by Jack Lee
The Tea Party rally in the city plaza had a light turnout due to several competing events, but it went well. The Chico bike races made it difficult for the older folks to park close and I’m sure this impacted attendance. Also the massive tax day rally in Sacramento drew away many of the local attendees. It probably didn’t help that the Tea Party website said, “No Tax Day Rally April 15 2012”. When I checked the site I thought the event had been cancelled! It wasn’t. And then there were some fliers put out by likely one or two very sad individuals that billed the rally as a Klan rally. I’m sure the vindictive author/s thought it was amusing, but in truth it was an evil thing to do. This was a very nice group of folks focused strictly on responsible economics and our constitution. Who could make a case against that? The left of course. They hate the Tea Party and if they can’t find anything real to use against them then they just make stuff up. They’ve done an amazing job at it too and that’s unfortunate.
City Council candidates, Bob Evans, Sean Morgan, Toby Schindelbeck, Dave Donnan, and Andrew Coolidge made their election bids. They are all great people and we would like to see all five be elected, but there are only four seats available at this time.
Bob Williams and Dan Logue spoke, they are both competing for the 3rd District Assembly. Doug LaMalfa, Sam Aanestead, Col. Pete Stiglich and Greg Cheadle made their case for the 1st Congressional District to fill retiring Congressman’s Wally Herger’s seat. And there were many others, but all of today’s speakers had one common theme, we must make government stop living on a credit cards and stay within a budget. The debt is approaching $16 trillion and it must stop the runaway spending before the nation is bankrupt and our paper currency is worthless.
I was there. Sat next to the News and Review “journalists” (intentionally) and listened to them bad mouth the speakers while taking notes.
Nervousness seemed to be the watchword of the day. They all will improve with experience. I shook Toby’s hand. Dude, all you need to do is relax and just be you.
Let us change Chico first. I know where my votes are going. Thanks kids!
I was disappointed with the turnout, but the event went well. You did a great job, Jack, of keeping things moving along. Some of our speakers were fantastic! I wish more people were there to here them. Thank you for all that you do for the cause of conservatism.
Thanks Jack, I had fun!
I wish the ER would have covered the event better, maybe reported what the speakers had to say. I think the ER, as much as the News and Review, reflects the attitude of the government here, that bike races are more important than a group of citizens talking about our financial health.
By the way, that was not a tourist event, I doubt it brought any noticeable financial impact to our town. Essentially, the Criterion people got to take over Downtown. If I had a business along those streets, I’d have a problem with that.
I know the Tea Party pays a use fee for the Plaza, what did the Criterion people pay to have the streets shut down?
“And then there were some fliers put out by likely one or two very sad individuals that billed the rally as a Klan rally. I’m sure the vindictive author/s thought it was amusing, but in truth it was an evil thing to do.”
While I have plenty of issues with the Tea Party, I think whoever did this dishonest and ugly thing should be ashamed of themselves. I’m sorry that this happened.
We have to bring honesty and dignity back to politics. These are despicable, thug-like tactics and no one should ever feel the need to resort to them.
I enjoyed this years event and I thought the speakers did an excellent job, but there really should have been more people there, despite the competing events. There’s many reasons why I turnout was light, but one thing I’m ready to to admit is apathy. Voters are people and people are trendy, right? Lets face it, we’re not the newest flavor chewing gum anymore. We’ve been around for 4 years, we’ve not solved the worlds problems and righted the ship of state, so our impatient patriots are ready to move on. And the antics of the OWS movement, our polar opposites, did nothing to enhance protest rallies. Couple that to everything else going on and that equals…a light turnout.
Thanks for your kinds words and all that you, Sue, Stephanie, Betty, Juanita, and so many others did to setup the event.
So despite the downsides lets stay the course, we can and we are making a difference. We may have to explore new tactics, but that’s just part of the game. -Jack
Thanks for your kinds words and all that you, Sue, Stephanie, Betty, Juanita, and so many others did to setup the event.
I enjoyed this years event and I’m willing to keep helping, even though we may need to make some changes.
Overall I thought the speakers did an excellent job, but there really should have been more people there despite the competing events. That was a shame. There’s many reasons why I think the turnout was light, but one thing I’m ready to to admit is… voter apathy.
Voters are people and people are trendy, right? Lets face it, we’re not exactly the newest flavor chewing gum anymore and we’ve taken a lot of hits from the left. Some of that false rhetoric has had an impact.
We’ve been around for 4 years, we’ve not solved the worlds problems and righted the ship of state so some of our more impatient patriots are ready to move on or just resign in defeat. And the antics of the OWS movement, our polar opposites, did nothing to enhance protest rallies. Couple that to everything else going on and that equals…a light turnout.
So despite the downsides I still say its worth it, lets stay the course, we can and we are making a difference. We may have to explore new tactics, but that’s just part of the game. -Jack
Thanks Pie, you should have introduced yourself, but I’m glad you came out. -Jack
It was a sad, sad day when Peet’s went public.
That being said, I’d be interested to know what kind of latitude a Peet’s store manager has, cause that’s who has the responsibility to resolve the situation.
The manager asks the disruptive person to leave. If the disruptive person does not, that’s trespassing. The manager calls the cops, makes a formal complaint and the disruptive person is hauled off.
This happens as many times as it takes for the disruptive person to decide he is not comfortable at Peet’s.
Franklin and others nudge the manager to action by staying away from the Peet’s until it is comfortable for them.
By the way, I also thoroughly enjoyed the bicycle races. The timing of the two events may have not been the best for the Tea Party.
I completely missed the people passing out the Klan fliers. I would have loved to meet them! To paraphrase Will Rodgers, “I have never met a lunatic I could not like.”
(Which is another reason why I find Chris so charming.)
I hope Chico continues to host bicycle races and if anything, enlarge it.
Re Chris’: “These are despicable, thug-like tactics and no one should ever feel the need to resort to them.”
Hmmm, I guess Chris has had a change of heart since his prolonged ridicule of a black man whose was beset by at least three SEIU thugs for giving away “Dont Tread on Me” flags and, evidently, managed to get the best of them.
Good for you, Chris. There is hope for you yet.
Pie Guevara, why do you take what I said as a “change of heart?” I never argued that the SEIU members acted appropriately in their confrontation with Gladney. I did ridicule the claim, put forward by you and many others, that they “beat” Gladney, because there was and still is no evidence to support that claim. We don’t know who started the fight. We don’t know what Gladney’s injuries were, because he never revealed his medical records in or out of court. One of the SEIU members (a reverend) did reveal his own medical records and he was injured. Gladney changed his story repeatedly, which even you’ve admitted. Given the wild claims you and others made about this case, I think ridicule was appropriate.
Libby, what you said actually makes a lot of sense, thank you. I don’t know how much latitude the manager has, but I’ll ask next time I am downtown. Ironically I heard some of the bicycle riders joking about Peets and the homeless that hang out inside. I bet this corporate compassion will result in a loss of business.
Thanks Pie; I will definitely take that advice. I am not a public speaker, nor am I a politician. BUT, I know what is right and what is wrong. Now is the time for average citizens like you and me to step up and make a difference in our little corner of the world.
I’d say you got censored. The miscreant who put up the flyers obviously felt that your message should not be heard, and was trying to stop people from attending. The highest number of people recorded at the event was 32. Subtract the organizers and politicians, and it looks as if that clever individual kept your numbers to less than 2 dozen nervous nellies. And those two dozen will forever be known as the town racists.
It is indeed a shame when some people decide for themselves what others should hear.
Oh, well.
Thanks TS, I’m sure we were sabotaged too, that and a host of other things all took away from what might have been. The messages that came forward from our speakers were worth hearing, they talked about their intentions as elected officials and they offered themselves to the audience for a one on one conversation. This was a wonderful opportunity for people and they missed out.
PS, someone is yanking your chain … check out the life and works of … TS Eliott?
Titter.
Libs, yeah, I know who TS Eliot is, (I thinks its spelled with only one t?) one of my favorite poets. He’s pretty deep. I just figure it was our commenters way of not giving us a real name. Which is fine.
“Thou hast nor youth nor age
But as it were an after dinner sleep
Dreaming of both.”
“I’m sure the vindictive author/s thought it was amusing.”
I am sure the ‘vindictive author’ agrees with you about doing an “amazing job!”
I was going to go to this rally but Jesus told me not to because he hates you guys. I am Jesus.