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Lehigh Valley Tea Party Will Fight After Obama's Win

President of Lehigh Valley Tea Party says organization will still tackle issues despite presidential election outcome.

 

The presidential election is over and despite the outcome, the president of the Lehigh Valley Tea Party said her organization will "keep on keeping on."

For the past two Saturdays, Tea Party members were out rallying the troops in Allentown and Bethlehem to get people out to vote.

Barb Walters, the chairwoman of the 800-member Lehigh Valley Tea Party, said she was disappointed by the turnout at the polls, despite criticism and concerns that the country wasn't improving in the past four years under President Barack Obama's tenure.

"I was surprised at the numbers. They were down for the country," she said. "It was really shocking, coming from both sides."

The Tea Party movement gained national recognition during the 2010 midterms in terms of advocating the principles of the U.S. Constitution and calling for a reduction in government spending and taxes.

Polls show that most Tea Party members tend to be Republicans.

But the Tea Party is not a political party. And, Walters said, the Lehigh Valley Tea Party does not endorse candidates.

"We are non-partisan. We don't endorse candidates," Walters said. "Our position hasn't changed. We're still issue-oriented in wanting to limit the government and have more fiscal responsibility and individual rights."

Walters said issues will still be brought before the group.

"The Tea Party has gone from being out there to working behind the scenes," Walters said.

Walters said she believes the party will be more active when elections are more local, when school board and municipal seats are on the line.

"That's what we're going to stick with," she said. "We like having educated voters who don't go by their feelings, but are armed with the knowledge to make the best decisions."

For now, though, Walters worries about the country's future.

"It's a very interesting time. Interesting, but scary," she said. "We're going to be working to make sure we all don't go over the cliff."

Related Topics: 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama, Lehigh Valley Tea Party, Mitt Romney, and elections 2012

optimist

7:23 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

What Republicans need to realize is that the tea party is hurting them. Republicans are losing Senate seats in red states because of theis teamania. Do not trust these people as they are good for nobody.

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/110812-632786-akin-mourdock-make-it-bad-day-for-tea-party.htm

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Ronnie DelBacco

8:30 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

To optimist,
How many Tea Party meetings or events have you actually attended?
It's time those who have been railing against the Tea Party actually show up a few times if for no other reason than to see for themselves that we are nothing like what the media has portrayed us to be.
As for Republicans loosing because of the Tea Party, good. That may have some truth to it, but not for the reasons you think. The Tea Party is harder on Republicans than they are on Democrats. If Republicans aren't operating in a constitutionally conservative manner then they need to be voted out just like their Democratic counterparts.
It is a huge misconception that the Tea Party is a wing of the Republican party. I am both a member of the Tea Party and a registered Republican. My personal beliefs align more closely with the Constitutionally sound Tea Party principles than with the moderate, wishy-washy establishment stance of the Republican party.

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Rosemary B

6:02 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Another problem with the Tea Party is the way the media has presented them. People really do need to check them out for themselves and not go by the way the are portrayed by the news that they probably get from Comedy Central!

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QED

7:23 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

You seem to have come to a judgement without any facts to make your case. The primary interest of the group is to reduce federal deficite spending. Saying "Do not trust these people as they are good for nobody" seems extreme given that the goal of the group is merely to prevent the economic destruction that excessive deficit spending ultimately will cause.

Ronnie DelBacco

8:30 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

continued....
Republicans haven't lost elections because of the Tea Party. Republicans have lost elections because they appear no different than the Democratic party. What differences their may be are not drastic enough to offer a real distinct and different choice. We need solid conservative candidates in the Republican Party, not McCain and Romney moderates. Over 2 million less Republicans turned out for Romney than they did for McCain.
The Tea Party will not be silenced and both political parties need to accept that reality, Democrats and Republicans alike.

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optimist

9:04 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

Please keep up your activities Ronnie. Believe me when I say that. Show yourselves for exactly what you are.

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Eric

9:09 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

Couldn't agree more. Keep fighting for subsidies for companies that ship American jobs overseas and oil companies....single moms with autistic children are doing just fine.

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Ron Beitler

9:23 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

@Ronnie from one ronnie to another... Then the Tea Party needs a better marketing campaign. Honestly I believe that. Moderate Republican here who voted for Romney. And count me as another who believes if Romney made the moderate case against Obama in terms of the president forcing a social program down our throats at the federal level (personally I believe healthcare should be left to the states ala romney care. My reasoning here: http://www.ronbeitler.com/2012/11/05/splitting-my-ticket/) then he would have won. He lost because of 47% comments and failing to make the moderate case.

That being said. Yard signs that say... "we're still watching" indicate a very negative and almost menacin/threatening tone. Again, the tea party has merits and I appreciate the core values and issues based approach. Personally though... A tweak of the message and the way the tea party presents itself is overdue. Take the high road. Leave it to the occupy crowd to spit venom. And no, I havent attended a meeting but I certainly would do so. But this is my (and others clearly) perception of the tea party so again... so i thats not accurate well then again.. something is wrong with the messaging and marketing.

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Wayne Schissler

10:20 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

Eric,
The Tea Party does NOT fight for corporate subsidies. Come to one of our meetings and suggest that we should begin doing that, and watch the reaction. Seriously, you don't have a clue...

Eric

8:36 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

"We are non-partisan. We don't endorse candidate." Rather, they endorse hypocrisy, extremism, and bad ideas. We need proactive leaders on the local level to recognize the need to keep property taxes low by not recklessly slashing state budgets that are just made up by municipalities and school board raising taxes. We need leaders on the local level that will commit to lowering the corporate net income tax for small business and closing tax loopholes for corporations that cheat. Tom Corbett's tea party and his radical members have demonstrated that they do not understand these needs and now we must stop the tea party at all levels of local and state government. They had their chance and they failed us.

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Ronnie DelBacco

9:32 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

Eric,
Bite your tongue.
Tom Corbett is NOT Tea Party friendly.
Ron,
I too voted for Romney, but he wasn't my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th choice. That said, though Romney is not what a conservative voter would choose, he was the better choice between the two candidates this time. His 47% comment did not cost him the election. His lack of true conservatism cost him the election. The numbers show that clearly. More than 2 million less votes than McCain!
I welcome you to join us for a meeting and bring your ideas. Marketing and messaging is important. The problem is inaccurate reporting about us by the main stream media. Come out and see for yourself. Even Fox News doesn't get it.

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Reaganite

9:27 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Ronnie D. The best point made so far. We have lost two presidential bids with a certified war hero and an incredibly successful governor of a blue state and business icon. Both of them were so willing to reach across the aisle, and give up their values. It was democrat-lite. Republicans are voting for the less of two evils and democrats are voting for democrats and winning. Do the math, we need hardcore conservatives with real personalities.

Eric

9:45 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

To suggest Tom Corbett is not "Tea Party friendly" may just be the most ridiculous thing I've heard all election cycle... And may I remind you, the congressional tea party candidates and senate nominees said some pretty bizarre things.

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Wayne Schissler

10:21 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

Eric,

Corbett may pander to the Tea Party with his lips but it doesn't go much further than that. Usually we compare him with the governor with an actual spine in Wisconsin. PA's fiscal problems are the result of mismanagement by BOTH parties for decades. You'll find Tea Party types will usually be behind candidates willing to face up to this reality and submit budgets that do not just continue kicking the can down the road.

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QED

7:33 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Eric, you talk about Tea Party candidates...this shows ignorance. The TP does not endorse any candidates. If a political candidate tries to say he is endorsed by the TP, the candidate would be lying. Face a simple fact...if you have not attended at least several TP meetings you can't know what the TP is about. Misinformation runs rampant in the media about many things, especially political things...the TP is one of those things.

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Reaganite

9:31 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Eric I assure the democratic candidates said quite a few weird things as well.

[Romney]'s gonna let the big banks once again write their own rules. Unchain Wall Street! [In comic downhome accent] They're gonna put y'all back in chains."

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee, was forced to admit — by Wolf Blitzer, of all people! — that changes to Medicare proposed by Ryan would not actually affect people over 55.

Andrew Wilt

9:46 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

I notice that those who bad mouth the Tea Party always cite some Tea Party member who has done or said something regrettable. Like nobody from the other parties has ever done so? Realistically you can't cherry pick the beliefs of one individual in the Tea Party and paste the whole party like that. It doesn't make sense.

Sure there are loons in the Tea Party. There are loony Independents, loony Democrats, and loony Republicans too. Give it a rest.

One of the reasons the Tea Party exists is because the Democrats and Republicans are really one party of slightly different behaviors that are diametrically opposed to the welfare of the American people. They are much more concerned about responding to the unending petitions of the 25,000 corporate lobbyists that infest Washington.

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Carl W

11:26 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Did it ever occur to anyone that these two parties do what they do, because that's the best way to win points with voters? Politicians & statesmen lie & twist things, because THAT'S what you want to here. THEN, once in office, they TRY to do the 'right thing,' however, always have to make sure we don't go up in arms, when they do.

Amend Wun

9:54 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

@Ronnie- isn't it hypocritical of you to ask others to look past the image of the tea party cast by the media when you so easily deride democrats for the same reason? I agree with Ron, get better marketing. Or even better yet, stop picking divisive and extremist candidates to respresent your message, unless of course that is your group's message. Blaming others for your failure is the same thing your party criticized Obama for doing.

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Ronnie DelBacco

10:30 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

Well hello there Amend,
Always a pleasure when you pop up calling me names. :)
You said, "isn't it hypocritical of you to ask others to look past the image of the tea party cast by the media when you so easily deride democrats for the same reason?". Your statement doesn't make sense. You are confusing two separate issues.
The Tea Party calls out politicians from both parties for acting unconstitutionally. The Republican and Democratic parties both attack each other, sometimes wrongfully and hypocritically. The main stream media IS responsible for inaccurate reporting of both parties and they rarely, if ever, apologize for it.
As I said, marketing and messaging is important, but so is accurate reporting by the media. Again, come out to a few meetings and see for yourself what the Tea Party is about. Even Fox News doesn't get it. As for your last comment, BHO continues to blame Bush even 4 years later when the mess he inherited this time is his own.

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Wayne Schissler

10:32 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

Get better marketing they say.

The LVTP doesn't have a marketing department nor could it afford to do a real sustained marketing campaign. Contrary to popular legend, we have no billionaire sugar daddies bank rolling us, we subsist on small donations mainly from our membership. Anyway it would be futile since every local Tea Party is different, some do endorse candidates (we don't) and any candidate can portray themselves as the TP candidate.
To their credit, when Patch does cover one of our meetings they are generally rather accurate.

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QED

7:34 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Once again, the TP does not endorse candidates.

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Reaganite

9:32 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Amend. congrats on the election. I thought it would be a landslide...it was...ooops

Rae H

10:20 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

The Tea Party stands for smaller government, lower taxes, and a balanced budget. If that's extreme, so be it. Until the GOP stop shoving candidates down our throats the Dems will continue to run the country into the ground. Maybe that's what the tea party needs to wake up the masses. I have to admit, it was alot easier the day after an election to accept the results when I was asleep and had my head in the sand. Thanks to the Tea Party, I can make informed decisions. The only issue I have, is there aren't many real conservatives to choose from as long as the GOP refuses to support Tea Party candidates that don't bow to their party. The Tea Party should stop funding the GOP and start funding the candidate that they feel meet their conservative values. Long Live the Tea Party. I still have hope that the masses will wake up. I just hope it's not too late to take the country back.

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Wayne Schissler

10:42 am on Friday, November 9, 2012

Rae,

Thank you for your post. But I just want to point out that the LVTP does not fund the GOP (we are too busy funding our own modest operation) or endorse the GOP. Individual members may, but personally I gave up on that a long time ago.

Jim Reighty

1:06 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

The Tea Party is the problem with the Republican Party. Those members push the GOP to the right and make them wrong on many issues including immigration, women's rights and LGBT issues. The GOP should be ashamed that there are no longer guys like Tom Ridge or John Heinz running for office. Guys like that cannot survive in the GOP primary against the likes of the Bachman's and Paul Ryans.

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Ronnie DelBacco

1:21 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Jim,
If you missed it...Romney, a less than conservative northeast moderate like Tom Ridge, DID get the party nomination. Bachman did not. Which race were you watching?
We don't need special groups fighting for special rights. We need to all be fighting for EQUAL rights.

jackson black

5:01 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Give it up already, Obama won...the majority of people in this country have spoken..they want free stuff, the recipient class has spoken...

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Carl W

11:31 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Free stuff??? Is that what the employees working in Detroit & @ Mack Trucks (very actively producing) are getting? Are these managers & employees getting "free" paychecks, or could they possibly be working hard for them???

As a very dedicated vol. firefighter, Salisbury got a lot of "free stuff" from those of us who live in Allentown, and have to pay for same - substantially!!

jackson black

5:02 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

All hail the recipient class...Free stuff for everyone...

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jackson black

5:07 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

If you can't beat them, join them..hail to the recipient class..going milk the system,got laid off, getting food stamps, trying for welfare...God bless america

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jackson black

5:11 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

The tea party should step in line,call.themselves the free party and join the free revolution.. I was wrong and see the light..free Is good, tax the rich , tax everybody that works ,as long as I gets mines..

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Glenn Costenbader

5:42 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

I have to laugh at no mention of the real extremists and that would be how the Democratic party has been pulled to the hard left since the days of JFK by aggressive progressives. The Republican party has strayed to the left from their original beliefs and platforms and the Democrats have gone off the charts to the left. Another fact that happens to be extreme is how both parties have run up our debt to unimaginable amounts (currently $16,000,000,000,000 and counting). Those in this thread that are disparaging so called extreme Tea Party positions, like individual freedoms, limited gov't, fiscal responsibility and energy independence, better get a reality check.

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Nancy Echenberg

6:09 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Check the facts...we did have a balanced budget with President Clinton, before we put that last Republican in office...what was his name?? Oh, yeah...George W. Bush.

Amend Wun

6:38 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

@Ronnie- there was no insult in my earlier post. Perhaps you can be more specific to that allegation. And it isn't me who is confused. You blame the media when you should focus on your party's own image issues while you slam the democrats as socialists/communists. You say the tea party is for limited government, but then why do they concern themselves with women's reproduction issues or fight marriage equality or decriminalization. Why is "God" a central aspect of their platform. You say their for fiscal responsibility, but that really only applies to those things that affect those on the bottom rungs of our society. They label teachers as takers, and decry unions. And fiscal prudence is more than running the government on as little as possible in a vain attempt to be penny wise and pound foolish. I have yet to hear them promote anything that sounds like a real solution. All I hear them say is "I don't want to pay for that". The tea party is a faction that wants to be treated as a majority without doing what it takes to earn it. I don't mind their base mission, but I find fault with their true actions. That's my pov on the tea party, even if it is it's own sweeping generalization, but really I haven't seen any reason to think otherwise. Thanks for the invite to your meetings, but I'll pass.

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Ronnie DelBacco

7:25 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Amend,
I'm sorry to hear that you won't attend a meeting or two. So then who really is stuck on stupid. You'll never learn the truth if you don't show up for class. Second hand information from the current main stream media is the choice you are clearly making in decideing what to beleive. My invitation stands and I hope you'll reconsider. Until then, trying to change your mind in this forum is futile.

Glenn Costenbader

8:30 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Nancy, I try and deal with facts as best I know them; what is so frustrating is when someone posts something (me) and you supposedly reply without acknowledging where I am not factual. Let's try it again...what in my previous post is NOT factual? Now I will SPECIFICALLY deal with your reply. Yes we did have a balanced budget with Clinton (I am assuming your limited knowledge on this so I'll give you the rest of the story). The Congress actually controls the "purse strings" in the three branches of government. Nancy, do you know which party controlled Congress the last 6 years out of Clinton's 2 terms? The R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-A-N-S now during Bush's 2 terms he actually had a pretty good economy going but the last 2 years of his term things went quickly to hell economically. Do you know what that was Nancy? Another party took control those last 2 years of Bush's last term; they were the D-E-M-O-C-R-A-T-S. Now I am objective enough to realize Bush went along with the budgets and he did get TARP pushed through but the Democrats willfully went along with him. So if you reply Nancy, please address those specific issues that I posted. Here is a question for anyone to answer...What specifically did Bush do in his last term for Obama to inherit from him the worst economy since the Great Depression?

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Carl W

11:18 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Hey, people, every time the President TRIED to get even MORE done, the Republican majority in the House voted everything down. Am I the only one who saw this.

Yes, our nation and I, myself, ARE better off. Remember a gigantic oil mess? Remember the president who mandated at the start that BP set aside $200 million, up front, for U. S. costs & recovery. That went through to the recent MANDATED ads we've seen, sponsored by BP, presidentially ordered, luring people back to the affected area, for swimming, beaches, fishing, hotels, motels, restaurants - ALL MANDATED by OBAMA. Stop the damned slander & nick-picking!!!

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Ronnie DelBacco

7:37 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Carl W,
The Dems controlled the House and Senate since 2006. BHO had FULL control to do anything he wanted in his first 2 years without needing a single Republican vote to do it. As for your comment, "...every time the President TRIED to get even MORE done, the Republican majority in the House voted everything down", you need a litle help with more facts.
1. Spending bills must be initiated in the House.
2. After the 2010 elections the Republican controlled House passed 31 bills they sent to the Democratically controlled Senate where Harry Reid allowed exactly NONE of them to hit the floor for a vote. It has been the Democrats who have been holding up bi-partisan progress. (This is searchable and easily provable)

As for the BP spill, any president would have tried his best to do whatever he could to get the situation under control. Unfortunately, BHO used the situation to push his "Kill Baby Kill" policies. (refering to oil, not abortion ...at least not this time)

Carl W

11:34 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Carl W
11:18 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Hey, people, every time the President TRIED to get even MORE done, the Republican majority in the House voted everything down. Am I the only one who saw this.

Yes, our nation and I, myself, ARE better off. Remember a gigantic oil mess? Remember the president who mandated at the start that BP set aside $200 million, up front, for U. S. costs & recovery. That went through to the recent MANDATED ads we've seen, sponsored by BP, presidentially ordered, luring people back to the affected area, for swimming, beaches, fishing, hotels, motels, restaurants - ALL MANDATED by OBAMA. Stop the d**ned slander & nick-picking!!!

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jackson black

4:47 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

The people have spoken, no matter how you spin it..The republican party is dead as well as conservatism..society has changed,,people,unions,special interests etc. want free....yes free...I say tax everybody that works especially the rich and give us free stuff...America has spoken,I concede and want my free stuff too..People need to stop working and take everything the government has to offer..now is the time to go on welfare,get assistance etc. or get a government job or union job...God bless Obama, getting my free stuff..

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jackson black

4:47 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

The people have spoken, no matter how you spin it..The republican party is dead as well as conservatism..society has changed,,people,unions,special interests etc. want free....yes free...I say tax everybody that works especially the rich and give us free stuff...America has spoken,I concede and want my free stuff too..People need to stop working and take everything the government has to offer..now is the time to go on welfare,get assistance etc. or get a government job or union job...God bless Obama, getting my free stuff..

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jackson black

4:49 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

People wake up and join the Free Party.
the recipient class has spoken..

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jackson black

5:05 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

The people have spoken, the working class non union, non government workers are on the hook big time...haha hahaha...modern day slavery,,,we ain't seen nothing yet peeps...stop the bickering, democrats and republicans...we are in this together.the recipient class has spoken..Now is the time to take full advantage of government,my neighbor is on assistance,welfare, housing etc..drives a brand new Nissan

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jackson black

5:13 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

I spoke to my neighbor as I got out of my 1999 Hyundai accent with 180,000 miles..we spoke briefly about the elections and why she voted for Obama..she said,"why do you work and have nothing, while I don't and have everything?"..."Obama is for me"...

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jackson black

5:18 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

I had an epiphany, the recipient class has spoken...why should I work my ass off,have nothing,pay taxes,etc...I am convinced that I have been mislead my whole life...Free will set you free...Thank You...I have joined the free revolution...

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jackson black

5:48 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

It's a fact, 47 percent of the people in this country want free from the government..Obama got 52 percent of the vote..5 percent have to be the unions,special interests and the Nieve..47 percent are the takers...52 percent..You the people have a choice, to either be a slave to the government or be the royalty..

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for real

7:51 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

It's time for moderates to take back control of our party. I voted for Ryan mackenzie, Charlie Dent, Mitt Romney but no way did I vote for tea bagger Tom Smith. We should have retaken the Senate at the very least Tuesday night. Why did the Dems increse their majority? We are being held hostage by a bunch of unreasonable idiots known as the tea party. They do not represent the majority of our party but they are very organized and very scary. It's time for reasonable moderates to stand up, organize and be counted. Repbublicans are mostly reasonable people that want to see a functional government. The tea party really just needs to get lost.

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Wayne Schissler

9:56 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

for real,

Boo! (since you think we're scary)

You said,
"Repbublicans (sic) are mostly reasonable people that want to see a functional government."

I don't know anyone who doesn't want a functional government. We don't want the constantly growing intrusive government that we currently see. The moderates, like you, seem willing to abandoned Republican values (if there is such a thing that doesn't shift with the wind) on the alter of "functionality". As soon as the media and the D's point to the party as being obstructionist the moderates fold.

Did you see the debate between Laureen Cummings and Cartwright?. I think it illustrated this perfectly. Laureen was standing on principles, Cartwright promised to bring home the bacon and "get along". I felt embarrassed for Cartwright. Cartwright is a Dem but his message was no different than the late Arlen Specter or most other moderate Republicans.

And please note, principles are more important than the party... any party.
Boo!

That's what really scares you, isn't it?

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for real

10:14 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Wayne what scares me is a group of fools like yourself who prented your opinions are the only opinions that exist and that compromise is out of the question. What scares me is a party that was traditionally supportive of public education being radicalized by people that oppose public education. Very scary that you guys support candidates that take the position that a woman can turn off her body from getting preg. when she is raped. Dick Lugar was a good Senator and would have won Indiana. Instead you guys get this Murdock idiot to beat Lugar in the primary. You like what is happening? Keep it up and we will really have the far left government you guys keep crying about. I will make it my life mission to take back this party. You and your ilk need to crawl back to the caves you came out of!

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Wayne Schissler

11:09 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

for real,

Well, now there you go... You bring up topics that don't even apply to us. The idiot Republican with the pregnancy fallacy... LVTP doesn't even take a stand on the issue. Why do you think we are not supportive of public education? We have education reform workshops, have members that run for school board, have members sitting on school boards. And what is wrong with supporting non-government education? Or reigning in out of control spending?
http://ccnasd.org/where-did-the-money-go/
I know, just "get along" & stop rocking the boat...

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Wayne Schissler

11:37 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

for real said,
"I will make it my life mission to take back this party. You and your ilk need to crawl back to the caves you came out of!"

Conservatives, libertarians, Tea Party members and sympathizers take note of this. Shall we let the so-called opposition party alone to play nice with their friends?

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for real

1:49 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Sure Wayne The LVTP is so different than the rest of the t pary across the country. Your involvement in public education is to destroy or make it for profit. remember this event? http://lowermacungie.patch.com/articles/tea-party-speaker-says-privatize-public-schools

During the next round of school board elections I want yoy to know I WILL BE WATCHING!!! maybe I will even put up some menacing signs to let everybody know. WE ARE STILL WATCHING - Freekin joke!

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Wayne Schissler

2:34 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

for real,

The "event" you are so upset about was a guest speaker. Guest speakers who do not speak for the LVTP - just read the comment section where that was made abundantly clear. Of course that fact doesn't serve your purpose. Will you be one of those that show up at the school board meeting to encourage them to raise everyone's taxes? Do you really think "more money" = better education? Is that how the rest of the world is beating us in education? Don't ask questions, don't listen to and evaluate speaker's messages... just react, cater to the influential constituencies, do more of the same.
I can't wait to read your sign.

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for real

4:44 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Wayne you are even more an idiot than I thought. You would make Tom Corbett proud. Everybody who has studied the ABC's of what Corbett's budget did know better than this rt. wing page you cite. The Fed stimuls money thatd dried up is one thing. The state also murdered a block grant and cut a charter reimbursment fund (both state funded not stimulus money). Local districts ad districts across the commonwealth have cut spending but a hostile state is to blame for any runaway funding problems. Nice try though. In the meantime more and more money is being skimmed to fund for profit charter operations that have an education success rate below that of the inner city schools. As the Auditor General. We could save somehwere in the neighborhood of a million bucks a day. Where is the Lehigh Valley Toilet party on that? I hear crickets but little more.

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Wayne Schissler

5:21 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

for real,

It sounds like your hostility should be reserved for those moderate Republicans going back to when Ridge was governor, that is when the funding really began to become screwed up. Please don't project those shortcomings unto us! (nice try though)

You should know where the bulk of are fiscal woes will be coming from very shortly - here, go back to another page on that "right-wing" site with the scary government charts on it.
http://ccnasd.org/2011/05/06/a-tsunami-of-debt-headed-our-way/

You can point fingers all you want but I can guarantee you the tea party didn't go back in time and force the Ridge to screw this up.

You claim to be a moderate Republican and you think Corbett is proud of my work? Forgive me, but I'm beginning to doubt you. Are you sure you're not just a Democrat having some fun? Are you for real?

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for real

5:30 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

What Ridge in 2001 is a disaster. I get that.

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for real

9:35 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012

So Wayne you and you tea party obvously believe that districts overspend and therefore of course local taxpayers should endorse your ideas and candidates for school board so that they can teach these out of control spenders a lesson. Where are you and your tea party on the for profit charter school racket? Here is a school board member actually trying to address this problem http://dianeravitch.net/2012/11/10/a-local-school-board-member-in-pennsylvania-is-a-hero-of-public-education/
Have you and the low spending army demanded that the state legislature implement the recomendations of the Auditor General? http://www.paessp.org/publications/press-releases/41-news-and-announcements/380-auditor-general-wagner-calls-for-charter-school-reform.html

Any lobbying by you guys to reduce unfunded mandates from Harrisburg?

Maybe when I see some actual analysis of the problem from your side other than the usual we blame school boards and teachers, I will gain some respect for you and even consider attending a meeting.

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Wayne Schissler

1:25 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012

for real said,

"Any lobbying by you guys to reduce unfunded mandates from Harrisburg?"

Eh... I was on a "Goals 2000" reform committee in our district way-back-when so I've seen some of this first hand. And in the past year, during the school board comment section I encouraged the board members to lobby and write to their representatives. They seemed agreeable, but did they? I don't know.

Too much of this "rolls downhill" like the Goals 2000 mandate did. Feds dangle money with conditions, states jump through the hoops and then expect the districts to comply. And I think you're familiar with how the Harrisburg legislature/teacher pension debacle works - You need a true leader to push thru the legislation and constitutional amendment to rectify it. You need a leader to push through a defined contribution plan for new hires, the most sensible and the most minimal thing that should be done. The guy I voted for in the gubernatorial primary would have done this - the moderate we have doesn't have the spine. I know you don't like Corbett, neither do I - but then what is the solution, a more moderate spineless politician? And if citizens band together and demand better they're told to "go back to their caves"???

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Wayne Schissler

1:26 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012

continued...

I know we did have a delegation of sorts that met with Harrisburg "leaders". Whether all the specifics you mention were brought up I do not know (I would be very surprised if they weren't) - they came back with pretty much the attitude that I've been displaying here, note I put "leaders" in quotes. Basically, Pennsylvania is not Wisconsin:
http://lvtp.org/taxesspendingdebt-articles/497-pennsylvania-is-not-wisconsin.html

As for the charter schools... Sure, cut the waste. But is the goal of the group you site to help all children, no matter what school they attend, is or to ensure the future of government school unions? Are they simply against charter schools? I could go on for quite a bit about schooling but the day is too short and the weather too nice to spend it in front of the 'puter.

Amend Wun

9:04 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

@Ronnie- so, calling people stupid is your way of enticing people to come to a meeting to learn about your group's ideals? Regarding my opinion on the tea party, it wasn't the main stream media that formulated my opinion. It has been your group's actions, it's vitriol and hostility that I used to form my opinion, as well as my interactions with commenters such as yourself on forums like this who spew their self righteous venom. It's people like you sir, who would keep me from ever attending one of your meetings. After engaging in debate with your ilk, I would never want to be associated with such a hateful group of arrogant malcontents. I'm willing to assume not all tea party members reflect that behavior. Wayne seems to be approachable at least, but he unfortunately appears to be the rarity here.

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Wayne Schissler

10:07 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Amend, Re: Ronnie's "stuck on stupid" comment... I believe it was directed at people who continue to speak about and misrepresent people they refuse to learn more about. Maybe "stuck on willful ignorance" would have been more appropriate but the stupid quote is the popular one everyone uses.

jackson black

10:48 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

All this bickering, both parties are dysfunctional, the masses have made a choice of 4 more years of big government and big debt...people have not suffered enough for real change...watch the stock market nose dive as well as the employment numbers every month..we have become Greece...These entitlements, welfare,medicare,Obamacare,etc. Tea party don't mean squat

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jackson black

10:54 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

This country is so screwed no matter how you spin it, the rich will remain rich, the poor will get more subsidies and free stuff..the middle class will be screwed hard and small business as well as big business will get the shaft, medical companies are getting taxed hugely with Obamacare mandates...the cost will be passed down.....

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jackson black

10:58 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Watch the unemployment numbers go up every month....it's gonna be an into interesting 4 years....best bet, make as little as possible ,get subsidies, get on the government dole...otherwise you will work for nothing..

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jackson black

11:03 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

It's a matter of survival now, tea baggers,demorats,republilukes,libtards...fill in the blanks...It means nothing now, the recipient class has spoken..get ready....it's gonna get fun..hahahahaaha

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jackson black

11:16 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Amend, For real,Wayne, Carl,myself and anyone on this site knows deep down in our souls that America is in a great decline,that this administration will collapse this country morally,financially...We are the Roman empire and will fall as the Roman empire..

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jackson black

11:22 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012

If all you people believe that this country will be better off in the next for years,then you are either on gov. Assistance or work for the public sector...If not then we shall meet in the soup kitchen..

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Lower Saucon Guy

12:14 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

@Jackson Black. You sure are the Doctor Doom aren't you. If this country is doomed like you feel it is, why don't you leave. Let us know if you find your Utopia you would like to exist in. I believe with co operation from both parties that this country will be better in the next 4 years. I'm not on government assistance and I don't work for the public sector either. I also don't plan on running into you or anyone else in a soup kitchen, but if I do, I hope they have chicken rice. That's my favorite. If I looked at the world through your eyes, I wouldn't get up in the morning. Stop whining like a little panty waist, it's not very manly.

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jackson black

2:33 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Lower sucking guy, keep your head in the sand...You most definitely are living in your moms basement watching the kardaschians living in oblivion...some day you will wake up...I will look for the guy who is light on his feet and talks with Lisp in the soup kitchen line and school you...

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jackson black

2:43 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Lower sucking guy, Jersey shore might be on..pathetic,people like will be the first to cry when the shit hits the fan..good luck with your pathetic life..did you survive hurricane sandy okay? bet you rolled up in a fetal postion when the power got cut off..

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jackson black

2:45 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Dont worry lower sucking guy, OBAMA WILL SAVE YOU

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Lower Saucon Guy

5:19 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

@Jackson Black. You are funny. Your responses are what I would have expected. Now this is the part where you think you got to me and I'm going to counter attack. I wouldn't give you the pleasure. Your opinions mean nothing to me. You, obviously are a very damaged little man. Lower sucking guy is good. I'm still laughing at you. Goodbye.

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jackson black

6:32 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Keep laughing tough guy, you are just a coward who is obviously is hurt by my comments...truth hurts Hugh? Go get dinner,your mom is calling you...hahahaha

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jackson black

6:40 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Everybody please be kind to lower sucking guy,his feelings are hurt...his liberal feelings are damaged...Lower sucking guy, you amused me like a little monkey at a zoo...thank you...

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jackson black

6:46 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

Lower sucking guy good,Jackson black bad...hope your better? Have a good life..thank you once again for the laugh,my wife laughed at you too..

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Wayne Schissler

8:58 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

For what it's worth...

I resisted going to a Tea Party meeting for almost a year after the one was formed in the Lehigh Valley. My reason - Quite frankly, I don't like to associate with kooks. That was my excuse before I heard of any first hand reports about what goes on there (before there was a Patch that covered their meetings). I had brief encounters with all sorts of libertarians, conservatives, right wingers, in the 90's and learned they are just like anyone else, you judge each one as they come. I also learned how stupid and back-assed politics is around here, so I had no intention of getting near it again. But a woman at my church said she went to one of the meetings and said, "They seemed OK" - so my wife and I went (hint - it's a very cheap "night out").

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Wayne Schissler

8:59 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012

For what it's worth continued...

It's a diverse group, from the very religious to the very atheist. Many retired engineer types, income ranges across the whole spectrum. Kooks- I guess anyone will find someone else that fits their definition of kook, but really no more than you would find in a random sample of the population. The important thing is they were civil, respectful, and aware that something was not right - that the country was headed in the wrong direction. Many, like me, knew this for years. Others had recently in the previous year been inflamed by adminstration policies that wanted to pay off the mortgages of the people who obtained loans they could not afford (remember the McMansion boom?) - while those who may have struggled and sacrificed to stay solvent were supposed to just look on. But it didn't matter why we were meeting, we were all called racists no matter what. That's probably the main reason someone would not want to attend, someone who already realizes that both partyies are to blame, that both parties need to be watched, need to have pressure applied. Attaching yourself unreservedly to one party is the worse thing anyone could do. You're taken for granted.
So I've been called all kinds of names. So what? "I'm rubber and you're glue... and all that"

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jackson black

11:27 am on Sunday, November 11, 2012

@wayne schissler,I respect what the tea party stands for and your talking points are valid..The truth is america wants free, obama got re elected based on free healthcare,entitlements,pandering to unions etc...The party is over...the Free Party has won...

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