By Bradley J. Fikes
Hundreds* of Tea Party supporters gathered in the seaside amphitheater adjacent to the Oceanside Pier Thursday afternoon for the Tax Day rally. I stayed for about an hour, listening to some speakers, and taking photographs.
(*UPDATE — I was being very conservative with my estimate, not having done a rigorous crowd count. But the correct number appears closer to 3,000, which was the estimate of the Vista Tea Party patriots. I base this on noting that the amphitheater seats were packed, and hundreds of people were standing in the amphitheater itself. The amphitheater’s capacity is rated at 2,700, and various stories have put attendance of other events at 3,000.)
Here they are:
Overview photo of the Oceanside Tea Party rally
Looking toward the west, hundreds of people gathered into the Oceanside amphitheater for the Tax Day Tea Party rally
They are John Galt
The Tea Party had a significant Libertarian component.
Cool on Global Warming
Signing a ballot initiative to suspend California’s job-killing global warming law, AB 32.
Born indebted
Lament of parents for a child born into debt.
But the magic has worn off
The Prestidigitator-In-Chief has lost his charm.
This post is the opinion of Bradley J. Fikes, and not necessarily that of his employer, the North County Times.
Tags: tea party
It’s an example of the poor planning of Mission Viejo since the company sold out that we have no central square for such rallies. Ours was on four street corners which makes it hard to hear speakers but there is no other central open space except the college and I am sure they would not give permission.
I saw more, not less, enthusiasm this time. The Democrats were dreaming when they thought this would subside after HCR passed. If fact, I think only a few believed that; for the rest, it was hope.
I agree that the rallies I’ve seen are mostly libertarian in that there are very few “social conservative” signs. The only non-financial subject I see signs about is amnesty and only a few.
The time for rallies will be late October and Early November of this year – prior to the election.
To those who have the means and will to donate money to “taking our country back” I strongly urge you to send checks to Jim DeMint’s Senate Conservative Fund.
What DeMint is trying to do is work from within the Party – directly challenging the RINOs – to influence the primary fights so that come November Americans throughout the nation have a REAL choice in most races between a TRUE conservative and a Democrat.
Although I’m still doubtful that the nation – the Republic created by our Forefathers – can be reestablished in the face of widespread ignorance and selfishness, I’m still willing to urge working within the system.
BILL
BTW, in reference to my above comment concerning rallies in the fall – prior to the election – that doesn’t mean I’m opposed to the present rallies.
Far from it! I support the efforts of organizers throughout the country and my wife and I will be attending “our own” local Tea Party rally tomorrow.
God bless America.
PLEASE… GOD SAVE AMERICA…!!!
BILL
Has anyone noticed any kind of significant social-con element in these demonstrations? It’s been only 1% here. One prolife sign, one mentioning God, and someone going around with a petition to put something on the ballot. That’s out of about 400 people.
It seems ironic that a conservative movement shorn of its religious baggage still elicits the same scorn from the commentariat.
That’s a good observation. These rallies are libertarian as far as I can tell. Many of them are probably social conservatives, too, but this is a time to put aside other concerns and try to stop this train before it gets to the cliff.
I heartily agree with Dr. K, as of course I would, being a Libertarian.
Cassandra, the commentariat knows nothing except what it can fit into its template. To them, the protesters are just racist, sexist, homophobic, misogynistic teabaggers, a “disenfranchised mob” who don’t know what’s good for them. To these pontificators, mere facts count for nothing.
Today, I talked with a highly intelligent lefty colleague, who couldn’t understand why the Tea Party folks were protesting taxes, when Obama gave them a tax cut. He had literally no grasp of the difference between one-time rebates (paid for by massive borrowing), and lowering taxes and cutting spending.
And if a very well-educated, intelligent media lefty doesn’t understand the difference, I despair of the rest of the media. These people, well, the great majority of them, have not a clue, and their invincible ignorance is frightening.
Bradley, I think it is also important to note that the tea parties are not protesting for tax cuts but anticipating huge tax increases to pay for the spending. Note that the survey showed the majority said their current tax levels were “fair.” The left thinks this means confusion but it means they understand better than the current administration that European tax levels will kill our unique economy. They are protesting spending, not high taxes. That shows quite a bit of sophistication, as befits their higher level of education than the average citizen.
Take a close look at those photos and you will also that the idea these are all senior citizens is wrong.
Here in the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York I’ve noticed a smattering of anti-abortion folks and a slightly higher proportion of “Christian conservatives” of the more general “In God We Trust” variety, but from what I’ve personally witnessed I’d say 70%-80% of the folks demonstrating are first and foremost libertarian-leaning constitutionalists who are genuinely afraid – as well they should be – that the nation is lurching towards fiscal and ultimately social disaster.
One thing that always kinda freaks me out though is when I run into someone who starts babbling on about “Obama’s a Muslim” and other Birther crap.
Still… we’re talking a very small minority within “the Movement.” (Thank God!)
We get a lot of veterans… a lot of business owners… a fair number of professionals… I spent much of my time chatting with a retired Judge at this past Saturday’s Tea Party demonstration.
“Our folks” are extremely “well behaved” and as for those “passing by,” I’d say close to 50% honk that they’re “with us in spirit” while only a tiny percentage of folks – heavily weighted to punk kids – shout out obscenities, give us the finger, etc.
You know what disturbs me; the 40% or so of folks who just drive past paying us no mind. I honestly would love to know what goes on in their heads. Are they truly that disengaged? Are they truly such sheeple?
BILL