January 29, 2013
The Saint Augustine Tea Party canceled its committee meeting so members could attend the Republican Liberty Caucus meeting in Jacksonville, Florida......
The St. Augustine Tea Party (SATP) canceled its January 29th committee meeting, so its members could attend the Republican Liberty Caucus meeting in Jacksonville, Florida. The SATP normally conducts open meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month and committee meetings on all other Tuesdays at the Village Inn in St. Augustine, Florida. However, this meeting was canceled so members could take advantage of the special program at the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC). The RLC, which meets on the last Tuesday of the month, scheduled a program concerning the finding of common ground between Social Conservatives, Libertarians and Tea Parties. The discussions were centered on a panel with occasional comments from the floor. The panel consisted of Rick Hartley, Duval County’s Republican State Committeeman, Mike Jackson, Duval County’s Republican Vice Chairman and John Stevens, RLC Vice Chairman. Mr. Stevens is also the elected St. Johns County Republican State Committeeman. The Republican Party of Florida refused to seat this elected official. Some members of the Tea Party and members of the RLC believe that Mr. Stevens’ failure to be seated is based on his Libertarian views.
This reporter observed that consensus was found in the concept of small federal government based on the Constitution, as originally written, and on fiscal responsibility. Some RLC members found problems with social issues and military questions.
According to Jon Anderson, RLC Chairman, the RLC encourages its members to join local Republican Executive Committee’s with the purpose of turning those committees from their establishment control. The RLC’s focus on the Republican Party is “change from within”. From the floor, Dave Heimbold, Chairman SATP, expressed the idea that local RECs can be moved from external pressure as well. “This has been the experience of the SATP in its 18 month fight to be free of Republican control,” Heimbold said. He went on to announce, “Earlier, today, the Corporation which Republican operatives formed with the purpose of controlling the Tea Party movement in St. Augustine, Florida, was transferred back to the proper officers of the SATP. Heimbold concluded, “It took a court order for the St. Augustine Tea Party to be freed from Republican control.”
A Federal Government based on the Constitution, as originally written and on Fiscal Responsibility, is common ground enough to start with......
St. Augustine Tea Party members met with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the RLC after the close of the meeting to offer support for their actions. Is it internal pressure or external pressure? Both were observed at this meeting. Yes, both approaches, and more, will be necessary to reform the Republican Party.
It was agreed, by all, that Conservatives and Libertarians need to come together in order to defeat the Progressive agenda.
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