Bloomington TEA PARTY AAR

[Soundslikejosh]

Hello All! If you were at the B-town Tea Party, check in here.


I was glad I went to the Bloomington Tea Party. I arrived later than planned, but it was still a worthwhile event.

I ran into my neighbor, which is what sparked this thread. I didn't know that he and I have anything in common, who knows, maybe he lurks here. The point is that it'd be nice if the Bloomington attendees would drop a quick post in this thread, maybe we ran into each other and didn't know it.

We had a chance to talk to the local press. I don't know if it did any good, but it beats sitting at home. It was encouraging to see that there are some people in this town/state/country that have sense. I wouldn't have guessed that there were 300 people in Monroe county with enough sense to see through the smoke.

Anyway, thanks to all who came out. I am sure glad I did.

 

[techres]

I got there around 5:45 and saw a group of 300ish. Longbow was there when I got there with his kids as was Ryan from Bloomfield Arms & Ammo. I had fun talking to people and ran into someone who wil be at Cloverdale.

After the protesters left to walk around the courthouse and came back I ran into Soundslikejosh and his SO. Shortly after I ran into a person I had met once years ago who remembered me and who is really getting into shooting. I hope she will followup and show up at INGO soon!

Oh, and she gave a really good idea for June's MSG3C class...

The event was very cheery and upbeat. There was little negativity and they stayed on focus for the most part.

The time was well spent and my only regret was not finding more INGO members. PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO WEAR INGO HATS!

I am glad I went. All that is left is to see if any INGO members get quoted in the papers!

 

[Soundslikejosh]

Well the Indiana Daily Student (idsnews.com) piece is, well, marginal. I guess we should be glad that they even acknowledged our presence. I don't have a HT membership because I felt like it would be making friends with the devil, but if they print an article today it might be nice to see what they have to say.


Any other Bloomington INGO members make it out to the tea party?

 

[techres]

Well the Indiana Daily Student (idsnews.com) piece is, well, marginal. I guess we should be glad that they even acknowledged our presence. I don't have a HT membership because I felt like it would be making friends with the devil, but if they print an article today it might be nice to see what they have to say.


Any other Bloomington INGO members make it out to the tea party?

The HT article reads:

In a local version of “tea party” protests held all over the country Wednesday, a few hundred people gathered in Showers Plaza and later marched around the courthouse square to demonstrate against government spending.

Many lined up to sign a petition on parchment-style paper, bearing large words in old-style script: “We the people of Indiana peacefully assemble this April 15, 2009, and petition our local, state and federal governments for redress of grievances from excessive taxation for the purpose of redistribution that is nonessential to the general welfare of all the people.”

Doug Parker said he helped organize the local protest as a message to state and federal legislators, particularly about what he termed out-of-control spending. Dozens of similar rallies were held across the nation on the same day. Some estimated as many as 500 people attended the local event.

“We’re here for fiscal responsibility, limited government, free markets and free people,” he said. He and co-organizer Spencer Leiter don’t consider themselves activists — rather, it was Leiter’s first protest and only Parker’s second since he’d protested the dress code back in high school, according to the two.

Dozens of people who attended held signs, including ones that read: “We love America and we are fed up with the feds,” “More government means less liberty,” “Save the tea, dump the politicians” and “Don’t tax me bro.” One woman wore chains around her neck and dangled tea bags over her ears, while another person wearing a pink full-body pig suit carried a sign that read “Less pork.”

Bloomington resident Bill Brand wore a black tricorn hat, carried a bright yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flag and a sign declaring “Party like it’s 1773.” He said he’s against the stimulus plan, saying it was too much, too fast, and also isn’t a fan of a cap-and-trade emissions program.

Randy Carmichael, also of Bloomington, said he dressed in full Colonial-style regalia because, “I think if we don’t do something pretty drastic, we’re going to wind up in another revolution.” He said he believes the middle class needs government to represent it, and is in favor of term limits for legislators.

“It’s we the people. We’re their boss,” he said. “It’s time for something to happen.”

The crowd included 6 and 3/4-year-old Gillian Hardy, who attended the rally with mom Sara. She said children will be the ones forced to pay back big government spending now, saying, “I think it’s not fair.”

Indiana University junior Thomas Holman, who’s studying political science and writes a blog focused on politics, said he doesn’t believe the federal budget should grow programs like foreign aid or welfare but should funnel more into defense spending.

“I think the general consensus is that all conservatives are wackos who think Obama is a socialist and a Muslim,” he said. “We’re not crazy. We just don’t think the government should spend so much and should tax us less.”

 

[Dr Falken]

I was not there, not that I avoid protests...I was listening to WGCL a bit, they had caller who claimed about a thousand people there at about 5pmish. There seemed to be a little hesitaion to disclose the location, but eventually the announcer did (I forget his name), there were several callers calling in support of the Tea Party. There was a discussion of what was going to happen after the Tea Party events, and how would one "vote them (politicians)out". LIke I said there was some questioning about what Tea Party(iers) hoped to accomplish, and what they stood for.

 

[Hoosier Gun Coat]

My dad was at the party. Front page of the HT holding the "tell B.O. no" sign. Way to go dad!

 

[IUGradStudent]

I was able to drive by, though didn't have time to stay and hang. I'm glad I did since it was a good showing. I'm guessing the total number was closer to 500 than 300, and I would also guess that it will be the biggest protest in Bloomington this year (beating out our annual Pro-Life event on Roe v. Wade day, which usually draws 150-200).