It's late.. I'm not sure just what time it really is but I know when my mind starts wandering back to yesteryear with its green Chevrolet, tractors, cotton, DDT, Sunday school and getting stars on the board for each verse you can recite, home work, early television, falling madly in love every few weeks, few faces recalled, most name forgotten, but no matter whatever else was going on my younger years there was always a drum beat and it had to do with values… The idea of right and wrong… How one behaved, rudeness, impoliteness, respect, behavior that allowed people to live together. No one got killed no one got robbed… Things moved slowly. People moved slowly….I recall little vignettes where doctors were shown respect, along with policeman, and yes, even politicians, and certainly older people. We thought they knew more than younger people. They were guides. They were our mentors. Something happened. Not with one "big bang' but slowly over time.
But…and it’s a big "but"…change began...Slowly and only here and there, groups of young people, in the late sixties began to question our leaders and the decisions they were making. (Don't trust anyone over thirty was the cry.) Trust was the operative word. The society as a whole had not seen this. It was not part of the upbringing to question leaders. Did we, in our silence, break the trust?
More subgroups began to appear who didn't feel or see themselves as part of these historical social norms.
Society's 'good guys', (our leaders) began to get caught crossing social, ethical, legal, and moral boundaries.
Leaping forward fifty years we have become a nation of special interest subgroups. Each vying for special treatment…each feeling entitled. Not simply entitled under the law for equal and fair treatment but entitled to whatever demand of their specific interest group. Whether it's rights to citizenship, being taken care of with shelter, food, education, medical care, or simply money to spend. All the things the average citizens work for every day.
The average politician know these groups. They use these group to sustain their position of power. If President Obama had lost anyone of these major subgroups he would not have become president. Same thing is true with Harry Reid this past election. That is how powerfully political these groups are. They are catered to by all levels of government.
In the Art of War by Sun Tu, he says. "Know who you are fighting and know where the battle is taking place." Know this is a war we are in…Know the enemy look like us…Know that the battle is taking place on our soil but not with guns and bullets. Chapter one ended November 2 and we fought and won with idea, values, and beliefs. Chapter two will take place in the next election cycle and "they" will be better prepared. It was their arrogance that beat them this time out. This mistake will not be repeated. They will organize and they will carefully prepare. Clearly they see us as the enemy.
Leadership in surprise places. England has a new young Prime Minister who was elected by promising to cut the national debt. England is as near to a socialist country as you can come without being a socialist country. This new young prime minister, hold on to your hats, has turned to the public for ideas of cutting the country's debt. He said that the people of the country have to pay the government cost so they should tell him what and where he should cut back on government spending. The web site he created has already had a 100,000 hits and a 100,000 cost cutting ideas.
Unless I missed something, I don't think Governor Barbour has asked any of us for cost cutting ideas. I know our state and federal elected folks haven't asked us for any cost cutting ideas. "Go figure."
I wonder how the leader in England came up with the idea that the people who pay the bill should have some say in how the money is being spent. Certainly such a radical idea would never occur to our President or our leaders in state or federal legislators.
I wonder if there is some way we might take it upon ourselves to explain or maybe even show our leadership that we have suggestions as to the various things we don't want to pay for and the various budget cuts they could consider making. They seem to spend their time looking at the 'Big Picture' without understanding that every voter's complaint has to do with them limiting our freedoms, our rights, and spending our money. Not their money. Not government's money but taxpayers money. That doesn't seem to be a hard concept to get but it must be. Government takes money from us in many different ways and always refers to it as their money. This is a hard concept for me to get. You know, I keep forgetting we gave (give) them the right to do it... and do it…and do it over again…
It is morally, ethically, and constitutionally wrong for our elected officials not to listen to the citizens of this country. To spend voters hard earned money in ways that seem wasteful, unproductive, and all the while growing inept government with each stroke of the pen. They feel it right and that they are entitled to do this…..
OK, lets plagiarize the Prime Minister's idea and setup a national web site where everyone can make a suggestion as to where government costs could be cut. Not a place for ranting but simple ideas that can be understood in a few sentences….(Also, each state could do a state web site.) Who wants to do this?
We would like to suggest some 'good reads' that have a bearing on where we are and what got us here. Seldom do we suggest books but these two are very important and a key to what some of the major underlying problems are...
CREATING A NEW CIVILIZATION by Toffler. This is a older book so you can see the changes over your lifetime. (Easy quick read.)
THE BELL CURVE by Murray. Older book and again you can see the change already in your life time. (Harder read and takes time. Very important to see this trend in motion.)
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Earmarxists
Senator Mitch McConnell, from Kentucky, even though he said he was for earmarks, that earmarks weren't wasteful, and were good for the folks back home, two days ago announced he would vote for a moratorium for two years on earmarks…I guess when the newly elected senate members arrived in Washington for their 'orientation week' they brought him a message he could understand. (Given his speech on TV, about his change of heart about 'pork barreling', you would have thought he was announcing the death of all of his grandchildren. Senator Mitch is a leading voice in the GOP. He supported the candidate who Rand Paul ran against in the primaries. This is a man who would not support Rand Paul during his campaign for the other Kentucky senate seat after he won the primaries. (Truly one of the good old boys to the core.)
The Senator and I are in an age range that is referred to as the 'seniors' group. For many of us in this group change of any shape, size, or form is difficult. For him, though, the power to 'pork' has been an important tool in securing his ongoing position and power in the Senate. For me it simply draws my attention to 'The Clock Ticking', OR I just hate change, or change is just difficult. Who know and who really cares because life and the act of living is change. However, when elected representatives stay ensconced in the big white building on the hill for too many election cycles, change needs to 'happen" for them and we need to make it 'happen'... and we did for many… good for us… and its good for them, and good for the country.
The argument for 'pork barreling' is that money goes to good causes back home and doesn't cost the tax payer anything extra…. To believe this you would have had to come to this conclusion in the middle of a long row picking cotton some hot afternoon..….. Let me give some (and I really mean just a few) examples of our Mississippi senators Cochran and Wicker. Whatever pet project these monies will be spent on you can bet they bargained for them with their votes and for their special supporters back home. (Note: Given the amount of money they have funneled into the State you wonder why any of us have to pay taxes. Oh my, could it be that this would be reason enough to keep them? Which we did.)
10400 176,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10401 797,000.00 Wicker
10402 496,000.00 Cochran
10403 1,500,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10404 654,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10405 332,000.00 Cochran
10406 231,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10407 98,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10408 4,000,000.00 Cochran
10410 480,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10413 376,000.00 Cochran
10414 208,000.00 Cochran
10415 235,000.00 Cochran
10416 2,000,000.00 Cochran
10417 223,000.00 Cochran
10418 939,000.00 Cochran
11381 250,000.00 Cochran 7 Wicker
11383 1,000,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
These few earmarks are just a sampling of our senators' very long list of accomplishments…..
Let's look at one of our congressmen for some real 'porking'.
11385 200,000.00 Childress
11392 6,000,000.00 "
11400 200,000.00 "
11408 2,400,000.00 "
13224 9,340,000.00 "
13227 400,000.00 "
13233 3 120,000.00 "
14423 8,000,000,00 "
For Childress this is also a short list. Childress did better than our two senators I think because Pelosi paid better….Know this is only a partial list for ONE of our congressmen. (Maybe, we made a mistake kicking him out? ( Just joking. -)
There are pages and pages of these earmarks regarding our two senators and just the one of our congressmen in the sample. If you want to know what projects these funds will be spent on ...Google "Pork Barrel"… OR www.cagw.org and check the earmark projects. If you do you may notice a pattern.
Current count for 2010, has found 9129 total earmarks from all the senators/congressmen across the country SO FAR. There are still bills coming before this lame duck Congress which will really be loaded. The bet is this will be a watershed year with over 10,000. Many of these earmarks will be one shot deals but others will require ongoing funding and it’s the 'ongoing' ones that are real financial killers.
You could look at this partial list of Ear Marked Projects and be impressed at how much our two fine senators and congressman accomplished. The other congressmen did well also...They "brung' home the bacon. So, why are we whining and complaining?
Somewhere up there in the white building are a bunch of old papers that says congress' mission is to protect the country and all the rights of the American citizens. Maybe we are complaining because we believe they are not accomplishing their mission. They are not singing on the same page with us. Our rights are being nibbled away, our money is being taken, and our country isn't safer, and government encroaches on every aspect of our lives and they keep on keeping on and we keep on electing them. This is crazy.. This is just crazy what we are doing….
(Just a note: Our federal government get taxes from all the citizens in all the states. Earmarks direct tax money from tax payers in one state and sends their tax dollars to other states for 'ear marks' projects. This slight of hand gets buried in some other bill and hidden from tax payers' view…i.e. they hide it in the pork barrel. Government says that they send more money back to the states than it get from the states. Really? How is this possible… Where does Washington get the extra money to pay for this 'pork barreling'? They print the money and run up national debt! Gee Wiz, how clever….(and let them eat cake.)
Our congressional guys and gals need a clear mission statement from us defining their job description (once again) as to the limits and purpose of the federal government. When we forget they forget what the purpose is and what the limits are. We forget-they forget..We forget- they forget. Happens every time.
The Tea Partiers are the authors of the history written on November 2, 2010. There is still blood on our hands due to our lack of responsible behavior with elected officials over the last few decades. We let them slide, we let them get side tracked in their duties, we let them become arrogant, and worse of all we let them abuse us and the nation… This coming election cycle is the beginning of Chapter 2 in this text book we are authoring titled "How Americans Reclaim Their Government." (Sub-titled: The Not So Quite Revolution.)
The next time you run into one of our august representatives and they begin the story about how much bacon they "brung us", ask them what they did about the illegal immigrants, ask about the unbelievable debt they have burdened you, your children, and grandchildren with, ask about the stifling tax rates on you and the businesses in the country, ask about the government regulations that are eating away at your freedoms as a citizen. Then say, " Mr. Employee, you have been in government for a long enough to figure out what your duties are. You haven't figured them out, you have failed, and your fired."
Same is true for state and local government employees. Example: It was discovered that the Department of Education spent $615,000.00 for lunches last fiscal year. Once discovered it was admitted they spent too much money on employees' lunches. WOW...The excuse was these were federally required training programs and this money was used for lunches during these trainings. Attorney General Jim Hood, in his defense of this spending, said this was not taxpayer dollars but federal grant money…Federal grants! So it appears our attorney general does not know where the federal government gets its money from. How can the state survive such inept people? How can we survive such inept people?
Everyone needs to look through the records and budgets of the various departments in Mississippi and see what is going on…. We have a really good web site in Mississippi for this. What is happening at the state level is the same as what is happening at the federal level. Just as irresponsible and just as crazy making only on a smaller scale.
Our State is our hearth… by it we raise and teach our children, we warm ourselves, cook our meals and live out our lives...We need to tend to our hearth first…Without a 'recall law' the people we elect, once elected, simply do what ever they want. Tell us one thing and do another without regard for us or the notion of right or wrong. Without 'recall' we have to wait years to fire the rascals.
Back last spring the song going around was 'Kick All The Bums Out." Realistically we couldn't pull this off in one election cycle…Keep in mind November 2, 2012, is only 714 days, 6 hours, 28 minutes from now…Lots of things we need to do and top of the list is to work more with our Governor. Good man…He needs our support in many ways. The state budget should be on everyone's desk soon. Get your copy. Get a red pen and you and your friends go through it. DO a little line item vetoing. Things to look for, in our mind, is hiring freezes, wage freezes in all departments and cutting each department's budget by fifteen percent on top of those other cuts. Can that really be done? Would that really be 'change?' No, but it would be a good start. If done, we wouldn't even notice any loss in service. The Governor proposes, and the two houses decide the final details of the budget. These are the elected official who need some 'belly butting' from us. Time for this nose to nose 'conversation' is absolutely running out.
Here is the link to find the details of our States' budget….
Seethespending.org
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
The Senator and I are in an age range that is referred to as the 'seniors' group. For many of us in this group change of any shape, size, or form is difficult. For him, though, the power to 'pork' has been an important tool in securing his ongoing position and power in the Senate. For me it simply draws my attention to 'The Clock Ticking', OR I just hate change, or change is just difficult. Who know and who really cares because life and the act of living is change. However, when elected representatives stay ensconced in the big white building on the hill for too many election cycles, change needs to 'happen" for them and we need to make it 'happen'... and we did for many… good for us… and its good for them, and good for the country.
The argument for 'pork barreling' is that money goes to good causes back home and doesn't cost the tax payer anything extra…. To believe this you would have had to come to this conclusion in the middle of a long row picking cotton some hot afternoon..….. Let me give some (and I really mean just a few) examples of our Mississippi senators Cochran and Wicker. Whatever pet project these monies will be spent on you can bet they bargained for them with their votes and for their special supporters back home. (Note: Given the amount of money they have funneled into the State you wonder why any of us have to pay taxes. Oh my, could it be that this would be reason enough to keep them? Which we did.)
10400 176,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10401 797,000.00 Wicker
10402 496,000.00 Cochran
10403 1,500,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10404 654,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10405 332,000.00 Cochran
10406 231,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10407 98,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10408 4,000,000.00 Cochran
10410 480,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
10413 376,000.00 Cochran
10414 208,000.00 Cochran
10415 235,000.00 Cochran
10416 2,000,000.00 Cochran
10417 223,000.00 Cochran
10418 939,000.00 Cochran
11381 250,000.00 Cochran 7 Wicker
11383 1,000,000.00 Cochran & Wicker
These few earmarks are just a sampling of our senators' very long list of accomplishments…..
Let's look at one of our congressmen for some real 'porking'.
11385 200,000.00 Childress
11392 6,000,000.00 "
11400 200,000.00 "
11408 2,400,000.00 "
13224 9,340,000.00 "
13227 400,000.00 "
13233 3 120,000.00 "
14423 8,000,000,00 "
For Childress this is also a short list. Childress did better than our two senators I think because Pelosi paid better….Know this is only a partial list for ONE of our congressmen. (Maybe, we made a mistake kicking him out? ( Just joking. -)
There are pages and pages of these earmarks regarding our two senators and just the one of our congressmen in the sample. If you want to know what projects these funds will be spent on ...Google "Pork Barrel"… OR www.cagw.org and check the earmark projects. If you do you may notice a pattern.
Current count for 2010, has found 9129 total earmarks from all the senators/congressmen across the country SO FAR. There are still bills coming before this lame duck Congress which will really be loaded. The bet is this will be a watershed year with over 10,000. Many of these earmarks will be one shot deals but others will require ongoing funding and it’s the 'ongoing' ones that are real financial killers.
You could look at this partial list of Ear Marked Projects and be impressed at how much our two fine senators and congressman accomplished. The other congressmen did well also...They "brung' home the bacon. So, why are we whining and complaining?
Somewhere up there in the white building are a bunch of old papers that says congress' mission is to protect the country and all the rights of the American citizens. Maybe we are complaining because we believe they are not accomplishing their mission. They are not singing on the same page with us. Our rights are being nibbled away, our money is being taken, and our country isn't safer, and government encroaches on every aspect of our lives and they keep on keeping on and we keep on electing them. This is crazy.. This is just crazy what we are doing….
(Just a note: Our federal government get taxes from all the citizens in all the states. Earmarks direct tax money from tax payers in one state and sends their tax dollars to other states for 'ear marks' projects. This slight of hand gets buried in some other bill and hidden from tax payers' view…i.e. they hide it in the pork barrel. Government says that they send more money back to the states than it get from the states. Really? How is this possible… Where does Washington get the extra money to pay for this 'pork barreling'? They print the money and run up national debt! Gee Wiz, how clever….(and let them eat cake.)
Our congressional guys and gals need a clear mission statement from us defining their job description (once again) as to the limits and purpose of the federal government. When we forget they forget what the purpose is and what the limits are. We forget-they forget..We forget- they forget. Happens every time.
The Tea Partiers are the authors of the history written on November 2, 2010. There is still blood on our hands due to our lack of responsible behavior with elected officials over the last few decades. We let them slide, we let them get side tracked in their duties, we let them become arrogant, and worse of all we let them abuse us and the nation… This coming election cycle is the beginning of Chapter 2 in this text book we are authoring titled "How Americans Reclaim Their Government." (Sub-titled: The Not So Quite Revolution.)
The next time you run into one of our august representatives and they begin the story about how much bacon they "brung us", ask them what they did about the illegal immigrants, ask about the unbelievable debt they have burdened you, your children, and grandchildren with, ask about the stifling tax rates on you and the businesses in the country, ask about the government regulations that are eating away at your freedoms as a citizen. Then say, " Mr. Employee, you have been in government for a long enough to figure out what your duties are. You haven't figured them out, you have failed, and your fired."
Same is true for state and local government employees. Example: It was discovered that the Department of Education spent $615,000.00 for lunches last fiscal year. Once discovered it was admitted they spent too much money on employees' lunches. WOW...The excuse was these were federally required training programs and this money was used for lunches during these trainings. Attorney General Jim Hood, in his defense of this spending, said this was not taxpayer dollars but federal grant money…Federal grants! So it appears our attorney general does not know where the federal government gets its money from. How can the state survive such inept people? How can we survive such inept people?
Everyone needs to look through the records and budgets of the various departments in Mississippi and see what is going on…. We have a really good web site in Mississippi for this. What is happening at the state level is the same as what is happening at the federal level. Just as irresponsible and just as crazy making only on a smaller scale.
Our State is our hearth… by it we raise and teach our children, we warm ourselves, cook our meals and live out our lives...We need to tend to our hearth first…Without a 'recall law' the people we elect, once elected, simply do what ever they want. Tell us one thing and do another without regard for us or the notion of right or wrong. Without 'recall' we have to wait years to fire the rascals.
Back last spring the song going around was 'Kick All The Bums Out." Realistically we couldn't pull this off in one election cycle…Keep in mind November 2, 2012, is only 714 days, 6 hours, 28 minutes from now…Lots of things we need to do and top of the list is to work more with our Governor. Good man…He needs our support in many ways. The state budget should be on everyone's desk soon. Get your copy. Get a red pen and you and your friends go through it. DO a little line item vetoing. Things to look for, in our mind, is hiring freezes, wage freezes in all departments and cutting each department's budget by fifteen percent on top of those other cuts. Can that really be done? Would that really be 'change?' No, but it would be a good start. If done, we wouldn't even notice any loss in service. The Governor proposes, and the two houses decide the final details of the budget. These are the elected official who need some 'belly butting' from us. Time for this nose to nose 'conversation' is absolutely running out.
Here is the link to find the details of our States' budget….
Seethespending.org
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Was It Only 235 Years Ago?
Well it was 'only' 235 year ago, with a divided country, wrestling with the issue of personal and national freedoms, on the brink of war, a leader rose to the moment, made a speech. That speech then and now has defined who America is and what Americans are all about….
235 years later these same Americans rose to the moment, this time with their message and their vote, confronted the always present danger from those who want to take away the uniquely American freedoms and government that the citizens bough and paid for with blood.
Throughout Americas short history individuals, groups, and nations have risen up questioning and sometimes threatening America, its people, and the very core of how it governs itself. A government of, for, and by the people is the 'great experiment' with data being collected every day around the world and through each election cycle a form of government that prevents the ruling of citizens by charismatic individuals and tainted politicians in their quest for power. These people have wrangled themselves into our political system with empty promises of easier life in which the government would take care of them. No matter their names, no matter what point in our history, they came to the limelight. Sooner or later their promises disappointed, their schemes failed, their motives questioned, and the citizens turned them out.
Each time the nation went through this catharsis we promised ourselves, "never again." The generation who lived though it didn't let it happen again but lo and behold, a generation or two later it happens again. Seduced by the same promises the citizens turned to the yet another charismatic leader and a different set of tainted politicians with what seems like new 'we will take care of you promises,' followed by disappointment, followed by failed schemes, followed by the citizens turning them out.
The argument could be made that this political cycling makes the nation stronger. This is not the perception of The Oxford Tea Party nor do we believe it is the perception of Tea Party members in general. However, the nation's population is growing. There are fewer jobs, less opportunities for work, fewer with the knowledge and skills for the jobs that are available, and many more empty mouths to feed. Unless this problem is defined in ways that offer solutions that can solve these growing social problems we will continue on this insidious path towards a socialist form of society and government which will open the door to yet another cadre of politicians promising these voters even greater rewards for their votes. Other nations in the world faced with these same issues opted to go down the socialist road. (Socialism, at the its core, is always in the process of transferring wealth from the producers, the creators of goods and services, to the population as a whole and always with good intentions. So they say.) The failure of this system of government is seen nightly on our TV screens with the citizens of those socialist countries striking, burning buildings, and railing against their government because there is less and less wealth for them to transfer.
You have to feel bad for these people in socialist nations who, for generations, have been promised by their politicians they could have more for less effort on their part and/or more for nothing on their part. A growing segment of our society in America is now in the third generation of having goods and services transferred to them that government has taken from producers of those good and services. This is creating a greater and greater schism in our nation. Anger is building.
We have just turned out seventy plus politicians at the federal and near six hundred or so at the state level of government who have contributed to this schism through their social programs as well as all the 'pork barrel' wasteful spending during this election cycle. More politicians must to be turned out. Given the political and economic upheaval in the world today even the slightest tilt in how we run our country, govern ourselves, run our businesses can have unforeseen consequence. The fear of these consequences is sensed by many voters and reflected in this election vote. However, will our politicians read this vote correctly?
Already, the news talk out of Washington baits the issue.
Do you ever wonder from what corner the next attack on the Tea Party will come? Certainly no one in the Republican or Democratic parties wants us around and we are more than certain they don't want us to attain any more power. The liberal press sees us as 'crazy, dumb, dangerous red necks,' that are threats to everything they hold dear and a threat to the future of the country. So the attacks will continue with the GOP taking a low profile. The greatest threat, of course, will come from each of us. Will come from our lack or resolve. Will we spread our Tea Party ideas, will we keep our focus, or will we lose our mojo? History tells us one thing about grass roots movements such as ours and that is goals get blurred and energy dissipates.
Now let us turn our attention to Mississippi. Same problems but we're on our home court.
Its going to feel like a long two years…..
We have decided to permanently post that 235 year old speech by Patrick Henry on The Oxford Tea blog... a speech that is simply ripening with age…. We all know it…But sometime we just forget.
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
Patrick Henry – March 23, 1775
Our King George III is already in the White House with his version of the English Parliament. There is barely a whiff of “will of the people”.
What’s old is new again.
“No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.
This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?
For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth — to know the worst and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House?
Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation — the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?
No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer on the subject? Nothing.
We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.
Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.
If we wish to be free — if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending — if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak — unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?
Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.
The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable — and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, “Peace! Peace!” — but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
Patrick Henry – March 23, 1775
235 years later these same Americans rose to the moment, this time with their message and their vote, confronted the always present danger from those who want to take away the uniquely American freedoms and government that the citizens bough and paid for with blood.
Throughout Americas short history individuals, groups, and nations have risen up questioning and sometimes threatening America, its people, and the very core of how it governs itself. A government of, for, and by the people is the 'great experiment' with data being collected every day around the world and through each election cycle a form of government that prevents the ruling of citizens by charismatic individuals and tainted politicians in their quest for power. These people have wrangled themselves into our political system with empty promises of easier life in which the government would take care of them. No matter their names, no matter what point in our history, they came to the limelight. Sooner or later their promises disappointed, their schemes failed, their motives questioned, and the citizens turned them out.
Each time the nation went through this catharsis we promised ourselves, "never again." The generation who lived though it didn't let it happen again but lo and behold, a generation or two later it happens again. Seduced by the same promises the citizens turned to the yet another charismatic leader and a different set of tainted politicians with what seems like new 'we will take care of you promises,' followed by disappointment, followed by failed schemes, followed by the citizens turning them out.
The argument could be made that this political cycling makes the nation stronger. This is not the perception of The Oxford Tea Party nor do we believe it is the perception of Tea Party members in general. However, the nation's population is growing. There are fewer jobs, less opportunities for work, fewer with the knowledge and skills for the jobs that are available, and many more empty mouths to feed. Unless this problem is defined in ways that offer solutions that can solve these growing social problems we will continue on this insidious path towards a socialist form of society and government which will open the door to yet another cadre of politicians promising these voters even greater rewards for their votes. Other nations in the world faced with these same issues opted to go down the socialist road. (Socialism, at the its core, is always in the process of transferring wealth from the producers, the creators of goods and services, to the population as a whole and always with good intentions. So they say.) The failure of this system of government is seen nightly on our TV screens with the citizens of those socialist countries striking, burning buildings, and railing against their government because there is less and less wealth for them to transfer.
You have to feel bad for these people in socialist nations who, for generations, have been promised by their politicians they could have more for less effort on their part and/or more for nothing on their part. A growing segment of our society in America is now in the third generation of having goods and services transferred to them that government has taken from producers of those good and services. This is creating a greater and greater schism in our nation. Anger is building.
We have just turned out seventy plus politicians at the federal and near six hundred or so at the state level of government who have contributed to this schism through their social programs as well as all the 'pork barrel' wasteful spending during this election cycle. More politicians must to be turned out. Given the political and economic upheaval in the world today even the slightest tilt in how we run our country, govern ourselves, run our businesses can have unforeseen consequence. The fear of these consequences is sensed by many voters and reflected in this election vote. However, will our politicians read this vote correctly?
Already, the news talk out of Washington baits the issue.
Do you ever wonder from what corner the next attack on the Tea Party will come? Certainly no one in the Republican or Democratic parties wants us around and we are more than certain they don't want us to attain any more power. The liberal press sees us as 'crazy, dumb, dangerous red necks,' that are threats to everything they hold dear and a threat to the future of the country. So the attacks will continue with the GOP taking a low profile. The greatest threat, of course, will come from each of us. Will come from our lack or resolve. Will we spread our Tea Party ideas, will we keep our focus, or will we lose our mojo? History tells us one thing about grass roots movements such as ours and that is goals get blurred and energy dissipates.
Now let us turn our attention to Mississippi. Same problems but we're on our home court.
Its going to feel like a long two years…..
We have decided to permanently post that 235 year old speech by Patrick Henry on The Oxford Tea blog... a speech that is simply ripening with age…. We all know it…But sometime we just forget.
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
Patrick Henry – March 23, 1775
Our King George III is already in the White House with his version of the English Parliament. There is barely a whiff of “will of the people”.
What’s old is new again.
“No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.
This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?
For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth — to know the worst and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House?
Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation — the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?
No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer on the subject? Nothing.
We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.
Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.
If we wish to be free — if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending — if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak — unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?
Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.
The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable — and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, “Peace! Peace!” — but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
Patrick Henry – March 23, 1775
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Rand Paul
Well, isn't this some good news and a good idea…. (Also, smart politics putting Tea folks in the loop.) We post this article without comment.
This article is a posting I am forwarding from the Dailey Caller. If you are not on their mailing list I really recommend them.
Interview with Rand Paul:
Kentucky Republican Senator-elect Rand Paul is already making waves in Washington, D.C. with plans to organize either a Senate or bicameral Tea Party Caucus.
Paul said he’s been chatting with several people from Kentucky about laying down a communications blueprint to keep the grassroots Tea Partiers nationwide in touch with their newly elected senators and representatives about what’s going on inside the Beltway. Paul told The Daily Caller he plans to start by forming a “nucleus” of conservative senators and then reach out to colleagues in the House.
“My idea is that we would do a bicameral caucus,” Paul told TheDC. “I don’t think there’s been a caucus that has had both Senate and House jointly meeting and I’d also like it to involve the grassroots, in some way, the Tea Party groups so we get some kind of input from folks all around the country, some kind of electronic town hall or something like that.”
Paul said he got the idea from talking with Kentucky Tea Partiers, adding that the activists tell him they want to keep fighting, even though there isn’t another election until 2012.
“They aren’t like, ‘once the election’s over, that’s it,’” Paul said. “So, I’d like to figure out a way that they can have input and we can let them know what we’re trying to do on their behalf as well.”
Paul said he’d expect such a caucus to “make legislators better people and better legislators but, also, it would just give them a guidepost to work from.” He stressed that fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets would be a major focus of his Tea Party Caucus.
Currently, there is already a Tea Party Caucus in the House, founded and led by Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann. Paul said he hasn’t spoken with Bachmann yet, but plans to get it touch with her when he gets to Washington. He hopes to work with Bachmann and other House Tea Party Republicans on making his idea of a bicameral Tea Party Caucus a reality.
“I think it would help us to shape the national debate over these reforms,” Paul said. “It helps us to have a distinct entity that has not ever existed before. The Tea Party movement is one of if not the biggest political movement in my lifetime and I think it deserves to still have a voice in Washington. That’s why I’m doing it, trying to set up a caucus that sets up lines of communication between the different Tea Party groups, which are very decentralized, and the candidates they elected in Washington.”
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
This article is a posting I am forwarding from the Dailey Caller. If you are not on their mailing list I really recommend them.
Interview with Rand Paul:
Kentucky Republican Senator-elect Rand Paul is already making waves in Washington, D.C. with plans to organize either a Senate or bicameral Tea Party Caucus.
Paul said he’s been chatting with several people from Kentucky about laying down a communications blueprint to keep the grassroots Tea Partiers nationwide in touch with their newly elected senators and representatives about what’s going on inside the Beltway. Paul told The Daily Caller he plans to start by forming a “nucleus” of conservative senators and then reach out to colleagues in the House.
“My idea is that we would do a bicameral caucus,” Paul told TheDC. “I don’t think there’s been a caucus that has had both Senate and House jointly meeting and I’d also like it to involve the grassroots, in some way, the Tea Party groups so we get some kind of input from folks all around the country, some kind of electronic town hall or something like that.”
Paul said he got the idea from talking with Kentucky Tea Partiers, adding that the activists tell him they want to keep fighting, even though there isn’t another election until 2012.
“They aren’t like, ‘once the election’s over, that’s it,’” Paul said. “So, I’d like to figure out a way that they can have input and we can let them know what we’re trying to do on their behalf as well.”
Paul said he’d expect such a caucus to “make legislators better people and better legislators but, also, it would just give them a guidepost to work from.” He stressed that fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets would be a major focus of his Tea Party Caucus.
Currently, there is already a Tea Party Caucus in the House, founded and led by Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann. Paul said he hasn’t spoken with Bachmann yet, but plans to get it touch with her when he gets to Washington. He hopes to work with Bachmann and other House Tea Party Republicans on making his idea of a bicameral Tea Party Caucus a reality.
“I think it would help us to shape the national debate over these reforms,” Paul said. “It helps us to have a distinct entity that has not ever existed before. The Tea Party movement is one of if not the biggest political movement in my lifetime and I think it deserves to still have a voice in Washington. That’s why I’m doing it, trying to set up a caucus that sets up lines of communication between the different Tea Party groups, which are very decentralized, and the candidates they elected in Washington.”
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Bold Steps And A Good Giggle
Glen Beck played a major role in the phenomenal win on Tuesday….
Below is a clip from his radio show…. This is funny. The first little section is from an advertiser so be patient. When the video starts open it to full screen so you can see all of the people involved. I laughed more the second time I watched it.
We got the announcement from the MS Tea Party for a call for people who might want to run in the next election cycle. I am glad to see we are getting started because we have only 730 day, 7 hours, 36 minutes, and 5 seconds left before the next election day on 11/2/2012…We are happy to see that the Tea Party is stepping up to the plate and participating directly in the selection of candidates.
If the National Republican Party learned a lesson from the Tuesday election results they 'may' want to have a seat at our table. They 'may' even want to joint with Jim DeMint, Colburn, and many of the newly elected congressmen and begin to move the National Party back to the traditional conservative positions. Who knows? Strange things do happen..In spite of their whimpy participation sixty plus Dems (lots of blue dogs) got sent home.
Hopefully this time around we will be able to focus more on state problems along with the national elections.
Obama was very helpful with the Tuesday event in that he has been drawing the 'line' so deeply in the sand that voters could clearly see it. It seems that he will continue to be helpful, in the same ways, during these next two years given his long rambling press conference yesterday. Clearly he does not see that it was his political agenda that is the issue not his ability explain clearly, to the poor dumb voters, that his agenda will save the nation, preserve its values, not impinge on individual freedoms, or confiscate voters' hard earned dollars.
With that being said, we at The Oxford Tea Party fall into that category of "poor dumb voters". We don't get it. We don't believe in his agenda…. What we do believe is that his agenda is socialist to the core. With his agenda, over time, America would join the league of the other socialist nations of the world along with France, Spain, Greece, etc.... This election was only a momentary 'pause' for him. Nothing more...
He is off today with three thousand people, almost as many planes to India, at a cost of two hundred millions dollars plus of tax payers' dollars, in the middle of a recession, with ten percent unemployment.(That’s' even more money than his wife spent on her vacation to Italy with the children.)
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
Thank you Mr. Beck for all your effort, hard work, emotional support, guidance and a good 'giggle.'
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/videos/?uri=channels/390088/1064892
Below is a clip from his radio show…. This is funny. The first little section is from an advertiser so be patient. When the video starts open it to full screen so you can see all of the people involved. I laughed more the second time I watched it.
We got the announcement from the MS Tea Party for a call for people who might want to run in the next election cycle. I am glad to see we are getting started because we have only 730 day, 7 hours, 36 minutes, and 5 seconds left before the next election day on 11/2/2012…We are happy to see that the Tea Party is stepping up to the plate and participating directly in the selection of candidates.
If the National Republican Party learned a lesson from the Tuesday election results they 'may' want to have a seat at our table. They 'may' even want to joint with Jim DeMint, Colburn, and many of the newly elected congressmen and begin to move the National Party back to the traditional conservative positions. Who knows? Strange things do happen..In spite of their whimpy participation sixty plus Dems (lots of blue dogs) got sent home.
Hopefully this time around we will be able to focus more on state problems along with the national elections.
Obama was very helpful with the Tuesday event in that he has been drawing the 'line' so deeply in the sand that voters could clearly see it. It seems that he will continue to be helpful, in the same ways, during these next two years given his long rambling press conference yesterday. Clearly he does not see that it was his political agenda that is the issue not his ability explain clearly, to the poor dumb voters, that his agenda will save the nation, preserve its values, not impinge on individual freedoms, or confiscate voters' hard earned dollars.
With that being said, we at The Oxford Tea Party fall into that category of "poor dumb voters". We don't get it. We don't believe in his agenda…. What we do believe is that his agenda is socialist to the core. With his agenda, over time, America would join the league of the other socialist nations of the world along with France, Spain, Greece, etc.... This election was only a momentary 'pause' for him. Nothing more...
He is off today with three thousand people, almost as many planes to India, at a cost of two hundred millions dollars plus of tax payers' dollars, in the middle of a recession, with ten percent unemployment.(That’s' even more money than his wife spent on her vacation to Italy with the children.)
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
Thank you Mr. Beck for all your effort, hard work, emotional support, guidance and a good 'giggle.'
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/videos/?uri=channels/390088/1064892
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Waive By To Sixty Plus Dems
Hey, hey, what do you say , "How many DEMS are gone today?"
The first thing we did this morning (we use Google as our home page) was to put a "Count down clock" on our home page .(A Google App). So, from the moment of this writing we have only 731 days, 8 hours, 29 minutes, 35 seconds till we can vote in the 2012 elections. That isn't much time for what we have left to do. Like us, I'm sure everyone was up late into last night so rest today, maybe think what we did and did not accomplish in this election cycle, maybe take a little nap, But tomorrow we've got to get back in the traces. 731 days may seem like a long time but it will all be up hill, in mud, with a broke singletree, and one tired mule. BUT
BUT already, we at TheOxfordTeaParty are trying to second guess what, if anything, we could have done in the Reid/Pelosi races. BUT
BUT don't you have to wonder what would have happened IF all the Senate had been up for reelection…. (Smart planning on our founders part.)BUT
REDSTATE
Eric Erickson
(BUT there will be 18 states subject to reapportionment. The Republicans will control a majority of those - at least ten and maybe a dozen or more.
More significantly, a minimum of seventeen state legislative houses have flipped to the Republican Party.
The North Carolina Legislature is Republican for the first time since 1870. Yes, that is Eighteen Seventy.
The Alabama Legislature is Republican for the first time since 1876.
For those saying this is nothing because it is the South, consider these:
The entire Wisconsin and New Hampshire legislatures have flipped to the GOP by wide margins.
The State Houses in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Montana, and Colorado flipped to the GOP.
The Maine and Minnesota Senates flipped to the GOP.
The Texas and Tennessee Houses went from virtually tied to massive Republican gains. The gains in Texas were so big that the Republicans no longer need the Democrats to get state constitutional amendments out of the state legislature.
These gains go all the way down to the municipal level across the nation. That did not happen even in 1994.
This was a tsunami.
Washington Post
"the Republicans have taken refuge in an anti-government ideology premised on the lunatic notion that America is the only truly free and successful country in the world. That ideology won last night, and Keynesianism lost. Have a good day!"t….
(The writers at the Washington Post are smart but arrogant people who also happen to be slow learners.)
(Just to see how other writers in other countries are reading the election results.)
Nile Gardiner
Article from the UK's The Daily telegraph:
Under the Obama White House, economic decline, feckless borrowing and towering debts, which will rise dramatically further if hugely expensive health care reforms are implemented, are combined with a flawed foreign policy and national security strategy which is leaving America weaker on the world stage and more vulnerable to attack. From its decision to scrap Third Site missile defenses in eastern and central Europe, to its failed policy of engagement with Iran and its timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Obama presidency is projecting dangerous weakness and compromise in the face of its enemies.
Ultimately, President Obama’s legacy to America will be the decline of a great superpower, weighed down by crushing debts and massive entitlement programs, and facing an emboldened set of adversaries, from Moscow to Tehran to Pyongyang. The damage inflicted by the Obama administration will ultimately be worse than the harm caused by the presidency of Jimmy Carter due to the scale of the long-term economic crisis now facing America. The overwhelming repudiation of the Obama.
Haley Barbour said, "We'all did a good job." We think he did a really good job also. Now I think he has a better idea of what the Tea Parties are capable of doing, he may be willing to help in the efforts we think the state need to get done… The changes that need to be made here on the home front...
BUT consider, as you have the first cup of coffee, this morning the Republican Party, with our help, has picked up more seats in the House of Representatives than at any time since 1948 -
I garden…. I like to garden.. However, a lesson I never seem to learn is the that the longer I wait to start pulling weeds in the spring the more weeds I end up with all summer. After X number of decades gardening you would think I would know this, and correct my attitude about spring weeding. I haven't. Instead I spend the summers disappointed and grumbling.
In closing this little missive know that we now have only 731 days, 6 hours, 19 minutes, and 11 seconds left till the 2012 elections.
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
The first thing we did this morning (we use Google as our home page) was to put a "Count down clock" on our home page .(A Google App). So, from the moment of this writing we have only 731 days, 8 hours, 29 minutes, 35 seconds till we can vote in the 2012 elections. That isn't much time for what we have left to do. Like us, I'm sure everyone was up late into last night so rest today, maybe think what we did and did not accomplish in this election cycle, maybe take a little nap, But tomorrow we've got to get back in the traces. 731 days may seem like a long time but it will all be up hill, in mud, with a broke singletree, and one tired mule. BUT
BUT already, we at TheOxfordTeaParty are trying to second guess what, if anything, we could have done in the Reid/Pelosi races. BUT
BUT don't you have to wonder what would have happened IF all the Senate had been up for reelection…. (Smart planning on our founders part.)BUT
REDSTATE
Eric Erickson
(BUT there will be 18 states subject to reapportionment. The Republicans will control a majority of those - at least ten and maybe a dozen or more.
More significantly, a minimum of seventeen state legislative houses have flipped to the Republican Party.
The North Carolina Legislature is Republican for the first time since 1870. Yes, that is Eighteen Seventy.
The Alabama Legislature is Republican for the first time since 1876.
For those saying this is nothing because it is the South, consider these:
The entire Wisconsin and New Hampshire legislatures have flipped to the GOP by wide margins.
The State Houses in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Montana, and Colorado flipped to the GOP.
The Maine and Minnesota Senates flipped to the GOP.
The Texas and Tennessee Houses went from virtually tied to massive Republican gains. The gains in Texas were so big that the Republicans no longer need the Democrats to get state constitutional amendments out of the state legislature.
These gains go all the way down to the municipal level across the nation. That did not happen even in 1994.
This was a tsunami.
Washington Post
"the Republicans have taken refuge in an anti-government ideology premised on the lunatic notion that America is the only truly free and successful country in the world. That ideology won last night, and Keynesianism lost. Have a good day!"t….
(The writers at the Washington Post are smart but arrogant people who also happen to be slow learners.)
(Just to see how other writers in other countries are reading the election results.)
Nile Gardiner
Article from the UK's The Daily telegraph:
Under the Obama White House, economic decline, feckless borrowing and towering debts, which will rise dramatically further if hugely expensive health care reforms are implemented, are combined with a flawed foreign policy and national security strategy which is leaving America weaker on the world stage and more vulnerable to attack. From its decision to scrap Third Site missile defenses in eastern and central Europe, to its failed policy of engagement with Iran and its timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Obama presidency is projecting dangerous weakness and compromise in the face of its enemies.
Ultimately, President Obama’s legacy to America will be the decline of a great superpower, weighed down by crushing debts and massive entitlement programs, and facing an emboldened set of adversaries, from Moscow to Tehran to Pyongyang. The damage inflicted by the Obama administration will ultimately be worse than the harm caused by the presidency of Jimmy Carter due to the scale of the long-term economic crisis now facing America. The overwhelming repudiation of the Obama.
Haley Barbour said, "We'all did a good job." We think he did a really good job also. Now I think he has a better idea of what the Tea Parties are capable of doing, he may be willing to help in the efforts we think the state need to get done… The changes that need to be made here on the home front...
BUT consider, as you have the first cup of coffee, this morning the Republican Party, with our help, has picked up more seats in the House of Representatives than at any time since 1948 -
I garden…. I like to garden.. However, a lesson I never seem to learn is the that the longer I wait to start pulling weeds in the spring the more weeds I end up with all summer. After X number of decades gardening you would think I would know this, and correct my attitude about spring weeding. I haven't. Instead I spend the summers disappointed and grumbling.
In closing this little missive know that we now have only 731 days, 6 hours, 19 minutes, and 11 seconds left till the 2012 elections.
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Authors Of Today
The BIG day has arrived. Our efforts will be measured and remembered. We will have taken the power from those who abused it and hopefully have given it to those who will serve. Long time coming. Too long waiting for politicians to do the "right thing' is the wrong thing. Power has, is, and will be abused by most who have it. We must remember and learn from the lessons of history. Buried in the minds and hearts of many politicians or would be politicians is a lust for power and control along with arrogances, superiority, and contempt for those who gave them their power. The moment we forget who they serve they will forget also.
Over these next few election cycles we will probably need to replace all of them. This cycle is a good start. We will see IF the politicians left standing now know who 'the people' are and realize who holds the real power. History tells us that their contempt and arrogance will prevent them from seeing and knowing but we will be patient, we will wait, give them time to 'shape-up'but we won't wait for long.
One of the most informative web site for Tea Parties is REDSTATE Briefings by Erick Erickson….I highly recommend that everyone subscribe to his 'Briefing Reports'…This article by Mr. Erickson and the comments left by readers echoes the worry expressed in the last few "The Oxford Tea Party" articles.
We know there are many concerned citizens "out-there", though not active in Tea Parties, who have the same worries we have. The REDSTATE web site and the many Tea Party web sites allow us to stay in touch and stay focused.
I have forwarded his article below without comment because it need none.
Posted by Erick Erickson
Sunday, October 31st at 10:00AM EDT
“Remember, as much as McConnell, Alexander, Boehner, Cantor, etc. did for you,
you are more important to them than they are to you.
But for you, they would still be in the minority.
I am putting this up the Sunday before the election because in the noise and hubbub after the election it will be drowned out and it is very, very important.
If you are working on one of those challenger campaigns and will come into the House of Representatives and Senate after November 2nd, please read this and get your future Congressman or Senator to read it.
In the next 72 hours, you will be elected to the United States Congress. Suddenly you will find that you have friends you never knew you had. Remember that most of them are not actually your friends.
Many members of Congress will begin whispering sweet nothings in your ear wooing you to vote for them and their rules for the House and Senate. Remember that these same men are the exact same people that the voters rejected in 2006 and again in 2008.
Remember that every poll showing a Republican landslide on Tuesday also shows that the public hates these men.
Introduce yourself to Jeb Hensarling, Jeff Flake, and Jim Jordan. Talk with your fellow freshmen like Tim Huelskamp, Justin Amash, and Jeff Duncan. Those are the people who will become your closest friends who you’ll share a foxhole with when leadership fails you but a battle must be waged.
Remember that some of the people who will come to Congress with you, whether it is Charlie Bass or Steve Stivers or Kevin Yoder or Robert Hurt, etc. are unrepentant tax hixers and some will want to transcend partisanship to work across the aisle. You got elected by being the Party of No. Don’t let the sweet nothings of the Beltway suddenly convince you otherwise.
NO is a very powerful word in Washington and it is not used often enough.
Finally, here is the last bit of advice I have for you today. Remember the GOP Pledge? One person — Barry Jackson, who is John Boehner’s Chief of Staff — single handedly had support for traditional marriage stripped from the Pledge and did so after showing a version of the Pledge to conservatives that had it in there to get their support. One person and a staffer from John Boehner’s office no less.
When you get to Washington you will be told you need a professional staff of lobbyists, careerists, etc. to help guide you. You will be told that “you just don’t understand” or “you are naive” or “the School House Rock version of how a bill becomes a law is too simplified for the real world.”
The people telling you this are the people the voters hate and you should not trust. Largely they will be people in leadership, particularly staffers, who will soon depart for K Street where they hope to profit off their relationship with you. They will work with people like Trent Lott to try to co-opt you.
Fight.
Fight them.
Fight the idea that you must yield to their ways instead of them yielding to your ways. You, after all, have not been driven from power like these men have.
You will have friends you did not know you had who really are your friends when you stand up and fight your leadership. Do not let the Rules Committee be a tool of Leadership. Do not men like Jerry Lewis who helped drive us from power in 2006 remain in power. Do not let leadership have control over committee assignments.
Do not trust Mitch McConnell and Lame-R! Alexander and John Boehner and Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy even though they did so much for you. Remember, as much as they did for you, you are more important to them than they are to you. But for you, they would still be in the minority.
Do not trust the leadership’s staff. They view many of you as problems and potential disasters despite that you will vote more reliably Republican than their preferred candidates and pets.
You have it within you and with the word “No” to prevent the Republicans from going back to the ways that got them removed from office in 2006.
If you fight them you will be rewarded. If you succumb, the Tea Party will come for you in just a few short years.
Thanks Erick
Here are some readers comments to this article:
Make that, "The Tea Party will come for you next year".
When anyone reminds you they are in congress just say 'yes I am the one of the ones who put there'
I actually used this line with a snotty news anchor who did not like following instructions who told me ‘I’m the one who’s on TV’ to which I replied ‘Yes you are and I am one of the people who puts you there. 'concluding that little discussion. Cop some attitude, remember they work for us.
This is only the first battle; the war is not yet won.
This is the initial fight, but even the best outcome will not be a victory, but only remove a portion of the problem. The few elected this year will have to hold on until reinforcements arrive in 2012 and 2014. Meanwhile join your local tea party and take control of politics at the local level.
Frosh
We didn’t elect you to sit on Boehner’s or McConnell’s bench. We elected you to lead and defend the Constitution. Tell them that. When they put you in a tiny cracker box on the 5th floor of Cannon, tell them you didn’t come to congress for a good view. YOU tell THEM. "The American people have placed the future of the country in YOUR hands." Don’t go wobbly on us. And we will be watching.
And you are now a Congressman.
You are not simply a Tea Partier, a conservative businessman, or a lowly State Representative.
If you’d like to stay a congressman, dance with the gal that "brung ya", to wit, us.
And if you want to advance our mutual cause, drop us a line. We’ll be happy to hear about the wayward ways of the Beltway hangers on who sit on the committees and plot their own advancement.
We’re not through. Not by a long shot.
The Tea Party is not going away.
Clearly you see from the comments and Eric's article we are not alone….Clearly we have to stay in contact with our new congressmen…Clearly they will need emotional support…(These are tough seasoned guys they will be working with.) Clearly they will be pressured, cajoled, seduced with the promise of power…. Clearly there are lots of problems that can't be solved quickly and maybe some not at all. Patience (for awhile) support for a while (but our stick will be kept in hand) and they will need to be reminded it was our voting that got them where they are and we put them there to serve us and our country. (Think of this as a probationary period for two years.) If ,and only IF you do the job we will let you stay for another two years but going through the door KNOW this congressional set will never be yours it will always be ours.
Riddle of the day….Who said, " We are going to punish our enemies and we are going to reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us?" (Setting aside the arrogances and contempt in this statement, for the moment, how is it that an elected official sees any segment of American citizens as enemies? )
Later today we will see the magic and strength in the voice of the people…..We are the authors of tonight… A night that will be long remembered ….Pop some popcorn, get some adult type beverage,and have a wonderful evening watching the results of your efforts unfold….
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
Over these next few election cycles we will probably need to replace all of them. This cycle is a good start. We will see IF the politicians left standing now know who 'the people' are and realize who holds the real power. History tells us that their contempt and arrogance will prevent them from seeing and knowing but we will be patient, we will wait, give them time to 'shape-up'but we won't wait for long.
One of the most informative web site for Tea Parties is REDSTATE Briefings by Erick Erickson….I highly recommend that everyone subscribe to his 'Briefing Reports'…This article by Mr. Erickson and the comments left by readers echoes the worry expressed in the last few "The Oxford Tea Party" articles.
We know there are many concerned citizens "out-there", though not active in Tea Parties, who have the same worries we have. The REDSTATE web site and the many Tea Party web sites allow us to stay in touch and stay focused.
I have forwarded his article below without comment because it need none.
Posted by Erick Erickson
Sunday, October 31st at 10:00AM EDT
“Remember, as much as McConnell, Alexander, Boehner, Cantor, etc. did for you,
you are more important to them than they are to you.
But for you, they would still be in the minority.
I am putting this up the Sunday before the election because in the noise and hubbub after the election it will be drowned out and it is very, very important.
If you are working on one of those challenger campaigns and will come into the House of Representatives and Senate after November 2nd, please read this and get your future Congressman or Senator to read it.
In the next 72 hours, you will be elected to the United States Congress. Suddenly you will find that you have friends you never knew you had. Remember that most of them are not actually your friends.
Many members of Congress will begin whispering sweet nothings in your ear wooing you to vote for them and their rules for the House and Senate. Remember that these same men are the exact same people that the voters rejected in 2006 and again in 2008.
Remember that every poll showing a Republican landslide on Tuesday also shows that the public hates these men.
Introduce yourself to Jeb Hensarling, Jeff Flake, and Jim Jordan. Talk with your fellow freshmen like Tim Huelskamp, Justin Amash, and Jeff Duncan. Those are the people who will become your closest friends who you’ll share a foxhole with when leadership fails you but a battle must be waged.
Remember that some of the people who will come to Congress with you, whether it is Charlie Bass or Steve Stivers or Kevin Yoder or Robert Hurt, etc. are unrepentant tax hixers and some will want to transcend partisanship to work across the aisle. You got elected by being the Party of No. Don’t let the sweet nothings of the Beltway suddenly convince you otherwise.
NO is a very powerful word in Washington and it is not used often enough.
Finally, here is the last bit of advice I have for you today. Remember the GOP Pledge? One person — Barry Jackson, who is John Boehner’s Chief of Staff — single handedly had support for traditional marriage stripped from the Pledge and did so after showing a version of the Pledge to conservatives that had it in there to get their support. One person and a staffer from John Boehner’s office no less.
When you get to Washington you will be told you need a professional staff of lobbyists, careerists, etc. to help guide you. You will be told that “you just don’t understand” or “you are naive” or “the School House Rock version of how a bill becomes a law is too simplified for the real world.”
The people telling you this are the people the voters hate and you should not trust. Largely they will be people in leadership, particularly staffers, who will soon depart for K Street where they hope to profit off their relationship with you. They will work with people like Trent Lott to try to co-opt you.
Fight.
Fight them.
Fight the idea that you must yield to their ways instead of them yielding to your ways. You, after all, have not been driven from power like these men have.
You will have friends you did not know you had who really are your friends when you stand up and fight your leadership. Do not let the Rules Committee be a tool of Leadership. Do not men like Jerry Lewis who helped drive us from power in 2006 remain in power. Do not let leadership have control over committee assignments.
Do not trust Mitch McConnell and Lame-R! Alexander and John Boehner and Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy even though they did so much for you. Remember, as much as they did for you, you are more important to them than they are to you. But for you, they would still be in the minority.
Do not trust the leadership’s staff. They view many of you as problems and potential disasters despite that you will vote more reliably Republican than their preferred candidates and pets.
You have it within you and with the word “No” to prevent the Republicans from going back to the ways that got them removed from office in 2006.
If you fight them you will be rewarded. If you succumb, the Tea Party will come for you in just a few short years.
Thanks Erick
Here are some readers comments to this article:
Make that, "The Tea Party will come for you next year".
When anyone reminds you they are in congress just say 'yes I am the one of the ones who put there'
I actually used this line with a snotty news anchor who did not like following instructions who told me ‘I’m the one who’s on TV’ to which I replied ‘Yes you are and I am one of the people who puts you there. 'concluding that little discussion. Cop some attitude, remember they work for us.
This is only the first battle; the war is not yet won.
This is the initial fight, but even the best outcome will not be a victory, but only remove a portion of the problem. The few elected this year will have to hold on until reinforcements arrive in 2012 and 2014. Meanwhile join your local tea party and take control of politics at the local level.
Frosh
We didn’t elect you to sit on Boehner’s or McConnell’s bench. We elected you to lead and defend the Constitution. Tell them that. When they put you in a tiny cracker box on the 5th floor of Cannon, tell them you didn’t come to congress for a good view. YOU tell THEM. "The American people have placed the future of the country in YOUR hands." Don’t go wobbly on us. And we will be watching.
And you are now a Congressman.
You are not simply a Tea Partier, a conservative businessman, or a lowly State Representative.
If you’d like to stay a congressman, dance with the gal that "brung ya", to wit, us.
And if you want to advance our mutual cause, drop us a line. We’ll be happy to hear about the wayward ways of the Beltway hangers on who sit on the committees and plot their own advancement.
We’re not through. Not by a long shot.
The Tea Party is not going away.
Clearly you see from the comments and Eric's article we are not alone….Clearly we have to stay in contact with our new congressmen…Clearly they will need emotional support…(These are tough seasoned guys they will be working with.) Clearly they will be pressured, cajoled, seduced with the promise of power…. Clearly there are lots of problems that can't be solved quickly and maybe some not at all. Patience (for awhile) support for a while (but our stick will be kept in hand) and they will need to be reminded it was our voting that got them where they are and we put them there to serve us and our country. (Think of this as a probationary period for two years.) If ,and only IF you do the job we will let you stay for another two years but going through the door KNOW this congressional set will never be yours it will always be ours.
Riddle of the day….Who said, " We are going to punish our enemies and we are going to reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us?" (Setting aside the arrogances and contempt in this statement, for the moment, how is it that an elected official sees any segment of American citizens as enemies? )
Later today we will see the magic and strength in the voice of the people…..We are the authors of tonight… A night that will be long remembered ….Pop some popcorn, get some adult type beverage,and have a wonderful evening watching the results of your efforts unfold….
Ron
Docnick37@gmail.com
http://theoxfordteaparty.blogspot.com/
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