Posted on 08/25/2011 12:39:53 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
CEDAR RAPIDS - Sarah Palin may be making a lunch-hour stop in downtown Cedar Rapids.
"She's done about six of our rallies. I think that's more than anyone else, so I wouldn't be surprised to see her," says Sal Russo, co-founder and chief strategist for Tea Party Express, which is planning a rally from noon to 2 p.m. at Greene Square Park on Sept. 1.
Then again, Russo concedes, Palin may be a no-show.
"She's known for her spontaneity," Russo says about Palin, who is scheduled to be in Iowa on Sept. 3 for an Iowa Tea Party rally in Indianola. "We don't always know when she's coming. She's always welcome."
The Cedar Rapids rally is just one of four the Tea Party Express will have in Iowa as it makes its way to Tampa, Fa., where it will co-host a presidential candidate debate with CNN on Sept. 12.
The other Tea Party Express stops are in Sioux City, Des Moines and Bettendorf.
Russo, a principal in Russo Marsh + Rogers, a Sacramento political consulting firm, who has crisscrossed Iowa with presidential hopefuls including Ronald Reagan and Jack Kemp, promises a "positive and upbeat" rally that will be a mixture of music, entertainment and Tea Party speakers.
"Our goal is to heighten awareness in Tea Party issues, which for the Tea Party Express is exclusively economic issues and the increasing size and intrusiveness of government what with higher taxes, onerous regulations and skyrocketing government debt," he says.
Although some tea party groups pursue foreign policy or social issues, "we've stuck to the one unifying theme that motivates all tea parties, the economic issues," Russo says.
"That's the zeitgeist of the times - people are worried and concerned about economy," he says. "We think that's what the focus should be in this election."
The Tea Party Express wants to get people involved
"Democracy thrives with an involved electorate," he says. "Change only comes about if you get off the couch and get engaged."
Presidential hopefuls sometimes join the Tea Party Express rallies, but typically Russo doesn't know until the last moment. Elected officials are invited, too.
"We're not anti-incumbent, anti-office holder," Russo says.
Gov. Terry Branstad and Sen. Chuck Grassley have been invited. They have other commitments and will not attend, according to their staffs.
The entertainment will include Lloyd Marcus, who sings the Tea Party anthem, Reveille Review, known for its song, "Press 1 for English," and comedian Jim Labriola, Benny from the hardware store on "Home Improvement."
Regardless of who participates in the rally, Russo says the real star of the show is the Tea Party Express bus itself.
"It's the closest thing we have to a leader," he says. "It's become the iconic symbol. More people want their picture taken with the bus than with any of the speakers."
*****
Tea Party Express schedule Aug. 31
Sioux City -- 11:30 a.m., Riverside Park, 1201 Riverside Blvd.
Des Moines – 5 p.m., Des Moines Water Works, 2201 George Flagg Pkwy.
Sept. 1
Cedar Rapids – Noon, Greene Square Park, 400 4th Ave. SE
Bettendorf – 5 p.m., Leach Park, 100 12th St.
“Dewey Defeats Truman” was about as accurate as this headline.
In my humble, but always correct opinion, The TEA Party is the once apathetic voice of THE SILENT MAJORITY.
The TEA Party understands that old quote from Paul Harvey:
WHEN YOUR OUTGO EXCEEDS YOUR INCOME, YOUR UPKEEP WILL BE YOUR DOWNFALL.
Until we find someone to lead us out of THE VALLEY OF DEBT, we are headed for a downfall.
“Spend less than you make” is too difficult for many people to understand.
He knows that just the whispered rumor that she’ll be there will almost certainly double or triple his attendence. Which is strange, since I’ve heard she’s “washed-up,” “ditzy,” “not serious,” “divisive,” and a hundred other negative things.
absolutely correct...the Tea Party is the former silent majority. We now have an active group to counter all the commie groups that have been yellin’ and screamin’ for years, and they can’t handle it!!!!!!!!!
That was my first thought too. Not sure where the writer’s brains are.
Silly person, you used “writer” and “brain” in the same sentence when referring to the lamestream media!
I think you need your morning coffee.
There are some days I look at the rest of the field and wish she could make it all stop.
I royally screwed up a post on Wednesday morning, and now this. I think I need to refrain from posting in the mornings altogether.
*hangs head in shame*
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