Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

"The Republicans are like the Democrats but lite," he said.

Tillie Bichanich came from West Allis. Once a Democrat for four decades, she's now a self described Independent.

"I feel for people out of a job. I often felt the job situation is more important than anything," she said

"Really we need to have a constructive dialogue where we pull everyone together," said state Representative Cory Mason.

Mason, a Racine area Democrat, says the personal attacks get us nowhere.

"They have every reason to be angry where the economy is, but the question is what do we do to fix it," said Mason.

And Wurzelbacher agrees. He says he even asked some of the people to take down their signs.

"President Obama is not to be depicted as a Nazi or a Joker. I think that's silly. That undermines are movement," said Wurzelbacher.

It is a movement that doesn't appear to be going anywhere.

FRANKSVILLE — Motivated by government distrust, more than 1,500 people turned out in a Franksville field Saturday for a Tea Party protest.

The outdoor event, organized by Racine Tea Party, featured numerous speakers, including political candidates and global warming skeptics, with Joe the Plumber scheduled as the keynote speaker.

“We’ve been very upset with what’s going on in the country; he’s taking away all our liberties,” she said.

Chief among those, she said, is health care.

“He’s going to make us take his health care,” said the woman, who is a Medicare recipient. “But that (Medicare) was bipartisan. That was all in the open. This is all behind closed doors. He think’s we’re stupid.”

4 | concernedcitizen
January 17, 2010 | 9:13 a.m.
Reality Check

It's time people unite against governmental 'free wheeling'. In this day and age, Kenosha should know best about jobs being lost, paycuts, etc. When is the government going to 'downsize' itself like it expects common citizens to do? Maybe we should ALL become politicians and live the good life, overpaid, chauffered around, showing up for work when we want, and taking care of only the issues we want. THAT my friend is why honest Americans are attending Tea Parties across this great land. We are against over- sized government taxing us into poverty.

January 17, 2010 | 10:06 a.m.

Congratulations! Bring back the Constitution!

Congratulations to the Tea Partiers! Bring back the Constitution! Americans are distinguished by their freedoms, their innovations and their ability to overcome adversity and STILL help others less fortunate! We are a nation that gives freely and is able to give freely because of our generosity. Government's place in America is to work for the people,"We the People", not the other way around! If the schools will not educate, do it yourself! Read the Constitution. Hold people accountable. Think for yourself and the truth will wet you free!

January 17, 2010 | 11:00 a.m.
Wish I had known about this...
Do you think there will be another one in the area? I applaud this movement--it's ALL about the Constitution--plain and simple.

Mark Block, state director of Americans for Prosperity, addresses the crowd at the Taxpayer Action Rally sponsored by Americans for Prosperity's Wisconsin Chapter and the Racine TEA Party outside Franksville.

Dave Westlake, who is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, addresses the crowd. A variety of officials, candidates and advocates of various causes rallied to state their opposition to many issues ranging from the Obama health care package to taxation, gun control, job losses in Wisconsin and climate change issues.

Rob Taylor, U.S. Senate candidate from the Constitution Party of Wisconsin, stirs up the crowd with criticism of President Barack Obama's policies.

The event, sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, included speeches from radio talk show host Vicki McKenna and Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher, filled a farm field. Organizers said it drew an estimated 3,000 people, but that number couldn't be verified.

The tea party activists are "more popular than either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party," McKenna told the crowd. She and other speakers said the movement would "take back our country" in the November elections.

Saturday's rally was the first tea party for Henderson, a clerical worker, and her husband, Rich, a draftsman. Both said they're concerned about the continued high unemployment rate. They believe the health care bill will raise government spending further, stifling economic growth.

WITH VIDEO: About 3,000 attend Tea Party event

CALEDONIA - Education isn't just for your children - it's for you too, Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher told a frozen but enthusiastic crowd Saturday.

The setting for the latest Tea Party - this one dubbed the Tea Party Bonfire - was Wendell Anderson's farm on Highway H.

Despite cold, damp winter weather, organizers reported from the stage that they'd counted more than 3,000 heads. The event jammed Highway H for about a mile in each direction; other participants were shuttled to and from the event on yellow school buses from Caledonia-Mount Pleasant Park. People were still arriving at 3:55 p.m. for the 3 p.m. event.

..Crowd speaks through signs

CALEDONIA - Many of those who attended the Tea Party Bonfire here brought signs declaring their wrath at various targets. Here are some of those statements.

• "Marxism. Communism. Obamaism. Sameism."

• "Don't blame me, I voted for the American."

• "The ACLU is the enemy within."

The flip side of that sign stated, "Protect borders, language, culture for America."

• "Give me liberty, don't give me debt."

• "Socialism, trickle up poverty."

• "Stop tax torture."

• "No Obamacare."

• "I'm taking back my country, one politician at a time."

• "Wake up America, your liberty is gone."

• "Tort reform or no reform."

• "Free markets, not freeloaders."

• "Solve everything: term limits."

• "Liberty not tyrrany" (sic).

• "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention."

• "We are not the fringe!"

If Chandler's right, avoidance is about to turn to post-recession, post-excuse reality. Wisconsinites will have to decide how much government is sustainable. Their elected representatives will need to get used to a new normal: that of having to say "no" daily, even to decent ideas that nonetheless push us past the limit of what taxpayers are willing to pay for.