Nevada County Tea Party Patriots

by Joyce Hammer

I can almost hear my grandfather say “America is going to hell in a handbasket.” The really scary thing is that I can imagine John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (and possibly even Ronald Reagan) saying the very same thing about the state of our country in the 21^st century.

Can anyone imagine our forefathers letting our Representatives meet with lobbyists? The word lobbyist comes from the chambers in which the act of lobbying usually takes place, an anteroom near legislative bodies, for instance, or even the lobby of hotels where important people are staying. In American politics, most lobbyist organizations are headquartered on or near K Street in Washington DC, so “K Street” has become somewhat synonymous for lobbying. While there may not have been a lobby to meet in back in the early days, I doubt our representatives would have even allowed themselves to meet with those who might bribe them to ensure that the bill they supported passed.

Who can imagine our forefathers allowing Congress to consider earmarked spending. During the 2009 budget session, the House Appropriations Committee received 23,438 earmark requests causing its Web page to crash. Members of Congress have often used earmarks to reward the Washington lobbyists who help fund their campaigns. Sometimes it’s outright bribery. A downloadable spreadsheet listing 2009 earmarks is available from Taxpayers for Common Sense.

And, do you suppose that our forefathers gave representatives pensions? Today, Congress has a better pension plan than just about anybody. A 20-year member of Congress who is at least 62-years-old collects over $50,000 a year for life. Private sector employees collect an average of $16,000 annually. Congress members are also eligible for pensions at 50-years-old if they’ve completed 20 years of service. If they’ve served more than 20 years, they can collect their pension despite their age.

Members of Congress also receive better pensions than any other federal employee. The Federal Employee Retirement System was designed to provide larger benefits for each year of service for Congress members because of the uncertain tenure of congressional service, according to the Congressional Research Service. The CRS also notes that members of Congress become eligible at an earlier age and with fewer years of service than most other federal employees.

Don’t we deserve a government that wants to represent us without concentrating on enriching themselves? I know that’s the kind of representatives I want to be elected.

You can check the facts mentioned in this article at the following sites:

House.gov
senate.gov
agw.org (Citizens against Government Waste)
taxpayer.net (Taxpayers for Common Sense)
earmarkwatch.org
http://endingspending.com/fixing-the-budget/earmarks/map-2011/
http://mittromney.com/s/stop-spending

by Rick Briggs

Recently, I have been fascinated by the Republican debates. I can say in all honesty that in the past watching members of the same party bicker over sometimes trivial events was not high on my to-do list, if at all. Bashing one another as boxers in a ring, or of late, closer resembling all out cage fighting makes me wonder if our forefathers endured such verbal sparring. The nature of man usually leads one to believe only our own thoughts are based on reason. So often, anticipating the next come-back line, thought processes are abandoned. I wonder what men such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison would think of the issues such as contraception, acquired wealth, federal health care, global warming, and what part of society should pay more income tax while some are exempt. Yes, our forefathers were men and they disagreed on issues but stuck it out to craft a document that has stood the test of time, and will guide us in the future; but only if we let it. For the signers of our Constitution were motivated to come together in order to craft a guide to govern their new country. They remembered the sacrifices made by so many, those who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor. I believe as we read and re-read the words drafted in our Constitution we admire the character of the men who thought of their countrymen and country first, and not of themselves. I hope, I pray, that this is still the character of Americans. For it is in the DNA of all Americans from the past that has given us the future. The hardships endured at Valley Forge, Gettysburg and Pearl Harbor have molded this country of emigrants to become the greatest country of hope this world has ever known. Thomas Jefferson said “The good sense of the people will always be found to be the best army. They may be led astray for a moment, but will soon correct themselves.”

So, what will it take for America to re-establish our core values? Are we to become a nation that bends with whatever breeze that blows, always to be politically correct at the expense of our moral heritage? Our elected officials are only given temporary power that we grant them. To have leaders that don’t listen to the citizens sounds familiar. The actions of the Second Continental Congress of 1776 with a document to King George called “The Declaration of Independence” was the only way to get the King’s attention. Thankfully we now are a Republic and elections are our collective way to express our disapproval of our leader’s actions. But only if we vote. So get out the word. If we are unhappy with the status quo, let’s change it. For “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” OK America, you have your marching orders. It’s ours to save or lose.

by Joyce Hammer

 As a mother and grandmother, I do not normally get too involved with politics. However, lately, I’ve become very concerned about the future of the United States of America. What kind of country will we be handing down to our children and their children’s children?

I was born after World War II and lived through an age of great prosperity. That is, until recently! I cringe at the thought that my heirs will not have the same comfort and security I have had during my lifetime. Although it may not seem fair to blame this administration for our economic woes, it seems to me that the downturn has intensified under the current regime. Prior to that, my retirement funds were earning interest; now they are losing money. And, my dollar is worth less than ever thanks to this administration and their eagerness to print more money. If this is what I’m experiencing, what will be in store for my grandchildren?

I believe it’s not too late to turn things around if we change the way our government is run. I believe that it’s extremely important that we elect a president and representatives who are fiscally responsible and who have shown themselves to be sound financial administrators. It is our responsibility to investigate thoroughly the background of those running for office and to be certain that we elect the right people, whether Republican or Democrat, male or female, an incumbent or a wannabe. And this
election is one of the most important ones in our lifetimes so we must vote and we must vote for those who represent our values and are concerned about our future. And most important of all, every one of us must vote!!!

by R.W. Bleu

If you have not read U.S. Senator Jim DeMint’s book The Great American Awakening, the state of our country, and the importance of the pending elections of 2012 may seem daunting to you. But the score card from Senator DeMint’s book from the 2010 mid-term elections, coupled with the recent announcements from senators retiring their terms, provides hope to our cause for government fiscal responsibility, limited government, free markets and respect for our Constitution and Bill of Rights. At last, it appears as if we are electing a government that answers to “we the people.”

Senator DeMint’s PAC, the Senate Conservatives Fund (SCF), carefully chooses and supports the strongest conservatives (Tea Party favorites) across our nation, even when it requires pitting two Republicans against each other. And he wins, often.

In the November 4, 2010 edition of The Wall Street Journal, Karl Rove wrote in his “Election Summary”:
“Tuesday’s election was epic. Republicans gained over 60 seats in the House and six in the Senate. They’ll now occupy eight additional governors’ mansions and at least 500 more seats in state legislatures. The GOP picked up more House seats than in any election since 1938, leaving Democrats with the smallest number in the House since 1946. Republican gains in the Senate are roughly twice the post-World War II midterm average. When Mr. Obama took office there were 22 Republican governors: Now there will be at least 29. Fifty incumbent Democratic congressman lost, including 22 freshman. An extraordinary nine senior Democrats with 18 years or more of service also went down, including three committee chairs: South Carolina’s John Spratt, Missouri’s Ike Skelton, and Minnesota’s Jim Oberstar. Their offense was to back the Obama-Pelosi agenda.”

The SCF website (senateconservatives.com) states: “There are 33 U.S. Senate seats up for election in 2012. Of those seats, 10 are currently held by Republicans, 21 are held by Democrats, and 2 are held by Independents who caucus with the Democrats”

To further qualify, of those seats up for election in 2012, at least nine senators have announced that they will retire at the end of their terms rather than seek reelection – six Democrats, one Independent, and two Republicans. Given the recent voting records of many of these retiring Senators, one can surmise the incumbents have heard the disgruntled voices of their constituents, weighed their odds of winning reelection, and opted out of their profession gracefully.

Senator DeMint summarizes the mid-term 2010 election results by stating “…it was unlikely anyRepublican would have won their election without tea party support.” This analysis is presented to us by a U.S. Senator, a Washington D.C. insider.

This election year, let us press on, be of great cheer, and, when the election results are final, we can all refer to 2012 as a Happy New Year.

by Gary Hammer    

I am a Tea Party Patriot. I am not a right-wing extremist, whack-job, or wing nut. Groups who oppose Tea Party Patriot ideals love to “type-cast” us and label us with ugly epitaphs. But in reality, you can’t typecast and apply labels to a movement encompassing millions of ordinary, regular US citizens who care about their country and want it to succeed.

The Media, and others, brand TPP’s as Republican extremists. We are neither Republican or extremists. We do not support any political party, or endorse political candidates, because none of the existing political parties are responsive to the will of “We The People,” and seem to have no problem with spending our country into bankruptcy. And our children and grandchildren will bear most of the burden – they will not have the homes, cars, and quality of life that most middle-class Americans enjoy today.

I am a Tea Party Patriot. I am a conservative. I believe in fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets. I believe capitalism works, and that a strong economy can solve many of our current social issues.

I am a Tea Party Patriot. I will freely admit: for voting purposes, I am registered as a Republican (horrors!) Why? Because I want my vote to count in the primaries. If I were a purist, I would be registered as an Independent. But I would get very few candidate choices to choose from. I vote for individuals; not a party.

You can find out for yourself what the Tea Party Patriot’s are about by coming to one of our monthly luncheon meetings or other TPP events.  We welcome all interested folks – and we do not bite! (I promise.)