Photos from the rally in Tampa welcoming Obama, Biden & their passenger Gov. Charlie Crist to Tampa… with a message that was hard to ignore: stop the irresponsible spending! Stop ignoring what really works.
Protest D.C.’s out of control spending! Around noon on Thursday, January 28th, President Obama will be speaking to a rally announcing $2.5 Billion dollars of “stimulus” spending on a rail and bus system interconnecting Tampa with Orlando.
The Tampa Tea Party and the Bay Area 912 groups are conducting a counter-rally against this wasteful and misguided spending.
Rally Info:
Thursday, January 28th
From 11 am until 1 pm
Please arrive at 10am so as to obtain parking
Intersection of North Boulevard and W Kennedy
Map for the event: http://tinyurl.com/yf763zf
Do not forget to bring water. Update: If you have it, please bring your video camera and/or still camera. When you arrive in the rally area please follow the directions of the organizers. John Hendrix, one of the organizers, is six feet tall, shaved head, beard and will be wearing a bright red “National March on Washington” shirt.
Bring signs. Want suggestions?:
Update: Thanks to Glenn Reynolds for the Instalanch. Much appreciated!
Update 2:
RSVP & find the most current info on our MeetUp page
Posted by John Hendrix
Congratulations to Senator Scott Brown, his campaigners, volunteers, people of Massachusetts, Tea Partiers and America!
The next question is: what does D.C. do now? Do they A) “hard pivot” as some rumors have suggested and suddenly practice fiscal discipline and strong defense B) stay the course but be “more combative” as some in the White House had suggested or C) talk A but do B?
If I were a gambling man I’d wager on C. New York Times:
“Even before the polls closed, the White House was suggesting the outlines of a recovery strategy, a combination of a more populist tone and an embrace of greater fiscal responsibility.”
And what would this “populist tone” and “greater fiscal responsibility” look like? Would it include tax increases? Why yes, The New York Times says, it most likely would.
My wager is that this Administration and the leaders of this Congress do not truly understand the benefits of true fiscal responsibility, they do not believe in the principles and therefore will only pay lip service to them.
And they will therefore say the words of “fiscal discipline”, perhaps limp to the center with a few token, publicity-shot measures, but on the whole will act in the hard left, anti-growth patterns they are most comfortable with.
And the one thing about being in positions of power versus campaigning for positions of power: eventually you must act. And your actions will prove whether your words (such as: “we are now dedicated to job creation, growth of the economy & fiscal discipline”) are truth or fantasy.
We will see.
Do you have a message for the President about Cap & Tax? About the Copenhagen Climate Conference? About our record debt? About the anti-growth agenda in DC? A group of concerned citizens are organizing a rally to coincide with President Obama’s visit to nearby Arcadia, Florida.
The President is expected to announce the opening of the of DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center. Perhaps he should be reminded of Spain’s disastrous “green job” boondoggle:
For every new position that depends on energy price supports, at least 2.2 jobs in other industries will disappear, according to a study from King Juan Carlos University in Madrid.
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The premiums paid for solar, biomass, wave and wind power - - which are charged to consumers in their bills — translated into a $774,000 cost for each Spanish “green job” created since 2000.
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“The loss of jobs could be greater if you account for the amount of lost industry that moves out of the country due to higher energy prices.”
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Spain’s Acerinox SA, the nation’s largest stainless-steel producer, blamed domestic energy costs for deciding to expand in South Africa and the U.S., according to the study.
“Microsoft and Google moved their servers up to the Canadian border because they benefited from cheaper energy there,” said the professor of applied environmental economics.
“Rally at Arcadia, FL to Protest Obama’s policies” to coincide w/ the President’s visit there tomorrow. Arcadia is roughly an hour and a half west of Bradenton, Florida. More info and RSVP here.
Visit Google Maps to view location.
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From the orgnaizers of this rally:
“Please note that the Arcadia event will be our main focus and we would like the largest number possible at the event. However, if you are unable to get to Arcadia, please consider this event so we can get the biggest number of area Floridians out while President Obama is here.”
UPDATE: The American Liberty Tour stop in Tampa for October 1 has been rolled into the Saturday Orlando Oct 3 event.
When: Saturday, October 3rd, 2009.
TIME: 5:30PM
Constitution Green
300 S Summerlin Ave
Orlando, FL 32801
SPEAKERS:
Corey Whalen – Boston Tea Party
Caleb Howe – RedState.com & American Spectator
Ken Marrero – TN Blogosphere
Eric Odom – American Liberty Alliance
Jason Hoyt & Phil Russo (Tea Party Patriots Live Radio Show)
Patricia Sullivan (North Lake Tea Party Leader)
From the American Liberty Tour website:
Due to changes in the tour schedule and route, Tampa is being folded into the Orlando Rally. Please join us in Orlando on Saturday for the American Liberty Rally.
High Definition Sept 12 DC Rally Video by The Leclerc Brothers.
Watch it in high def and large scale on YouTube.
There’s been much talk about the attendance of Saturday’s DC rally. While ABC news went out of its way to say that it didn’t mention the 2 million number that was attributed to it, the Washington Examiner said “police agencies estimates the crowd at 1.2 million.”
Some suggest Rand Simberg, describing himself on his blog as “a recovering aerospace engineer”, has the best discussion on the matter. He mulls the data and offers two sets of analysis: both hover in the hundred’s of thousands, 240k to 500k.
If you choose to use the very same methods USA Today used to measure crowd size at President Obama’s inauguration you get “well over 1 million.” (Scroll to the bottom)
The initial quotes I found I posted yesterday:
ABC News reports “approximately 60,000 to 70,000 people flooded Pennsylvania Ave, according to the Washington DC Fire Department. “
The Wall Street Journal quoted a “spokesman for D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services estimated the crowd at ‘in excess of 75,000’ people. Local and federal law enforcement authorities don’t provide crowd estimates.”
The New York Times couldn’t nail down an official count but noticed that
“the magnitude of the rally took the authorities by surprise, with throngs of people streaming from the White House to Capitol Hill for more than 3 hours.”
And on a parting note, some have compared the very different way people left Washington on 9/12 and how people left it after the inauguration.
Those who left the inauguration I guess were “waiting for Big Government to clean up for them” says the poster sharply.
ABC News reports “approximately 60,000 to 70,000 people flooded Pennsylvania Ave, according to the Washington DC Fire Department. “
The Wall Street Journal quoted a “spokesman for D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services estimated the crowd at ‘in excess of 75,000’ people. Local and federal law enforcement authorities don’t provide crowd estimates.”
This, in addition to the unreported perhaps tens or hundreds of thousands who could not make it to DC but showed their support by gathering in towns around the nation. 600 to 800 Tampa-area residents gathered in a Largo, Florida restaurant to follow the DC coverage on TV. They gathered there after a rally at Tampa’s Macdill Air Force Base earlier in the morning to honor & pay respect to fire fighters, police, military & those who work in harm’s way to protect this nation.
ABC News reports that in addition to other bomb threats, a bomb threat that came in the day before the big rally was credible enough to require an evacuation:
“DC Metro police has confirmed to ABC News’ Jason Ryan that the DC Metro police had, indeed, evacuated the organization’s offices after being told by the organization that it had received a bomb threat.
The threat came when a man called the FreedomWorks main line and told the organization’s female receptionist: “I put a bomb in your building, bitch.”
The FreedomWorks staffer who spoke with ABC News said that the organization has received multiple threats but that for some reason, the DC Metro police thought that this one was credible enough to evacuate the building. “
Terrorizing political opponents with bomb threats. Despicable. On 9/11. Even worse.
Happening right now: 9/12 march on Washington Tea Party rally. Watch live online here or here. For those in the Tampa area join the 9/12 rally coverage viewing party 1p-4p at Gasoline Alley, 14042 66th St, Largo, FL http://is.gd/39NRl
When a politician outlaws town hall video cameras to prevent accountability for his town hall actions & words, YouTube still prevails.
Why is the AFL-CIO spending $15million to stage counter-demonstrations & why did we see SEIU send paid astroturfers to town halls — sometimes resulting in violence as experienced here in Tampa?
Unions are expecting a financial windfall from the politicians they helped get elected.
1) $10 billion taxpayer bailout defined in the health care reform legislation.
2) Decreased competition in the health care industry would lead to an expansion in union membership if Canada’s government-run system is any indication.
“For example, if unions organized nurses at the same rate in America as they do under Canada’s national health care system, they would bring in two million new members paying roughly $1.8 billion a year in dues.”
3) Even for non-health care-related companies, it would reduce the competitive disadvantage that unionized companies have over non-unionized companies.
“Unions negotiate gold-plated health benefits for their members that raise their employer’s costs. Such expensive benefits, however, put unionized firms at a competitive disadvantage.
However, if the government provided health care coverage through insurance exchanges, then taxpayers—not consumers—would foot the bill for health costs. This would reduce unionized companies’ competitive disadvantage.”
And at the same time that they fight (sometimes literally) for this expected windfall, they oppose any proposal that would ask them to pay.
“A coalition of 30 major unions sent letters to the Senate expressing their ‘strong opposition to any proposal that would pay for this reform by altering the tax treatment of employer provided health care.’ Behind the scenes Organized Labor made it clear they opposed and would defeat any health reform that taxed employer health benefits.”
It is this biased tax stipulation, by the way, that works against the unemployed and the self-employed who don’t enjoy such a pass in the tax law. It also creates a distortion where highly-paid employees over lesser-paid employees (of both unionized and non-unionized companies) receive more tax savings for their higher-value health benefits.
The big-$, highly partisan, special interest Big Unions want to drown out the tea party patriots who are voicing their authentic concerns about health care. And sometimes they want to shut you up with force as experienced here in Tampa, St Louis, and elsewhere. As SEIU president Andy Stern has been quoted as saying “[W]e prefer to use the power of persuasion, but if that doesn’t work we use the persuasion of power.”
If this analysis is true, you now have some more insight as to why we have experienced what we have experienced recently.
Please let your elected officials know that paid astroturfers — union or otherwise — can’t drown out your authentic voice.
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Health care in the US is covered by three main systems — Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Two of these systems are bankrupt, and will be unable to make payments beyond 2017. The third is solvent, and can make all of its payments for the foreseeable future.
President Obama & many in Congress’s plan is to take the one system meeting its obligations and fold it into the two systems that are bankrupt.
”Are you going to the big national rally in D.C. September 12? March down Pennsylvania Ave. beginning 11:30am. Info: http://912dc.org
And leading to this day is the “Tea Party Express” moving through the country — currently under way. A “moving caravan of those that support the tea party movement.” See if it stops near you on this map: http://www.teapartyexpress.org/tour/index.html
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Another group is organizing the “American Liberty Tour” which is coming to Tampa Oct 1 (as well as Tallahassee Sept 30, Orlando Oct 3, & Jacksonville Oct 6 as well as many stops around the nation.) http://americanlibertytour.com & Twitter: http://twitter.com/libertyalliance
Video: Let’s Visit Canada & See What Gov-Monopoly Health Care Looks Like.
We are considering a multi-trillion dollar purchase and no one except a video blogger cares to actually take a look at Government-run healthcare precedents? Is Washington and the main stream media allergic to evidence?
Today’s Rasmussen Poll: 49% Oppose Health Care Reform Plan, 46% Favor It. Read it here.
“Forty-nine percent (49%) of U.S. voters now at least somewhat oppose the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats, while 46% at least somewhat favor it, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.”
“Just two weeks ago, 50% were for the reform plan, and 45% were opposed.”
“The ‘nays’ also continue to have the edge in terms of intensity. While 22% strongly favor the Democrats’ health car reform plan, 38% strongly oppose it, up four points from the previous survey.
Among those voters who have health insurance, opposition is even higher: 43% favor the plan, but 52% oppose it. Those who strongly oppose it outnumber those who strongly favor it by two-to-one – 40% to 20%.”
…
“Most voters (57%) say it is at least somewhat likely that their own health insurance coverage will change if the proposed health reform plan passes, including 30% who say it is very likely.”
Taxpayers from around the country are gathering simultaneously at the home offices of their representatives in the US Congress and the US Senate on July 17 to voice their opposition to Government Run Health Care. Be a part of this historic event! This will be a short rally…only from 12 to 1pm…held simultaneously across the nation. What a productive way to spend your lunch hour! A map with US Rep & Senators’ disctrict offices throughout Florida.
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In Tampa:
Congresswoman Kathy Castor
4144 North Armenia Avenue, Suite 300
Tampa, FL 33609
July 2, 3-6pm
Senator Bill Nelson’s Office
801 N. Florida Ave.
Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse, 4th floor
Tampa, FL 33602
July 2, 3-6pm
WHAT CAN I DO?
On Rally Day:
IMPORTANT! Before Rally Day - JOIN & HELP SPREAD THE WORD!!!:
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In Palm Harbor
Attend rally at Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ office in Palm Harbor. “Gus is With Us”. Let’s thank him for his support and protest Government Healthcare.
Congressman Gus Bilirakis
Palm Harbor Professional Center
35111 U.S. HWY 19 North
Palm Harbor, Fl 34684
July 17, 12-1pm
Palm Harbor RSVP:
http://www.meetup.com/north-pinellas-912-project/calendar/10828922/
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Fort Myers Area Rally
Attend a Rally at Senator Bill Nelson’s office and/or Senator Mel Martinez’s office in Fort Myers. NOTE: Nelson and Martinez’s offices are only 1 block apart. Or rally at Congressman Connie Mack’s office in Cape Coral.
Senator Bill Nelson’s Office
Justice Center Annex Building
2000 Main Street, Suite 801
Fort Myers, FL 33901
July 17th, 12-1pm
Senator Mel Martinez’s Office
Old Lee County Courthouse
2120 Main Street
Suite 200
Fort Myers, FL 33901
July 17th, 12-1pm
Rep. Connie Mack’s Cape Coral Office
804 Nicholas Parkway East, Suite 1
Cape Coral, FL 33990
July 17th, 12-1pm
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Tavares Healthcare Freedom Rally
Grayson voted for cap and trade, he does not support fiscal responsibility, small government or a free market economy.
Representative Alan Grayson’s Office
416 W Main St. Tavares, Florida 32778
Lake County
12-1pm
Thanks to all the Tampa patriots who came out for the health care MoveOn counter-rally yesterday. You outnumbered them ( 5-to-1 at one Senator’s office!) & presented a better, smarter case during a Senator’s aide-attended lobby debate! Well done!
People around Tampa, around Florida and around the nation are not sitting around waiting for others to speak for them. They are not waiting for a politician, a media talking-head or anyone, for that matter, to speak for them. And they do not except that a billionaire-funded, special interest group representing a radical, fringe minority speaks for them.
They are making the effort to raise their own voice. Making sure their voices are heard. Very inspiring. Thank you.
Healthcare Freedom Tea Parties starting in 1 hour! (3-6pm) in Tampa & thru-out FL.
In Tampa:
Congresswoman Kathy Castor
4144 North Armenia Avenue, Suite 300
Tampa, FL 33609
July 2, 3-6pm
View Google Map
Senator Bill Nelson’s Office
801 N. Florida Ave.
Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse, 4th floor
Tampa, FL 33602
July 2, 3-6pm
View Google Map
Sign the Twitter Petition if you agree.
I want my health care run more like the web technology industry, not like the DMV. A web tech industry which is offering customers unprecedented innovation, efficiency, rapidly reduced prices and all of it at incredible speeds.
TV, telephones, newspapers, traveling to meetings: we are being offered an incredible abundance of alternatives to these old methods of communication - and many are cheaper or even free.
How is this possible? Because American innovators and American capital can more easily & rapidly innovate without Washington micro-managing their every move.
Some may say: “Well the Government created the internet! That refutes your claim!”
No! The Government gave the Defense Department research money. The Government did not regulate and micro-manage businesses saying that they HAD to offer this service or that, or that businesses HAD to use the internet, or HAD to build services for it.
Can you imagine? Imagine if Washington had said: “Everyone must now use the Internet!” But computers cost $78,000 and are the size of a pickup truck! “Prices will go down as more people are forced to buy them!”
Ha. Ridiculous. People know better than Washington when the right time to buy their computer.
Or if the Government had said, as they are suggesting for health care: “Washington is smarter than you! We will put a small, exclusive panel of ‘experts’ together who will decide which are the best services businesses can offer their customers on the internet!” Imagine if they had done this during internet’s infancy: “Email! News lists! Calculator apps! Ooooh!” And what about Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Digg, blogs, …? Sorry, but it takes more than college kids with good ideas to innovate in this system.
If you want to take the Internet/Health Care analogy further: Sure, take the same approach: Washington: give R&D seed money to spark innovation among private citizens and private businesses. But don’t micro-manage, over regulate or create your own health care monopoly.
Imagine, instead, an environment where highly technical companies can offer services to ALL Americans (not just state by state as currently mandated)… and without as much interference from Government. Sure you have certain laws and limitations that to protect people. But not ones that excessively micro-manage. Armed with more info and more options, Americans benefit.
We all want more Americans to have access to cheaper, high quality health care. But how do we get there? Crazy idea: We should demand a system based on what has a track record of actually working and avoid what hasn’t. Where methods that failed in the past are not repeated. Where strategies that have proven to work in the past are embraced.
Precedent like this: Federal governments prove time & time again they don’t know how to run businesses - especially a highly technical industry that “now consume[s] 16 percent of the nation’s economic output” (-Wash.Post). Disagree? Name one area where Government-run businesses outperform private businesses?
Look at Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. Look at Medicare and Medicaid, among the worst run, inefficient agencies. Heck, look at the Soviet Union, Cuba, Venezuela, Socialist Europe… in the best cases their unemployment and lack of growth is massive, in the worst cases they imploded.
OR look at what HAS worked. Such as the very web services you are using right now for free. Services like Twitter, Facebook, blogs: less government micro-managing allows for more competition, more competition allows for more innovation, higher quality alternatives and reduced prices.
Agree? Sign the Twitter Petition.
- Hoss
It looks like the weather may be cooperating with us here in Tampa. We’ll see what happens by 3pm. If it’s raining bring your umbrella. Your voice is important. Please let everyone you know about this.
WHAT:
Attend rallys at Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s office or Senator Bill Nelson’s office in Tampa.
WHERE:
Congresswoman Kathy Castor
4144 North Armenia Avenue, Suite 300
Tampa, FL 33609
July 2, 3-6pm
View Google Map
Senator Bill Nelson’s Office
801 N. Florida Ave.
Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse, 4th floor
Tampa, FL 33602
July 2, 3-6pm
View Google Map
A hub for the revolution brewing in Tampa.
Willie Lawson spoke at the tax day Tampa Tea Party. Listen to his show here. & Listen to Fabian Calvo's show here