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Liveblogging the Birmingham Tea Party
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Alabama gubernatorial candidate Tim James had the first obvious supporters of the afternoon
We'll be liveblogging and live tweeting the Birmingham Tea Party, which is being held at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Pehlam, AL.
The gates open at 5:00 PM and there will be events all evening long. We'll cover as many as we can from here. Several of us are also using Twitter to follow the events of the day. Enjoy quotes, photographs, audio and other information from the following (we'll update if we find more) Twitter streams:
You can also follow photographs here.
Hit refresh periodically through the evening to catch the latest from the Birmingham Tea Party. Enjoy!
17:05 We just found out that DailyKos is trashing us here. Right now, Michael Hart and Lee Davis (from 101.1FM The Source) are live broadcasting. When I passed them a quick note about the Kos posting, Davis asked the building crowd if 'we're crazy." Everyone busted out laughing.
Backstage with talk show hosts Lee Davis and Matt Murphy
17:11 If you plan on being here, the traffic is beginning to back up. I'd show earlier, rather than later.
18:05 I just heard that the fist of three parking lots has now filled up.
18:20 Birmingham talk show host Matt Murphy just stopped by to tell folks hello.
18:28 I hear that Alabama gubernatorial candidate Bill Johnson (and is wife Kathy) are walking around talking to people. I saw one person with a Bill Johnson sticker and a few more Tim James stickers. I haven't seen any signs of the other gubernatorial candidates, but I'm sure I've at least missed some Roy Moore supporters somewhere.
18:35 James Lee (who is running for Cam Ward's seat) is speaking, but I can't hear him well because of fans back here.
18:38 Some independent candidate speaking, but can't hear. Going to have to relocate.
18:42 Dr. Stan Cooke, who is running for the congressional seat held by Spencer Bachus, said: "Mr. Obama, I brought my birth certificate. Mr. Obama, where is yours?"
Then he got serious. He's actually giving a great speech.
"Bachus is one of the worst RINOs... Impose a term limit on Mr. Bachus and bring him back after 16 years."
He's going after Bachus for his bailout vote. Applause was slow when he started going after Bacus but getting louder now.
Accuses Bachus of being opposed to the Second Amendment. Runs through long list of federal departments he'd vote to get rid off. Get rid of Federal Reserve. We will solve illegal immigration. Send me to office in 2010.
18:50 Marcelo Munoz (state Campaign for Liberty leader) says don't be afraid to speak out about illegal immigration. I'm an immigrant. I'm a legal immigrant. (a lot of applause).
18:52 Paul Lambert: "Three very important word: We the people."
"No more! "
"The time is right to tell these people: "'No More!'"
Goes after the Patriot Act. "It's unconstitutional."
Getting booed over some Iraq War statement that I missed because one of the event organizers was talking to me. If anyone caught the statement, let me know.
19:02 "Many Americans feel that the 4th of July has lost it's meaning, and the freedoms we fought for are slowly disappearing," said Mark Bodenhausen as I popped by his booth. "We want to remind voters that there is another choice. Next time, don't waste your vote. Vote Libertarian."
19:04 Ken Pritchett is speaking. Talking about the Audit the Fed bill.
"We, the conservatives are demanding a return to our roots. ...but not to the status quo."
"Capitalism is not the enemy of the poor, it is it's best friend."
"Enough is enough"
Pritchett is running for Senator Richard Shelby's seat.
19:10 Taking a break while everyone gets ready for the main show.
19:17 Personal note: I had a choice: Stand up and be recognized as a veteran or grab a beer. I chose the latter. The beer is damned good!
19:29 Saying Pledge of Allegience now.
Don't know who is speaking, but a few people cheered him for reciting the Lord's Prayer.
Crowd isn't as big as last Tea Party in Birmingham, but folks are screaming loudly as Matt Murphy is introduced.
Matt Murphy addresses the Birmingham Tea Party
Murphy: I love America. God bless each and every one of you can God bless America.
Murphy is showing some flag given to him by is grandfather.
The flag (and we) are tattered and torn. Heartbroken. Beaten.
We can become this flag (pointing at new flag).
The government says there may be some domestic terrorists among us. I say you are all patriots.
Recognizes a veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
19:45 Dr (Rev.) John Killian: Great Killian speech, but he always gives them.
Killian is speaking early because he as some engagement in Atlanta later this evening.
"We are bailing out bloodsucking bureaucrats."
"Is it time for a Tea Party?"
Crowd screams : "Yes!"
"It is past time for a Tea Party."
Two political parties in America. "The stupid party and the evil party."
Big applause.
Next election, we'll hang them with the vote.
Heavy applause.
19:58 Murphy is introducing Kevin Jackson, author of The Big Black Lie.
"I'm not a black American. I'm just an American."
Big applause.
I'm a country boy, raised on cattle ranch, really poor.
"How many of you believe government tinks our money is their money?"
"I rather suspect they have a taxation Czar."
"We call it outflow; they call it inflow."
20:14 Throwing bottles of iced tea to the crowd.
20:15 Mike Frederick from FairTax is introduced.
Blows airhorn and says "Wake up, America."
Does federal government deserve any [of our income tax]?
How many think you'll be getting any Social Security check [in 15 years?]
The math doesn't add up. Fair Tax resolves that.
Blows airhorn again. "Wake up, America!"
Uses D Day analogy, but I can't hear the speaker well.
"Folks, we can turn this around."
"Wake up, America. Help us pass Fair Tax this year."
20:32 Murphy introduces Birmingham talk show host Lee Davis.
Davis:
"We've made a lot of noise and we want them to hear us in Washington, DC."
"We should never, ever, ever apologize for or be ashamed of the United States of America."
"Never, ever. I am tired of it."
Crowd start chanting "USA, USA!"
A lot of applause.
"We are back and we are coming back with more Tea Parties..."
"Even Joe Biden has admitted that [a lot of the money] has been wasted. Say it isn't so, Joe."
"World is getting cooler"
Crowd responds "Cooler, cooler."
"They want to destroy your lives."
Do you think Nancy Pelosi and Al Gore are going to give up their cars, houses, planes, etc.?
"Take something with you. The battle as just begun. Spread the word. Make it happen. This is our version of the shot heard 'round the world."
Again, the crowd screams "USA, USA!"
20:50 Murphy: Crowd count is over 3,000.
Murphy recognizing event organizers to sounds of Eye of the Tiger.
21:03 Tim James is addressing the audience on the Jumbotron. Can't hear it well from backstage.
Healthy applause. Some other people talking but missed them. Herman Cain speaking now, but the audio is bad backstage with the the Jumbotron.
Newt Gingrich had a personalized message for the Birmingham Tea Party.
"This is the only group in the country osted by te Rainy Day Patriots."
"This is a time we need to be active to save our freedoms."
He plugged his new organization several times, so I won't bring up it's name.
Newt only received a very mild applause.
I missed what happened next (I can't see the screen at all from backstage) but I think it was soldiers talking.
Much higher level of applause.
I hear Jimi Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner.
Still playing... leads into fireworks.
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