TPP on "the deal"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 10, 2010
CONTACT:

TEA PARTY PETITION SLAMS TAX COMPROMISE
AS 'BACKROOM DEAL'
Americans Demand Promised Transparency, Adherence to 'Pledge to America'

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Tea Party Patriots launched a petition (http://notaxcompromise.com/) to supporters across the country denouncing the tax cut compromise forged in secret by the Obama Administration and Republican Leadership in Congress. The plan was negotiated without the consultation of newly-elected Members of Congress or the American people and violates several components of the Republican's "Pledge to America."

"This 'backroom deal' ignores those who voted for principled leadership on Election Day," said Mark Meckler, National Coordinator of Tea Party Patriots. "Americans demand transparency in the legislative process and policies that reflect fiscal responsibility-not secret negotiations and weak compromise."

"Republicans in Congress only have the leverage to negotiate for tax deals because of the support Americans gave them and principled candidates across the country," said Jenny Beth Martin, National Coordinator of Tea Party Patriots. "It is an insult to those who voted them into power to procrastinate on their pledge to honor conservative principles."

Following are excerpts of the petition:

· Do not let Congress compromise with President Obama. "The Compromise" is against everything the House Republican Leadership agreed to in the "Pledge to America." This type of behind closed door politics is not what "We the People" voted for in November.
· "The Deal" was forged in secret, without consultation with the scores of new representatives and senators who campaigned on a much different agenda.
· "The Deal" like Obamacare, isn't reduced to writing even now. Like Obamacare, we are being told we will have to pass the bill to find out what is in it.
· "The Deal" revives the death tax, an immoral "vampire tax" that sucks the blood from the dead, ruins family businesses and double taxes savings that were accumulated over a lifetime.
· "The Deal" spends billions and billions of dollars that the country does not have in order to prevent a tax hike that the country voted against...the GOP bribed the president to follow the will of the people.
· There are at least five provisions of the Pledge that are violated by "The Deal."

Click here for the full petition.

Tea Party Patriotsis a national grassroots coalition with more than 3,000 locally organized chapters and more than 15 million supporters nationwide. Tea Party Patriots is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting the principles of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets. Visit Tea Party Patriots online at www.TeaPartyPatriots.org.

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Here is my take on the deal.

Congrats to York County Constiutionalists

We would like to congratulate York County Constitutionalists for qualifying for a grant from the $1million anonymous donation to the Tea Party Patriots.

We look forward to seeing what great things the YCC will do with their grant. It is gratifying to see this Maine group recognized by the TPP (teapartypatriots.org) in such a way.

For more information on this rapidly expanding and very active group please visit http://yorkcountyconstitutionalists.ning.com

Tea Party Patriots Receives $1,000,000 Donation to Grow and Strengthen the Tea Party Movement

Tea Party Patriots Receives $1,000,000 Donation to Grow and Strengthen the Tea Party Movement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Randy Lewis, (678) 596-5589
September 21, 2010

Tea Party Patriots Receives $1,000,000 Donation to Grow and Strengthen the Tea Party Movement

Donation to provide grants for development of organization's grassroots resources

Washington - Tea Party Patriots (TPP), the nation's largest Tea Party organization with more than 2,800 affiliated organizations, today announced that it has received a $1,000,000 commitment to fund a grant program for the purpose of growing and strengthening regional and local Tea Party Patriots affiliates across the country. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, is committed to building a stronger tea party movement.

TPP made the announcement at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington. D.C.

"The Tea Party movement is here to stay," said Jenny Beth Martin, Co-founder and National Coordinator of Tea Party Patriots. "This fund will be distributed over the next several weeks, to help ensure that the principles and values of the Tea Party Patriots will inform the citizens of the nation as we head into election season."

The funds will be distributed in grant form based on applications made by TPP affiliates across the country. Recipients of the grants will come from among thousands of TPP affiliate organizations.

"In keeping with the spirit and philosophy of Tea Party Patriots, this fund will be immediately and broadly distributed to tea party organizations on the ground, in order to allow them to leverage their current efforts" said Mark Meckler, Co-Founder and National Coordinator of Tea Party Patriots. "We will continue to focus on the tea party activists in the field. They are responsible for the success of the tea party movement. The core values of the Tea Party Patriots are resonating with tea party activists and with voters across America, and we expect this organization to continue its dramatic growth."

"Tea Party Patriots is proving this is are truly a bottom-up, grassroots movement. They are empowering tea party and 912 groups to make a difference spreading our core values of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets." said LOCAL COORDINATOR, Local Coordinator of the YOUR GROUP NAME HERE Tea Party/912 group.

The Core Values of Tea Party Patriots are:
Fiscal Responsibility Constitutionally Limited Government Free Markets

Tea Party Patriots is a national grassroots coalition with more than 2,800 locally organized chapters and more than 15 million supporters nationwide. Tea Party Patriots is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting the principles of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets. Visit Tea Party Patriots online at www.TeaPartyPatriots.org.

Jenny Beth Martin on Glen Beck today!

JBM, co-founder of Tea Party Patriots, and all around tea party no-nonsense kind of gal is on Glen Beck today. She is there to discuss the tea party movement and its various troubles. Certain to make for an interesting show.

Beck is on at 5pm on Fox.

Tea Party Patriots non-endorsement statement....

Tea Party Patriots, Inc. operates as a social welfare organization organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Tea Party Patriots, Inc. are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

Tea Party Patriots, Inc. ("TPP") is a non-partisan, non-profit social welfare organization dedicated to furthering the common good and general welfare of the people of the United States. TPP furthers this goal by educating the public and promoting the principles of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government and free markets. Tea Party Patriots has not endorsed candidates for public office.

TPP welcomes participation by all citizens of the United States in online groups or blogs made available through the TPP website. TPP online groups and blogs are offered for the exchange of ideas related to TPP's mission, and discussion in any TPP online group or blog should be limited to the stated subject matter of the group. Positions taken or statements made in such groups or blog posts, including the endorsement of political candidates, do not necessarily represent the positions of TPP, Inc. or its board members, officers or employees, and should not be attributed to TPP without the express written permission of a duly-appointed officer of TPP. Individuals posting on TPP online groups and blogs are expected to self-police, to conduct themselves in a civil and responsible manner, and to refrain from profanity, slander and personal attacks. TPP does not condone and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind, and it will not tolerate comments encouraging any kind of illegal activities. No advertising, commercials or solicitations should be placed on any TPP online group or blog.

While TPP cannot monitor every statement made on TPP online groups or blogs, individuals are encouraged to report violations of this policy to volunteer@teapartypatriots.org. TPP reserves the right to immediately delete any post, and/or to terminate the posting and participation privileges of any individual, without notice, in its sole and unfettered discretion.

Happy 4th

Tea Party Patriots Maine would like to wish all our fellow Mainers a wonderful 4th of July weekend.

We would respectfully request that people take a few minutes to ponder the true meaning of the day. Spare a thought for those who spent their days defending those liberties we celebrate and cherish. Remember those that serve both home and abroad in your hearts as you sing the national anthem, wave at the parade and admire the fireworks.

If so moved please pledge yourself to spending the next year doing all you can to protect those liberties and freedoms you so dearly cherish.

Andrew Ian Dodge

Maine coordinator: Tea Party Patriots

Contact: maineteaparty@gmail.com
Phone: 607 3299

Augusta & Portland Tea Party reports....

A couple of reports about the Augusta rally in WBZ and Stanford Advocate. Here are some pics from Augusta.

Here is the decent coverage of the Portland Tea Party by WCSH, Channel 8 and Channel 13.

Well done to all the tea party organisers up and down the state, including Pete Harring and Laurie Brown.

I suspect the Portland attendance was adversely affected by the Tea Party Express event with Palin on the previous day. I know that at least two buses went south to see it. Mainers have only so much free time and the timing of the TPE event was unhelpful to Maine tea parties.

Update: Here is a rough cut of my speeches in Augusta & Portland, ME. Slick the production ain't.

The Exception Magazine has some speeches from tax day tea party up on its site.

Tea Parties Share Common Goals but Speak with Many Voices

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2010
Contact: Andrew Ian Dodge (1 207 607 3299)

Last week’s announcement that 23 tea party groups from around the nation had organized into a single coalition – the National Tea Party Federation – in order to provide a unified message and media response platform was met with both encouragement and caution by other tea parties around the nation.

“We really like the idea of tea parties collaborating to bring a message of limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets across the country,” said Ken Emanuelson of the Dallas Tea Party and the statewide group of Common Sense Texans. “Too often, control of messaging on issues that are important to all Americans has gone to the heavily funded media machines of the far left. We have always worked to discuss ideas with our groups around Texas and the nation in order to test our ideas and to share best practices. We do not believe, however, that any one group or person is – or should be viewed as being – the leader of a movement as diverse and far-flung as the tea party movement.”

“We congratulate our many friends in the Federation in their focus on the central tea party message,” agreed Greg Holloway of the Austin Tea Party Patriots and fellow member of the Common Sense Texans, “but we know that local and state tea parties, 9-12 groups and other grassroots conservatives each have their own voice, because they realize best what is most important in their communities. The tea party that meets in the town square with 50 local citizens brings a voice that is equally important to that of larger groups in the big cities.”

One of the key players in the nation’s largest tea party network concurs. “Ours is a loosely connected organization by design,” said Jenny Beth Martin, National Coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots. “One of our initiatives this Spring was a video project in which patriots from across the nation announced that each of them was the tea party leader. We were responding to attacks from James Carville and Bill Clinton, who were looking for tea party leaders to vilify. We say ‘good luck’ finding that one leader. All Americans who hold dear our Constitutionally-protected principles of limited government are tea party leaders.” Added Mark Meckler, fellow National Coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots, “The day that we are recognized as the leaders of the tea party will be the day that we have not lived up to our objectives.”

Tea partiers across the nation generally do not desire to be part of organizations that consist of pedestal positions such as leader or director. There are in excess of 1700 local groups and millions of tea party and 9-12 project members across the country that sometimes formally, and often informally, share tools, resources, training and networking. Many are already part of statewide networks and many are part of the Tea Party Patriots network, but all address their local politics and issues.
“I don’t view the Federation as saying they are the one voice going forward for all tea parties,” stated Sally Oljar of the Seattle Sons & Daughters of Liberty, “although we can certainly imagine the media running with that notion because it’s convenient for their own narrative. The message of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally-limited government, and free markets hasn’t changed in the 14 months since the beginning of our movement. We remain united and focused around those core principles. We trust one another to express those principles in our own way, in our own communities, and using our own best judgment of how to communicate effectively.”

“The strength of the tea party movement is the fact that it is leaderless, non-partisan and grassroots,” added Andrew Ian Dodge of the Maine Tea Party Patriots. “We do not need leaders, but merely people to help and advise those on the ground to maximize their efforts to overturn the socialist majority in both the House and the Senate. Americans are clearly tired of top down politics at any level.”

One of the newest tea parties, the Armed Forces Tea Party Patriots, made it clear that its voice needs to be heard. Its organizer, Gary Stein, pointed out, “In the Armed Forces we wear the same uniform, have the same haircut, and swore the same oath, but have different thoughts. We have come together as a band of brothers and sisters in uniform to stand for what is right. We share a life that unique only to us, we share a Tea Party that unique to us. We are the Armed Forces Tea Party Patriots and our voice will be heard!”

Tax Day Tea Party 2010 (updated)

15th of April 2010

Augusta:

3-7pm in Capitol Park, Augusta

Portland

5-6:30pm in Monument Sq. Portland.

For more info on both these events please head to events page at Tea Party Patriots which lists all the events on the day around the country. It has links to the sites for the various events in Maine.

Bangor Details:

The Tea Party protest will begin at 12 noon, across from the Federal Building. No speakers are scheduled, but feel free to bring your own "soapbox" or just chat with like-minded people. Professor Frary will be there with hat and cane. It will be great to see you in Bangor!

AT 1:00, we will walk (on the sidewalks!) to the bridge on Main St. that crosses the Kenduskeag River. This should sound familiar to those who attended last year. The permit allows us to be there until 2:00.

Bring a great sign and we'll see you in Bangor!

FMI, contact:

Beth Wallinga
827-8781

Tea Partying in the County...

JOIN US! For some fun.......April 15th (of course!)
8:30 am: HOULTON: , in front of the "Welcome to Historic Market Square" sign, right next to Town and Country clothing store (the one with the big thermometer on top).
11:00 am: PRESQUE ISLE, at the four corners downtown (intersection of Main and State).
1:00 pm: CARIBOU: in front of the caribou statue across from City Hall
4:00 pm: MADAWASKA: intersection of Main Street and Bridge Ave. (at the top of the hill above Fraser Papers).

If you can bring a friend or your kids, bring them (great civics lesson!). We'll spend about an hour and a half at each place. Let's have some fun!
Contact Jim Cyr at jimcyr531@hotmail.com or 493-4827 if any questions.

Tea Party Patriot statement on violence & intimidation..

First and foremost, Tea Party Patriots has a zero tolerance policy against violence or bigotry from Democrats, Republicans or Independents, and expects this standard to be applied equally to all. The values of Tea Party Patriots are clearly opposed to those who choose this path. By the same token, public anger at Congress is legitimate and warranted. Congress is not listening to the American people and their complaints. Sadly today, the majority in Congress continue to ignore and downplay the clearly expressed feelings of the majority of the American people. According to a CBS poll on March 24th, a full 62% of the American public wants this bill challenged. It is time for Congress to listen to the American people and act accordingly. Meanwhile, Tea Party Patriots will continue to provide constructive means for the American people to make their voices heard.

Teaparty reaction to Obamacare on WCSH

Andrew Ian Dodge on Patios on the News

Head over and check out my hour long interview on Maine TV about the tea party movement. We cover everything and end up agreeing more often than even the host would be believe.

I am the tea party leader...

They keep going on about tea party leaders... here is our response... I am the Tea Party.

Maine Tea Party movement... in BDN

An interesting piece on the tea party movement in Maine... with the requisite of bit of hatred and contempt from a local Democrat.

The Democrat responsible for that comment should be ashamed of themselves.

A couple of TPP Pledges...

Show your support for a fiscal restraint amendment and the declaration of health care independence here.

Ron Paul, porker, gets opponent...

Katy, Texas – October 26, 2009 – Tim Graney of Katy, Texas, announced last Monday his candidacy for the 14th Congressional District of Texas. He’s a former small business owner who will be entering his first political race with strong momentum coming out of his campaign launch last week.

Graney is running against long-term incumbent Ron Paul. “It is time for Ron Paul to step down and step aside so he can pursue his own interests while a new statesman emerges to represent the district,” states Graney. "I told him so Sunday afternoon." Graney went on to say, “I am a fiscal conservative, but I do not support Ron Paul’s weak foreign policy views, nor do I support his do whatever you want ultra-Libertarian views that conflict with our American values.”

In his first term in office, Graney will focus on three key areas of legislation to propel this country forward – Energy, Business Growth, and American Values. Graney says, “The first two are paramount to the economic and long term security of our nation and the third will help return us to our roots that founded and built the greatest nation on earth.”

Graney believes in Energy Initiatives. He will focus on “Expansion of Drilling, Expansion of Nuclear Energy, and Expansion of Research.”

“For decades, the issue of Energy Independence has been talked about without anything ever getting done,” says Graney. “Continued failure to act by the representatives in Washington has lead to a weakened national security and economy. I am here to help reverse that trend.”

He also explains, “The 3 R’s of my Business Growth Initiatives: Reduce Regulation, Reduce Taxation, Re-grow Jobs in America.” As a former small business owner, he understands the pain of dealing with business regulations. Graney wants a zero percent tax rate for small businesses (those who have a profit of less than one million dollars) so they can reinvest their money into their business and continue to grow jobs.

Graney’s third plank is maintaining American Values. “As we move our nation into the future it is imperative that we not forget where we have come from and how we got here,” says Graney. “We must not lose sight of our American values that are being slowly eroded by political correctness. We must return to the principled roots of the founding values that have made America what it is today.”

Monday, October 19, was Graney’s campaign launch event. Within his first week of announcing, Graney has raised in excess of $15,000. "This overwhelming response is humbling and inspirational. It confirms to me that people are willing to support a conservative candidate with traditional values and a clear message that resonates with them. Even in tough economic times, people are finding ways to contribute toward my campaign. I am more resolute than ever to help steer our nation back onto the path of common-sense energy initiatives, a government that is friendly to small business, and a return to our American values."

His wife of 15 years is Corrine Graney. "I'm proud of Tim," she says. "He is serving a cause greater than himself. Our boys, ages 11 and 9, look up to their father, who is teaching them by example that politics can indeed be a noble calling." Graney attributes his values, instilled at a young age, to his upbringing.

This election cycle will define our country in crucial ways. “My time to serve this great nation has arrived; it is the least I can do the repay all she has given me.”


Contact

Graney for Congress
2910 Commercial Center Blvd - Suite 103-314
Katy, TX 77494-6584
Phone: 281-398-9927
Fax: 281-398-6488
info@graneyforcongress.com
www.GraneyForCongress.com

Tea Partiers with blogs...

A bunch of interesting tea party blogs have popped up. Here is a list of some of the ones being done by Tea Party Patriots members. New Patriot Journal looks be a good tea party magazine in its infancy. While this lot no only have interesting content, but rather clever names.

The Tea Well, The SubStratum, Non-Standard Politics, No TPE Express, One Nerve Left, Courage to See, Free American Health Care and Meat and Potatoes.

Go check em' out.

Statement on non-partisan status...

Tea Party Organizers Highlight Non-Partisan Grassroots Principles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2009
Contact: Andrew Ian Dodge (207.721.0651)/maineteaparty@gmail.com

Last month’s successful March on Washington, which highlighted the tea party movement’s ability to give everyday Americans a voice in government, has resulted in the media crediting various political action groups for leadership and direction of the movement. An article in October 5’s Wall Street Journal, among others, noted the role of FreedomWorks (a small-government advocacy organization headed by former Republican Congressman Dick Armey) in lending “financial clout and organizational skills to those running tea-party and town-hall demonstrations.” The Tea Party Express, a traveling troupe of activists funded through the Our Country Deserves Better PAC, ended their first tour in Washington before the September 12 rally and is planning a new national tour during the fall. Americans for Prosperity, a national conservative advocacy group, financially supports, and is supported by, some tea party organizations in parts of the country.

Tea party organizers want to set the record straight.

“We enjoy the opportunity to work with other like-minded groups across the country in advocating fiscal responsibility, free markets and adherence to the Constitution in our federal, state and local governments,” says Jenny Beth Martin, Board member of the national Tea Party Patriots. “We appreciate the efforts of FreedomWorks, among others, in providing structure to the September 12 rally. However, our funding, organization and direction is entirely centered on our grassroots teams at the state and local levels, and so we do not want to be misconstrued as being part of FreedomWorks or any other more institutionally funded advocacy group. We are not a top-down organization. We are a movement that dervives its energy and direction from local groups of patriots that want the nation to return to its Constitutional roots.”

Tea party organizers across the country note that the Our Country Deserves Better PAC has not released specifics on where the money raised on its tour will be sent, other than to say it will be spent on expenses and on selected conservative – and likely Republican - political candidates. They also point out that an executive member of the PAC has made ad hominem attacks on President Obama that they consider distasteful.

Other parts of the country have found that Americans for Prosperity-funded groups have given some tea parties a distinctly pro-Republican Party flavor, much to the chagrin of rank-and-file tea partiers who point out that federal government spending grew at alarming rates during the Bush Administration. “Although we are conservative in political philosophy, we are non-partisan in approach,” notes Mark Meckler, Tea Party Patriots national board member. “Both parties need to re-dedicate themselves to the principles of our founding fathers and remember that this should be the government of ‘We the People’ and not of special interest groups or pork-laden politics.”

The mission of Tea Party Patriots (www.teapartypatriots.org) is to curb excessive government spending and taxation and to attract, educate, organize, and mobilize our fellow citizens to secure public policy consistent with our three core values of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets.

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Tea Party Patriot merch.

Head over here for yer gear. There are ways for organisers to fund-raise for their events as well. Quite fetching stuff if you ask me.