Free Republic

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. – Bill Warner is hardly a naive man. He ran his own engineering firm for three decades, and sold the assets just before the economy tanked. He built his dream home on a majestic hill abutting a national park, back when the housing market was steady. While some neighbors have since been foreclosed upon, Warner is resurfacing his flagstone deck. And so he understands, quite clearly, that in the world of politics, his little group — officially, the Lincoln Club of the Morongo Basin — is but a molecule in the figurative drop in the bucket of...

Immigration reform, once considered dead for the year, has been thrown a lifeline by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., whose revival of the legislation could energize his state's Hispanic voters and help save himself from defeat in November. Reid made a startling announcement earlier this month at an immigration rally held in downtown Las Vegas. He told the crowd of about 6,000 people that, despite a packed congressional agenda, he wanted Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill this year. "We're going to pass immigration reform, just as we passed health care reform," Reid said, adding that the...

Senator Harry Reid retreated today from having the Senate move quickly on immigration law changes, saying any overhaul would have to wait.“We won’t get to immigration reform this work period,” Mr. Reid, Democrat of Nevada  and the majority leader, told reporters after the private weekly luncheon of Democratic senators.Over the weekend, Mr. Reid raised the hopes of immigration advocates by suggesting at a rally in Las Vegas that he was ready to put immigration on the legislative front burner now that health care legislation was out of the way and Congress was returning from a two-week break.“We’re going to come...

This is an excellent video done by a new internet TV website which will officially launch this summer, RightNetwork They are embedded on the buses with the Tea Party Express IIIVideo Here

Searchlight Nevada, March 27, 2010. My friend Bonnie asked me to drive with her to Searchlight, NV for the Tea Party Express Kickoff where Sarah Palin was going to speak. I said, “Yes!” Then, I started thinking about reality. I would need to pay a dog sitter and a teenager sitter. My daughter couldn’t come with me because she was winning an award at the 168 Film Festival in Glendale – all the more reason for me to stay home. Then, I would have to sit in a car for ten hours round-trip. I hate sitting. I don’t travel unless...

To remind our readers, this fine gentleman thrust his finger in a journalists face and shouted “Get him out of here, or I’m going to jail today!” We’re pretty sure he didn’t mean he was going to jaywalk. Let’s find out who he is and bring his intimidation tactics to light. And, while we’re at it, please help identify this man:

Cars were parked on the side of the highway for miles before the event location. After the event, traffic to Las Vegas was so backed up that it took us over an hour and a half to go five miles. I don’t know the total number of people that were in attendance. I do know that the valley floor was packed full of people. The surrounding hilIs were packed full of people. The ridges above the hills were lined with people, and vehicles. People had camped out in RVs, trailers, motor homes, tents and cars. It would have taken a...

When thousands of peaceful, Tea Party protestors came to Harry Reid’s hometown of Searchlight, Nev. last Saturday, you would have thought that the favorite son of this hardscrabble, mining town would garner tons of local support. Not so. Members of IBEW Local 357 were called to action to agitate the crowd and, as we’ve previously shown, to hurl eggs at the busses carrying them. Around 0:18 into the video released last night showing the exploding shell and yolk that came inches from Andrew Breitbart’s face, a loud protestor taunts Breitbart, smiling and mocking his condemnation of the egg-throwing. “Glad you...

When we first reported that Harry Reid Supporters threw eggs at the Tea Party Express bus, some on the left tried to blame Andrew Breitbart, claiming that it never happened, or that if it did, Breitbart probably threw the eggs himself to make the Reid supporters look bad. Too bad for them there is video. In this clip, a Reid supporting union man is busted egg handed!

I am on the Tea Party Express tour bus traveling to our next rally in Provo, Utah. We just left St George, Utah. At the rallies, I perform my original "American Tea Party Anthem" song and more. I usually walk among the crowds when I am not on stage. I have attended over 100 tea parties across America and the crowds are all the same; bright, well informed, decent and hard working Americans. Today, at our St. George, Utah rally, I felt a new level of love and concern for our country. There were numerous veterans, some from as far...

The ever-elusive Zombie, posting at Pajamas Media gives us a lovely little photo essay about two political rallies, held about a week apart, by two differing political groups, for different reasons. One was on March 27, in Searchlight, NV. The other was a week earlier, in Los Angeles. To set the scene: “Two households, unalike in dignity…”

Here is a smidge of our video from Saturday’s Tea Party Express coverage in Searchlight, Nevada.Video at linkThe AP calls this a hospitality tent. We call it destruction of property and assault. Either way, this is Harry Reid’s Democrat Party. So tolerant. So enlightened. So Progressive.

Cameras follow Andrew Breitbart everywhere, so it was just a matter of time before video emerged that substantiated the claim that Harry Reid supporters threw eggs at the Tea Party Express bus in Searchlight, Nevada last weekend. ...

Ah, the tolerant Left caught in action… Violent Harry Reid supporters egg the Tea Party Express Bus and threaten Andrew Breitbart.

1:09 minute video shows eggs slamming into the buses, this is right outside the Searchlight Tea Party saturday, in addition, the video shows Andrew Breitbart being threatened by a Reid supporters...These same people called the police on Breitbart and said he was the one who threw the eggs..Now there's video

Contrary to what CNN reported, at least 9,000 people turned out for the Tea Party Express Saturday rally in Sen. Harry Reid's hometown of Searchlight, Nev. Photos tell the story.

Showdown in Searchlight Sarah Palin Pals around with Patriots in the Nevada Desert. March 28th, 2010, Las Vegas, NV - by El Marco Conservatives from across America gathered near Harry Reid’s hometown of Searchlight, Nevada, on Saturday, to send a message to Washington. Reid and other corruptocrats are facing the political fight of their lives this November in elections that promise to transform the political landscape. http://www.lookingattheleft.com/2010/03/showdown-in-searchlight/

("Joe the plumber")

The Tea Party Rally in Searchlight is being broadcast on C-Span right now. 9:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

We'll have a complete rundown on Saturday's "Showdown in Searchlight" tomorrow, but for now, we wanted to pass along Gov. Sarah Palin's message from Twitter thanking all of you for helping to make it such a fantastic event: . . . So how big was the event? Well, here's an aerial view of the rally - showing JUST ONE section of the crowd:

Palin To Tea Party Rally: Dump the Democrats ‘You're fired,’ she says of Senate leader Harry Reid in his hometown LAS VEGAS - Sarah Palin exhorted thousands of conservative tea party activists assembled in the Nevada desert Saturday to "fire" Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Democrats from Congress in the upcoming national election. The wind whipped U.S. flags behind the former Alaska governor as she stood on a makeshift stage, holding a microphone and her notes as she spoke to the cheering crowd in Reid's hometown. She told them Reid, fighting for re-election, is "gambling away our future."...

If the media outlets are going to report on tea party events, they're not likely to get any benefit of the doubt much of the time. Case in point - at the Tea Party Express event on March 27 in Searchlight, Nev., which former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin spoke, CNN's Fredericka Whitfield wasn't quite prepared to give the rally credit it was due as far as participation. She estimated that hundreds, but if not, "at least dozens of people" were in attendance. "Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin there in Searchlight, Nev., was the backyard of Senate Majority Leader Harry...

SEARCHLIGHT, Nevada (AFP) – Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin has urged Nevada voters to retire their Senator, Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid, at a massive rally near the dusty desert outpost where Reid grew up. The "Showdown in Searchlight" was the kickoff event for a 44-city, three-week US tour of political demonstrations by the Tea Party Express, a consortium of anti-tax, anti-Democratic groups that culminates in Washington DC on April 15, the day US taxpayers' returns are due. While there were dozens of speakers from local politicians vying for Reid's job to right-wing radio talk show hosts, the main draw...

Listen well because you may face similar circumstances one day. Video at link.

If the media outlets are going to report on tea party events, they're not likely to get any benefit of the doubt much of the time. Case in point - at the Tea Party Express event on March 27 in Searchlight, Nev., which former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin spoke, CNN's Fredericka Whitfield wasn't quite prepared to give the rally credit it was due as far as participation. She estimated that hundreds, but if not, "at least dozens of people" were in attendance. (h/t fstaff with assist from Mark Finkelstein) "Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin there in Searchlight, Nev., was...

Over 10,000 people showed up to hear Sarah Palin speak in Harry Reid’s hometown, population 1,000. People were camping out for two days in RV’s to Palin speak at her first Tea Party Express stop going around the country. And as always, the speech was awesome. ENJOY!

SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. — Sarah Palin told thousands of tea party activists assembled in the dusty Nevada desert today that Sen. Harry Reid will have to explain his votes when he comes back to his hometown to campaign. The wind whipped U.S. flags behind the former Alaska governor as she stood on a makeshift stage, holding a microphone and her notes as she spoke to the cheering crowd. She told them Reid, fighting for re-election, is "gambling away our future." "Someone needs to tell him, this is not a crapshoot," Palin said. About 7,000 people streamed into tiny Searchlight, a...

Palin at McCain rally in Arizona. If she runs, she WILL WIN. She is THAT good! VIDEO at link

Heads up. Sarah just walked onto the stage at Searchlight. On Fox News. Looks like a great crowd!

SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. – Sarah Palin told thousands of tea party activists assembled in the Nevada desert Saturday that Sen. Harry Reid will have to explain his votes when he comes back to his hometown to campaign. The wind whipped U.S. flags behind the former Alaska governor as she stood on a makeshift stage, holding a microphone and her notes as she spoke to the cheering crowd. She told them Reid, fighting for re-election, is "gambling away our future." "Someone needs to tell him, this is not a crapshoot," Palin said. About 7,000 people streamed into tiny Searchlight, a former mining...

LAS VEGAS – Thousands of tea party activists streamed into Sen. Harry Reid's hometown in Nevada Saturday morning, bringing American flags, "Don't Tread on Me" signs and outspoken anger toward President Barack Obama and his health care overhaul. The activists' star, Sarah Palin, will rally the crowds later Saturday from a makeshift stage in a patch of dusty desert about 60 miles north of Las Vegas. Organizers predict as many as 10,000 people could come to tiny Searchlight, the hardscrabble former mining town where the Senate Democratic leader grew up and owns a home. By midmorning, cars and RVs filled...

Tea Party Express staff on scene throughout the night to guide supporters into event as hundreds of RV’s & Cars Stream in *Crowd Size Projections Rise to Well-Above 10,000+ Supporters Throughout the night the staff of the Tea Party Express has been on-location at the site of today’s “Showdown in Searchlight” mega tea party rally. The staff is dispatched in teams from the entrance point back through the giant 160-acre parcel of land the rally is being held on to guide supporters who have been arriving in RV’s and cars all throughout the night. With hundreds of RV’s and cars...

SEARCHLIGHT -- Let the Tea Party begin. "Welcome to the real America," said Norman Halfpenny, retired Marine Corps master gunnery sergeant, as he and other volunteer Tea Party valets greeted hundreds of overnight campers who staked out prime real estate to get a front-row view of today's "Showdown in Searchlight."

Sunrise in Searchlight. The place is crowded already at 6:30am. Anyone else here?

HARRY: Money, Mob & Influence EXCERPT FROM Chapter 6 The Gaming Commission Exclusive To Free Republic After Reid’s early political career is interrupted by a failed Senate run in 1974, his next epic quest comes in 1977 when he was chosen by then Gov. O'Callaghan to run the Nevada Gaming Commission.  Did Reid near singlehandedly run the mob out of Vegas as the cultivated myth seems to imply?  Reid’s own account of his selection to chair the Commission sheds some light:   I woke today after the mayoral election a 35-year-old has been. I assumed that I was finished with...

I really need you to read this email. Please – it’s critically important! We urgently need you to join us in Searchlight, NV tomorrow (Saturday) and this email explains exactly why. Last night NBC Nightly News joined dozens of other national & international news outlets to report on the upcoming “Showdown in Searchlight.” The whole world is watching – and I’m not exaggerating at all. This is by far the biggest event in the tea party movement since Congress rammed through government-run heath care this past weekend. And as a result, everyone is waiting to see if the tea party...

Landowner of Searchlight Rally Location Invites Tea Party Supporters to Arrive Friday NightT.D. Barnes, the man who owns the property where we will be conducting Saturday's massive "Showdown in Searchlight" tea party rally has invited supporters to arrive Friday night and camp out if they wish.Many RV'ers from around the country are heading to Searchlight, but local campgrounds have totally sold out.  This will provide supporters the chance to get to the rally site early and avoid any traffic delays or congestion.The offer to camp out early for the "Showdown in Searchlight" was made via an interview with Nevada...

I'm hoping to get some info on the Tea Party Rally in Searchlight, NV this coming Saturday. I've gone to the Teapartyexpress.org website, but I'm looking for better info on where it actually is. We drove thru there a week ago on our way to Las Vegas, where we are now and I don't remember anyplace that could hold all these people. According to the Google map on the website it's at US 95 and Coyote Mind Rd. But what's there? Just a big open area in the desert? A grandstand? Will we have to walk a long way from...

a Tea Party Express rally coming Saturday, a sort of conservative mini-Woodstock in the desert that organizers expect to draw 5,000 to 10,000 people -- maybe more -- from across the country, most of whom want to end the career of Nevada's most powerful politician. Diane Kendall, the local real estate agent who helped pin down the private property for the "Showdown in Searchlight," embodies the townsfolk who aren't so fond of Reid and support the Tea Party movement's efforts to elect conservatives who believe less government is better government. "I agree with what the Tea Party people are doing,"......

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2010CONTACT: Levi Russell at (509) 979-6615 or Levi@FrontLineStrat.com CONSERVATIVE WOODSTOCK - SATURDAY!With Motels & RV Parks Full, Conservatives & Tea Party Activists Turn to Houseboats & Tents for "Showdown in Searchlight"It's being hailed as a "Conservative Woodstock" - a historic event in the tea party movement where thousands upon thousands of patriots will gather in Harry Reid's hometown of Searchlight, NV and demand an end to his term in public office.So many people are heading to Searchlight, NV for this historic event (which takes place this Saturday, March 27th) that the local motels and...

Do You Plan To Attend the "Showdown In Searchlight" Rally on Saturday, March 27th, Featuring Guest Speaker Sarah Palin? March 2nd, 2010 | posted by kntram Yes 84% (109 votes) No 16% (20 votes) Total votes: 129

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’S VICTORIA JACKSON JOINS OurCountryDeservesBetter.com | March 6, 2010  “SHOWDOWN IN SEARCHLIGHT” THIS MARCH 27THFormer Saturday Night Live alumnus, Victoria Jackson, has announced she will be joining the “Showdown in Searchlight” tea party rally that kicks off the Tea Party Express III: Just Vote Them Out national tour. The “Showdown in Searchlight” tea party rally takes place at “High Noon” on Saturday, March 27th in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s tiny hometown of Searchlight, NV (population: 700) in the southern Nevada desert.Said Jackson of her participation in the March 27th “Showdown in Searchlight”: “I am honored to do...

Searchlight, NV Join us for the Mega Rally that kicks off Tea Party Express III: Just Vote Them Out. Our first target: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid – he’s got to go! And we’re gathering thousands of patriots such as yourself for this giant tea party rally in Reid’s hometown of Searchlight, NV (population: 700). The event is free and will feature Gov. Sarah Palin and a host of other special guests to be announced in the coming days! Date/Time: Saturday, March 27th at 12:30 noonRally Location: Intersection of Coyote Mine Rd and US-95 N Follow signs to the...

Democratic leaders are pushing a sweeping jobs bill to the Senate floor, but they have yet to forge a bipartisan deal on the Obama administration's new top priority. A draft of the roughly $80 billion bill, obtained by POLITICO, has a wide range of tax credits and job creation ideas, but it also includes provisions unrelated to jobs, including a reauthorization of the Patriot Act, infusion of new money to the Highway Trust Fund, and extension of the so-called “doc fix.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said drafting of the bill had been completed Tuesday afternoon, and he threatened to...

Sarah Palin will rally for tea party activists in Harry Reid's home town Updated 8:14 p.m.By Philip Rucker Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin will headline a "tea party" rally next month in Searchlight, Nev., the home town of embattled Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), tea party movement organizers said. Palin, who is delivering the keynote address at the National Tea Party Convention this weekend in Nashville, is stepping up her campaign activities for conservative activist groups this spring. The March 27 Nevada event will kick off the Tea Party Express's 42-city bus tour, which will end April...

BULLHEAD CITY - An “Un-Elect Harry Reid Rally” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of the Searchlight, Nev. Community Center. Reid, 69, serves as majority leader of the Democratic Party-controlled U.S. Senate. He was first elected senator in 1986 and is up for re-election next year. The rally is being held in Searchlight because Reid was born and raised there. He maintains a legal residence in the historic mining town on U.S. Route 95, located roughly halfway between Laughlin and Las Vegas. The event is organized by the Lake Havasu City-based Committee on...

A New York banker with roots in Ely is exploring a run against U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. John Chachas, a managing director of Lazard Ltd., has been talking to Republican Party bigwigs in Nevada and Washington who are anxious to find a credible challenger to the Senate majority leader, sources said this week. Chachas declined to comment Thursday on the speculation about his potential candidacy. Chachas' interest in the race is said to be active but preliminary: He feels strongly that Reid could be felled by a strong opponent and would be willing to step into that role if no...

Caught in the Searchlight: Hsu, Reid, and the Searchlight Leadership Fund Harry Reid’s Mob Money, Part 5By Fedora Fugitive fundraiser Norman Hsu’s donations to Hillary Clinton have understandably grabbed the limelight, but there is another story lurking in the shadows of the affair. Federal Election Commission documents record that on May 17, 2007, Hsu donated $1,000 to the Searchlight Leadership Fund, a political action committee associated with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. On the same day, Searchlight received a $1,000 contribution from Winkle Paw, described by Hsu’s lawyer as a business associate of Hsu. Also donating $1,000 to Searchlight that...

WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wrote at least four letters helpful to Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff, and the senator's staff regularly had contact with the disgraced lobbyist's partners about legislation affecting other clients. The activities — detailed in billing records and correspondence obtained by Associated Press — are more extensive than previously disclosed. They occurred over three years as Reid collected about $68,000 in donations from Abramoff's firm, lobbying partners and clients. Reid's office acknowledged last week having "routine contacts" with Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening on some government matters, such as blocking some tribal...

WASHINGTON - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said Thursday that President Bush and Republican senators are trying to "rewrite the Constitution and reinvent reality" in their push to confirm controversial judicial nominees. "The Senate is not a rubber stamp for the executive branch," Reid said. "Rather, we're the one institution where the minority has a voice and the ability to check the power of the majority. Today, in the face of President Bush's power grab, that's more important than ever." Republicans are threatening to eliminate the Democrats' ability to use filibusters to block Bush's judicial picks, beginning with federal appeals...