My husband and I got to the Tea Party after 5pm (those darn jobs just demand soooo much!) I wish that the organizers would have saved some coveted speakers for this time—like the “little cheaper dealer”, “joe the plumber” etc. We got a the knuckledraggers in some bizarre skit, the singer singing great but not upbeat songs and Brad Maaske—good but not a barn burner for the ending. I really wanted to be there in a lawn chair the whole time but there was no way to get the time off from my job nor my husband’s job.
Because of this if there is another event I will volunteer to help....
I thought Jim Patterson the former mayor gave a good speech. Mike Ratley was actually a little lackluster. I don’t know if he really prepared well.
I think a bit of the fire of the crowd was not leveraged because speakers were trying to be circumspect and not be too partisan. I think what needed to be emphasized was:
*Onerous public employee union contracts need to be overturned - someone must be spearheading an effort for that and a representative was needed to be on hand to sign up volunteers and contributors
*Lavish spending on do-nothing projects and programs must be stopped - HJTA signs were around but a booth from a representative would have been a good idea for fund-raising and volunteers
*Too many environmental regulations are killing jobs and livelihoods - a group opposing that would have been perfect
*More and more bizarre laws restricting individual freedoms passed without thought or concern for consequences - a person representing Tom Costa’s group promoting a part-time legislature was needed
*Overbearing laws saying what can’t/must be taught in schools discourage teachers and students alike - homeshoolers having a booth would have been really good
*Specifically what the listeners could do next to promote change and reform (i.e., register to vote, and then vote NO on 1A) (see the second point above)
Instead some of the speeches were wonkish and undirected. The politicians need to be afraid of what was said; instead I think they are breathing a sigh of relief that nothing concrete seemed to be accomplished.
Never fear, this is only the start, and next go around we will do things right.
In the meantime vote NO on 1A!! Bankrupt California and force them to renegotiate the union contracts!