HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 PROLOGUE

 Before I present my list of suggested New Year's resolutions, I feel it necessary to address some myths and misunderstandings about the TEA Party Movement.

1) Where is the Headquarters and who is the Leadership of the TEA Party Movement?

The TEA Party movement is not one group though that is the way the 2 major political parties and major media would portray us.  It is a group of 10-15 major tea party and grassroots groups and many more smaller, more localized groups. Some are large enough to have National, Regional, State and County sub-groups. And some TEA Party groups cater to segments of the TEA Party Movement such as "Asamom" and "Smartgirl" or "GOOOH", "WagtheDog2010" and "the Precinct Strategy". the 912 Coalition, ICaucus, TEA Party Patriots and ReTEAParty are among my favorites. As for Leadership, Most of the Leaders are more facilitators and Coordinators than they are Leaders.  After all, most of the groups are true grassroots movements and not Republican Trojan Horses. Again, For the most part this is a true grass roots movement and leaders are just now emerging.  And in some groups where people have declared themselves the Leadership, the grassroots bottom has reminded would be leaders that direction comes from the bottom up and not the top down in true grassroots movements.  I imagine that it is similar to the Leadership situation the Founding Father's found themselves in the initial stages of the our American Revolution before the Declaration of Independence was signed.

2) Is the TEA Party Movement just a Republican Trojan Horse?

The TEA Party Movement is not a Republican Trojan Horse.  It is true that some small number of the groups were/are Republican Trojan horses.  But most are not.  And the Republicans seem to have lost control of the Trojan horses that they floated out there.  We darn grassroots TEA Party just don't seem to like top down direction. The Republican handlers in the Trojan horse groups get frustrated when the bottom tells the top that in a true grass roots movement, the direction flows from the bottom to the top, not the top to the bottom. Yes there are some TEA Party folks that I would term Republican Loyalists.  But there is also a small but growing faction of Liberal/Democrat TEA Party Folks that share the TEA Party Movements concerns with regard to there own party.

3) What is the TEA Party about?

If you read the propaganda of the major media, you probably think the TEA Party is about beating the Democrats in the next election with emphasis on Pro-Life and against gay marriage.  However, the stated core issues of most of the groups is Adherence to the Constitution, Fiscal Responsibility and Limited Government.  The TEA Party Movement has attempted to steer away from those issues that the 2 major political parties use to divide and conquer us.  And as the group has matured Absolute Morality, Integrity, Transparency, Accountability, Corruption,  due attention to Natural Law and a return to the vision of the country that our Founding Fathers had have became part of the fabric that is the movement. Liberals who share our concerns are welcomed and encouraged to come to meetings and apply what they learn to demand transparency and accountability from the Democratic Leadership. The TEA Party has tried to avoid the issues that divide us on the premise that winning the debate on an issue is worthless if our government ceases to exist to be able to enforce it.  And for those still fervent with some of those tabled divisive issues; We can revisit those issues after the country is no longer on the brink of collapse..

4) WE THE PEOPLE are more alike than we are different.

The 2 major political parties in concert with major media have used propaganda and censorship to divide and conquer WE THE PEOPLE.  I believe that each election is framed by the 2 political parties such that WE THE PEOPLE are distracted from the Real issues while the politicians steal us blind. One of the ways they do this is by emphasizing our differences. The TEA Party Movement believes that WE THE PEOPLE are more alike than we are different.  The TEA Party Movement asks every citizen to think critically.  Don't just accept what you hear anywhere as being true, especially the major corporate media.  Don't even believe what I have written here.  You have the Internet now.  Get your information from several sources.  You must be the determiner and keeper of what the truth is.  Perception is Reality.  Don't let them sell you a reality that does not exist

The True Battle is not Republican vs Democrat, nor Conservative vs Liberal, nor White Vs Color, nor Rich vs Poor... the true battle is WE THE PEOPLE vs the corrupt politicians..

SUGGESTED NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

1) Stop living your life Vicariously                                                                                                                          

Quit letting yourself be distracted by drivel. Forget about Octo-mom, Survivor and the latest Tiger bimbo eruption.  Live your own life.  Experience your own adventures. Don't watch sports, play sports.  When you get to be 70 years old, you can watch TV to vicariously experience the things you did not get around to before you were 70
                                                                                                    
Get involved with the TEA Party Movement.  I sense that we are embarking on a piece of wonderful American history and folklore with this TEA Party Movement.  What are you going to tell you children when they ask you what you did during this period of political upheaval? What are you going to tell them you did to ensure their future and restore America to its rightful place of power and respect in the world. If you have not been to a TEA Party meeting yet, go to one and see what it is all about whether you be Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent.

2)Think Critically                                                                                                                                                   

Determine the Truth for Yourself. Don't believe anyone, even me. Don't let anyone, especially the politicians and major media, play you for a fool. Remember that major media has abandoned its first amendment responsibilities. Do not let them divide and conquer us nor turn us on each other over petty, contrived differences.Get you news from multiple sources.

3) Have a Statewide meeting of all TEA Party and Grassroots groups.

Do not be thinking you have all the way to November before you have to start worrying about deadlines.  You are already 6 months behind the planning of the two major political parties.

Discuss what direction you should take.  While you are meeting, Decide on 1-3 Goals and coordinate support for those goals.  If you are unable to consolidate to one group, can you form an statewide Ad hoc committee or a Committee of the Whole to coordinate efforts statewide.  Please set aside egos and consider the greater good of saving our country from disaster. My suggestion would be that you coordinate such a meeting by January 15th 2010 and not any later than the end of January.

4) Don't let the 2 major political parties frame the election to their advantage.

Do not be thinking you have all the way to November before you have to start worrying about deadlines.  You are already 6 months behind the planning of the two major political Parties

Don't let them divide and conquer us.  You determine what issues are important to you.  Don't let either of the 2 major political parties play you.  Remember, we are all more alike than different. Organize with your like minded friends and associates and dominate the local Caucus.  Prepare Resolutions and Platform changes to present at your caucus.. Learn the Party Rules and Fundamental Parliamentary procedure.  Support and defend you neighbors, Friends and associates that espouse that share the same ideals that you do.

5) Meet with the leadership of your political party before primaries and caucuses.

At least 2 weeks before your caucus or primary, try to have representatives of your TEA Party or Grassroots group meet with the political party that best reflects your groups political leanings. If they won't meet with you, I think you can deduce that they are not sympathetic to your issues. And then you will have to decide whether you are going to rally your like minded TEA Party folks to attempt to take over and/or influence your chosen existing Political Party or start your own 3rd Party. Just realize that you may be up against a tight deadline as the Caucus and Primary Season is upon in some state within 3 to 5 weeks. (I direct this proposed resolution primarily to my TEA Party Republican Loyalist who seem beguiled by some wishful thinking that the Republican Party will surrender their power and embrace their concerns with open arms.  I want the truth disclosed to them by the Republican Party before I am to late.  And I hope that I am wrong.)

I remind you that If you wait until your caucus, the Leadership will have already set their agenda, course and preferred Candidates.  You need to gather your like minded friends and show up in numbers to affect the outcome.

6)  Decide the Direction your TEA Party or Grassroots Group is going to take and fully execute your decision?

    * Are you going to align yourselves with the Democrats or Republicans or some other party?
    * Are you going to form a 3rd Party?
    * Are you going to remain strictly a referee and rate Candidates based on your issues of Importance?

7) Become and Election Judge

I saw the shenanigans that went on with the Coleman - Franken Senate election result.  Keep them Honest. Don't let them Ahmadinejad us! These folks will not give up there power with out a fight and some duplicity.

8) Learn Fundamental Parliamentary Procedure

If you have a predisposition for such things, Learn advanced Parliamentary Procedure and your Parties Rules and Bylaws

9) Be the Voice of Reason

This is going to be a year of strong passions.  You will be moved to anger.  Do not give in. First, because the major media will use it to demonise and discredit us.  And, 2nd because when people are yelling, no one is listening and no one is being converted.  Remember, the 2 major parties are trying to divide and conquer us.  Some of our opposition are merely fellow citizens that do not realize that they were betrayed and deceived by their political party. Feel sorry for them and offer them the hand of friendship as you try to calmly and rationally explain why you believe what you believe. No guns, no violence. Unless and until we can prove wide spread fraud at the next election caused the election to be stolen from us, our course of recourse shall remain non-violent. (

10) Start a Scholarship Program for High School Juniors and Seniors based on the Vision the Founding Fathers had for each Citizen and the Country

May I suggest that the TEA Party /Grassroots in each county pool their resources to create a Contest with Scholarship awards for Junior and Senior High School Students in the Spring preceding each election year.The contest would require each of the participants to write an essay based on the books and writings the founding fathers were reading and writing at the time they were drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. That would include the constitution, the declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, the anti-Federalist papers, Common Sense, Consent of the Governed and other books of the enlightenment.

I think a modest sums of 1000 dollars for first place, 500 dollars for 2nd place and 250 dollars for third place would spark renewed interest in the spirit and vision of our fore fathers and help address some of the political issues we face today.

EPILOGUE

In closing, Please don't think you have to adopt each of these suggested resolutions.  I would not want anyone to not participate because they were overwhelmed.  Any support and effort is preferable to no support. 

At the same time, I would ask you to push yourself for this election year. I sincerely believe our country is on the brink of fiscal and moral collapse and this next election will be critical in the success or failure of our country.

Those were my thoughts.

Respectfully Submitted,

Don Mashak
The Cynical Patriot