Comments on: What Do You Do When The Tea Party Ends?

By: sheri

sheri — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:03:47 +0000

Melyssa, I’m with you on the intolerance. Some of these people want liberty, as long as they get to define it: “It’s freedom for me and those who think like me, but not to anyone who disagrees.”

On the flip side, I am more than willing to extend liberty to them, down to defending their churches if government forces crash down on them, as government did to Indianapolis Baptist Temple. I do not have to subscribe to their take on spirituality to defend it as if it’s my own because that’s what liberty is really about.

I am attending these things to create tolerance for the libertarian side of the spectrum and to earn the trust we need if we really want to go forward toward liberty. Without willingness to establish common ground, the movement is over.

Some of these people who attended have come to me and said that the direction at the Indy event wasn’t what they were seeking. If they wanted to join the Christians-Only wing of the Republican Party – and these folks get to define who the Christians are – these genuine liberty-seekers didn’t need to take off half a day from work to head to Indy. They could do that at home.

We need to be polite, yet firm, offering a genuine alternative because that’s why a lot of people were there.

By: Melyssa

Melyssa — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:34:39 +0000

Josh, I have asked for money before. For the state house revolt, I put up a list of needs and suggested if people were called to help financially, there were specific things we needed.
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When the Indiana Voters League started, about 12 volunteers all ponied up about $100 or so.
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I don’t think there is a problem with asking for money if it benefits a lot of people. You can’t produce events for free so I never saw a problem with the fact that the Behney’s asked for donations. I suspect they personally covered most of the costs and that’s commendable.
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However, I don’t feel as though they treated me as Christians should treat their fellow humans on this planet. Laura Behney banned me and had very harsh words for regarding an opinion I stated on another private email list.
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By her actions, she showed she is not tolerant of others, their speech, or their opinions. That’s not who I want defending my liberty.

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:39:48 +0000

Abdul is right in asking “what’s next”. I don’t think the answer is clear, because we really are a grassroots group without political experience (contrary to the blogs that suggest we are sheep for the Repubs).

What’s the problem with the Behneys asking for financial help??? It takes money to make events happen; they did a ton of work and put in their own money for what they thought was important. Nobody was obligated to donate.

I’m not a Christian (I’m agnostic) and I didn’t feel at all excluded. The clear theme was big government spending and taxation.

By: Taxpayer 834512

Taxpayer 834512 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:04:47 +0000

The Tea Party on the statehouse south lawn was similar to the statehouse gathering three weeks ago, in being larger pep rally of sorts. But, as several speakers reiterated, they’ll start getting more enthused if they see the same thousands(?) of people, “…in the third quarter or during the two minute drill.”
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They obviously lost some folk in the planning stages with focus on the national level and perhaps with a decided lean to Christianity. However, I thought sticking with a couple of Federal issues (Taxes/spending & Constitution) lent greater focus, while the Christian orientation a bit too exclusionary. More partriotic singing than I’m accustomed too, but if they pared down to a couple of songs, an opening prayer, and rounded-up a fuller net of the American spectrum than Pakistani and Irish immigrants, then the gaterings will better bear a Shellaesque scrutiny. As is, I can imagine banjo-pickin’, beer-swillin’, tobacco-spittin’ stereotypes that will be summoned- while the real quality of the issues and speakers will be ignored.
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I believe the national level to be deepest in the hole and needs the oodles of focus, ground work, and money that the resident pundits have mentioned earlier. Thanks to those who came out. If you’ve not given up, it’s the start of a tough climb.

By: Hank

Hank — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:48:15 +0000

“Guess it’s ok to make watermelon jokes about white people?”

When they’re shooting them to prove crackpot conspiracy theories it’s always ok.

By: Josh Rogan

Josh Rogan — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:50:10 +0000

Melyssa,

You should have known something was up when Richard and Laura Behney started asking folks to give them $25:
http://www.meetup.com/The-Indy-Defenders-of-Liberty/messages/boards/thread/6576356#26406870

It strikes me as odd that he went through the trouble of paying Bob Basso’s way out here and thought about how he was going to cover the costs afterward. It also strikes me as pretty stupid, since a Thomas Paine cosplayer isn’t going to do a damn thing about the CIB or the big picture problems we’re facing here.

I’m often on the other side of an issue from you Melyssa, but I’ll give you this: I’ve never heard of you asking for a dime for any of the numerous projects you’ve led.

By: Bob, Silent No More

Bob, Silent No More — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:43:23 +0000

Unfortunately, you just have to bend over and someone will insert the tea.

By: Jon G

Jon G — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:24:14 +0000

Re: shorebreaks post @ 12. “professional news outlets with editors and ethical journalistic standards” If there is anyone out there who believes that this exists I have a cruise package in the Indian Ocean I’d like to sell you.

By: malercous

malercous — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:44:34 +0000

I hope they keep it up as Retards-on-parade makes great entertainment. I just saw some of these whackaloons on CNN and wow, they just don’t seem all that bright. I’d think that after the protests they’ll go back to their care-givers to have the spittle wiped from their mouths and have their Depends changed. Gotta love `em.

By: Diana

Diana — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:40:04 +0000

I agree, Abdul. We need to do more than just make a little noise. We need to tenaciously pursue good government and drive the pay-to-play politicians from the courthouse and the statehouse.

Here’s proof that a little tenacity goes a long way:

http://diana-vice.blogspot.com/2009/04/two-birds-one-stone.html