Before I start, let me clear up a few things for any terrified libs who may be readying their standard talking points for the comments:

* I am not anti-tax. I want to pay my fair share for the LEGIT purposes of government, and see everyone else do the same. I am against the direction our country is headed with sky-high taxes and socialist control of our lives. I am against 40% of Americans paying no taxes at all, or negative taxes. I am fearful of the lives my children will live, burdened with the mistakes we make now.

* This didn’t just pop up yesterday…and we didn’t start getting angry on January 20. This has been building for some time. The government’s actions over the last 3 months have certainly escalated the anger, but we’ve been headed in a socialist direction since the Great Depression.

Okay? Good.

Hubby and I showed up just after 11am, and I started taking pictures. The crowd grew and grew. I’m not a good judge of crowds, but it was way bigger than I’d expected. I’m hearing estimates between 1000-2000. Oh, the estimates the media gave of 400? NO WAY.

The speakers were just local folks who had helped organize the tea party. A significant portion of the Declaration of Indepenence was read to the crowd. One speaker told the crowd he knew this event wasn’t just Conservatives….because he was a registered Democrat! We chanted a bit and cheered a LOT.

The signs were great. There were one or two I thought were too extreme, but that’s it. I didn’t see any protestors, but the media found them (suprise, suprise) and they made the news.

A petition (scroll) was sent around the crowd – once signed the organizers will be sending it to Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) to deliver to the White House. According to the organizer’s website, they got 798 signatures (so there, media). And yes, the signing was closely monitored.

The best picture of the crowd:

Crowd shot, GSO TDTP

My favorite sign:

Great sign from GSO TDTP

Go HERE to see all of my pictures from the event…mostly crowd shots and specific signs that I liked.

It was SO wonderful to be there…to know we are not alone in our feelings about where the country is going. I hope there will be more of these!!

FISCAL DISCIPLINE????

With a $787 billion stimulus package in hand, President Barack Obama will pivot quickly to address a budget deficit that could now approach $2 trillion this year.

Um, can anyone explain this complete and total contradiction to me?

the president defended the surge of spending in the stimulus plan, but he made sure to add: “It’s important for us to think in the midterm and long term. And over that midterm and long term, we’re going to have to have fiscal discipline. We are not going to be able to perpetually finance the levels of debt that the federal government is currently carrying.”

I would be unable to type for the hysterical laughter….except that this level of stupidity is terrifying.

HELLO! You just added TRILLIONS to the deficit…Now you’re going to lecture us on fiscal discipline? You’re going to try and blame Bush and Republicans?

Oh yes, The Great Obama has brought Hope and Change…Transparancy and Accountability….NOT.

Today, another group receiving government subsidies is going on a huge, expensive retreat to a fancy hotel, via chartered Amtrak train with accompanying helicopters. Unlike some of the other companies we’ve screamed about, this group is clearly using OUR money to fund this trip.

Who is the group? Why, DEMOCRATS of course!

Mr. Obama will head to Kingsmill Resort and Spa in the historical Virginia city to start a three-day planning session. The resort boasts multiple championship golf courses, a full-service spa and six restaurants, noted the Hill newspaper, which broke the story about the Democratic retreats.

Democrats will ride together to the resort on a chartered Amtrak train at a cost to taxpayers of about $70,000, the Hill reported. Taxpayers will also foot the bill for security helicopters to fly above the train. The caucus will spend thousands: In 2003, for example, they spent $11,200 on food and $6,900 on entertainment, the paper said.

By the way, the President won’t be riding that Amtrak train. He is taking Air Force One and limos…for a trip of less than 200 miles.

So, which of you who has been complaining about CEO salaries, employee thank-you parties or refurbished offices is going to scream about this?? Hm???

** Do you support the new President?
To the extent he is the POTUS, yes. I do not support his views or his policies so long as they continue to be liberal/socialist in nature. If he embraces a view I share, I’ll support him.

** Is he “your” President?
Yes.

** Do you condemn those who say “Not My President”?
Nope. I subscribe to the idea that anything thrown at President Bush is fair game against President Obama. Sorry libs, but that gives us a LOT of options. Maybe you should have thought of that.

** Do you want him to succeed?
No. And I can hear the screaming “but if he fails, the country fails!”. Not necessarily. I don’t want the Presidency to fail, and I don’t want our country to fail…but I do not want Obama to implement the policies he wants. I do not want socialized medicine, open and free abortions, open marriage (oh, it’ll get there, trust me) or redistribution of wealth. I can hope for failure there without hoping for total failure.

** Are you going to watch the Inauguration?
I’m going to listen to Rush’s commentary on it. I may turn on one of the channels with sound muted (unless it’s on CSPAN with no commentary) so my son can see what peaceful transfer of power looks like.

** What will you be doing for the next 4 years?
A lot of praying. I also plan to join organizations that support the Conservative point of view. I’ve signed up to volunteer for my local GOP. I’ve joined the Red State Army of Activists and Top Conservatives on Twitter.
Finally, I plan to do some major financial restructuring to protect what little money I have from the liberal socialist theives in Washington and the possible job loss that is coming my way (thanks, democrats…I’ll blame you if it happens).

** What are you telling your children?
My son hasn’t asked much since the election. If he asks, I’ll tell him what I told him then…I do not agree with Obama’s views and I did not want him to be President. Now that he is, we have to deal with it…but we also have to stand our ground and push our views.

Barring a man from taking his Senate seat - by force if needed – because the governor who chose him is under investigation (and embarassing the Party)

Seating a man to the Senate - by any means necessary – who is the democrat in a closely fought election still in recounts and about to go into lawsuit stage, even though the results aren’t final

Encouraging the selection of a woman for Senate whose sole qualification is her last name (although to be fair, she’s replacing someone whose sole qualification was her last name)

Dismissing a Vice Presidential candidate as unqualified who is a state Governor and former mayor (but unfortunately doesn’t have an “appropriate” last name)

But, in the world of democrats, each of these is DIFFERENT….and you’re expected to just shut up and say the same. Believe me, CNN and MSNBC will tell you so…not directly, but by manipulation of stories.

President-elect Barack Obama may consider delaying a campaign promise – to roll back tax cuts on high-income Americans – as part of his economic recovery strategy, two aides said on Sunday.

Don’t get me wrong – I’d be thrilled if Obama waits another year to rake me over the financial coals. It would give me time to get my financial picture more stable so I can survive with less money. Remember, the Bush tax cuts added money to EVERYONE’S pockets.

That said, it’s nice to know that it will at least be entertaining. The left wing is already in hysterics (note: this is not a left wing site, but it quotes from left wing sites which often contain foul language and “not safe for families” comments). Time for me to buy that “Don’t Blame Me, I Voted Republican” sticker….

Pelosi, Reid Press for TARP Aid for Auto Industry

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent to send a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson urging him to assist the Big Three auto makers by considering broadening the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program to help the troubled industry.

The two top Democratic leaders in Congress are likely to make the request in a letter to the White House, which could be forwarded as soon as Saturday afternoon, said individuals familiar with the matter. President-elect Barack Obama is generally supportive of the appeal, but at the moment is moving on his own track to assist the industry, these individuals said.

“Hey, we’ve got $700 billion dollars just SITTING here. We told the American people it was for the banking industry…haha!! Let’s just hand it out whereever we see fit. They re-elected us even though we had the most useless two years in recorded Congressional history and the worst approval ratings, so they must not care what we do!”

One thing many people do not realize, or choose to ignore, is that politicians campaign from the CENTER. Nearly all politicians do it, regardless of party – the ones who don’t are very obvious. So, when you hear McCain or Obama make campaign speeches and promises, you have to assume that in the Oval Office, their true actions will be to the right (Republican) or left (Democrat) of what you read or hear.

How far to the right or left? To determine that, you have to look at non-campaign actions.

John McCain? They call him a “maverick” for a reason. It’s hard to say how far to the right he’d sit as President. One thing you can say for sure though is that he WILL sit to the right. You can see that through his years of Congressional service as well as his choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate. He may have bounced to the other side of the aisle sometimes, but he doesn’t stay there.

Barack Obama? He’s documented as the Senator with the most liberal voting record. His running mate Joe Biden is 4th on that list. His political record is only a few years long and a great deal of that time was spent campaigning, so we need more. That’s easy. Ayers, Wright, Dohrn, Khalidi, Rezko. I’m done

95% of Americans will get a tax cut, hm? Did you know that the 2001 Bush tax cuts are scheduled to expire soon? Did you know that Obama doesn’t consider the expiration of the tax cuts, which could raise taxes on a family making $50K by somewhere in the ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR range per year, as a tax increase? It’s “just a rollback of a tax cut”. What’s the difference between rolling back a tax cut and increasing taxes?

Did you know about all of Obama’s tax ideas?

In 2001, my family wasn’t making much money. My husband was in college and not working. I was only 5 years into a job I started at entry level. We were living off a very small salary and college loans. The tax cut at the time probably helped us a bit, but not enough to really notice.

In 2008, I’m now 13 years into that same job, a senior member of the team who has had a number of promotions and salary increases. My husband has a steady job. We have two children. We’ve benefitted GREATLY from the lower tax rates George Bush and the Republican Congress set for us. Rolling back the tax cuts would increase our tax burden by quite a bit. In addition, as Obama and Biden slowly lower the income level at which they will raise taxes EVEN HIGHER, I worry that their aim is actually at MY family’s income. I’m a solid Conservative and my vote is set, but if I weren’t, the news on Obama’s plans for taxes alone would probably have me voting McCain.

People, I could go on and on. I haven’t even touched on the TRILLION PLUS dollars of new proposals Obama has made that would surely increase our taxes even more. Universal Health Care which would increase our taxes again (and you might want to search on Jo’s site for her stories about military health care, which is a smaller example of just what these liberals want).

I realize that Obama is charismatic. He chants the mantra of Hope and Change. But guess what? Clinton chanted this mantra too, and also preached tax cuts for the middle class. Then, just months into his administration, he came whining to us that he just hadn’t known how bad things were, and he was SO sorry but he’d have to raise taxes after all. Who says our charismatic friend Barack doesn’t have the same plans? It would be so easy to blame George W. Bush…the democrats have been setting that plate for eight long years.

Ladies and gentlemen…look past the charm, the media frenzy and the promises. What will you get with Obama? Tax and spend, tax and spend, continued blaming of Bush for every issue, our enemies dancing in the streets. What will you get with McCain? Solid positions on defense, and a man we can work with on the economy and other issues. A future, led by Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal, Fred Thompson and others who are just now finding their political conservative voices.

You thinking of helping to make history? You make history regardless of whether you pick Republican or Democrat. We already have the first African-American nominee of a major political party. If McCain wins we have the first woman Vice President. All that said, are we really to the point where it’s more important that the nation’s highest offices are filled based on race or gender rather than qualifications and what they will do when they HAVE those jobs?

Please think about this. Our future is at stake.

Do you have a yard sign? A sticker or magnet on your car? I know I have a couple of McCain magnets…wasn’t going to get a yard sign because I figured it wouldn’t be seen by many people (we live on a dead-end street). However, I saw a “Sarah!!” yard sign the other day and I think I’ll go find one for me!!

Afraid of what others will say or think? That’s crap. You have a right to vote and a right to vote the way you see fit. If we show our support, we might just convince that one person who is on the fence.

People, if you support the Republican candidates, get to your local GOP/McCain Victory office or McCain’s website and get some signs to show it.

The last few presidential elections have had huge implications. This one isn’t any different. It’s not just your vote anymore. Show your support!!!!

I’d originally planned to quote some of it, but it’s so short and to the point, I’d end up copying the whole thing! Go click on it and read it as intended. Then hopefully you will join me in saying…AMEN Moe!!