Wild Bill: And The Big Lie Died

The Tea Party, Right About Everything

From the American Thinker:

The false narrative is that the Tea Party is a bunch of stubborn nuts, if not outright racists.  In truth, the Tea Party has been right about everything, while almost everyone else has been nuts, especially the "experts."

Minimum wage.  One of the first things Democrats did after taking back Congress in 2007 was raise the federal minimum wage 41% from 2007 to 2009.  Result?  The unemployment rate went from 4.4% in May 2007 to 10.1% in 2009.  It is 9.2% even today -- four years later.

Read the whole thing here.

Joe Miller Opens Big Lead over McAdams, Murkowski

Tea Party Express-backed Joe Miller, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, has opened a fairly wide lead over his opponents: Scott McAdams (D) of Sitka, and Lisa Murkowski (Sore Loser-AK).  As expected, Murkowski is splitting the "moderate Democrat" and "moderate independent" votes with McAdams, leaving the conservatives firmly behind Miller.

A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Alaska Republican Senate nominee Joe Miller with a surprisingly comfortable lead over incumbent and write-in candidate Lisa Murkowski.

In the poll, Miller had the support of 42 percent of Alaska voters, while Murkowski was just slightly ahead of Democratic nominee Scott McAdams with 27 percent. McAdams finished in third place with 25 percent.

From Rasmussen:

 

h/t Real Clear Politics

Tea Parties & Spoilers

In light of Lisa Murkowski's just-launched write-in campaign, and her description of back-to-the-Constitution Joe Miller as "an extremist", I present this history lesson:

















found at Theo's place

2010 by Lloyd Marcus

Tea Party Express in the News Again

As reported last week, the Tea Party Express has endorsed conservative Joe Miller from Fairbanks against Lisa Murkowski, the incumbent Republican senator from Alaska.

The Daily News says today:

The Tea Party Express, fresh off an election victory in Utah, promised Wednesday that Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski would be its next victim. The group's promise of big spending to defeat her is intensifying interest in Murkowski challenger Joe Miller, a strict Constitutionalist whose views are unknown to most voters in Alaska.

Miller says he believes the federal Department of Education should be abolished and that, over the long term, the government should stop offering Social Security and Medicare. His campaign message to Republican primary voters shouts of the contrast between him and Murkowski, saying she is for abortion rights, supported a Wall Street bailout and is not in favor of repealing the "Obamacare" federal health law.

The Murkowski campaign accuses Miller of distorting her record, and the senator is clearly positioning herself for conservative voters in the primary. Murkowski gave a speech on the U.S. Senate floor Wednesday calling for repeal of the health care law and the first radio ad of her campaign talks about her votes against the economic stimulus, the health care law and funding for the community organizing group Acorn.

"We need to keep fighting to lower taxes, to shrink the size of government and to push back against the federal government's assault on Alaska," Murkowski said in the ad.

Miller said Wednesday the ad isn't honest. "She's voted like a liberal the last six years and now she wants to recast herself as a conservative," Miller said. It's the opposite tack of the Democrat running for Murkowski's seat, Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams, who says she began her political career as a moderate but went right.

He's "distorting her record." Sure, because everything the U.S. Senate does is hidden in your Aunt Fannie's pantry. Sorry; personal disdain for our non-representing "representatives" creeping in, there.

It's not like Alaskans aren't watching the Senator closely. Her nomination by her father to the seat that just happened to be vacated by her father made a lot of folks pretty upset. I'll grant you her tenure has been more distinguished than his, but ...

Anyway, click on the link to read the rest.

Tea Party Express Endorses Miller for U.S. Senate

As a general rule, we Alaskans take a very dim view of Outsiders getting involved in our politics. The famous bumper sticker from a few years ago read "This is Alaska. We don't give a DAMN how they do it Outside." But this time I'm willing to make an exception.

Joe Miller, a fellow from Fairbanks, is running against Lisa Murkowski (Rino-AK). According to a story from the Daily News website:

The Tea Party Express announced this morning it is backing Joe Miller’s bid to defeat Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the August Republican primary election. The group is promising to have staff on the ground in Alaska and to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to support his candidacy.

This is a big deal for Miller’s long-shot candidacy. The Tea Party Express said it will make the race its top priority between now and the Aug. 24 primary. (Who is the Tea Party Express? The Atlantic did a comprehensive story on the group last week. Read it by clicking here.)

The group promises to launch a wave of TV and radio ads supporting Miller, and opposing Murkowski in the coming weeks.

Tea Party Express-backed candidate Sharron Angle earlier this month came from behind in Nevada to defeat a far better known Republican U.S. Senate candidate in that state's Republican primary.

Todd & Sarah Palin have endorsed Joe Miller, calling him a "true Commonsense Constitutional Conservative”, and I like what he has to say. His website is www.JoeMiller.us ... give him a look, and maybe some financial support if you agree.

Townhall.com: Obama Has Enraged the "Citizen Class"

Fascinating piece by Austin Hill, over at Townhall.com. Excerpt:

The “citizen class” is horrified.

We’re speaking here of those Americans who, while they may disagree on a variety of social and public policy issues, nonetheless agree on a few, crucial matters.

~snip~

Our nation is good, U.S. citizenship is distinct, and national sovereignty is non-negotiable. In a nutshell, this is the mindset, the worldview, of the citizen class. It has nothing to do with one’s ethnicity, or socioeconomic background, or sexual orientation, or gender. It has everything to do with one’s most deeply held beliefs.

Not every U.S. citizen possesses the “citizen class” view (clearly some Americans don’t understand the blessing of their status), yet a majority of us still do. And no matter how much we may disagree on other matters, those of us in the citizen class won’t budge on these three items.

And this why President Obama has enraged the citizen class. He has planted the seeds of doubt regarding our nation’s goodness, and has implied that U.S. citizenship, and national sovereignty, are irrelevant.

Read, as they say, the whole thing. I think he comes pretty close to "right on the money".

What Were They Thinking?

We all suspect that the Founding Fathers were better-educated and/or wiser than ourselves, when it came to the history of governments, and the theories about how better to govern these Colonies. I want to begin examining the things they knew, leading up to the Declaration (and later, the Constitution).

For if it [the unlawful act of government] reach no farther than some private men's cases, though they have a right to defend themselves ... yet the right to do so will not easily engage them in a contest ... it being as impossible for one or a few oppressed men to disturb the government where the body of the people do not think themselves concerned in it...

But if either these illegal acts have extended to the majority of the people, or if the mischief and oppression has light [struck] only on some few, but in such cases as the precedent and consequences seem to threaten all, and they are persuaded in their consciences that their laws, and with them, their estates, liberties, and lives are in danger, and perhaps their religion, too, how will they be hindered from resisting illegal force used against them, I cannot tell. (John Locke, Second Essay Concerning Civil Government)

What he's saying is that a majority of the people are likely to revolt, just as our forebears did, when they perceive - as a majority - that they are threatened by government's action(s). The Founders certainly believed that the colonists, as a whole, were in jeopardy from British actions.

Now go read the headlines again; look at the Manhattan Declaration; see the list of complaints forwarded by Tea Partiers, and think again. Are we approaching such a time? Have we reached it? At what point is a consensus of "the majority" achieved? And who decides?

Discuss.

Tea Party Slide Show

The Anchorage Daily News has a slide show of tea parties in Alaska & around the country. There are some interesting photos included. Take a look!

Another Day, Another .. Well, You Know

As if there were a need to point out the libertarian aspects of Alaskan culture (hint: that's redundant), the three leftist infiltrators at yesterday's tea party had signs which actually made no sense - but the serious attendees ignored them. "Beluga: the other white meat" is supposed to make people think that tea partiers eat whales?

Please. I can't imagine what's keeping the "Bush = Baby Killer" banners & tin-foil hats.

The local TV news did report "hundreds of people turned out for a tax protest" with a straight face, and refrained from showing the END WARS signs. (Riiiight. Because everyone knows the world's aggressors rely on the command of a retired guy in a tricorn hat.)

Somehow I think the tricorn hat wearers have an entirely different message in mind. The Constitutional republican form of government in Juneau has long since listened to the People, which is why we don't have a state income tax, among other things. Granted there are some wacko ideas that come out of Juneau ... but find me a group of people today who don't produce a couple of lame-o stinkeroos along with their list of "must do's".

The Left Coast transplants who've moved here for only-God-knows-why are the ONLY people bleating about how Alaska should bring back the income tax, or tax this/that/the other. Perhaps they'd be happier returning to whatever socialist wasteland they abandoned.

In fact, we're beginning to insist. Alaska is taking on the federals on yet another issue this week, as the match-up between the State and the fed.gov is increasingly ill-fitting. The governor is admittedly unhappy with them, and quite a few of the legislators appear to equally frustrated, although there's not yet a consensus on what to do about it. Stay tuned.

* * * * *
On a personal note, I finally have a portrait on my Blogger profile which doesn't make me look like the creepy guy who hangs around the playground. My thanks to RC for taking the snapshot.

Tea Party: Anchorage

4/15/10 - I have a first-generation hard-drive camcorder which takes stills, but not very hi res.

These pics show the crowd at about 30 minutes into the gathering, which was to run for two hours.

The lady holding the flag is from the Anchorage 2nd Amendment Task Force. She was asking folks to sign a petition urging the Atty. General to join the lawsuit against ObamaKare. People were standing in line at one point, waiting to sign it.

There were a few infiltrators - lefty loons, one and all - but they were largely ignored, except by the local newspaper, which dutifully reported the dumbest sign along with the others, as if it were part of the rally.

The weather was sunny, breezy, and about 35 degrees. The people I met were friendly, polite, respectful, and enthusiastic.

Go figure, huh?

Icy Roads? Check. Fresh Snow? Check.

Must be April. Yesterday's snowfall of 9" set a new record for that date.

It was 29 degrees when I left for work, and all the roads have an icy sheen. Everyone - surprisingly - is being VERY careful, and there haven't been any major mishaps.

But the day is young. I'm sure some enterprising soul will manage to roll his/her vehicle into a nearby ditch or median, just in time to most effectively snarl traffic (grumble, grumble).

There is a Tea Party rally scheduled for noon today, across from the federal building, downtown. The temp should be in the low 30s, with mostly sunny skies. That shouldn't stop any real Alaskans. In fact, anyone grousing about how cold it is might well be an infiltrator, 'cause everyone knows real Alaskans don't notice the weather.

Oh, wait. Well, whatever.

Teabagger Pride - Since 1773!

Local Patriot News

From the Anchorage 2nd Amendment Task Force come these announcements:

• The 2nd Amendment March will be held at the Town Square (Across from the Egan) April 19th from 4:30 to 6:30. This is an open carry event. More information will be forthcoming with the next newsletter.
• Alaskans For Liberty will be having a Tea Party event at the Federal Building from 12:00 to 2:00 on Thursday April 15th.
  

Jon Voight's Letter to America

March 21st, 2010 - a New Date for Infamy

We have been betrayed, as Speaker Blinky & her Evil Party minions have rammed the unwanted healthcare "reform" package down our throats.

I'm seeing comments all over the board, on-line. Some are crying quietly, others are ranting, and some are threatening. The "window war" has been advocated by some, but I've not heard whether it was to any effect - although there was word, yesterday, that Rep. Slaughter's HQ window was broken by a brick.

The New York Post contains this nugget:

But what they object to, and will continue to resist, is the animating impulse that gives Washington more control over our daily lives. That is the definition of a statist, and it's what Obama is.

He is not troubled by the bribery for votes and the manipulated process because, to him, the end justifies the means.

Not surprisingly, he refuses to grasp why a clear majority of America now opposes his health care takeover.

"People have lost faith in government," he said at a recent rally in St. Louis. "They had lost faith in government before I ran, and it has been getting worse."

Actually, people haven't lost faith in government. They just don't think bigger is better. And the bigger he wants to make it, the less faith they have in him.

People are finally awakened, and no longer willing to play by the progressives' rules ... we've tried it, and it has resulted only in conservatives being the butt of insults, name-calling, dirty jokes, and calumny of all sorts.

As David Codrea says in his Examiner column:

Here's the thing: the rules don't just protect us as citizens. They also protect the government.

If we throw out rule of law and replace it with rule of men, no one will be protected.

We'll be forced to protect ourselves.

How?

I don't know. I suppose we'll make it up as we go.

It won't be fun, and it won't be pretty. But it will be for keeps.

A Tea-Party Speech

Dr. Donald May, Lubbock, TX - 4/15/09:

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a time for courage.

"We are gathered here today on the plains of West Texas in common purpose. We are here to remind our government that this is our country, we the people are still in charge, and our government is still our servant and not our master.

"Our nation’s founding document is the Declaration of Independence. It tells us that our rights come from God and not from a small group of elite men and women.

"Our constitution starts with the words “We the People.” Our constitution was written for ordinary Americans like you and me. Our constitution protects us from our government and from the politicians.

"Our President has complained that our constitution gives ordinary people too much protection.

"He has ridiculed us for the high value we place on our Bibles, our guns, our personal property, and our liberty. He tells us we do not deserve to keep the money we have earned.

"We are told freedom has not worked. Personal responsibility, free enterprise, and liberty have not been effective. Our government will now make more of our decisions for us.

"Other than our military, I can think of not one government agency I have ever found to be helpful.

"And speaking of our military, how about those Navy Seals blowing the heads off those three terrorist pirates? Don’t you just wish our entire government would function with such efficiency, professionalism, and courage?

"We watch in disbelief as our beloved United States is weakened economically, militarily, and morally by a radical President and his eager accomplices.

"What has taken generations to build is systematically destroyed and replaced with the same socialist evil that brought poverty, destruction, and despair to untold hundreds of millions.

"The problems we face today have occurred because we have not defended our nation from socialism. For too long we have allowed the wrong people to make the worst possible decisions.

"The Bible warns us of class hatred. The radical leadership of our government daily fans the evil flames of class envy.

"Our European and Canadian friends beg us to not make the same socialist mistakes they did. The President of the European Union warned our President that his socialist economic plans are taking the World down the “road to Hell.”

"The path to power for socialists includes taking God and guns from the citizens. Without spiritual and physical protection, people cannot defend themselves and their liberty. They soon become slaves.

"We are angered that our President apologizes for the exceptionalism and heroism of the United States of America. We are deeply troubled he told others the United States is not a Christian nation.

"We are angered that we have been called cowards and racists because we oppose socialism. Socialism is not racial; socialism is an equal opportunity destroyer.

"We are angered that a recent Department of Homeland Security report has singled out our military men and women who are returning home as being radical threats.

"The report also characterizes you and me as right-wing extremists and radicals because we favor smaller government and lower taxes.

"You and I are average citizens who believe just like most of our fellow Americans. We want our government to leave us alone and to keep its hands off our money, our religion, or guns, our private property, and our lives.

"We demand that our government stop spending money it does not have.

"Stop confiscating our money and private property.

"Stop printing money.

"Stop subsidizing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the other failed financial institutions and companies.

"Mr. President, stop appointing tax cheats to positions of power and influence.

"Mr. President, secure our borders.

"Mr. President, do not divert money from our missile defense, F-22 Raptors, and other vital military equipment. This gives encouragement, aid, and comfort to our enemies. Protecting us is your number one job.

"Mr. President, do not give voting rights to millions of illegal aliens and felons. You have no more right to create new voters for your benefit than you do to use our money to buy the 2010 and 2012 elections.

"We gather peacefully here today because there is a growing concern for what our government is doing to us and to our future. We fear for the very survival of our republic.

"Yet there is much to make us hopeful and to fill our hearts with optimism and courage. This is still our country!

"The constitution of the Unites States belongs to "We the People". Our constitution still protects us from our government.

"Call every possible elected official, including our President, Vice President, and the Speaker of the House. Demand that they stop stealing our money and giving it to ACORN and their other political supporters in order to buy votes.

"Call [your senators and representative]. Thank them. Urge them to do much more. Remind them now is a time for action and not for campaigning.

"Volunteer to work on our 2010 census. Confront ACORN. Keep our census honest. We must not allow our President to take control of our census for his political advantage.

"We must replace as much of our far left congress as possible in 2010. Get involved. Do not let the ACORN control our 2010 election.

"Talk with someone every day who does not understand our nation’s history and our great heritage. Tell them why the United States is a good and prosperous nation. It still remains that brightly lit city on the hill. It still is the best hope for all mankind.

"Talk with all of the young people you can find. They are our future. Many do not understand what they have and that their future is being destroyed.

"Encourage your elected State officials to pass legislation that will protect us from our Federal government ... Thank them and pray for them.

"This is a time for strong peaceful action. Let us pray that We the People can quickly return our government to its constitutional responsibilities.

"Our President and Congress were elected to be our servants and not our masters.

"May God help our President and congress to quickly realize the error of their ways and stop their reckless and unwarranted spending, cut our taxes, and reduce the size of our Federal bureaucracy.

"If they do not, may God grant us the courage and determination to vote them out of power next year.

"May God richly bless and protect each of you, and our Constitution, as together we pursue liberty!"

Thursday Morning

Good morning out there!

It's 28 degrees with a light frost, headed for the mid-40s, or so AccuHunch Weather is guessing.

The most highly-watched TV station in Anchorage reported briefly on the tea parties here & in Wasilla, this morning. They got it mostly right, but the anchor introduced the segment by stating the rallies were part of a "nationally-organized movement." (sigh)

They just don't get it. Like all the others who are hearing these comments, I defy the newspeople to point to a "national organizer." Go ahead; I'll wait.

No, I won't. Life's too short to wait for oblivious people to stumble over the truth.

The protesters get it: the Daily News article says, in part, "Protesters ... say the federal government ought to let the free market save the crumbling economy rather than going deeper in debt through bailouts or stimulus spending to spur recovery.
"Anchorage sign wavers wore tea bags tied to their jacket zippers or eyeglasses, sometimes chanting or singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." Drivers leaned on their horns as they rolled past signs that said things like: "We are not your ATM." "

Read the rest here.

Moving on ... I enjoyed the clever signs and slogans that people brought to yesterday's gathering. One younger kid was holding a sign reading, "Print me a trillion while you're at it." Maybe he wants a loaf of bread ...

* * * * *

Alaska stuff: the Governor and the legislature continue to wrassle over the nomination of a replacement for the representative from the Juneau area. Gov. Palin continues to submit names, albeit several of the same ones, and the Democratic reps continue to reject them. Now that antagonism is spilling over into the confirmation process for her Attorney General nominee.
... Come on, folks, we have budget issues to solve, and only a few days left before the mandatory adjournment of this session. Get back to work, please?

The Municipality of Anchorage faces a $17 million shortfall, and the acting mayor has submitted a "leaner budget" ... but guess what it includes? Come on, guess! Anyone?

Yep, that's right: a five percent hike in property taxes.

The Muni also says that the new "wildlife cop" (read bear control officer) is to "focus on protecting people." What a concept, huh? Now if only they can figure out how to pay the salary for this new position while slashing the police and fire department budgets ...

Mt. Redoubt continues its now-nonstop emission of steam and ash, with a plume varying between 15,000 to 20,000 feet (the crater is at about 10,000 feet above sea level). The Volcano Observatory's website says "The potential for renewed explosive activity is high and may resume with little warning, likely generating an ash plume ..." Winds are blowing SSW, so there's no ash danger for the populated areas today, if an eruption should occur.

That's all I have - thanks for stopping by.

Tea Party - the pictures

I obviously should have stuck around, but simply couldn't.

The Anchorage Daily News is reporting 1,200 attendees at the tea party. The organizers said they'd have been happy with 75 people ... I guess they're really happy, now!

Read the story here.