Received from George Rodiguez, President, San Antonio Tea Party:

Folks...

Please let both Congressman Canseco and Congressman Smith know how disappointed The San Antonio Tea Party is with the Speaker and House leadership on the matter of "Two month extension". I feel they were politically out-manuvered by Obama and the liberals in D.C. This has left many with a perception that the House GOP caved, and that they are paper tigers. That affects of us all the way down to the grass roots who have worked to change the House leadership out of Pelosi's hands.

Beside our disappointment in losing this policy battle, we are very frustrated that GOP leaders cannot seem to argue, articulate, or explain their position in the media. I am amazed that no one was able to respond to, or criticize, Obama ASAP when he read a note about someone who won't be able to have a pizza night if the tax-break was extended another two months! This capitualation by Boehner and the House has left the SA Tea Party terribly disappointed, angry, and frustrated. Republicans need to learn how to, and do a better job of responding to Obama in the arena public opinion and in the media. We are tired of hearing GOP leaders just blame the media for losing public arguments, because I don't think that was case this time. Boehner and McConnell should have responded ASAP to the silly points presented by the Obama people... and they should NOT have given in. This was poorly handle and now we will all have to pay a long term price.
Please ask Cico and Lamar to tell Boehner how very disappointed we are with his leadership. We recommend that the GOP leadership on both side of the Capitol, learn how to handle the media and public arguments, otherwise we're doomed in 2012.

Thank you.
George Rodriguez, President, San Antonio Tea Party.
ps. I'm going to go eat some Pizza. 

Sorry for the lack of activity.  Had the joy of moving!  Then my Uverse emails got screwed up.  Now catching up on a week of emails.  Therein was this gem from Joni (1st chairman of SATP):

In the coming New Year, 2012, both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union address will occur on the same day.

This is an ironic juxtaposition of events.

One involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to an insignificant creature of little intelligence for prognostication.

The other involves a groundhog.

HAH!

Got this in an email from George Rodriguez, President, San Antonio Tea Party:

Folks: Because there has been a great deal of discussion among the Republican candidates about  immigration, the San Antonio Tea Party felt it was important to state and clarify its position. Here is  our official statement. Please feel free to share this e-mail with friends and neighbors. Also visit our  website at www.sanantonioteaparty.us or to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you.  George Rodriguez, President, San Antonio Tea Party, 210-367-2058.

Statement on Immigration by San Antonio Tea Party

The following is a summary of the San Antonio Tea Party's policy statement on immigration, originally posted on its website on December 4, 2010.

1. The United States of America is a nation of immigrants and we have benefitted from their  contributions. As such, we welcome legal immigrants and encourage them to integrate, assimilate,  and contribute the fabric of this great Nation. We want all immigrants to become Americans first.

2. We are a Nation of laws, and therefore we cannot condone illegal immigration. We must enforce  all current immigration laws, including employer sanctions.

3. Immigration is a national security and economic issue, and not one related to ethnicity, race, or  national origin. Given legitimate concerns about terrorism, economics, illegal trade, and drug/gun /human trafficking, we must first secure the border and all points of entry into the U.S. This  includes  both the Mexican and Canadian borders, and all airports and seaports.

4. Laws apply to people on both sides of the border-those outside who might break the laws by  entering illegally and those inside who break the laws by hiring them. Penalties should apply to  both.

5. Recognizing problems with current immigration laws and procedures, the entire immigration  system and process should be revamped.

6. Immigration policy must be based on our nation's needs and priorities, and on humanitarian  grounds. For example, current preference must be given to scientists and engineers who might  contribute to our national security and economics needs, since our educational system is not  currently producing them in the quantities needed to sustain our security and growth.

7. We must institute a "guest worker program" that allows illegal workers to come out of the  shadows and register as guest workers. This program will also allow these undocumented workers to  enter and leave the US safely, and get paid properly. These guest workers would not be entitled  to vote or receive social welfare services.

8. Those illegal immigrants who desire to stay in the U.S. must pay a penalty and should go "to the back of the line" to follow the proper process which they should have in the first place. They should  be classified as guest workers or temporary visitors and must avoid any misdemeanor during that  waiting period.

9. As for the children of illegal immigrants, the law on anchor babies must be changed. We cannot  allow illegal immigrants to have a path to automatic citizenship through their U.S. born children.  Also, we cannot let the U.S. become an orphanage to the world for illegal immigrants to come and  "drop off" their children.

10. We believe it is very important that Hispanic conservatives speak out to defuse the accusations  of liberals that solutions by conservatives, through applying these criteria, are racist. As stated,  immigration is a matter of national and economic security, and we have previously and will continue  to condemn immigration or other policies based on racism. 

There is one part of this that I disagree with (mildly), but willingness to compromise on things that are not core issues is needed in any organization.  The above policy is much better for the country than the mess we have now!

It's REALLY simple when you use numbers that the average family can relate to.  Funny but sad and all too true!

I found this story a a guy closing his business because of the strangling red tape most illuminating:

Kennewick construction company auctions itself off
By John Trumbo, Tri-City Herald

KENNEWICK -- It took Bob Bertsch 25 years to build his construction business and just a day for it all to go away.

Bertsch's Kennewick-based Ashley-Bertsch Group went on the auction block Friday at 9 a.m. By 4 p.m., Booker Auctions had sold off almost two dozen vehicles and trailers, tons of power tools and supplies, even the gas-fired fireplace in the office.

Bertsch, 65, said he is down-sizing because the tax burden got too expensive to stay in business.

After a quarter of a century of building a successful enterprise at 5903 W. Metaline Ave., Bertsch sat back and watched as about 200 people bid on what was left of his company -- boxes of electrical parts, a drafting desk, high-end office furniture, TVs, computers and even the phone system.

Anything that could be carried away, was.

"I am tired of carrying all the tax load," Bertsch said. "I renew 13 licenses here every year just so I can spend money in this city."

Bertsch makes no attempt to conceal his frustration with the costs government imposes on small businesses like his.

"Government is killing small business. We used to have 24 employees at our peak. Now, all of those people who used to work here are in unemployment lines," he said.

It's called "Going Galt" and it's catching (as in a virulent flu virus).  God help us all when the "bug" really gets going!

Quoting Eugene Volokh in full:

If they want to teach that communism os good, it's best to get rid of the fact that Hitler and Stalin had a pact and that they invaded together, splitting up the spoils.  How inconvenient is that?  Let's just erase it from history....