reporters, and many of us are quite talented in that arena. Some new, bubbly, young hire for a liberal newspaper is no match in her undercover efforts to “find dirt” on us.

The sad fact is we are pretty clean living. We are honest. We are normal, hard working Americans who decided that taking back our country for our children was more important than watching the latest episode of “Lost” or pursuit of personal gain. We are not there to hurt anyone but if they cross us or try to hurt us, we mobilize quickly, and they will get what is coming to them. We have learned their tricks, and we are better at them now than they are, in some cases. The biggest difference I see between “us” and “them” is that we have fun. We laugh until we can’t even breathe anymore, and we look for the best in one another, instead of competing for the air at the top of the tank or getting tripped up over petty differences. When there is no leader, everyone is a leader, and that lends itself to a great sense of ownership and camaraderie.

The weekend was filled with heroes, and none of them were politicians or party bosses. They were people like Joe Basel, who was arrested with James O’Keefe for his phone prank on Senator Mary Landrieu when she refused to speak with constituents who PAY for those phones, and the office she uses every day! Heroes like Michelle Moore (smartgirlpolitics.com) who spoke at the convention on “Women in Politics” and is the best Camera Woman in the business, and Katie O’Malley, a blogger, femme-patriot media warrior that you do NOT want to cross! Heroes like Andrew Breitbart (biggovernment.com, Breitbarttv.com, bighollywood.com, breitbart.com) who have revolutionized the media culture in this era, and Andrew Marcus, and Maura Flynn, and Mike and his whole team there who meticulously covered the weekend and kept all the loose ends together for all of us. Heroes like Jon Burns (campusgulag.org) who created Campus Gulag to educate students about the lies of communism, and college eradication of free speech. Heroes like the arguably first conservative blogger, and still one of the top in the world, Glenn Reynolds (Instapundit.com, PJ-TV), and his amazing wife, Dr. Helen, and their beautiful daughter. Also, our own amazing top blogger Jim Hoft (gatewaypundit.firstthings.com), who I think more of each day that I know him. Heroes like the great people (Judson & Sherrie Phillips, Mark Skoda, Katie O’Malley, Chip, and others) who organized and planned the weekend, and those who attended. Personal, very special heroes to me like Bill Hennessy and Dana Loesch and my husband, John Loudon, who stood with me and led back when the MSM was audibly scoffing at us for trying to start something real.

Without a doubt, the most interesting hero was the face of a woman–the one and only beautiful, smart, and oh so deliciously common Sarah Palin. The highlight for my family was that we had the honor of little Piper Palin making a b-line to our son, Samuel, who has Down Syndrome just like her little brother, Trig. She played and played with him, and then after the event she was so sweet that she had her mother call me to say thank you.

I will be continuing my political efforts as part of an amazing team fighting for the Tea Party. I am encouraged by the MSM’s predictions that we will simply “go away.” That is right where we want them. At the end of the weekend, I took a “Second Revolution” American Flag that a wonderful Tea Party fan (Jeff McQueen, the creator of the flag www.USRevolution2.com) gave to me, and I had everyone in our leadership group sign it. I did that because I knew I was experiencing history, and that my childrens’ children would want to have that flag one day.

Very late last night as we sat enjoying the camaraderie that can only come after a hard fought battle, John asked Bill Hennessy when he knew this movement was historic. He told of the 9/12 weekend in Quincy, IL that Chip and company pulled together. When he came down to breakfast in our hotel the morning after the 9/12 Tea Party there, he said that he walked up to a table of Andrew Breitbart, Glenn Reynolds, Jim Hoft, Dana Loesch, Michelle Moore and others, side by side in the restaurant, computers open, writing the news for that day. He knew that their fingers were tapping what the reporters would be saying that night. That was the moment he knew that we were part of something huge–much bigger than ourselves, much more historic collectively than any of us would be individually.

One day, when the history books tell about a cold, huddled mass under the St. Louis Arch with tea bags and bull horns, who began a movement that echoed across the nation, and the world. One day, when my children will know that they were there when we started, and that we cared enough to fight for their futures, even if it cost us dearly. One day, when the world remembers that freedom is not, and never will be free, and that all free citizens have to be willing to risk everything to keep it.

That is a tall order, but when you stand in the presence of those there, sharing ideas, fighting within the family for what they believe will be best for this movement, spending time, money, political capitol, and all they have just to be in this fight for no glory, then you know that this is a solid movement that will be here as long as there is a need for it.

This morning, I sat on my hotel room balcony, sipping my coffee with cream and taking in the beauty of the Garden Conservatory of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel for the first time all weekend, since I had been to busy to stop and enjoy it. I saw many new friends and old from the weekend as they made their way across the skywalk to the checkout in the other dome. I put my computer down to visit with Carl Cameron (Fox News) for the second time as he made his way out of the hotel. Then I saw Brit Hume, from Fox News as well, and Roy Moore holding court in a cafe below. Finally, one of the organizers, Mark Skoda, quietly walked across the bridge on his way out, carrying his luggage, looking as content as a lion after a kill. I couldn’t resist. I yelled across the atrium and told him I was writing about the weekend. “What’s your takeaway, Skoda? What will the history books say?” I asked. His answer was simple.

“We changed the World!” he shouted, with his fist in the air.

I would add to that, “and we had a BLAST doing it!”