The LA Times had the following article in today's paper.

Protesters rally in Hermosa Beach against tax hikes
One of several recent 'Tax Revolt Tea Parties' in Southern California, the event was part of a larger statewide and national network planning protests for tax day.
By Robert J. Lopez

April 12, 2009

Dozens of people hit the Hermosa Beach Pier on Saturday morning to rally against government tax increases.

Many were waving signs that read: "No More Socialism," "Repeal Pork, Cut Taxes" and "No Obama," as they marched from the pier to Hermosa Avenue. They shouted: "No more taxes! No more taxes!" and "Hey, hey, ho, ho! Big government has got to go!"

Cars honked their horns in support as the protesters descended on Hermosa Avenue.

The event, one of a number of recent “Tax Revolt Tea Parties” held across Southern California, was part of a larger effort by a statewide and national network that is planning rallies for Wednesday, the day federal and state income taxes are due. The rallies are planned as California is gearing up for a special election May 19 that will feature propositions that would extend recent tax hikes to help lawmakers deal with the state's massive budget crisis.

Among those who showed up at the Hermosa Beach rally were Kande and Lenn Grabiner, who said they own a small ad agency in El Segundo and a day spa in Redondo Beach. With about 30 people on their payroll, the couple said, any taxes levied on them would trickle down to others.

"We already pay enough taxes," Kande Grabiner said. "Enough is enough."

They and other protesters were especially critical of California's Proposition 1A, saying it illustrates big government at its worst.

Proposition 1A would cap state spending while extending billions of dollars in temporary tax hikes for up to two extra years. The measure, along with several others, is aimed at solving California's budget crisis.

The propositions are a key part of a budget plan reached by state lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in February. The plan slashed spending and raised taxes to fill a $42-billion deficit.

As part of the state package of higher levies, spending cuts and borrowing proposals, the sales tax increased last week to 8.25%, with local taxes pushing the rate to more than 10% in some cities.

Some of the measures on the May ballot would combine to pump nearly $6 billion into the state's 2009-10 spending plan.

Already, California's weak economy has undermined part of the budget plan. A drop in sales tax revenues has created a projected $8-billion shortfall for next year's budget.

If voters reject those propositions, the state could face a $14-billion deficit that would grow by $16 billion if Proposition 1A also doesn't pass, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Proposition 1A has been the target of heated criticism by conservatives, who have been waging an anti-tax campaign in recent weeks on talk radio, blogs and Facebook. The Hermosa Beach event was promoted on the John & Ken Show on KFI-AM (640) radio.

"Government should be as small as possible. . . . It shouldn't be taking most of our money and most of our freedom away," said Logan Darrow Clements, who drove to the rally from his home in the San Fernando Valley.

Brian,

This is a very funny clip and Jon Stewart does a terrific job of skewering some of the Fox folks. While I agree with the premise that some of these commentators are going far overboard on their descriptions of Fema work and reeducation camps, I think Stewart is missing an important point. One of Stewart’s main points in this clip is that the Fox propaganda machine is calling President Obama’s administration fascist or a government headed towards tyranny – when, in fact, as Stewart alleges that it was Bush that was the fascist and Fox and friends are just sore losers.

This is a very myopic view of America. Indeed, people are fed up with the government not because they hate President Obama (in many cases they voted for him) or because they give Bush a free pass but rather because we have had to spend the last 8 years going into wars we didn’t agree with and pursuing strategies (unfunded Medicare, ridiculously low interest rates, etc) that helped create our current dire circumstances. In other words, it is an accumulation of events that has sparked the awakening of the silent majority, not President Obama’s election. It is this point that is being missed by those on the “left.”

It’s as almost if the fight between the “Left” and “Right” and who will win it has become more important than our country itself. I might suggest that as long as these two groups continue to wage this battle, they cannot appreciate those of us that are caught up in the middle of it and sick of the wasted energy and lack of meaningful results.

And Brian, you, of course, have done the same thing by tying this clip to the Tea Party movement, as if anyone who disagrees with the direction of this administration, is a crazy, sore loser. It’s not accurate and intellectually lazy. As I have said in the past, why would anyone have to argue with someone who they can label and dismiss as a Fox News disciple? But again, people are not the sum of what they may or may not watch or listen to. People are far more complicated. We need to stop trying so hard to put people into one of two camps.

The concern that regular people have about the apparent unending spending going on is real and should not be readily dismissed. Using a common phrase, “don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.” I truly believe that many, like Stewart, are missing the genuine movement that is occurring here in America that is not necessarily tied to one of the two parties.

Martin,

I didn't say anything of Fox News viewers. I don't watch much television news but I watch Fox News. It is a good idea to learn from a variety of sources.

The Tea Party rallies are being put on by conservative groups. Are you debating that reality? Do you think they are a group of nonpartisan and moderate people just upset by recent budgets?

Of course many of us are concerned with the economy, including the growth of government. I never dismissed those concerns but for some it is obvious they weren't concerned with spending when their party was in charge.

I didn't say that every person upset with spending is a sore loser. But like you I am tired of the clear partisanship displayed by those that have called Barack Obama a secret Muslim, Fascist, Communism, dictator, Socialist, that is directing the government to create a totalitarian state.

How am I to take serious the contention that they aren't just a collection of mostly conservative activists when they have as a headline speaker Alan Keyes? The most recent time Alan Keyes was in the news he was suing to stop Barack Obama from becoming president because of the far right conspiracy that Barack Obama wasn't born in the United States of America.

Many Americans are concerned with issues like spending and a transparent government. That's why so many people supported Barack Obama. He has already shifted direction by making the total spending requested for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to be more transparent and not hidden with budgetary tricks.

Do these Tea Party's represent your vision and policy priorities?

Martin,

Do you think Fox News does a decent job of providing serious and decent coverage of the President?

I think it is intellectually lazy of them to allow their commentators to push false stories instead of covering the news. It is also intellectually lazy of you to be more concerned with Jon Stewart, who is just a comedian, then you are for an entire network. My criticism of Fox News is that they have too much opinion driven coverage of events instead of in depth news analysis.

"Hillman, a retired chiropractor and self-described “super conservative,” and friend Janet Willingham organized a TEA Party rally from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday in front of the Simi Valley Civic Center at the corner of Tapo Canyon Road and Alamo Street."

So much for the theory this isn't a right wing event!

Now a Tea Party fan is calling for the burning of science books!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/12/tea-party-insanity-burn-a_n_185991.html

Check out this video of a Tea party:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwdOwgD5OsY

It includes rants against textbooks, science, communism, George Soros, paying any taxes, a discussion on the merits of the US Constitution Party or Libertarian Party, communist infiltration, and brainwashing done through digital tv conversion.

These Tea Party groups are clearly far right events.

Here is an email from the RNC supporting the Tea bag people:

Vice President Joe Biden said during the 2008 campaign that it is patriotic for Americans to pay more in taxes. Since taking over control of Washington, the Obama Democrats have decided we should all be more "patriotic" having passed or proposed more than $5 trillion in new spending and $1.4 trillion in new taxes.

I don't know about you, but I don't believe there is anything patriotic about giving more of your hard-earned money to the government to bankroll the liberal Democrats' agenda to increase spending to record levels, change the tax code to redistribute the wealth of working families, and destroy the savings of millions of middle-class Americans.

So on this Tax Day, April 15, the Republican National Committee is asking you, along with hundreds of thousands of grassroots activists across our country, to assert a real patriotic act by sending a virtual tea bag to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and the rest of the tax, spend and borrow Democrats. Let them know enough is enough and you don't approve of their plan to pass the largest tax hike in American history.

And when you send your virtual tea bag today, I hope you will also take this opportunity to make a secure online contribution of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 to the RNC today to help fund our efforts to resist the massive tax and spending increases Barack Obama and the Pelosi-Reid Democrats are attempting to ram through Congress.

The $1.4 trillion in higher taxes is just the tip of the iceberg for the Democrats. The proposed cap and trade program on carbon emissions Obama wants would impose at least $646 billion in new energy taxes -- $3,100 for every American family a year. And the President wants to raise taxes on small businesses -- the very engine that provides 75% of our economic growth.

Americans will pay more in taxes this year than they will spend on food, clothing and housing combined and it is still not enough for Barack Obama and the liberal Democrats. Let them know you already pay enough in taxes by sending them a virtual tea bag by clicking here.

And when you do, please also make a secure online contribution of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 to the RNC today to fight the Democrats' efforts to take advantage of America's present economic difficulties to force through their reckless agenda.

Your participation in this project is vital to holding the Obama Democrats accountable for their destructive higher tax and spending policies. Please send your virtual tea bag today. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Michael Steele
Chairman, Republican National Committee

P.S. let Obama and the liberal Democrats know enough is enough. Send them a virtual tea bag this Tax Day to protest the liberal agenda to raise your taxes and those of every American. And please take this opportunity to make a secure online contribution of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 to the RNC to support and elect Republicans who believe in the principles of lower taxes, limited government and personal responsibility. Thank you.

SO MUCH FOR NONPARTISAN!

Brian/Lars/etc,

While it may be true that conservative groups are behind the formation of these tea parties, I do not believe it has a direct bearing on those that may attend. Maybe I am naïve but I think many people (including myself) are sick of the two party system and we want some party that better represents our concerns and beliefs. So for these tea parties, I think there will be many (not all) who are just looking for their voice to be heard and who do not necessarily agreeing with the organizers. Indeed, it seems like all Republicans and Democrats try to do is exploit people. I guess welcome to America.

Brian, I agree with your assessment of the so-called “Right-wing” lunatic fringe (on all the craziness about Obama being a socialist and that he wants to take over all business, etc) but I might suggest that the so-called “Left-wing” lunatic fringe is not much different. Indeed, to me, the left and right are the same. And, they have gotten us nowhere so I reject both. In fact, I am actively seeking some third party alternative, if you have any suggestions, I would like to hear them.
The main reason that I wrote my response to you was the simple fact that I watched the Stewart clip and I was expecting to see some reference to the tea parties but instead it was about Fox and about right wing sore losers. While it was funny, it was clear that you had made the connection between the right wing and the tea parties, not Jon Stewart. That brings me back to point that there are many people out there looking to get their voices heard so let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water.

To be clear, I don’t think Obama is a socialist or trying to take over all American Businesses (indeed, I voted for him) but I do not agree that he is changing things in Washington. I had hoped Obama might come in and take on the Pelosi-Bush crew (see to me they’re the same) but so far he has not shown the courage to do so. Anyone can take on the other side; it takes real courage, however, to take on those on the same side of the table.
And, I do not take Fox News seriously. But I also don’t take CNN serious as well – there hasn’t been any serious journalism going on in America since the Vietnam War and Watergate. BTW – I am not concerned with Jon Stewart at all (you put him on your blog) – I personally think he’s hysterical.

Martin,
Your comments remind me of something Socrates said:

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
------------------------------------------

The problem with the tea parties is it has nothing to do with fixing our problems. The tea parties have nothing to do with the United States of America getting our good name back. The tea parties have nothing to do with empowering the American people.

All you are doing with these tea parties is getting your Koolaide freak on.

Martin,

You don't detect an political ideology behind the Tea parties?

Martin,

I didn't make a connection that wasn't already there between conservative commentators and the Tea parties, the connection was already there.

Watch Glen Beck on Fox News and you will see what I mean. He has been helping bring attention to the tea parties and has volunteered to raise money for them. Jon Stewart has been lampooning the leaders of the tea parties for weeks.

I went to the websites for groups sponsoring them and they include conservative think tanks that support the standard conservative issues including banning gay marriage, stopping the government from trying to do something on human influenced climate change, and eliminating or reducing taxes including the estate tax.

That isn't the new, moderate, clean up government group you are always advocating for. It is the standard conservative issues brought together by a new president in Washington DC. I don't see how an event to protest President Obama would be supported and attended by someone that supports President Obama.

I think it is great that we have freedom of speech, assembly, and petition in our country, and it is great that people are involved.

Are you going to go protest President Obama and the "liberal" agenda?

Brian,

I do not disagree that the same cast of characters seem to be behind some of these tea parties but that doesn't mean that there will not be everyday, regular Americans there as well. Like me, they are looking for some outlet or party to represent them. Sadly, it does not appear these tea parties will lead them in the right direction.

Nevertheless, I continue to believe that a genuine movement is happening here in America and eventually it will be a force to be reckoned with -- it just needs some disconnected (from the 2 parties) figure to give it structure and life. Even if this does occur, it will be difficult to tell whether it is genuine or not as both the Democrats and Republicans will seek to discredit it. Indeed, this may be the sign that it is actually the real thing.

I will not protest President Obama but I will strongly object to his spending money that we don't have.

It's common for voters to lose faith in the 2-Party system when their party's just lost power.

I can't remember a single Repub complain about it while Bush was screwing the Nation and now that Obama's in the Oval Office all the Dems seem to have forgotten the issue.

Anyone else laughing?

GS, your right it does seem like everyone forgets that our two party system is not working until they are out of power. So since I fit your premise -- My candidate won, yet I am still complaining about it -- then my complaint must be worth listening to, right?