Right before the 2,000 tea parties were held across the country, the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning regarding “right wing extremists.”
This warning was directed at supposed disgruntled veterans and activists who are against abortion, illegal immigration, restrictions on firearms, and the loss of U.S. sovereignty.
Not surprisingly, many of these concerns were raised at the 2,000 tea parties held across the nation yesterday.
The Department of Homeland Security is worried about so-called violence from “right wing extremists;” however, there were no reports of violence at any of the events yesterday. This directive is an insult to our patriotic veterans who have risked their lives to keep this nation free. It is also an insult to those who took their time to organize and get involved with the tea parties.
I was involved at the Covington Louisiana Tea Party at the Reagan Memorial. It was a tremendous success with 750 engaged protestors, expressing opposition to the growth of government, the policies of the Obama administration and the out of control tax code among many other issues. It was an exciting day throughout the nation as about 1 million gather in 2,000 different events.
The federal government should not be concerned about an uprising of grassroots political activity. In fact, such protests are very positive and should be celebrated, not investigated.
The Department of Homeland Security should have more important missions, such as protecting our borders and getting ready for national disasters such as hurricanes.
We should not lose focus on the important missions of the department and harass innocent Americans who are just expressing their 1st Amendment rights. In fact, the tea parties are not a threat to anyone except those politicians who are insistent on growing government and taking away our freedoms.
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. He is the Political Analyst for WGNO-TV ABC26 and a Columnist for selected publications. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
CN says, "I had hoped that the mainstream was made up of conservatives. "... <grin>...and, you get Cindy Crawford when you buy the whole Room To Go. Written by KjunLady
on 4/17/2009
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You call 300 a good turnout? You need to wake up; your "movement" is filled with old angry white people. It doesn't have much of a future! I'm still wondering - does contemplating secession from the union (as are lawmakers in a variety of "red" states) make one an extremist? TW Written by Tee Dub
on 4/17/2009
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It's hard for me to swallow your statement that the GOP must rejoin the mainstream. I had hoped that the mainstream was made up of conservatives. I personally think the Tea Partys were a re-awakening of the silent majority. There were 300 democrats and republicans in Morgan City Wednesday. If liberalism is the mainstream I will be a part of the low stream. Written by CN
on 4/17/2009
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This is classic (from Steve Benen): "SECESSION ON THE TABLE -- BUT ON HOLD.... It seems to me there was some talk a few years back about Hollywood celebrities who flirted the idea of leaving the United States if Bush/Cheney won. As I recall, this was widely ridiculed, and was seen as evidence that the entertainment industry was out of touch with American culture.
The argument, in a nutshell, was that any citizen who'd want to leave the country and stop being American must not love their country much. It's a pretty basic test of patriotism.
It's odd, then, to hear elected Republican officials casually throw around references to secession.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), who's been talking up the idea all week, tried to add some caveats yesterday to his secession talk:
"This is interesting that this has really kind of bubbled up, to uh... I refer people back to my statement, and I gotta a charge out of it. I was kinda thinking that, maybe the same people who hadn't been reading the Constitution right were reading that article and they got the wrong impression about what I said.
"Clearly, I stated that we have a great union. And Texas is part of a great union. I see no reason for that to change. I think that may not be the exact quote, but that is, in essence what I said."
Well, "essence" aside, what Perry actually said was that he saw "no reason" to "dissolve" the "union." He added, "But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what may come of that."
Forget "wrong impressions." What the elected chief executive of one of the nation's largest states is supposed to say is secession is ridiculous. That Perry has left it on the table only helps reinforce how completely batty some Republican officials have become. If the GOP wants to rejoin the American mainstream, the party needs to reject these absurdities out of hand. It's radical, fringe politics.
State Democratic lawmakers in Texas were not at all amused by Perry's nonsense, and hosted a press conference yesterday to denounce the governor's flirtation with madness. "Talk of secession is an attack on our country," one state representative said. "It can be nothing else. It is the ultimate anti-American statement."
Making matters slightly more ludicrous, Brian Beutler reported late yesterday that members of the Georgia Senate, the South Dakota House, and both chambers of the Oklahoma legislature have also unveiled non-binding resolutions on the nullification of the U.S. Constitution.
Remember, we're not talking about right-wing bloggers or radio talk-show hosts, but actual elected officials, and in Perry's case, a sitting governor.
All from the party that believes it has the moral high ground on patriotism and love of country.
Post Script: Just in case Texas decides to be its own country, Chuck Norris is interested in being its president. Seriously." *** So my question for people like "Mr. ALL CAPS" down there, or for Jeff - are these people extremists? Is it extreme to call for the dissolution of the Union? Discuss amongst yourselves. TW Written by Tee Dub
on 4/17/2009
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MARK YOUR CALENDERS; NEXT YEAR LET'S ALL PUT A TEA BAG, OR BETTER YET, LOOSE TEA IN WITH YOUR 1040. LET'S DROWN THE IRS WITH TEA!!! (OF COURSE, THIS WON'T WORK IF YOU'RE AN OBAMMA CABINET MEMBER). TEA WITH YOUR 1040; MARK YOUR CALENDER AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS ! Written by Tom Beebe
on 4/16/2009
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MARK YOUR CALENDERS; NEXT YEAR LET'S ALL PUT A TEA BAG, OR BETTER YET, LOOSE TEA IN WITH YOUR 1040. LET'S DROWN THE IRS WITH TEA!!! (OF COURSE, THIS WON'T WORK IF YOU'RE AN OBAMMA CABINET MEMBER). TEA WITH YOUR 1040; MARK YOUR CALENDER AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS ! Written by Tom Beebe
on 4/16/2009
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Jeff says, "Department of Homeland Security is worried about so-called violence from 'right wing extremists;' "..........Geesus H. Chrisse- how do you get away with this whacko propoganda?..(Oh, I know WHERE-- Fox News)..... Jeff, <giggle> you're so silly... The truth is that in October "left-wing extremists" were also mentioned by this Dept. (all a matter of record).. and on more than one occassion they cited "the left-wing extremists"... Republicans would have loved for the current administration to have given creedence to Teabagger Day, but, it just didn't happen that way-- ...(oooh- such a plot)...............Btw, those Tea Parties?---the "non-partisan" gatherings, w/ politicians like Steve Scalise and that "Porky the Pig" dude, Tom Capella, at the Mall?... didn't look like a protest ... no emotion. Written by KjunLady
on 4/16/2009
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I seriously doubt if any "terrorists", left, right, Muslim or otherwise will exact a toll in the blood of our citizens as our government's "War on Drugs" will. "That ol' economics" thing just continues to escape those who run our government. Yes "economics." The economics of drugs is "our populace will buy drugs, no matter how expensive or what criminal penalties there may be." Once one understands that, a more sane approach may just come to mind. Written by kpf
on 4/16/2009
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There you go again Jeff. The report you refer to is a simple assessment of the increased chance of domestic right wing terrorism now that Barack Obama has been elected president. It has nothing to do with your tea parties and you know it. Recently 3 police officers in Pittsburgh were ambushed by a deranged person under the delusion that his guns would be confiscated by the Obama Administration. Law enforcement needs to be aware of potential threats and this risk assessment is merely rational common sense. The average Rush Limbaugh listener is obviously not a terrorist and is probably enjoying the entertainment like GOP Chairman Michael Steele does. However some unstable individual is likely to hear the rantings of the extreme right and act violently on their delusions. Law enforcement needs to be informed by Homeland Security of this potential. Written by David Quidd
on 4/16/2009
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Right before the 2,000 tea parties were held across the country, the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning regarding “right wing extremists.” 
