It is time for the Tea Party to saddle up again!
In early 2009, the Tea Party movement spilled into the streets with one simple message.
STOP THE SPENDING.
When the House, the Senate and the White House were all controlled by the Democrats, we were ignored. That was not a big surprise.
But then 2010 came and we swept Nancy Pelosi out of the Speaker’s chair and put a Republican majority in the House. And we had high hopes. The GOP initially promised $100 billion in spending cuts from this year’s budget. That quickly dwindled to only $32 billion, but when the Tea Party expressed its strong displeasure, it shot up to $61 billion, even though that number is not guaranteed when the House and Senate start negotiating.
We tried to do it the easy way, now we will have to do it the hard way. In a little over a month, the government will hit its debt limit. The government, which currently borrows forty cents of every dollar it spends, will not be able to borrow any more unless the debt ceiling is raised.
We are hearing nightmarish stories of what will happen if the debt ceiling is not raised. Most of this is coming from the left. Here is the question. We are already borrowing 100% of GDP. When are we going to stop borrowing? Will it be when we get to 125% of GDP? How about 150% of GDP? 200% of GDP or will it be when the economy collapses, which is what Obama ultimately wants.
The answer is, we need to stop now. If the debt ceiling is not raised, the government cannot spend. This is not the easiest way to do this, but it is what we must do.
Over the next month, this needs to be the most important Tea Party issue. We all remember the enthusiasm we brought to this movement two years ago. Much of that steam seems to have faded out. The massive rallies of two years ago are a thing of the past. But we need to raise that kind of enthusiasm again to stop this train wreck.
In order to stop this insanity, our lawmakers are going to have to hear from us. We have two shots at stopping this. The first is in the House. The GOP has a clear majority, although John Boehner has said he favors raising the debt limit. We need 218 members of congress to step in and say no. If 218 Representatives will vote against raising the debt ceiling, then in the immortal words of Dr. McCoy from Star Trek, “its dead, Jim.”
The second shot is in the Senate. With forty-seven Republican senators, we only need forty for a filibuster. We need to work on not only conservative senators but also those up for reelection in 2012.
The strategy is simple. We must start calling, faxing and emailing our Senators and Congressmen. We need to call and email every day for the next month. If you can fax everyday, that is good too. They must get the message.
If the debt ceiling is raised, the pressure Congress feels to cut the budget will dissipate. We need to make them act, while we still have an economy for them to act on.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Deanna Zohar on -
I just told Elena who wonder how far you could drive on a fart that I didn't know but if the prices keep going up I am afraid I will find out. They will have to start printing the receipts on TP!
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Permalink Reply by Katie Kalpin on -
LMAO! Yes please do I would love to see that. :D
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Permalink Reply by Katie Kalpin on
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LMAO! so true! :)
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Permalink Reply by David J Edwards on -
Peraps Rep Barton should reflect on his own words a bit and "comprehend" something that Tea Party people comprehend very well -
When "there's a difference between rhetoric and policy", then somebody is a liar trying cheat the nation and get undeserved votes.
Liars are a lot of what Tea Party people wish to get rid of. Liars cheat us. We are tired of being cheated and lied to. America cannot afford to keep being cheated and lied to.
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Permalink Reply by cathy b. on -
"We are tired of being cheated and lied to. America cannot afford to keep being cheated and lied to." Well said David. I know that I am so tired and fed up with all of the B---S---.
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Permalink Reply by kathy foster on -
well time to out some more!
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Permalink Reply by Lizzie on -
Judson, if membership here is on the rise... it's hard for me to see how the Tea Party is fading. Why not use TPN as a venue to send those emails? Or at least, generate petitions to send to legislators in committees?
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Permalink Reply by Laura on -
The TPM is not fading. The huge rallies may have faded but the movement has not and we still have changed much with calls, emails, letters, etc. I believe one reason the rallies are good is because attention is drawn to issues for all our fellow Americans to see and many who feel the same way the TP does, jump on the bandwagon. The rallies are what led me to join in supporting the TPM. When the TP had it's first rally, I was thrilled and thought, "finally", there are people who feel the same way I do! How do I become a part of this!
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Permalink Reply by Lizzie on
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Oh, seriously! Especially if you live in a liberal state, like my husband and I do, it's hard to know if anybody out there is as frustrated as we are.
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Permalink Reply by Judson Phillips on -
THe movement is not fading but some of the enthusiasm has. When was the last big rally? It is harder to get people out today than it was 2 years ago.
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Permalink Reply by David J Edwards on
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I don't know how things are going in Tennessee, but a lot of America had a rough, snowy, high heating bill winter. Tea Party people in many areas have hunkered down, working indoors on educating the public about how Obama and Liberals have put each of us under $45,000 of debt (besides what we get bills for). Some are conspiring to take over local Republican Committees, bugging local politicians about everything, harping at Congress by phone and email, checking out potential candidates, and planning the next moves... generally stirring the pot.
In the meantime, the whole nation is getting grumpier as gas prices rise, wages fall, and bills keep eating everybody up. Parents are working too hard to feed their kids to stay aware, but it's easy to find retired grandparents who are very worried about their grandchildren's future.
A lot of the "enthusiasm" has turned to anger you can see in the Thrift Stores and generic "value price" food isles. Good parking places at malls are not hard to find.
Spring warmth will take off some of the pressure, but if gas prices keep going up so fast, your Easter Bunny will have to color creek pebbles instead of eggs and the collection plate at church will be a full of IOU's.
There is always some ignorance based apathy and denial, and many are trying to force a smile, but this is not a nation of happy campers.
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Permalink Reply by Katie Kalpin on
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I can somewhat agree with you on that Judson. We do need a Rally...if for no other reason just because it is time. ;) But the truth is that I have seen it grow. I know that most people are not on here, but I know so many out here in PA that were Demos untill NOW. They listened to what we have been saying and they are likeing what we stand for. Most of them.....Black or hispanic! I have not met many non supporters. I have however been met with..."Hey do you know when the Tea Party is holdiong another Rally?" I don't know most of these people but when I am shopping at the store or running around I throw on Jeans and a Tea Party shirt. I love the looks it used to get me. I don't see those looks anymore. I get greeted with smiles instead...I like that as well. lol. BTW I tell people that we only Rally in the summer when it is warm, then I laugh and tell them to wait there will be one soon. ;)
I have been met with so much of those "Hey, I love your shirt...where did you get that? I really want one." So I have to say that I see our Group Growing FAST and Furious! God Bless. ;)
© 2013 Created by Judson Phillips.
