I can only imagine the excitement some might express at the thought…fortunately, it is nowhere near the truth.

The 9/12 Tea Parties held simultaneously in Sacramento, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. (in addition to the many smaller events held around the country) represent the last major nationally coordinated events prior to the 2010 Midterms.  The disparate Tea Party groups across the country will continue to exist in some form or another post-election, but the mission will change ever so subtly, whether conservatives win big or not.

Some truth does remain in the idea that this will be the last, though.  Up until the Midterms, the Tea Party movement focused more on rebuilding communities, returning to first principles, and generating public awareness.  While politics certainly drove much of this, there has always been a sense of political innocence with the Tea Party.  However, the primary process awakened the political undertones inherent in such a movement.  And the Midterms will completely wash away that innocence.

I have heard many try to define the movement, but I think it would be more appropriate to examine Tea Parties from a historical perspective.  Comparisons to the various Great Awakenings of our country’s past come to mind, but this has been about much more than just a religious revival.  The outpouring of people to Glenn Beck’s 8/28 event, and the views expressed by those that attended, definitely bears some resemblance to another Great Awakening.  Those from the Left that employ Alinsky’s tactics would love for that to be the case.  The Tea Party could be frozen in time as a religious movement and Beck would be an ideal target for the Left to ridicule, but neither Beck nor any religious group speak for us all and I do not think that was ever their intention.

One era that I often think about involves the time in which Alexis de Tocqueville journeyed across our young country.  Somewhere along the line we decided that there were certain topics one does not talk about in polite company.  De Tocqueville witnessed an American society in which people actively engaged in political and religious discourse.  Separation and categorization of individuals into various groups seemed less a part of our cultural fabric.  American society, while far from perfect, represented an energetic cohesion of democratic ideals never before seen in this world.

Another era I think of pertains to our country’s founding.  Due to a poor grounding in American history, many do not realize that the American Revolution was no easy task.  Independence was originally only supported by about 10% of Americans.  The British Empire had resources across the entire world.  The Founders are often maligned as a cabal of wealthy, white landowners, but people do not realize they risked their lives and fortunes to create a country that would eventually become the leader of the free world.  Would we be where we are today without their sacrifice?  Not perfect, but perhaps as close as we will ever come.

Couching the Tea Party movement in these lofty ideals does not do justice to the millions of individuals involved.  We can look to the past, but we must address the present.  We can pontificate on the future, but we cannot lose sight of our current state of affairs.  Perhaps I was too quick to write off the idea of new Great Awakening because Americans across the country have opened their eyes. The status quo cannot be sustained, and many have pledged their blood, sweat and tears to this cause.  We are not absolutely sure what we got ourselves into, but we know it is right.

This feeling will change.  As objectives become clear, and we can measure the success of our efforts, the Tea Party will become a watchdog on government.  Momentum will carry the movement into all levels of government.  I am heartened by the many individuals I meet that have decided to get involved with their municipal governments flying under the radar in the current atmosphere.  These same individuals will become our leaders on the state and national level in the future, and they will have earned it.

If one wants a sense of what the Tea Party is and was, time is running short.  Rallies like the ones on 9/12 have been the lifeblood of the Tea Party movement.  Not only did they give a voice to people’s concerns, they provided an opportunity for community.

Community brought me to the Tea Party movement.  I came relatively late.  I was frustrated with the path our government had taken, and I felt helpless.  The first Tea Party I went to was in Quincy, Illinois.  No one really knew who I was, but these strangers immediately opened up their hearts and minds.  As I became more involved, I met new individuals and groups that were always welcoming.

Your last chance to experience this community in unison with millions across the country occurs on 9/12.  Old hands and new energy will merge into a celebration of what our country was and what our country can be.  Opportunities to become involved in groups outside of established organizations will be plentiful.  Friendships will form that will last a lifetime.

This may not be the last Tea Party, but this is your last opportunity to say you were there when we decided to put our country back on track.  You were there when we decided as a community that our first principles matter.  You were there when the renaissance of civil society took place.  You were there when Americans began to open their eyes to the possibilities our country’s opportunities provide.

I will be in St. Louis under the Arch on 9/12…where will you be?

24thstate contributor, Ben Evans – St. Louis

The Missouri Healthcare Freedom Act, known statewide as Prop C, has passed.

The final total was 71.1% yes on Prop C, 28.9% No on Prop C.

I’d like to congratulate the large number of conservative candidates who made Prop C such an important part of the their campaign. Win or lose, making Prop C an important part of your campaign raised awareness – and I believe the nation owes you a thank you for delivering.

I’d also like to congratulate all the conservative groups out there that worked so hard to get out the message and the vote.  The “Tea Party” gets a lot of media attention, but those of us in the trenches know very well that there are many organizations established long before any Tea Party groups that make up the backbone of conservative organization.  The media may not give you props – but we know who you are, and we know who does the work.

I am also  pleased at the local Tea Party groups and the way they pushed so hard for Prop C, with many individuals contributing art and time and legwork to push out the message.

You beat the editorial boards of the Post Dispatch and the KC Star. You beat the progressive groups who proved a paper tiger (note that when massive amounts of money aren’t delivered to unions and progressive causes, their impact on the vote is miniscule).

National Impact

Across the country tomorrow, people will wake up to news that a state voted over 70% to reject the unconstitutional mandate of Obamacare.  And don’t for a second buy the supremacy clause arguments.  The federal government can’t force the state to enforce Obamacare without the state exchanges, and without state resources and cooperation, Obamacare can’t operate  Yes, the matter will go to the courts, but the voice of the people has weight in a courtroom.

This win is only the beginning. Other states get their weigh-in later in the year, including votes on state constitutional amendments.  Other states like Virginia also have their lawsuits moving forward.  The win on Prop C is only the first one.  The brazen attempt to pay off Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, and Bart Stupak has been repudiated by the voters of the state of Missouri by a wide, wide margin.  This will strike fear into the heart of the Democrats, who now are forced to confront the fact that Obamacare has been soundly rejected in the first chance that voters had to address it.

Don’t be fooled for a second.  If the measure had failed, or passed with anything lower than 60%, this would be front page news from now until election day.  I feared anything under 60%, but 71% is indeed a mighty win.

An internal poll taken at some point before the campaigning had the measure near 75-25.  I don’t know if that was general public or Republicans only, but it was a cause for complacency in Prop C donors.   After $400,000 from Missouri Hospital Association in opposition to the proposition, and clear opposition (made up mostly of sneering and mockery) from the state press and state Democrats, the measure passed 71% from the general public.  When was the last time any statewide proposition passed with that kind of margin?  Democrats know what that means.  It means their base is dispirited and tens of thousands of them supported the measure.

Democratic Ballots

From some back of the envelope calculations, 15% of ballots that were cast in the Democratic Senate primary statewide voted Yes on Prop C.  Even in St Louis City, almost 20% of the ballot cast just for Robin Carnahan also voted Yes on Prop C.  The number is even higher for the State Auditor race.  When 1 in 6 Democratic primary votes decide they want the state of Missouri to defend them from the signature issue of the Democratic Party, you’ve got a recipe for electoral disaster.

Senator Claire McCaskill, Attorney General Chris Koster, and GovernorJay Nixon got a message tonight.  So did Congressman Ike Skelton (MO-4th).  Democratic Senate candidate Robin Carnahan just had the wind knocked out of her national fundraising and Congressman Russ Carnahan (Mo-3) is going to find himself defending that healthcare vote over and over, especially in the rural areas of Jefferson County (72% Yes) and St Genevieve County (61% Yes).

Statewide, almost 100,000 voters pulled Yes on Prop C but did not vote in the Republican Senate Primary.  Note that Missouri is also an open primary system.  Crossover Democrats who wished to vote for weaker Republican candidates and who voted No On C wouldn’t count in this total.  Those are astonishing numbers.

St Louis County

St Louis County of course has special signifigance for the St Louis Tea Party Coalition.  In April, we organized a last-minute effort around phonebanking, an internet campaign, and some email blasts to encourage people to vote against Prop A, the Metro Tax.  The results were very disappointing.  Our initial efforts to turn from protest to GOTV were not effective, and we were forced to come to grips with the reality that there was no magic pot of voters who would rise from their slumber and ride to the rescue.

So we organized.  We started building groups of volunteers.  We passed out constitutions, paid real attention to building our email lists.  We started the Block Captains program.  And we focused on campaign work and training.  How did we do?

These were the results from Prop A in St Louis County on the April Ballot.  The measure was opposed by 93% of the Tea Party online respondents, but supported by many civic leaders, many local Republicans, and backed with over $1.5 million dollars in spending, including a GOTV program from left-wing groups, sophisticated marketing and direct mail campaigns, and of course, threats of doom from politicians and Metro management.

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 94,801 62.91%

NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 55,883 37.09%

That’s what being outspent 2000:1 and failing to organize early will get you.

Here are the results for Prop C in St Louis County for the August ballot.

YES  ………………95,217    61.5%

NO ………………..59,598    38.5%

It’s an almost complete reversal of the ballot.  But don’t fool yourselves that St Louis County is some Republican bastion.  St Louis County voted 55-45 for John Kerry over George Bush, and 60-40 Barack Obama over John McCain.  Prop A in April 2010 mirrored the 2008 vote percentages in the presidential election.

Prop C in August 2010, just four months later, registered a huge flip in the ballot.

Summary

Democrats have been downplaying the significance of Prop C from the get-go, but a 71-28 thumping is news.  Expect to see the state media downplay the value of Prop C in the fight against Obamacare, but expect a few cracks in their armor to peek through when folks on the talk shows candidly admit this is “a troublesome sign for the Obama administration, for the Democrats in November, and a shot in the arm to the Republicans and especially the Tea Party groups.”

Don’t let it fool you.  This was our Concord Bridge.  It was a minor skirmish fought at the beginning of the war, but it will resonate across the country.

So do your part, patriots.  Spread the story of Missouri’s win on the Healthcare Freedom Act far and wide.  Share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter – pass the information on to your representatives and your candidates.  Don’t let the media steal this victory from us.  This is a national victory, and one that I hope will add fuel to the resurgence of hope for those who continue to work to maintain a constitutional republic.

This video is for the St Louis Tea Party, from our 1 year anniversary rally on the steps of the Arch.  The video showcases the patriots who worked in the last year from the eyes of those who took pictures and video.  It made a hardened opposition researcher cry.  And I put it here for a reason.  We’re gathering under the Arch one more time, on 9-12.  And we need you there.  We need you to help us make this the biggest rally in the nation, supported by patriots from across the Midwest.

The people of Missouri have spoken, and we stand ready to support every other state in the defense of the natural rights of the people.  Come join us on 9-12. We need your talent and your organization and your passion in keeping the momentum going.

9-12 Tea Party In St Louis, Missouri, hosted by the St. Louis Tea Party Coalition and the Tea Party Patriots.

Sign up for more information on the event, or contact rivercitytea@gmail.com for individual or group questions.

On August 3, 2010, the Missouri electorate will vote on Proposition C, the Missouri Health Care Freedom Act (MHCFA).  Have no doubt – this is the first shot fired against the power grab known as Obamacare.  If successful, if we beat back this overreach of federal power in Missouri, other states will move forward.  Should we fail – especially with low voter turnout, the media,the Obama administration and Congressional Democrats will gain a second wind.  I can think of few things more disastrous leading into November than giving the Democrats hope.

Josie Wales, a lawyer from Missouri writing at Big Government, calls August 3 “the most important day in America“.” Missouri will be the first state to allow the public at large to voice its opinion on Obamacare.  Most of us know that the majority of Americans view Obamacare with disgust; disgust at the process by which it was passed and disgust by the burden it will impose.  We’ve been forced to speak through rallies and a diminished Republican party, until now.  Now there is an opportunity for the average voter to act upon that disgust.

Why should you care?  What does a Missouri proposition have to do with the other 49 states?  MHCFA represents the first battle in the war against the bureaucratic, tax-happy nightmare that has saddled Americans over the last century.  Just as the Supreme Court gun cases are changing the debate on the Second Amendment back to gun ownershig being a fundamental right, states signalling their refusal to go along with individual and employer mandates will alter the debate on the proper role of the federal government.  At issue is a single idea – can the government compel you to purchase a product they design simply because you’re a US citizen?

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Robin Carnahan’s campaign in Missouri was based on a 2008 model.  Carnahan won 1.7 million votes in her re-election bid for Secretary of State, buoyed by a great year for Democrats and the presidential year.  Her job was to avoid conflict, send out literature showing her picture as Secretary of State, raise money, and and wait to run until the last minute, counting on a favorable climate and the Carnahan name recognition to carry her through to election day.

It was a good strategy, but it needed one more component.  Congressman Roy Blunt was her likely opponent in the 2010 race, and although she could count on the state’s compliant press to roll over and play nice with her communications staff, she needed to create a negative atmosphere for the Blunt campaign, whose fundraising acumen and willingness to do the hard work of retail politics was going to be a threat.

Enter the League of Conservation Voters and the progressive coordinating entity known as America Votes.  The two biggest spenders in the 2006 congressional elections were SEIU and America Votes.  These two progressive behemoths have their hands in all sorts of pies, and it was only natural for the centralized philosophy of the left to lead to a centralized coordinating platform for elections.

But don’t take my word for it.  A Slideshare presentation uncovered last month (since taken down, but in pdf here) gave us all the information we needed on the plans to build a permanent progressive infrastructure.  The plan reads like an attempt to connect Skynet and the Borg with the principles of Saul Alinsky.

And in Missouri, the state chapter was run by none other than Mindy Mazur, the current campaign manager for the Carnahan for Senate campaign.  Prior to her year at America Votes, Mindy was Robin Carnahan’s Chief of Staff for the SecState.  She went to America Votes to lay down the infrastructure and make the connections between the Carnahan campaign and the national movement.  But she wasn’t the only one.  Paula Hodges is the Political Director for Missouri for America Votes.  She also came from Carnahan’s staff, and has been the main contact since September of 2008. In fact, four out of the five people identified with AV in Missouri have worked for the Carnahan family, and the one who wasn’t is a community organizer tied closely to other Carnahan allies. Here’s a chart that shows the connections.

Why is this a problem?  From April of November of 2009, over $750,000 in attack ads was leveled against Roy Blunt by America Votes partners, including television, radio, and billboard ads that ran statewide.  The League of Conservation Votes, US Action, the AFL-CIO and VoteVets have coordinated attacks against political opponents across multiple states, with Roy Blunt being present in every single instance.

This is no coincidence, and it raises a very difficult question for the Carnahan campaign.  To what extent did Mindy Mazur and Paula Hodges combine and colloborate with America Votes partners while in the employ of Carnahan?  We don’t have to ask if they coordinated, we can instead ask to what extent.

The League was caught lying about their ad buys. The Carnahan’s paid for pet blog has been caught pushing stories to national progressive blogs.  And most damaging, the timing and location of the advertising buys now call into question who decided on the targeting of the local markets for the anti-Blunt attacks.  National groups don’t have the expertise to pick and choose where to run television and direct mail campaigns.  They need boots on the ground in the state.

In Missouri – every person responsible for that coordination is a former or current member of Secretary of State and her election campaigns.  And to make it worse, Carnahan is now running six points behind Blunt despite the coordinated attacks.  With a lackluster fundraising quarter and a campaign staff reduced to silly videos begging for money, the Carnahan campaign is in trouble.