Monday, July 11, 2011

South Florida Tea Party Chairman takes heat for views GOP Medicare plan

By George Bennett

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 10:50?p.m.?Wednesday,?June?22,?2011

Posted: 8:04?a.m.?Wednesday,?June?22,?2011

When South Florida Tea Party Chairman Everett Wilkinson slammed a GOP Medicare overhaul plan as a "public policy nightmare," Democrats gleefully circulated his remarks while many Florida tea party activists shook their heads at Wilkinson's latest clash with others in the fiscally conservative movement.

A key Palm Beach County tea party organizer resigned from Wilkinson's group in protest Monday, but Wilkinson picked up a vote of confidence from Donald Trump, who has called the Medicare proposal a political disaster for Republicans.

"I have great respect for Everett," Trump said through a spokeswoman Tuesday. Trump and Wilkinson have kept in touch since Trump headlined a South Florida Tea Party rally in April while he was considering a Republican presidential bid.

Wilkinson sent a "Dear Patriots" message to his group's 20,000 email recipients last week calling House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan's spending blueprint and its controversial Medicare component "a political trap and public policy nightmare, and the Republicans are locking arms jumping off the cliff for it!"

The Ryan plan would change Medicare for those now under 55 from a defined benefit to a program where the government subsidizes the purchase of private insurance. It got favorable votes in Congress from such tea party stars as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation, and House Tea Party Caucus founder and presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.

It's also popular with rank-and-file activists .

"Most people in the tea party movement support the Ryan plan. That's a very easy statement," said Tom Gaitens, who keeps in contact with tea party groups around Florida as an organizer with Washington-based FreedomWorks.

"I am not sure of Wilkinson's motive here and exactly whom he is speaking for. Certainly not representative of the folks in my tea party," said Ron McCoy of the West Orlando Tea Party.

Pam Wohlschlegel, the South Florida Tea Party's Palm Beach County director, resigned Monday, saying she doesn't think Wilkinson's position represents the views of the group's membership.

"It's a decentralized movement. Everybody's got their own opinion," says Wilkinson, a 32-year-old financial planner who lives in Palm Beach Gardens. He says the Ryan plan "should be open for discussion" among tea partyers.

It's not the first time Wilkinson has been at odds with others in the movement.

During the Republican gubernatorial primary last summer, Wilkinson heckled candidate Rick Scott at an event organized by a rival group called Tea Party In Action. Wilkinson was supporting Scott rival Bill McCollum .

This year, Wilkinson broke with many in the movement by opposing a bill to require businesses to use the federal E-Verify system to check employees' citizenship status.

Wilkinson also isn't included in regular conference calls with many other Florida tea party leaders, a fact Gaitens attributes to "personality differences." A group called Tea Party Fort Lauderdale specifies on its home page that it is "not an arm of, or in any way affiliated with 'South Florida Tea Party,' 'Florida Tea Party,' or Everett Wilkinson."

Wilkinson shrugs off his differences with other groups.

"When you grow and you're as large as our (group), you're bound to step on some toes," he said. "We have our influence. It doesn't make any sense for us to look outside of our area. I have a lot of respect for the leaders across the state, and every tea party leader differs."


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New tea group is ‘somewhat of a split’ from South Florida Tea Party and Wilkinson

 


Pam Wohlschlegel, who quit Monday as Palm Beach County director of the South Florida Tea Party, announced this morning that she’s heading a new group called the Palm Beach County Tea Party.


Wohlshclegel resigned after South Florida Tea Party Chairman Everett Wilkinson ripped the House GOP Medicare overhaul plan as a “public policy nightmare.” Wilkinson’s comments were the latest example of his tendency to butt heads with others in the tea party movement.


In a video Q&A about her new group, Wohlschlegel says the Palm Beach Tea Party wants to “work more cooperatively and coordinate with other like-minded groups…Given that several of us who are forming this group did start out with the South Florida Tea Party, I guess it does constitute somewhat of a split, but we do wish Everett well in what he does. We just want to take a slightly different tack to meeting the same goals.”


Wohlschlegel also addresses the flap between Wilkinson and the city of Boca Raton over an outstanding bill of more than $6,000 the city says the South Florida Tea Party owes for police and barricades deployed for an April rally with Donald Trump.


“I’m sure that Everett will meet his responsibilities and pay the bills,” Wohlschlegel says.


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Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Tea Spot Exhibiting at 2011 World Tea Expo in Las Vegas, Announces Availability of Patent Pending Compostable ...

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) June 21, 2011

The Tea Spot will be exhibiting at the World Tea Expo in the Las Vegas, where they will once again unveil new products that make loose leaf tea easy. The company will launch their latest SteepwareR innovation, the Mod Teapot, and announce general marketing availability of the patent pending BrewluxTM compostable tea infuser for loose tea to go at the expo this week.

The Tea Spot’s line of SteepwareR products make it easy for today's savvy tea drinkers to prepare a luxurious cup of loose leaf tea. Infusing the loose tea experience with modern technology and design, SteepwareR products bring convenience to the quality and integrity of full leaf tea.

The Mod Teapot is a stylish design inspired by ancient tea traditions. It will be available in three colors – Ivory, Turquoise and Black. The Mod Teapot is designed by The Tea Spot and manufactured in Thailand of high quality stoneware ceramic. This 20 oz teapot makes 1 - 2 servings of premium tea. It has a large volume fine mesh Stainless Steel loose tea infuser with a wood handle. The ergonomic design features a dripless spout and a silicone seal lid. The Mod Teapot will retail for $39.95.

BrewluxTM will be announced for general availability exclusively through The Tea Spot at the Expo. Manufactured in Colorado from U.S. grown corn, this compostable tea filter was awarded “Best New Product” at the 2010 World Tea Expo. The BrewluxTM design is patent pending. The Tea Spot was awarded a grant by the USDA to do a marketing feasibility study on this compostable tea filter last year, and conducted preliminary consumer research on the product’s pricing and positioning at the 2010 Las Vegas show. BrewluxTM is now available for distribution, and The Tea Spot will be taking orders for the product at the Las Vegas show. Brewlux tea filters will retail by the case at $38.00 for 200 units.

The Tea Spot will be exhibiting at booth 101 at the World Tea Expo, taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, June 24-26, 2011.

ABOUT THE TEA SPOT, INC. Based in Boulder, Colorado, the company was founded in 2004 by Maria Uspenski, a cancer survivor drawn to the health benefits of tea during her recovery. She set forth to promote wellness by making loose-leaf tea an everyday luxury. Her message is simple and powerful: tea in its freshest form renders incredible flavor, unmatched health benefits, and is eco-friendly. As a certified woman-owned and operated business, The Tea Spot produces innovative and patented products to modernize the loose-leaf tea experience. The SteepwareR line promotes the ease of loose tea preparation and individualized single servings. Their line of full leaf teas includes organic and Fair-Trade Certified? estate teas and handcrafted signature blends. The company is committed to clean, sustainable, and fair manufacturing standards. The Tea Spot’s mission of social entrepreneurship incorporates a culture of giving as it grows: Ten percent of every sale is donated in-kind to cancer and community wellness programs. For more information, contact media@theteaspot.com or call 303 444 8324.

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A Closer Look at the Tea Party

For the GOP, the Tea Party is a mixed bag, according to political scientist Angie Maxwell of the University of Arkansas in a new report issued by the Blair-Rockefeller Poll. Her analysis of poll results shows that while Tea Party members are politically sophisticated and vote at high rates, they are also fiscally and socially more conservative than other Republicans, sometimes dramatically so.

When Maxwell analyzed responses to the poll, conducted in the aftermath of the 2010 elections, she saw significant differences between Tea Party Republicans and other Republicans. Health care was one issue where the gap was particularly big. The large national sample of self-identified Tea Party members available in the Blair-Rockefeller Poll, Maxwell said, "reveals detailed characteristics of this burgeoning and homogenous movement."


"Clear and, in some cases, overwhelming majorities of responses indicate that Tea Party Republicans believe that health care reform will lead to socialism, euthanasia, reduced quality of care, and benefits for the undeserving," Maxwell wrote.


For example, 81.3 percent of Tea Party Republicans express concern that reform may lead to health care rationing, compared to 37.4 percent of other Republicans. Similarly, 68.9 percent of Tea Party Republicans and just 32 percent of other Republicans are very concerned about euthanasia of the elderly as a result of health care reform. In general, 77 percent of Tea Party members strongly oppose the recent approach to health care reform, compared to 42.5 percent of their fellow Republicans.


This gap could be problematic as the budget debates go on in Congress and the 2012 election nears. For example, Maxwell noted "support for any budget cuts that are perceived to negatively impact Medicare could trigger the same fears that we saw in responses to the Blair-Rockefeller poll questions about health care reform, and thus backfire on Tea Party members."


Maxwell's report, titled "Tea Party Distinguished by Racial Views and Fear of the Future," was drawn from the first Blair-Rockefeller Poll, conducted in November 2010. In the report, Maxwell delineates demographics, characteristics and policy preferences of the Tea Party movement.


Click here to view the full text of the report as well as information about the poll's methodology.


The Blair-Rockefeller Poll found that Tea Party members are predominantly white, middle class, educated, Christian males over the age of 45 and that 37.4 percent of Tea Party members believe that "the Bible is the actual Word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word." In contrast, 29.7 percent of other respondents, who were not Tea Party members, shared that belief.


Although Tea Party members tend to have a higher income, more education and lower unemployment rates than non-Tea Party members, they are more pessimistic about the future. When asked about their personal situations, 36.9 percent of Tea Party members reported they expect things to be worse or much worse in the coming year, in contrast to 23.6 percent of non-Tea Party members. The gap was even greater for views about the country's future: 62.1 percent thought things will get worse or much worse in the country over the next year, while only 38.8 percent of non-Tea Party members held that view.


Maxwell identified race consciousness and divergent views about equality as characteristic of the Tea Party. For example, in a comparison between white Tea Party members and white people who are not part of the Tea Party, Maxwell finds that white Tea Party members are more strongly opposed to federal support of housing, school, job and health care quality for minorities. Additionally, whereas support for "equality of opportunity" -- as opposed to "equality of outcome" -- remains a political value shared by most Americans, Maxwell wrote, she found that 30.7 percent of white Tea Party members disagree with the concept. Nearly two-thirds of white Tea Party members think "we have gone too far in pushing equal rights in this country."


Tea Party members, Maxwell wrote, "are particularly united in their opposition to President Obama." Among white respondents to the Blair-Rockefeller Poll, Tea Party members are more than twice as likely to believe President Obama is a Muslim. Looking toward implications for the 2012 election, Maxwell wrote, "Their extreme racial views will make them less appealing to American Independents and centrists."


Maxwell and political scientists Todd Shields, Pearl Ford Dowe, and Rafael Jimeno of the Diane D. Blair Center of Southern Politics and Society at the University of Arkansas created the Blair-Rockefeller Poll. On the heels of the 2010 mid-term elections, the Blair Center, together with the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, contracted with Knowledge Networks to conduct a comprehensive national poll of political attitudes and behaviors. The Blair-Rockefeller Poll oversampled participants from the southern region of the United States, as well as African Americans and Latinos, providing unique perspectives on contemporary politics.? With over 3,400 respondents from across the nation, the Blair-Rockefeller Poll provides a distinctly accurate perspective on how Americans view each other and how they evaluate contemporary public policies.


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Saturday, July 9, 2011

Tea Party: It's all about Obama

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Friday, July 8, 2011

Florida tea party leader gives Democrats material in Medicare debate

National Democrats are jumping on comments from the chairman of the South Florida Tea Party, who deems the House GOP's proposed Medicare overhaul a "public policy nightmare."

Everett Wilkinson issued a strategy memo that warned that pressing with the plan would help elect Democrats. "The Tea Party and the GOP need to drop all support for the Ryan Medicare plan. It is a political trap and public policy nightmare, and the Republicans are locking arms jumping off the cliff for it!" (full memo in jump)

Today, Democrats overseeing congressional races and the U.S.?Senate race issued news releases highlighting Wilkinson's words.

"Republican Senate candidates love to pander to the tea party. Maybe this is one instance where they should actually listen and tell the Republican establishment in Washington to drop the Medicare plan," said Matt Canter, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Wilkinson's memo:

Dear Patriots,

I’ve been extremely busy in the past few months traveling to Washington, D.C.; New York City; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Atlanta. I’ve met with Donald Trump; Herman Cain; Roger Stone; Dick Morris; Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.; Rep. Allen West, R-Fla.; Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla.; Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Fla.; former Sen. George Lemieux, R-Fla.; and many others. The common belief among everyone I met with is that America is at a turning point in history.

Americans can choose to do nothing and their future will be determined by others, or we can stand up and fight. I choose to fight for America. History will not have to be kind to me, for I, along with other Patriots, will write it.
Poll - We want your vote!

Last week a person from a well known GOP Political PAC called Tea Party Express said "Tea Party Members will support the GOP Presidential Nominee regardless of who it is, even if they don't hold the tea party values. - Take the poll and tell us what you think!
GOP’s Strategy to Win or Loose

The upcoming debt ceiling vote, expected in the next couple of weeks, presents a unique opportunity for Republicans and conservatives. How they vote will either cost them dearly or provide them with a springboard for success in the 2012 election.

Winning Argument
The Republicans will win if they vote not to increase the national debt and demand spending cuts, instead of supporting the Medicare plan presented by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. This strategy will likely result in a government shutdown, but on "spending cuts" versus harming Medicare. Polls have shown overwhelming support for a government shutdown on spending. This could kick start big wins for 2012.

Losing Argument
The Republicans will lose if they support the Ryan Medicare plan and, as a result, the government shuts down for refusing to abandoned his plan. Americans do not support the Ryan plan and less likely to like it more if it forced on them. Just past November the Democrats paid the price for forcing Obamacare on America. This strategy will propel huge Democrat wins in 2012. Expect the GOP to then blame the Tea Party for losses.

Ryan Medicare Plan - It's a TRAP
The Tea Party and the GOP need to drop all support for the Ryan Medicare plan. It is a political trap and public policy nightmare, and the Republicans are locking arms jumping off the cliff for it! Here are some of my reasons for shredding the Ryan Medicare plan:
1.??? Under the plan, Medicare cuts won’t take effect for nine years. That means more elections and battles. Imagine waiting nine years for root canal. Sounds fun … not.
2.??? There certainly needs to be cuts and adjustments, but touch Medicare last. Senior citizens and those affected by the plan are the largest block of voters. Former President Bill Clinton won his second term because the GOP meddled with Medicare. History has already shown that shutting down the government over cuts to Medicare will put a Democrat in back in the Oval Office.
3.??? Give senior citizens and the public more options. Has anyone considered just raising the requirement age for Medicare benefits to 72?
4.??? Although Medicare funding has increased by 12 percent since President Barack Obama has been in office, funding for welfare programs has increased by more than 30 percent. The fraud and abuse in welfare programs have also skyrocketed in the last several years. It’s time to cut welfare spending. Spending cuts to welfare are favored politically, because welfare recipients are the least organized and least active voters.

Tea Party Strategy To Win
The Tea Party needs to shift gears in the next couple of weeks from a focus on politics to policy. Gaining a seat in the discussions and debate with Congress is key to winning. I am not suggesting that the Tea Party become part of Washington, D.C., but rather be part of the equation for public policy. We must remain independent and vigilant in our oversight.

The primary objective for Tea Party success is to influence House Speaker John Boehner. We need to do more than just send him letters, e-mail him and call him. If the Tea Party secured support on the debt ceiling vote from at least 100 representatives, Boehner would have to work with the Tea Party.

The Tea Party can execute this objective by convincing members of Congress to become part of the Tea Party Caucus voting block, which plans to vote against the Ryan Medicare plan. About 60 members have agreed to join the caucus. More than 80 freshmen congressmen were elected in 2010, and we only need about 40 of them to join the caucus to influence Boehner and Congress. How good would it feel to pull Speaker Boehner in our direction?
You can help by calling your representative and telling him or her to join the Tea Party Caucus. It is simple and free.


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2011 World Tea Expo Agenda Covers Retail Trends, Rare Teas

The 2011 World Tea Expo, to be held June 24-26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, boasts the largest and most comprehensive tea curriculum in the world. It will feature targeted, focused sessions that address all things tea — the hottest tea topics, latest trends and most relevant education for tea professionals and retailers today.

Some of the educational subjects at 2011 World Tea Expo include launching a dynamic tea brand, tea business analytics, top tea retail trends, creating exotic signature tea blends, the art of chai, menu planning for tea rooms and a session that asks attendees, "Can you tell the difference between a $20-a-pound tea and a $200-a-pound tea?”

“There's never been a more exhilarating time for tea, and this is the year for tea businesses to learn all they can to take their company to the next level," says George Jage, president of World Tea Expo. "The expo covers almost every imaginable tea topic, to help professionals deliver quality tea, increase profits, reach new markets and share tea's rich history, culture and community.”

This year's World Tea Expo also features the World Origin Tasting Tour, an interactive and informative program that allows attendees to experience the tastes and cultures of some of the most important tea-growing regions in the world, including Sri Lanka, India, China, Japan and Taiwan. Expert tour guides are scheduled to lead attendees on a journey through each country's tea culture and unique manufacturing processes. During the tour, attendees may taste six to eight teas that are authentic to each origin, giving them a solid understanding of the flavors and profiles of the regions.

In one key session, "Functional Tea Trends," attendees will learn what's new in the science and regulation of tea, and how to assess both the scientific and legal merits of new marketing opportunities in tea.

For a complete list of World Tea Expo topics and sessions, visit www.worldteaexpo.com.

Source: World Tea Expo




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Thursday, July 7, 2011

PORTS Coffee & Tea Co. Brings Stumptown Coffee to Chelsea and Your iPhone

Press Release Source: PORTS Coffee & Tea Co. On Tuesday June 21, 2011, 9:44 am EDT

NEW YORK, June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PORTS Coffee & Tea Co. specialty espresso and tea bar opens across from the Chelsea Hotel. The cafe serves legendary Stumptown coffee (locally roasted in Red Hook, Brooklyn) and offers a large variety of organic teas. Customers are also offered pastries by Brooklyn-based Patisserie Colson, cookies by Downtown Cookie Co. and Mast Brothers chocolate bars. The cafe features emerging local artists.

Taking a purist approach to coffee, PORTS only brews by the cup via pour-over bar, French Press (before 11am) and 24-hour cold brew. "Hair Bender" is the signature house espresso blend. The tea menu features three iced selections and loose leaf options like the Nantou Oolong.

PORTS is one of a few New York businesses pioneering the Card Case app that allows customers to pay using their mobile phone. The app is by Square, the San Francisco-based company famous for equipping businesses with a credit card reader and POS system run on iPad.

Just a few weeks into opening, PORTS has built a strong following of regulars. "We couldn't have hoped for a better welcome from the neighborhood," said owner Nina Adams who founded the cafe with her husband Larry. "We love coffee and tea and are thrilled that our customers love our products and are willing to try new things with us."

The cafe places special emphasis on Direct Trade single origin coffees that are fully traceable to the source. Single origins are known for their complex bouquet of flavors characteristic to the region -- driven by elements like the soil, elevation and proximity to the equator.

"We are very excited to be working with PORTS," said Allen Yellent, Stumptown Account Manager. ?"In a short time they have established themselves as one of the premier coffee bars in the city, with a fantastic espresso program and a dedication to showcasing single origin coffees."

PORTS will introduce $1 specials on featured varieties and a tasting flight for $3. ?Whole beans of all coffees are also available for purchase. New York Times coffee critic Oliver Strand called PORTS "Stumptown done well."

PORTS is located at 251 West 23rd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues. Hours are 7 – 8 Mon-Fri, 8-7 Sat-Sun. For more information, visit www.portsnyc.com.

Media Contact: Nina Adams
917-239-3012, nina@portsnyc.com


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Tea Leaf Green Tribute Clarence Clemons At The Stone Pony

06/22/2011
.(Conqueroo) This past Sunday Tea Leaf Green performed at the fabled Stone Pony bar and frequent home of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in what became a tribute concert for legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons.

Springsteen and Clemons met at the Asbury Park bar in 1971, a story both men have told onstage for the past 40 years. Clemons, 69, the "Big Man" in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, died Saturday night.

Fans who came to pay respects were given free admission to evening headliners Tea Leaf Green who showed love and admiration for Clemons. "It was an honor to pay tribute to 'The Big Man' at our last show on this leg of the tour," said guitarist/vocalist Josh Clark. "We saw firsthand how much Asbury Park and the Stone Pony loved him. We listened to him play all day in the van on our way down there."

Fellow band member Trevor Garrod added, "When we found out Clarence had died we where still a few hours from Asbury Park. It was a beautiful day; the sun was setting into a riot of crimson clouds; flowers and chalk drawings lined the sidewalk outside of the club. The Atlantic Ocean's waves rolled calmly in across the street. Though we where only coming through coincidentally, we nonetheless felt honored to be part of the celebration of this great musician's life. We couldn't help but feel that somehow the universe was encouraging us to keep up this tradition of rock 'n roll. After we played our set, I jumped into the moonlit sea with some kids who had come to watch the show. I couldn't help but wonder if, back in the day, Clarence had ever done the same. He will be missed."

San Francisco Bay Area troubadours Tea Leaf Green are newfangled Lost Boys, a traveling gang dedicated to seeking wisdom and experience in places both glorious and seedy. The band's summer tour kicks off on July 2 in Colorado on the heels of its seventh studio album, Radio Tragedy!, freshly released through Thirty Tigers.

In many ways, this quintet is the essence of rock's adventurous, playfully outlaw spirit, all of which ultimately fuels songs that resonate with classic vibrations, open-ended possibilities and radio-ready charm. With Radio Tragedy!, Tea Leaf Green have made a record that's both timely and timeless - a strange, beautiful space that they inhabit naturally and gracefully.

TEA LEAF GREEN Summer tour dates 2011

Sat., July 2 SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO The ECO Music Festival
Sun., July 10 DETROIT, MI St. Andrews Hall
Mon., July 11 COLUMBUS, OH Newport Music Hall
Tues., July 12 GRAND RAPIDS, MI The Intersection
Wed., July 13 INDIANAPOLIS, IN Egyptian Room at Murat Theater
Thurs., July 14 DAVENPORT, IA The Redstone Room
Fri., July 15 MILWAUKEE, WI Shank Hall
Sat., July 16 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Cabooze On West Bank
Sat., July 23 BRIDGEPORT, CT Gathering of the Vibes
Tues., July 26 SPOKANE, WA Knitting Factory
Wed., July 27 VANCOUVER, WA Commodore Ballroom
Thurs., July 28 PORTLAND, OR Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre
Fri., July 29 BELLINGHAM, WA Wild Buffalo
Sat., July 30 SEATTLE, WA Neptune Theatre
Sun., July 31 EUGENE, OR W.O.W. Hall
Mon., Aug. 1 RENO, NV Grand Sierra Theatre
Wed., Aug. 3 LOS ANGELES, CA Club Nokia
Thurs., Aug. 4 VENTURA, CA Majestic Ventura Theatre
Fri., Aug. 5 PIONEERTOWN, CA Pappy & Harriet's Palace
Sat., Aug. 6 LAS VEGAS, NV Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sun., Aug. 7 SAN DIEGO, CA Humphrey's Concerts by Bay
Tues., Aug. 9 ANAHEIM, CA The Grove of Anaheim
Wed., Aug. 10 TEMPE, AZ Marquee Theatre
Mon., Sept. 5 BETHLEHEM, PA SteelJam Festival
Fri., Sept. 30 SAN FRANCISCO, CA The Independent
Sat., Oct. 1 SAN FRANCISCO, CA The Independent

 

antiMUSIC News featured on RockNews.info and Yahoo News.

...end



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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Ill. teacher sues author over 'Three Cups of Tea'

CHICAGO – Efforts to start a class-action lawsuit against "Three Cups of Tea" author Greg Mortenson in Montana now include Illinois.

Former teacher Deborah Netter of Lake County filed suit this month in Illinois federal court against Mortenson, his coauthor and publisher seeking damages and class action status.

The lawsuits in Illinois and Montana cite media reports from "60 Minutes" and author Jon Krakauer alleging Mortenson lied in the book about how he became involved in building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The book claims he became lost in 1993 while mountain climbing in rural Pakistan and stumbling upon the village of Korphe, where the residents helped him recuperate and he promised to build a school. Released in 2006, it sold more than 3 million copies.

According to the lawsuit, Netter wants compensation "for herself and all other individuals or entities, who purchased `Three Cups of Tea' and did not get what they paid for, but instead, were wrongly induced by each of the defendants to buy a phony and fictional story as opposed to the truth."

Mortenson has previously denied any wrongdoing, though he has admitted some of the events in his book were compressed in time. Publisher Penguin Books said it had no comment on the lawsuit.

Netter claims they violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, were unjustly enriched and committed breach of contract. She wants an accounting of all the book has earned, for proceeds to be placed in a trust for the plaintiffs and a halt to marketing and promotion efforts describing "Three Cups of Tea" as nonfiction.

Along with class-action status, the lawsuit filed in Illinois on June 8 also seeks damages and attorney's fees.

Mortenson, of Bozeman, Mont., had surgery earlier this month after doctors discovered an aneurysm and a hole in his heart. Mortenson is executive director of the Central Asia Institute, which said in a Saturday news release that he was under doctor's orders to rest after the open-heart procedure.

The institute did not respond to an email sent Monday seeking comment on the Illinois lawsuit.

Last month, two Montana lawmakers filed a claim in Missoula federal court saying they were duped into buying Mortenson's best-selling book and donating to his charity based on lies they thought were true.

Earlier this month, one of the lawmakers dropped out as a plaintiff. Mortenson's charity, Central Asia Institute, also was removed as a defendant.

Those changes came because the plaintiffs anticipate involvement by Montana's attorney general investigating the charity, according to court filings.


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Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Crisis brewing as Japan's tea farmers face radiation ban

Crippled nuclear plant led to ban earlier this month on green tea from parts of four prefecturesAuthorities detected levels of radioactive cesium in tea leaves above the legal limitDiscovery of radiation in fields further south in Shizuoka threatens this tea regionTea exporters say government's regulations make no sense for tea's common usage

(CNN) -- Japan's green tea fields sway in the early summer winds, the picture of bucolic beauty. But beneath these peaceful rows of young green buds, ready for the second harvest of the year, a national crisis is brewing.

Earlier this month, Japan's government banned green tea from parts of three prefectures: Tochigi, Chiba and Kanagawa; and banned tea from all of a fourth prefecture, Ibaraki.

The authorities had detected levels of radioactive cesium in tea leaves above the legal limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram.

Now the discovery of radiation in fields further south in Shizuoka, Japan, some 400 kilometers away from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, threatens the most robust tea-producing region in Japan.

The Shizuoka government says it asked five tea manufacturing plants in the Warashina district of Shizuoka to voluntarily stop shipping green tea leaves, after tests revealed dried tea contained 581 to 654 becquerels of cesium per kilogram.

It's the worst crisis in the country's centuries-long tea farming history, says Kotaro Tanimoto, of the Japan Tea Exporters Association. The association says foreign and domestic demand has dropped dramatically, even before these radiation discoveries. This latest news has now plunged the industry into a panic.

"We farmers can accept natural disasters like typhoons and droughts," says third generation tea farmer Hiroyuki Aoshima.

But he adds the nuclear meltdowns are man-made, hurting not just his harvests this year, but Japan's economy and global image. He doesn't understand how radiation could fall in his prefecture, so many kilometers away from the plant. "It's unfair," he says.

Since the nuclear crisis began on March 11, Japanese authorities have slapped bans on food products from milk to spinach, simultaneously assuring the public and export nations it is strictly regulating products.

The global consumer doesn't take the time to check which food item is deemed safe at any given time, says CNN contributor Jim Walsh, an expert in international security and a Research Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Security Studies Program.

Walsh calls the drop off in global demand for Japan-made food products "the nature of the beast."

He points to the Ecoli crisis in Europe and the very strong consumer reaction there. "When people are fearful, they're not going to buy your products, no matter how many times you tell them they're safe," he says.

"I think this is going to be an ongoing struggle for some Japanese products, agricultural products in particular."

Green tea, which ships to high end tea buyers in the U.S. and Europe, is closely aligned with Japan's national character. While sugary sodas have infiltrated the daily diet here, green tea remains the country's national beverage.

But even Japanese consumers are more reluctant to consume green tea, given the latest news. Naoe Kukita, an avid green tea drinker, quizzed her tea merchant about the origin of the tea on the shelves, down to which harvest it came from. "We need to have access to all the truth and information," she says.

The Japan Tea Exporters Association says it is fighting its own truth campaign, brazenly protesting government regulations in a culture that is often reluctant to speak out against rules.

Tanimoto calls the current government radiation limits on tea "stupid regulations." He, and many farmers in Shizuoka, say the rules make no sense for tea's common usage. Tea, unlike spinach, they say, is used in small amounts and steeped in water. But current government regulations measure the dried leaves per kilogram, not the final tea product.

"That means if this tea is contaminated," says Tanimoto, holding up half a kilo of dried green tea leaves, "you'd have to eat all this tea, every single day, for an entire year before hurting your health. That's the same as drinking 200 bottles of green tea every single day for an entire year. No one does that. It's impossible."

Japan's health ministry, in response to a CNN inquiry, says it will review food safety standards this summer. That review will look at radiation safety standards for tea.

That's too late, argue the farmers, who fear this year's exports have already gone down the drain.


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Tea Party event scheduled

Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 3:44 pm | Updated: 8:58 pm, Tue Jun 21, 2011.

The DeKalb County Tea Party will rally in Fort Payne City Park on July 2 at noon. The rally was originally scheduled for April but was postponed after tornadoes devastated the county on April 27.

Organizer Mary Anne Cole said the purpose of the rally is to "take back our country."

"We are in tremendous debt, and we feel that we can't continue to spend at the rate we are spending," Cole said.

Cole said many of those she speaks with share the sentiment that leaders need to get spending under control and tap into U.S. resources.

"It's almost as if people don't want us to be self-sufficient," Cole said. "We are paying other countries for things we have here, like oil and natural gas. When I say ‘take our country back,' I mean for us to become self-sufficient."

Cole said while the Tea Party movement is associated mostly with Republicans, she said it's for anyone who feels the need for change regardless of party affiliation.

"Our Tea Party is for everyone," Cole said. "It's for anyone who is discontent with the way the country is going. It's also to let leaders know, regardless of party affiliation, that we are going to hold them accountable for their actions. If they don't do what they said they would, we'll put someone else in there. We aren't against any particular group or persons. We want people to be responsible individuals. We are willing to pay taxes, but we don't want our money wasted."

According to Cole, guest speakers will include Mickey Kirkland, pastor and advisor to former Gov. Fob James; K. Carl Smith, founder of Frederic Douglas Conservatives, author and Vietnam veteran; Sen. Shadrack McGill; Rep. Becky Nordgren; Eunie Smith, Alabama president of Eagle

Forum and national vice president, and Bill Patton, who was a prisoner of war during World War II. She said all veterans present would be honored before Patton speaks.

Cole said Fort Payne radio personality Danny Lee would serve as master of ceremonies and his radio station, WFPA, would broadcast the program live. Golden Rule will provide barbecue.

Musical guests are Point of Honor and the Judge Talford Band. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and signs.

"We do not welcome any signs with racial comments or hate speech," Cole said. "That's not what we're for.

"Come bring a lawn chair, flags and signs expressing your sentiments. This is for disillusioned Democrats, irate independents and rapacious Republicans," she said.


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Monday, July 4, 2011

Tea to prevent disease?

Q. I have heard that spraying a plant with compost tea can prevent disease in plants. Is this true?

A. Research is mixed on whether compost tea alone can prevent disease.

There were studies from Ohio State University which showed less disease in farm fields where compost was used as a soil additive.

Other studies where compost tea was used to prevent or control disease were inconclusive – some studies have shown compost teas have been somewhat effective against apple scab, powdery mildew on various plants, and bacterial spot on tomatoes. Other studies don’t show any effectiveness at all.

Compost tea is pretty simple to make.

Mark Smallwood, the executive director of the Rodale Institute, uses panty hose and a five-gallon bucket to make a compost tea. He takes a fistful of finished compost and places it in the panty hose, tying off the top tightly. He places the hose “teabag” in a five-gallon bucket of water and “steeps” the tea for 24 to 48 hours. He squeezes the excess tea out of the panty hose before removing it from the water.

One can then place the tea in a backpack sprayer or even a spray bottle to spray on your plants.

Make sure there is no debris in the tea that can clog the sprayer. One could use cheesecloth or a fine sieve to further strain the tea.

The tea is good stuff to use, even if the disease control is less than desired. Compost tea has nutrients and micro-organisms that can benefit plants greatly. This tea won’t burn plants, so it can be used weekly in the vegetable and flower garden.

The idea behind using compost in the garden is that one wants to enrich and rejuvenate the soil by providing nutrients and micro-organisms that plants need for health and vigor.

Healthy plants are just more resistant to insect and disease attack compared with plants that are stressed.

Our own display gardens at the extension office are a good example of this concept. Our soils have been enriched, and the plants that we grow are healthy. We encourage beneficial insects and organisms by not using pesticides unless absolutely necessary, and we have a huge diverse array of plant material at our gardens.

All of this creates a system where insect or disease invaders have a tough time making headway.

So one could be a scientist and try the tea in your garden. Take a small section and use the compost tea, and then compare it with other areas where you might manage things a little differently.

One could also use the tea in addition to any fertilizer and pesticide regimes you already use.

Part of gardening is risk and reward – and a little experimentation. Use compost tea in your garden as a way to be sustainable in today’s world.


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Should Republicans beware the tea party?

Beware, Florida Republicans: The tea party movement that swept you into office in 2010 could cost you the next election. That’s the takeaway message from Republican pollster and consultant Alex Patton, who conducted a recent survey showing that, by a 2:1 ratio, registered Florida voters said the tea party movement did not represent their views.

The sentiment against the tea party is significantly higher among self-described independent voters, who swing elections in Florida and who looked unfavorably on the tea party by 3-to-1, the poll showed. Only Republican voters favored the tea party movement, with 68 percent in support and less than 20 percent opposed.

“There’s a real danger to Republican candidates,” said Patton, a founder of the Gainesville-based War Room Logistics polling firm.

“If, in a primary race statewide, a candidate hugs the tea party too tightly in order to win the primary,” he said, “it significantly causes you issues in a general election.”

But there’s a catch for Republicans: The tea party movement is dear to the base of the GOP. Last year it helped fuel the Republican takeover in the Florida Cabinet as well as the U.S. House. So Republican candidates for president and U.S. Senate are courting the movement to ensure a primary win before they face off against President Obama or Sen. Bill Nelson in the 2012 general election.

“You’re going to see candidates walk a fine line,” said Tony Fabrizio, pollster for Gov. Rick Scott, who owed much of his success last year to the tea party.

“The tea party of a year ago is different from the tea party of today,” Fabrizio said. “Last year, the tea party was new, fresh and it represented the antigovernment outsider. Now, the brand maybe has a little tarnish.”


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Sunday, July 3, 2011

Jon Huntsman Is the Anti-Tea Party Candidate

Brand-new presidential contender Jon Huntsman is not just a non-Tea Party candidate, but an anti-Tea Party candidate. It's like he's trying to enrage the most visible activists in the Republican Party's base. He offers civility when they want red meat, a defense of government programs when they want to slash spending. Not only did he serve President Obama, but his family supported Harry Reid--one of conservatives' biggest targets last election whose reelection was for them a major failure.

The four ways Huntsman seems formulated to infuriate the Tea Party

1. He's Too Nice Huntsman kicked off his candidacy by pledging he'd "conduct this campaign on the high road." He noted that President Obama loves America. The Washington Post's Dana Milbank says this pledge is what will doom Huntsman to failure. "It is an honorable theme. But Huntsman," Milbank writes, "will almost certainly find that this message spells defeat." Niceness appears to be the exact opposite of what the Tea Party wants right now. Donald Trump rose quickly in the polls based on his harsh criticisms of Obama. And Tim Pawlenty briefly got a lot of attention for attacking Mitt Romney's health care record as Obamneycare, then drew the fury of the conservative internet hordes when he refused to make the same attack in the Republican debate this month.

Related: The Jon Huntsman Pitch for Himself

2. Yet Too Ambitious And yet while he was serving Obama, his supporters were building up the infrastructure for a possible presidential campaign. The Tea Party fetishizes the Founding Fathers and their vision of our government, so the idea that Huntsman plotted to campaign against the president while serving him was horrifying enough that prominent conservative blogger Erick Erickson pledged he'd "never, ever" vote for Huntsman. "While serving as the United States ambassador to China, our greatest strategic adversary, Jon Huntsman began plotting to run against the president of the United States. ... This calls into question his loyalty not just to the president of the United States, but also his loyalty to his country over his own naked ambition."

3. Too Friendly with Democrats Huntsman famously served as President Obama's ambassador to China, but that's not the full extent of his flirtation with the other party. The Las Vegas Sun's Jon Ralston reports that Huntsman's family gave almost $25,000 dollars to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's campaign. Reid's opponent last fall was Tea Party-favorite Sharron Angle; it can't please activists that Huntsman's family contributed to the reelection of the then-extremely vulnerable Reid. Reid has known Huntsman since the 90s, Ralston says, and Huntsman nominated Reid's son Jish to Utah's Board of Regents. But is it possible the Huntsmans were nervous about the growing power of the Tea Party? When Huntsman spoke to The New Republic's Zvika Kreiger in 2009,

In dozens of interviews over the past few weeks, he has characterized Republicans as "devoid of ideas" and "gasping for air," decrying the GOP's "gratuitous partisanship," comparing it to "a very narrow party of angry people," and describing its strategy as "obstruct and obfuscate … grousing and complaining."


4. Too Moderate Then there's his actual policies. Huntsman supports civil unions. He believes global warming is real and caused by humans. And he might not want to cut the federal government all that much. "Limited government is important," Huntsman told Kreiger, "but I need to make sure that we have a government that actually delivers on issues that people expect us to manage competently and well."


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Tea party places bets on Bruning vs. Nelson

Tea party places bets on Bruning vs. NelsonBy Robynn Tysver | Wednesday, May 11, 2011 4:07 AM CDT

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Omaha World-Herald OMAHA - The Tea Party Express has hitched its wagon to Republican Jon Bruning. The national group plans to make an early endorsement in Nebraska's 2012 U.S. Senate race, and Bruning will earn the nod Wednesday despite not yet securing the GOP nomination, said Sal Russo, a spokesman for the Tea Party Express. Russo said the group wanted to make clear with its first 2012 endorsement that ousting Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson will be a top priority. He also said Bruning is the "strongest candidate" in the race, and they wanted to help him early in the campaign. The endorsement will be made at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The group's early entry into the Nebraska race comes with some tension. Local tea party supporters say they believe it's "premature," and they question why the national group did not interview the other top candidate in the race, State Treasurer Don Stenberg.

Bruning is running for the GOP nomination against Stenberg and Schuyler businessman Pat Flynn. In addition, other Republicans have been mulling whether to jump into the race, including State Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine. Joanne Elliott, co-organizer of Conservative Connections in Lincoln, said her group was "disappointed" that the national group was weighing into a Nebraska race without getting "input" from local groups. Others echoed her sentiments. "It's a little early - 12 months out of the primary," said Patrick Bonnett, the founder of a coalition of about a dozen tea party-affiliated groups in Douglas County, the Conservative Coalition of Nebraska. Bonnett said he has heard of no tea party organization in Nebraska that plans to make an endorsement before the primary. Paul Johnson, Nelson's campaign manager, downplayed the endorsement. He said it appeared to be more about raising money nationally than influencing Nebraskans, noting that the endorsement is being made in D.C. He also questioned the group's influence, saying several of the group's chosen candidates in the last election failed. "They also made Christine O'Donnell, Sharron Angle and Joe Miller priorities - all of whom lost," said Johnson. Russo did not shy away from his group's 2010 failures. He says that is one reason they are jumping into the Nebraska race early, to help Bruning with his campaign. He said neither the Angle nor the Miller campaigns were as strong as they needed to be to win. The group gave about $1 million each to Angle and Miller, Russo said. "We believe Jon Bruning is a strong candidate," he said. "He's strongly in tune with tea party values. He's also able to put together a first-rate campaign." - World-Herald News Service




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Saturday, July 2, 2011

Tea majors hike prices to offset input costs

Mumbai: With tea production in the country declining and input costs rising over the last few years, a fresh round of price hike has begun in the R6,900-crore branded tea segment in India. To offset the rising input costs, major tea companies are raising prices by R 5-7 per kg. For instance, Duncan's Tea has hiked prices by R7 a kg for all its brands, while Tata Global Beverages (TGBL) has also raised prices of its select tea brands this month. Like Duncan's Tea, Royal Girnar and Society Tea have also raised prices to combat rise in commodity prices. Tea production in India fell to 966 million kgs in 2010 from 979 million kgs in 2009 and 981 million kgs in 2008. Production in Africa is also down by 39 million kgs, thus creating a global pressure on tea prices.

On the company's revised pricing strategy, MC Appaiah, COO, Duncan's Tea, said,...


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Friday, July 1, 2011

Make tea with garden plants

Gardening in North Florida and tea making are a natural combination. With the summer heat, iced tea is a refreshing treat. And many of the plants in our gardens lend themselves well to tea making.

The iced tea that we Southerners drink on hot summer days is made from a species of camellia, Camellia sinensis. This plant grows like a weed here. Making homemade green tea is easy, while black tea is made by a fermenting process. To learn more, check out the IFAS guide "Tea Growing in The Florida Home Landscape" on the web at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs308.

The herb garden is a natural place to begin your tea-making adventure. Mints grow well here and can supply a steady supply of leaves for a daily tea break. Mint can be the base of many blended herbal teas. Making blended teas is fun and limited only by your imagination.

Lemon balm is among herbs that can be used to make tea. Lemon balm will survive neglect in the garden, but it enjoys an occasional watering. Lemon balm tea is soothing; just add a little honey and enjoy.

Lemon verbena is an underutilized herb that is a mainstay of tea-making. It is winter-hardy in a sheltered spot and likes dry poor soils. Lemon verbena leaves make a delicious tea by themselves or when combined with other ingredients.

Lemongrass flourishes in our humid climate. It is tender to frosts, but grows well in a protected area or container. Many commercial herbal teas use this plant as an ingredient. It's wonderful combined with blackberry and strawberry leaves, rose hips and honey.

Try lemon thyme for its lemony, woodsy flavor, which mixes well with fennel and strawberry leaves. Lavender is used for its cool, sweetly aromatic, exotic flavor.

For good cultural information on growing herbs, download IFAS's "Herbs in the Florida Garden" http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh020.

Many fruiting plants have leaves and flowers that are great additions to tea blends. Extra fruit from the orchard also can be dried to make tea. Strawberry, blueberry, apple and pear are just a few to brew with. The possibilities are endless. Don't throw away your citrus peels; trim them into slivers and dry. Fresh fruit also can be used in teas. One of my favorites is sweet kumquats sliced in half and floated in a jasmine black-tea blend. Citrus and elderberry blossoms impart a sweet, honey-like flavor to the blend. Use fresh or dry for use later. Blackberry leaves also are used dry or fresh. They are tangy and cool with a refreshing aftertaste.

Some of the most interesting teas are made from olive and bay. And, yes, both of these are easily grown our area. Olive leaf tea is simple to make. Leaves are washed, air dried, and steeped in boiled water for a few minutes until liquid turns a beautiful golden tan color. Sweeten with honey and serve hot or cold. Only the Mediterranean bay is used to make tea, as some of our native bays are poisonous. Bay imparts a bitter flavor, that when used sparingly in blends, sets off the sweeter herbs, creating more complex flavor notes in the brew.

Homemade teas from your garden are easy to make, and you'll soon find yourself enjoying the process as much as the brew. Find a great source for learning about harvesting and drying herbs at www.vegetablegardener.com/item/2701/how-to-dry-herbs.

— Brandy Cowley-Gilbert is co-owner of Just Fruits and Exotics Nursery (www.justfruitsandexotics.com) in Medart and a member of the University of Florida IFAS Leon County Extension Advisory Committee, http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu. Send your gardening questions to Ask-a-MasterGardener@leoncountyfl.gov.


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To tea party, Obama is bogeyman-in-chief

By John Brummett

New national polling information released by political scientists at the University of Arkansas reveals interesting and perhaps mildly counterintuitive findings about the tea party.

This survey, conducted under the joint aegis of the UA’s Blair Center and Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, shows that devotees of the tea party are better-educated than the rest of the population as well as possessed of higher incomes.

That is the perhaps mildly counterintuitive part, if, like me, you factored a higher yahoo quotient than is apparently so.

What is merely interesting, meaning not surprising, is that a greater percentage of tea party people believe in the inerrancy of the Bible than is the case with the rest of the population, including regular Republicans.

Also interesting is that tea party people are less supportive than the general population, again including regular Republicans, of the supposed ideals of equal opportunity and equal rights for all, specifically minorities.

Tea party people are significantly less supportive of gay rights and significantly more hostile to illegal immigration than garden-variety Republicans.

But what I find most interesting on this subject is not anything contained in this data compiled from more than 3,000 survey calls nationwide last November. Instead, it is in the candid analysis provided me by Dr. Angie Maxwell, assistant professor of political science at the UA.

She said the poll suggests that the common denominator in the tea party’s emergence is President Obama.

“He represents a world they can’t function in,” she said.

First things first, to get it out of the way: Maxwell is not saying that all tea partiers are racists and that their movement is based on a racial bigotry toward this historic president.

She is saying the tea party arises from much more than that — from, as she describes, a coincidence of varying cultural and economic fears all falling under the general heading of a dreaded new world. People with these fears have come to “put all of them,” to “project them,” on Obama, she said, often without basis in fact or fairness.

For example:

If you fear a changing America in which white people become a minority because of the black population as combined with other new ethnic groups and with the Hispanic influx, then Obama, being of mixed race and with a foreign father, personifies that fear for you.

If you fear a changing America in which traditionally conservative Christian church values are being eroded by new forms of spiritual thinking and by cultural changes such as the growing acceptance of homosexuality, then Obama, with a Muslim parent and a former pastor who once screamed “God damn America,” personifies that fear for you.

If your relatively high household income is drawn from the medical profession, from doctoring or as a drug rep, perhaps, and if you fear that health care reform will transform America into something more like a European country and lower your standard of living, then Obama personifies that fear for you. You don’t call it Pelosicare or Reidcare. You call it Obamacare.

Maxwell compared this to the way the Whigs sprang to prominence for a couple of decades solely from resentment of Andrew Jackson.

If she is right, then the Republicans have a short-term window and long-term problem.

The tea party is vital to Republicans at the moment, representing maybe a tenth of the electorate. Republican victories in the next elections will hinge on appeasing this far-right bloc.

But if the glue that holds the tea party together is fear of Obama, then the tea party goes away after Obama goes away.

That would leave the Republicans burdened with a deadly combination — a weak reality, meaning a sort of nondescriptly soft conservatism, and a reputation for a harder conservatism that would have caused an alienation from the more pragmatic, and usually decisive, center.

For immediate purposes though, the tea party lives, and garden-variety Republicans must oblige it, so long as Obama is its bogeyman-in-chief.

——-
John Brummett is a columnist for the Arkansas News Bureau in Little Rock. His e-mail address is jbrummett@arkansasnews.com; his telephone number is (501) 374-0699.


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