An Open Letter to 3rd District Candidates
3rd Congressional Candidates:
Thank you for your attendance yesterday at the LiberTea Debate and your willingness to present yourselves to our membership and the public at large at Woodland Park Baptist Church. I truly believe that not only was the public served by our partnering together, but many hundreds of voters have now met you and understand your positions, values and persona a little bit better. While we are still a few months away from the finish line in this race, I trust that you will continue to see the Chattanooga Tea Party as a group that is not only engaged in our electoral system but it is also one that seeks to influence and impact our district in a way that will promote liberty and restore those values upon which our nation was founded.
As promised, I am attaching the list of the Debate Questions that were asked or compiled for yesterday's Debate. There are a few that were not asked due to time but we look forward to your thoughtful responses to each question. And as agreed, please return your responses back to me by no later than March 15th so that we may post them on our website for the benefit of our membership and the public at large.
As a reminder, the CTP holds its monthly meetings the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:30PM at Creekside Retirement on Shallowford Road and you are always welcome. While our agenda is typically full, you...
Test your Political IQ!
This is a good opportunity to put your knowledge of a variety of issues to the test. It will only take you 2-3 minutes.
Here's the brief, 12 question quiz: www.pewresearch.org/politicalquiz/quiz/index.php
Enjoy!
Corker Signs On To Proposed Enumerated Powers Act
Some good news on the Congressional front: Tennessee Senator Bob Corker has agreed to co-sponsor the proposed Enumerated Powers Act in the Senate. The bill, introduced by Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, simply requires Congress to cite specific Constitutional authority for any bill that they consider as the first step in the legislative process. Senator Corker joins 22 other Senate co-sponsors (all Republicans) of the bill in the Senate, with a similar measure in the House having 60 co-sponsors (again, all Republicans, including Zach Wamp).
Why don’t we all challenge Senator Lamar Alexander and Democrats in Congress to join in co-sponsoring this common sense legislation? Let them know we expect them to take seriously their oath of office to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” by making this practice a permanent part of the legislative process.
The "National Tea Party Convention" Deception
For the past several months, I’ve been following the developments of Tea Party Nation, a “for profit” company in Nashville headed by Judson Philllips, a Nashville Lawyer. I’ve been particularly suspicious of the organization, and became even more so when I started hearing about the “National Tea Party Convention” that TPN is putting on in February, for which tickets are being sold for over $500 each.
After receiving MANY emails about this convention, it is clear that Mr. Phillips has done an excellent job convincing people that this is actually an official Tea Party event, implying that there is an official National Tea Party organization that is responsible for coordinating the efforts of Tea Party groups across the United States.
As a response to the emails I’ve received, I want to make a few points very clear, for I am concerned that the real Tea Party movement, a true grassroots initiative, is coming under fire as a result of this “convention.”
FIRST, it should be understood that local Tea Party organizations, such as the Chattanooga Tea Party are absolutely autonomous. We don’t take marching orders from anyone on a national level. While we eagerly participate in demonstrations against an increasingly oppressive federal government’s irresponsible socialist policies, there is no “national” organization that we have to answer to.
SECOND, “grassroots,” as defined by dictionary.com, means “of, pertaining to, or involving the common people.“ We, as the Chattanooga Tea Party, along with the vast majority of other local Tea Party groups nationwide, are comprised...
GOOOH (Get Out Of Our House) on Fox News
The following video is from Fox and Friends where Get Out Of Our House (GOOOH) was highlighted in a segment.
URGENT: Call or Email Key Senators Today
Folks:
Below is a very important message from one of our fellow tea party groups here in TN. I would encourage you to email each Senator's Chief of Staff as referenced below. Although you may not be a constituent, this matter affects ALL Americans. Below is the email I sent each one of them:
Senator:
I urgently request that you vote NO on the Healthcare Vote this weekend! Your constituents are monitoring closely how you cast this vote, which will most certainly determine your future career in the Senate. Please do NOT let us down on this critical vote.
Will you please join me in contacting each of them? (Feel free to copy and paste the message above or draft your own.) This vote is perhaps one of the most critical votes out nation has faced in many decades. Please let them hear your voice. Thank you.
Promoting Liberty & Restoring Values…
Mark West
Ooltewah, TN 37363
(423) 240-8288 (c)
—- From tnteaparty.org —–
Greetings Fellow Patriots,
Erick Erickson of Red State.com wrote the following this morning regarding the health care bill in the Senate this weekend.
There is a study out today that is damaging to the Democrats efforts to pass health care in the Senate.
On Saturday, when constituents cannot contact their Senators’ offices because they’ll be closed, the United States Senate will vote on a cloture motion to debate the health care legislation.
This is important — a vote in favor of cloture on the motion to proceed (a parliamentary issue) is, in effect, a vote for the health care...
Update on Senator Corker and the Proposed Federal Reserve Audit
You’ll recall that at our October monthly meeting we discussed a piece of legislation that TN Senator Bob Corker recently sponsored entitled the Federal Reserve Accountability Act (FRAA). I shared with you my concerns that, when contrasted with Senate Bill 604 (another proposed bill to audit the Fed), the FRAA fell short in the scope of the proposed audit of the Federal Reserve.
Well, this past week I received an unexpected phone call from Senator Corker, and he offered to explain his thought process and goals as it relates to the FRAA. Senator Corker indicated that while S604 was purportedly more comprehensive in its audit of the Fed, at the same time S604 does not adequately address some areas that were either undefined or not sufficiently enumerated as it relates to the scope of the audit. Following a recent meeting between Senator Corker and Congressman Ron Paul (in which Congressman Paul also acknowledged some shortcomings in HR 1207 – the House “sister” Bill to S604), Senator Corker hopes to see a revision to or improvement in the language of either his Bill or S604 to a point that the Federal Reserve will be audited in a manner that will allow full and complete disclosure but not jeopardize the daily workings and policy formulation by the Fed.
I appreciated Senator Corker’s willingness to discuss this matter and will be watching closely to see just how this whole matter plays out in the near term. As I have any new information in regard to...
A Busy Week for Chattanooga Tea Party Patriots
All patriots, CTP members and fellow Americans, please join us September 10th at 7:45 PM at the Country Place restaurant on Shallowford Road for a send off rally for our Freedom Riders.
Our freedom riders are traveling to Washington, DC to join thousands of other Tea Party protesters on the west lawn of the US Capital September 12th. Share your thoughts and concerns by signing the WE THE PEOPLE banner that will be carried in the protest.
*There are two spaces still left on the second bus so please call Shirley Patterson 423-238-8182 or email steel9531@comcast.net for details.
Note for our Freedom Bus Riders
Overflow parking arrangements have been made next to J Alexander’s restaurant near the hotel and condo area for our freedom rider’s cars. Freedom writers will unload their luggage first at Country Place then park. A van will be taking passengers back and forth. The returning buses are leaving Washington, DC very early Sunday morning September 13th, and are expected back early that evening. Y’all come out and welcome them back.
Everyone is asked to bring lawn chairs, posters and flags. In the event of rain, the rally will be held inside the County Place restaurant.
The rally is from 7:45 pm till departure of the bus at 9:00 pm. The DayBreak band will be playing patriotic music to set the mood. CTP will conduct a farewell send off program.
PROTESTING the PROTESTERS
Our freedom riders are going to Walter Reed Hospital on Friday September 11 to protest the Code Pink protests of our...
Too Important to Ignore
Over the past few months, the American public has spoken up in an unprecedented way in defiance to the federal government’s unconstitutional increase in scope, cost, and influence. They have ignored the limitations of their contract, the United States Constitution, and have made it clear that they are not concerned with the voice of the People, who give them their authority in the first place.
We invite you to stand with us on Thursday, September 10, 2009 as we send over 50 local residents to march on Washington with thousands of like-minded patriots and speak out against the oppressive government which has ignored the voice of the People for far too long.
This event is more than just a sendoff of our “Freedom Riders,” it’s an opportunity to stand with those who are willing to fight for our American liberties. We hope to see you there!
Event Time: 7.45PM
Supporters are encouraged to come at 7:45 PM to sign the banner with their thoughts and wishes to be carried to Washington by our local Chattanooga freedom riders.
Rally program 8:00PM -8:45 PM, bus loading 8:45 M -9:00PM, final departure 9:00PM.
Location: Country Place Restaurant
Parking lot located on Shallowford Road one block from the Gunbarrel and Shallowford intersection. Bring lawn chairs, signs and flags.
Representative Tom Price Stands Up Against Socialized Healthcare
This video was posted on July 16, 2009. It shows Representative Tom Price (R-GA), a former physician, calling out committee members for not being willing to consider any Conservative solutions to the Socialized Healthcare proposal that is being unilaterally forced upon the American people by an overbearing Federal Government.
As you watch this, keep in mind that, according to the American Spectator, “over the past three months, as Obama consistently pounded on the drum for health care legislation, his net approval on the issue has shrunken dramatically.”
Yes, we are being marginalized. Yes, we are being dismissed as “radical extremists” in many cases. Yes, we are being called “astroturf” because the mainstream media refuses to recognize that we, as citizens of the United States of America, have the responsibility to hold the government accountable.
Remember this: We are NOT marginal. Surveys say that we are now in the majority if we disagree with the President’s proposed socialized healthcare plan. We are NOT “radical extremists.” The President’s proposal is both “radical” and “extreme” and we’re standing against it. We are NOT astroturf. The Chattanooga Tea Party (and the vast majority of other Tea Party organizations across the nation) exists solely because of volunteers who believe strongly in the Constitutional rights that all Americans have and are willing to put the time and effort into making known the injustices enacted against those rights by our Federal...
Coalition Letter Regarding Healthcare Reform
[This is a letter that was sent by CNP Action Inc.... Notice that the Chairman of the Chattanooga Tea Party, Mark West, signed it.]
The Honorable Christopher J. Dodd
Member
United States Senate
448 Russell Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Dodd,
We, the undersigned individuals and organizations representing millions of Americans, urge you to pass healthcare legislation that prohibits unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. from controlling the system. We doubt the government’s ability to fix the nation’s healthcare system in a cost‐effective manner while protecting individual liberty.
History shows that government interference in markets rarely produces positive results. For instance, government interference in the form of wage controls led to the current employer‐provided insurance system. On this note, it’s unreasonable to assume that a few people in Washington, no matter how intelligent, can utilize imperfect information and the powers of government to heal a byzantine system broken (in the first place) by government.
While we applaud efforts to tackle this growing crisis, we ask that you tread carefully when considering the government’s role. As a nation empowered by its individuals, we recognize that choices made by consumers reflect the only true way to identify what people really want. Therefore, allowing individuals to choose their own doctor, their own hospital, and insurance policy is vital to success.
We also recognize that controlling the purse strings means controlling the final product. With this in mind, we oppose any expansion in direct public spending to fund the healthcare system. A universal tax credit, however, that allows...
Letter to our Representatives
The following letter was sent to Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, and Zach Wamp after the April 15th Tea Party. As of yet, we have not received any response from these “Representatives” …
Dear ______________,
No doubt you watched with interest the Tax Day Tea Parties that were held on April 15 in over 850 cities with in excess of 1,000,000 law abiding and freedom loving Americans attending. Hopefully you are aware of the fact that in Chattanooga, we too participated in this historic Protest at Ross’s Landing. By most counts more than 2,000 Chattanoogans attended our Rally. The objective of this Protest, both locally and nationally, was to protest the willful, deliberate and recklessly irresponsible fiscal behavior that is occurring in Washington DC. To be clear though, this Protest was not directed solely at the Democrats but it was also focused at Republicans and Independents, for no political party is exempt from the reckless spending that has been occurring in our nation’s capitol for too many years now.
Many in the media, as well as elected officials and even President Obama, have poked fun at these Tea Parties and have even been critical of our efforts. I would hope that you do not share that same perspective or attitude. The Chattanooga Tea Party was and is a grassroots movement that is autonomous of any particular group or party. Our mission is:
*To bring sound, transparent fiscal policies and accountability to our government through our current elected officials. If they are non-responsive, we will work...
Long Term Plans for The Chattanooga Tea Party
Many of you have been asking about where we’re going from here since the hugely successful Tax Day Tea Party on April 15th.
Well, even though there hasn’t been a lot going on from a public vantage point, there has been a lot of discussion and organization going on over the past couple of months behind the scenes. I’m looking forward to releasing details to you in the next couple of weeks that will really get you excited about the future of the Chattanooga Tea Party. I sure am excited!
Over the past couple of months, there has been some very good discussion, and a lot of this discussion has given us some good insight that will be very beneficial to us as we establish the Chattanooga Tea Party organization officially.
Anyway, I just wanted to put out a quick post to let everyone know that very soon, we’ll have a good, established network in place that will be able to keep all of you who are interested in the Tea Party movement up to date on issues, give you lots of opportunities to participate locally, and provide a good, strong organization that is capable of organizing Tea Party events as they are necessary.
If any of you have any suggestions, please let us know.
Thank you and stay tuned…
-Bryan
Energy Tax
Congress has returned from its Easter Recess and will begin to debate the final version of the Federal budget. Included in that debate is a proposal by President Obama to implement a so-called “cap and trade” plan to impose fees on producing carbon dioxide and raise revenue for the government.
This is simply a tax on everyone who uses energy. Every time you turn on a light switch and every time you buy a product that used energy to produce it, you will be paying this tax. It is estimated it will cost the average family $1960 per year. Do you have an extra $1960 laying around?
Unfortunately, even if Congress doesn’t pass it into law, the EPA may soon begin to do it by regulatory authority.
courtesy of heritage.org
We Applaud Those Rejecting “Stimulus” and “Bailout” Money
Hey everyone. In the midst of all this protest, we want to make sure that we acknowledge those who have done the right thing and rejected the “stimulus” or “bailout” money that has been stolen from American taxpayers.
In many cases, these companies and state governments have been rebuked and discredited for not contributing to the debt that our children and grandchildren will be chained to, so we want to let them know that we support their decision to reject “stimulus” and “bailout” money.
Companies
- Ford Motor Company has refused “Bailout” funds… need a new car, how about a Ford?
State Governments
- South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford has rejected about $700 Million in “Stimulus” money for his state.
- Texas Governor, Rick Perry has rejected about $555 Million in “Stimulus” money designated for expanding “state unemployment benefits.”
Please contact us using the “Contact” link at the top of this page with any information about banks, state governments, auto makers, etc. that have rejected this money and we’ll post them for everyone to see on this website. In turn, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR ANY ORGANIZATION THAT HAS REJECTED THIS MONEY!
What are We Going To Do at the Tea Party?
Several folks have asked about what we’re going to be doing at the Chattanooga Tax Day Tea Party. During the protest, we’ll be doing a bunch of things while keeping the main theme of bringing awareness about current Big Government ploys to enslave taxpayers for generations to come and letting the Government know that we’re not pleased with out of control spending.
Look for some of the following at the Chattanooga Tax Day Tea Party:
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Music
- Singing
- Interesting Speakers
- Audience Participation (this should be fun)
- Activities
- Petition Signing
- Information About How You Can Get Involved
Here are some things you should remember to bring:
- Signs (Family Friendly)
- Lawn chairs
- Blankets for the ground
- Sunscreen
- Can of non-perishable food to donate
- Cameras
- And all your family, friends and neighbors
If you need more information about the location to plan for parking, click here for a map of downtown Chattanooga.
Please Help Support The Chattanooga Tea Party
Over the past few weeks, in preparation for the Chattanooga Tax Day Tea Party, we have incurred some costs while making arrangements for the event.
If you believe in standing up against unreasonable Big Government spending, please donate a few dollars to help us cover the costs of putting this Tea Party together.
You can go to the “Donate” button at the top of the page to do so. Remember, every dollar helps. If you can only give a little, then give what you can. We appreciate your support.
Wanna See Something Cool?
These are just SOME of the locations having Tea Parties next week. Click on the link below the map to show ALL locations… I think they may have underestimated us a bit when they said they thought there would be 500 locations across the US having tea parties.
Please continue the effort of getting the word out!
View 2009 Tea Parties in a larger map
Rick Santelli's "Rant of the Year"
Ladies and gentlemen,
May I present to you Rick Santelli… the man who unintentionally started all this national tea party activity by sharing his feelings on the outrageous government spending that is going on.
Santelli drew attention for his remarks made on February 19, 2009, about the Homeowners Affordability and Stability Plan. While broadcasting from the floor of the CME Group during pre-market hours, Santelli accused the government of “promoting bad behavior”, and raised the possibility of a “Chicago Tea Party”.
Here’s the clip of those remarks, which proved to be the sparks that ignited the National Tea Party movement.
So You Say You Want A Revolution?
I’ve been getting TONS of email RSVPs for the Chattanooga Tax Day Tea Party over the past few days and many people are including comments that lead me to believe that I’m not alone in my feelings that the Federal Government has gone TOO FAR.
We have ONE WEEK left to spread the word. The only way we’re going to make an impression on our government on April 15th is if we have UNPRECEDENTED support.
Are you ready to be a part of history? Join the Revolution! Fight Big Government.
Continue spreading the word… if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few days, it’s that WE’RE NOT ALONE!
JOIN TODAY
U.S. National Debt:
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Chattanooga Tea Party September Meeting
September 16, 2010, 7:30PM
Creekside Retirement
MEDIA GALLERIES
PHOTO GALLERIES
VIDEO COLLECTIONS
FILE BOXES
STAY PLUGGED IN
SUPPORT THE CTP
If you would like to help the Chattanooga Tea Party by making a donation, we very much appreciate any contributions.