St Louis Tea Party Headquarters Packed For Pre-Rally Training Session
Posted by Jim Hoft on Tuesday, September 7, 2010, 8:22 PM
Dozens of St. Louis volunteers turned out tonight at the “Gateway to November” pre-rally training session.
St. Louis Tea Party founder Bill Hennessey and a local volunteer Marcia Bare stand out front of the St. Louis Tea Party Headquarters in South St. Louis tonight at a 9-12 training event.
St. Louis patriot John Burns gives the thumbs up at the training session.
5 DAYS TO GO!
Click on Photo for Video–
Remember to mark your calendars…
“GATEWAY TO NOVEMBER” TEA PARTY, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri under the Gateway Arch!
St. Louis was chosen this year to hold one of three major regional rallies on Sunday, September 12th.
Sacramento and Washington DC will also hold rallies that day.
St. Louis patriots Ralph and Michelle show off the tea party T-shirts for sale at the headquarters.
Patriots Van Harvey, John Burns and Bill Hennessey.
* * * * *
Ben Evans forwarded this today from 24th State—
The Last Tea Party?
I can only imagine the excitement some might express at the thought…fortunately, it is nowhere near the truth.
The 9/12 Tea Parties held simultaneously in Sacramento, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. (in addition to the many smaller events held around the country) represent the last major nationally coordinated events prior to the 2010 Midterms. The disparate Tea Party groups across the country will continue to exist in some form or another post-election, but the mission will change ever so subtly, whether conservatives win big or not.
Some truth does remain in the idea that this will be the last, though. Up until the Midterms, the Tea Party movement focused more on rebuilding communities, returning to first principles, and generating public awareness. While politics certainly drove much of this, there has always been a sense of political innocence with the Tea Party. However, the primary process awakened the political undertones inherent in such a movement. And the Midterms will completely wash away that innocence.
I have heard many try to define the movement, but I think it would be more appropriate to examine Tea Parties from a historical perspective. Comparisons to the various Great Awakenings of our country’s past come to mind, but this has been about much more than just a religious revival. The outpouring of people to Glenn Beck’s 8/28 event, and the views expressed by those that attended, definitely bears some resemblance to another Great Awakening. Those from the Left that employ Alinsky’s tactics would love for that to be the case. The Tea Party could be frozen in time as a religious movement and Beck would be an ideal target for the Left to ridicule, but neither Beck nor any religious group speak for us all and I do not think that was ever their intention.
One era that I often think about involves the time in which Alexis de Tocqueville journeyed across our young country. Somewhere along the line we decided that there were certain topics one does not talk about in polite company. De Tocqueville witnessed an American society in which people actively engaged in political and religious discourse. Separation and categorization of individuals into various groups seemed less a part of our cultural fabric. American society, while far from perfect, represented an energetic cohesion of democratic ideals never before seen in this world.
Another era I think of pertains to our country’s founding. Due to a poor grounding in American history, many do not realize that the American Revolution was no easy task. Independence was originally only supported by about 10% of Americans. The British Empire had resources across the entire world. The Founders are often maligned as a cabal of wealthy, white landowners, but people do not realize they risked their lives and fortunes to create a country that would eventually become the leader of the free world. Would we be where we are today without their sacrifice? Not perfect, but perhaps as close as we will ever come.
Couching the Tea Party movement in these lofty ideals does not do justice to the millions of individuals involved. We can look to the past, but we must address the present. We can pontificate on the future, but we cannot lose sight of our current state of affairs. Perhaps I was too quick to write off the idea of new Great Awakening because Americans across the country have opened their eyes. The status quo cannot be sustained, and many have pledged their blood, sweat and tears to this cause. We are not absolutely sure what we got ourselves into, but we know it is right.
This feeling will change. As objectives become clear, and we can measure the success of our efforts, the Tea Party will become a watchdog on government. Momentum will carry the movement into all levels of government. I am heartened by the many individuals I meet that have decided to get involved with their municipal governments flying under the radar in the current atmosphere. These same individuals will become our leaders on the state and national level in the future, and they will have earned it.
If one wants a sense of what the Tea Party is and was, time is running short. Rallies like the ones on 9/12 have been the lifeblood of the Tea Party movement. Not only did they give a voice to people’s concerns, they provided an opportunity for community.
Community brought me to the Tea Party movement. I came relatively late. I was frustrated with the path our government had taken, and I felt helpless. The first Tea Party I went to was in Quincy, Illinois. No one really knew who I was, but these strangers immediately opened up their hearts and minds. As I became more involved, I met new individuals and groups that were always welcoming.
Your last chance to experience this community in unison with millions across the country occurs on 9/12. Old hands and new energy will merge into a celebration of what our country was and what our country can be. Opportunities to become involved in groups outside of established organizations will be plentiful. Friendships will form that will last a lifetime.
This may not be the last Tea Party, but this is your last opportunity to say you were there when we decided to put our country back on track. You were there when we decided as a community that our first principles matter. You were there when the renaissance of civil society took place. You were there when Americans began to open their eyes to the possibilities our country’s opportunities provide.
I will be in St. Louis under the Arch on 9/12…where will you be?
Tea Party Headquarters St. Louis
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Published May 24, 2012 at 8:46 pm - 91 Comments
Ginger commented:
I want so much to go to the rally….but can’t!
NeoKong commented:
You da’ man Jim.
I can’t make it but maybe I’ll see you in Austin for the RedState gathering.
Mrs P commented:
My husband and I will be there even though we both work the night shift and will get off work at 7AM on 9/12….Breakfast at Uncle Bill’s and 5 Hour Energy drink will keep us going full steam until the end of the day!!
Van commented:
It’s a good thing that that unnamed patriot standing with John Burns & Bill Hennessy remains unnamed… I hear he has a particular set of skills very dangerous to the bureaucratic elites… let the Internet go free, and walk away… or he may find you and blog about it!
(snort)
red commented:
As a former St. Louisan (graduated from SLU) I’m so proud of you guys! Where can I order a cool t-shirt with that teapot logo?
Ed commented:
Hey red send us an email with contact info! admin-at-stlouisparty.com
Taxpayer1234 commented:
Wish I could be there! Rock on Tea Party!
But don’t say this is the Tea Party’s last hurrah. There is still MUCH work to be done, even after a big November win. Still gotta get the Dems out of the White House and keep them in the minority in Congress. AND we must hold our elected reps’ feet to the fire, make sure they don’t turn into Beltway Bums.
LimoLibsStink commented:
Democrat Joe Biden:
My name is Sheriff Joe Biden and this is my trusty dog Barky. As Sheriff of this country I do not approve of this Tea Party!
If this Tea Party stuff gets out of hand and causes a public disturbance I will be forced to unleash Barky on you. You will be shredded by his teleprompter, his gnashing teeth and growling racist utterances!
My K-9 Limousine is running and Barky and I can jump into action at any time. Just keep that in mind you crappy Tax Payers!
Vida commented:
So excited to be a part of the 9-12 Tea Party. I know I am only one person, but between all of us “ones” I believe we are making a difference.
rocko commented:
I live in O’Fallon and could easily go but have decided not to because of St. Louis teaparty’s continued support of Republican politicians. We should not be supporting either party. Having Steve King speak at the event is one of the worst ideas ever. We should give NO SUPPORT to any current politician. If Steve King was anything but a hack he would have done something to stop what has been going on. I know many of my neighbors and friends feel the same.
GOP KICKS ASS commented:
Well, Rocko, with that attitude you should be happy then to see then Democrats win all the races with Tea Party candidates. Things don’t happen over night. It’s small steps in the right direction. You live in a dream world pal.
Warthog commented:
You know what your problem is Rocko? You don’t apply your philosophy evenly. You ougt to act the same way with your money as you do with your vote.
There should be none of this saving or investing or spending your capital wisely. It should be millionairs-ville or nothing. That is why you should go out now, right now, and spend all your money on lottery tickets. Having it all right now is the only way to do things and you should not trifle with half-measures.
(Yeah, that’s a plan…)
susan commented:
There is a difference between Beck’s Restoring Honor Rally and the Tea Party rallies.
Beck’s rally was a tribute to finally Honor America’s US Military (you know the people who are sacrificing themselves so that ingrate Americans can peaceably suck up the crap seeping from Hollywood’s sewer canal)
The Tea Party rallies are about protecting personal wallets from taxation(not that there is anything wrong with that)
Beck’s rally was NOT a Tea Party rally.
Andrew Ian Dodge commented:
See you there man. Kim & I show up in StL tomorrow and are looking forward to the long weekend.
fightinggranny commented:
I’ll be in Washington on 9-12, with my grandson and friends. Having the party split into 3 locations was an excellent idea this year. Our work is not complete, but a work in progress. I hope I have instilled in my grandchildren that they MUST be vigilant and do their own research on the candidates lest apathy get another pres like this one, destroying America.
DesertCactus commented:
Good luck, Patriots! No longer will we “Know Your Place and Shut Your Face!” The media and left are nonstop in attacking us. What they still have not figured out, evidently, is that we are mostly mainstream American’s who are just tired of big government and out-of-control spending. It’s time to take names and kick ass (donkey) #:D
http://www.can-you-hear-us-now.com
red commented:
“Hey red send us an email with contact info! admin-at-stlouisparty.com”
Hi Ed! i tried to email you guys from my work and personal emails but neither went through. I will check out the tea party website and see if there’s another way.
Wading Across commented:
A HQ? A logo? I cannot help but feel like this is an opposite version of ACORN or something similar.
You do know that the instant you close up shop there and take down that sign, the left will eat it up.
You may well still be very grassroots, but it seems like the Tea Party is becoming more commercial.
Just like 8-28, on the surface it looks great, but there’s something under that surface that just doesn’t smell right to me. Mission creep.
rocko commented:
Warthog,
Are you an idiot? Where would you get the idea to spend all my money on lottery tickets from not wanting to give voice to a failed politician? Having recently moved from Iowa, I have witnessed Steve King’s failed attempts at changing the system. He has failed utterly. So make up a straw man that you feel you can attack and not address what I say which is: I don’t want to support any current politician. They have multiple avenues to express their views. There are limited spaces available for tea party speakers so why give them a spot? Steve King can get on tv every night, others cannot.
So you know what the problem is with me? I don’t think so. The problem for this conservative is that while you attack me for not cowtowing to your line, you are doing exactly what you are accusing me of…I am re-thinking my opinion of tea partiers after seeing what how you think and what you write.
Van commented:
As Bill says, “That’s One Awesome Friggin’ Photograph”, thanks for putting it up so big and bold!
Everyone come on down to the Arch Sunday!
(and thanks for the monicker Jim!)
Can't wait till Nov. commented:
Looking forward to seeing all of you Sunday.