tpierce2 comment-13255 2009-09-04T05:21:26Z 2009-09-04T05:21:26Z Aticama, I agree with you regarding McCain. Time to retire but he is a hero and like you, I cannot even imagine what he went through while being truly tortured by the North Vietnamese. Now, to the moment. He should retire with dignity. He ran as a moderate and there is a world of difference between "moderate" and conservative. As a party, he ran, many of us sat it out and we got BHO. The most left wing nut job ever to win the White House. What do you think of Van Johnson and all the other Czars? This does not have the feel of America! It has to stop. tpierce2 2009-09-04T05:21:26Z tpierce2 comment-13029 2009-09-02T04:38:24Z 2009-09-02T04:38:24Z GWYN, I agree with your post up to the point where you want to keep McCain. Then sadly I have to agree with Knapp. McCain in not conservative. He is a "moderate" Republican. That is he is a RINO. I held my nose and voted for him because Sara Palin entered the race. Until her entry I was torn between voting for him and sitting out the race. It would have been the first time in a kazillion years that I did not vote for a President. Well, Sara entered, she ignited a large chuck of the Conservative base like me and I voted. Many Republicans sat it out. Hence, Obama! Moderate, liberal Republicans, RINO's, whatever you want to call them, they will not win elections. They are too much like Democrats. Good post---except McCain. Keep posting. That is just my opinion. tpierce2 2009-09-02T04:38:24Z tpierce2 comment-13028 2009-09-02T04:25:00Z 2009-09-02T04:25:00Z Aticama, thanks for your explanation and history. What a sad story. If I understood it correctly your wife is in Mexico and she can't come back because of American law? And you are an American citizen? Is that correct? Is there any way you can get her back here and not have to wait 10 years? Can any elected politicians help you? That is one of the reasons they are elected and part of their job. If we citizens have a problem with bone headed government they are supposed to be there to assist. Regarding you post about the liberal writer above: Most liberals don't get it yet and most politicians that are liberal don't get it. You were at the Tea Party. You and I and others on this board saw the make up of crowd and if you follow t.v., mostly Fox, and you watch the rally's you will see that these are real authentic Americans defending our country. We are not scripted, we are real and we are concerned for our country. We are tired of intrusive, out of control government. I've been to 4 tea parties. These are real people, not paid, not scripted. We are just fed up. Take care. I wish I could say I could help but don't know what I could do. I am just starting to get involved into politics in an active way. This administration, and prior administrations have really made a mess of almost everything they touched. Keep posting. God Bless American and our people. tpierce2 2009-09-02T04:25:00Z tpierce2 comment-12949 2009-09-01T04:50:28Z 2009-09-01T04:50:28Z Aticama, your above post is one of the best I've read. You nailed the abuse of government. Being a curious guy, what does your handle stand for? I am not a real imaginative guy so I use a simple handle. Great post. Great background information. I am totally impressed. tpierce2 2009-09-01T04:50:28Z tpierce2 comment-12924 2009-08-31T05:06:08Z 2009-08-31T05:06:08Z We are not plants. I've never been to a politically rally in my life prior to the Tea Parties. Most of my friends are the same. I take time from work, at my own expense, to attend these events. This country is going in the wrong direction in my opinion. Otherwise, I would be at work. And fishing on weekends instead of attending political events. I don't really like standing out at events with the temperatures around 100 degrees and high humidity. Not my idea of a great day. I consider it a necessary day for our country. Yea, I attended the Sacramento Tea Party event. The first and second. And others that will follow. This country is going toward Socialism, perhaps worse. tpierce2 2009-08-31T05:06:08Z tpierce2 comment-12923 2009-08-31T04:54:03Z 2009-08-31T04:54:03Z Thanks for you comments and background. We all have different life experiences. We are all Americans. Great! tpierce2 2009-08-31T04:54:03Z tpierce2 comment-12922 2009-08-31T04:44:06Z 2009-08-31T04:44:06Z Hey, this is a great board and the responses are great. I am conservative, afraid for my country, for your country, under this administration. Most of the people I've seen are real and genuine. Personally, I am scared for our country. I've never been an activist. I always voted and thought that was my duty. Well, I need to do more. We are Americans. The Constitution is our guide. My friends and associates are afraid for our country and I'm not ashamed to say so. We care about the United States and will defend it. Totally. I don't know how many of you feel this way. This is our country. Period.!!! tpierce2 2009-08-31T04:44:06Z tpierce2 comment-12921 2009-08-31T03:53:50Z 2009-08-31T03:53:50Z Bill, read your reply. In part: "If you are insulted, then maybe you should consider your audience before insulting other commenters and the author of the story." I took into account the responses and responded. In my opinion yours and others were not accurate regarding the Tea Party. If my audience are liberal so be it. If you are a lib ok. Just don't tell me how I should respond to and audience. I can respond any way I want and you and others were wrong about the Tea Party. I and others were there. Apparently you were not at the Tea Party. Apparently others left early. I attended most of the event. As did others on this board. I have a couple of words that you won't like. Screw you liberals. I've heard enough over the years to realize what a danger you are to our country. You don't own these boards. You don't own me. You don't own other posters on this board that express an opinion different than liberalism. We can all post, all debate, but no bs. I consider you liberals a clear and present danger to this country. If you disagree tell me why. I'll be happy to debate your policies any time. I've learned that you guys have no ideas and no substance regarding policy and truth. So bring on the debate. The Tea Party was a very fine event. Why don't you attend one with an open mind? If you have one. tpierce2 2009-08-31T03:53:50Z tpierce2 comment-12915 2009-08-30T19:20:54Z 2009-08-30T19:20:54Z Aticama, I intend to go to everyone I can. This is my 4th or 5t one. The two in Sacramento and several smaller ones. I truly enjoy the message, the messengers and the people. I learn something new about government every event attended. The more I learn the more disgusted I become and the more I realize we need to truly change the way we look at government. In my opinion, nothing less than our Freedom is at stake. We need to get involved and events like the Tea Parties are a great starting point. Like you, if someone wants to label me as Astroturfing then so be it. No more will I be part of the silent majority or succumb to political correctness. We are Americans, I'm damn proud of it and not afraid to say it. If it makes some people feel uncomfortable to hear it that is their problem. Not mine. We need a greater showing of Patriotism. Not less. Yes, if possible I will be at the next event. tpierce2 2009-08-30T19:20:54Z tpierce2 comment-12908 2009-08-30T17:00:10Z 2009-08-30T17:00:10Z Ayatollah, I grant you that when you have corrupt big business and corrupt big government plotting together we have a huge problem. Having said that, I would bet that many of the people being hurt by the insane action of cutting off water are not associated with big business. They are probably many small farmers and their workers. I listened to the logger at the Tea Party. He was not big business. I'm not sure about the person that spoke for the farmers but I don't think he was big business. The "hard working families you keep waving" are just that. Hard working families. If their are legal they deserve better treatment than the pain inflicted upon them by government. Demonizing all farmers and bankers does not make sense. Farmers grow our food. Bankers keep the money flowing. I work in the arena of finance and I can tell you that from my observation that banks are not lending yet. Am I going to blame all bankers? The answer is no. I blame the government mostly. I think the banking community is afraid of the regulators from government and from the uncertainty in the market. The Presidents programs are not working. Confidence and stability is not happening. Once again, failed government. Subsidies, sure, I'll agree with you there. I'm more of a free market type and don't believe government should be giving tax payer money to prop up business. Including cash for clunkers and thousands of other give away programs. tpierce2 2009-08-30T17:00:10Z tpierce2 comment-12907 2009-08-30T16:32:24Z 2009-08-30T16:32:24Z Bill, thanks for your comment but I did not see in the terms of use and agreement that I had to go through a probation period or become "part of the community" prior to posting. This forum was/is about the Tea Party. I was there and know what I saw. Some of the comments do not square away with my observations so exercising my rights, I disagreed. "You need to work on your banter and astroturfing scripts a bit." I find this comment from you very insulting. I believe one of the biggest whack jobs in politics, Nancy Pelosi, used that term to describe town hall meeting. If I was you I would avoid associating myself with disgusting woman via language or any other way. Just a thought. OK? tpierce2 2009-08-30T16:32:24Z tpierce2 comment-12879 2009-08-30T03:56:23Z 2009-08-30T03:56:23Z Ok, I got it advocate. You ARE one of the enemy. You blame corporations. You twist the logic. You blame the farmers. They have been farming for years and years. Now government cuts them off the life blood that allows them to be responsible and be good citizens. Government! For a stupid fish. I don't agree with subsidies. Again, government programs. I read the Bee as little as possible but I did read about the Tea Party because I attended the event---as usual. If they get 50% right or do a decent job of reporting it---that is a good day for the Bee. The only pictures they printed were of farm workers or farm owners. They did a reasonable job of reporting. But as usual, it was about 1/2 of what the event was about. Advocate, are you a liberal, a plant or an uninformed citizen? I am a conservative Republican and damn proud of it. I suspect you are a plant. Advocate, I don't give a damn about those fish. I care about the people who work hard, who have families to raise and educate and care for. They have responsibilities and lives and government policy is destroying this group of humans. This has to stop. We, as a nation, correct our mistakes. We are the most giving nation on earth and our citizens are the most generous on the face of the earth. We, the people, do not deserve to be abused by government. Remember advocate, the government created the subsidies to farmers. Get government off our backs and out of our lives. tpierce2 2009-08-30T03:56:23Z tpierce2 comment-12874 2009-08-30T02:53:27Z 2009-08-30T02:53:27Z Hey, atta girl! tpierce2 2009-08-30T02:53:27Z tpierce2 comment-12872 2009-08-30T02:51:17Z 2009-08-30T02:51:17Z Good post. I also live in Folsom and you are correct about the water. Lack of water is a canard. Extreme environmentalism is a religion bent on destroying us. Again, look what they are doing to the farmers. It doesn't bother me that they are big / corporate farmers or smaller farmers. They have no water, the people are un-employed and business is being destroyed by a bait fish. Real live people with families are being badly hurt. This is totally Un-American! Yes, government is the problem. Do you think there might be current government loving people posting on this site? People afraid to disclose their true beliefs? People wanting to criticize the Tea Party and participants? People wanting to create doubt? Naw, that wold be "like the current government." Deception. Again, good post and you are correct. In my humble opinion. tpierce2 2009-08-30T02:51:17Z tpierce2 comment-12870 2009-08-30T02:03:33Z 2009-08-30T02:03:33Z Too damn big & corrupt as hell! Hey advocate, if you are a freedom loving guy and you believe in the Constitution and the basic idea of the Tea Party lets work together. The enemy is not us. The enemy is government as currently structured. Squabbling over small points detracts from the goal of correcting the mess this state is in and the USA in general. Me, I don't take the messages as distorted or inflammatory. However, inflammatory is good. We need a little passion and rabble rousing to attract the attention of the brain dead politicians that forgot they work for us and are accountable to us. Speaking for myself, I am scared and angry as hell at what the politicians have done to us in the last 40 + years. I know many feel like me. It is time for a real change. Back to the basics. Back to the Constitution as written. tpierce2 2009-08-30T02:03:33Z tpierce2 comment-12863 2009-08-29T22:06:10Z 2009-08-29T22:06:10Z One of the speakers made the point that we can't change government alone. The Tea Party alone and those of us that support the concept behind the Tea Party can't change government. The point the speaker made was that a large coalition can help change government and throw the bums out. I did not see big business hijacking the tea party. I saw a coalition of farmers, ranchers, loggers, Tea Party types coming together to try and correct what the liberals have done and are doing to this country. I saw like thinking citizens coming together and I applaud it. It is about time. tpierce2 2009-08-29T22:06:10Z tpierce2 comment-12862 2009-08-29T21:55:58Z 2009-08-29T21:55:58Z Like you, I am glad they brought up the water issue. I've been following it and people and communities are being devastated in the Central Valley. Farmers are losing their crops, trees are dying and thousands are un-employed. I feel sorry for these people and communities. They are U.S. Citizens and they are being treated like dirt! A small dinky fish is the excuse the environmentalists use. I am also glad CARB was brought up. The organization seems to be totally corrupt. The regulations they issues are putting farmers, loggers, truckers and associated industries out of business. They are helping bankrupt the state. Again, extreme environmentalism at work---to the detriment of humans. They should be disbanded. Eliminate the agency. Great day! It was a nice, passionate group of people standing up for Freedom. tpierce2 2009-08-29T21:55:58Z tpierce2 comment-12860 2009-08-29T21:47:18Z 2009-08-29T21:47:18Z You must have been at the same rally as I was. Great rally! I loved the entire event. tpierce2 2009-08-29T21:47:18Z tpierce2 comment-12859 2009-08-29T21:45:37Z 2009-08-29T21:45:37Z I did not hear them say "no more government". If they did I would interpret it to mean "no more corrupt government" or "no additional government." Government can't be totally eliminated. We just need less of it. Far less and far less intrusive. At this point in our history government at all levels is completely out of control. McClintock and Meckler are the good guys. I would suggest focusing your anger on the ones trying to bury this country and take away our FREEDOM. They are the truly evil ones. tpierce2 2009-08-29T21:45:37Z tpierce2 comment-12858 2009-08-29T21:37:38Z 2009-08-29T21:37:38Z Jim Knapp, your analysis of the TEA Party is way off. First off, how do you know they were illegal aliens. Did you talk to them? Did you ask the Latinos if they were illegal? I doubt it. More than likely they were hard working people and business owners. People fed up with government in general. I was there for almost the entire event. I saw Americans exercising Democracy. Truckers, farmers, ranchers, Vets, old and young. It was a grand event in the tradition of Americans standing up for freedom. A couple of comments by other people seem to want to try to tie this to the Republican Party. It just so happens that the ideals of many Republicans are closer to the hearts and minds of the people than the lack of ideals as demonstrated by the left loony wing of the Democrat party. I don't care who sponsors these events as long as they reflect America and the Constitution---as written. Not as Obama, Pelosi, Reid and the other cast of villains would define it. Who is against Freedom? Who is against lower taxes? Who is trying to bankrupt this country? Who is for regulations that kill jobs and business's? Who has turned this once great state into a bankrupt state and made it the laughing stock of the country? Liberals and liberalism! That's who! People that love this country and believe in the Constitution did not create this mess. It's the loony left liberal that has created this mess. I enjoyed the Tea Party and believe in every issue brought up. And I support every issue. And I don't give a damn who puts these events together as long as they remain true to the original TEA Party goals. Protect your freedom or we will lose our Freedom! tpierce2 2009-08-29T21:37:38Z