In what could be a shoo-in for the Scrooges-of-the-Year Award, the Fort Bend County Tea Party Society (whatever that is) is encouraging its members to politicize the Sugar Land Tree Lighting ceremony on Thursday, December 3rd being held by the City of Sugar Land. On the baggers' homepage, they have an announcement telling supporters to wear their Teabagger T-shirts to the lighting ceremony to be held at Sugar Land Center that evening. Nice.
As I looked over their website, I found some interesting references...In the "Our Cause" section of the website, their president says:
The FBCTPS also brags about its sponsors who support their activities, including La Madeline cafe, which apparently provides them food and meeting space. You might look over the list of sponsors, and if someone on the list is a business you patronize, you might think about telling these businesses what you think of their support for this group.
You can bet that these people, who are willing to exploit a Christmas celebration for political purposes, are the same folks who were outraged after Bill O'Reilly touted his fake "War on Christmas" to sell books the last couple of years. It will be interesting to see what kind of political statement these folks are planning at this holiday festivity. We, of course, will be watching.
As I looked over their website, I found some interesting references...In the "Our Cause" section of the website, their president says:
"I foresee the growing Patriot Movement as a whole, and our Tea Party element in particular, re-kindling the fierce flame of Liberty, that undying thirst for Freedom and for Honor, in the hearts of our countrymen. I foresee a frustrated Federal State, an energized but chastened Legislature, one committed to reading and debating the bills offered to them for passing, and an Executive reminded of the potency of an outraged Citizenry."The Patriot Movement. I assume he means the movement associated with anti-government and white supremacist groups, some of which have been reported to be forming militias. And he speaks of the "potency of an outraged Citizenry"? I don't know about you, but that sounds threatening to me. He also proudly declares in this statement that:
"Well my friends...we HAVE been trod on. We have been both stepped on and pushed aside. We have been ignored and ridiculed, spat upon and reviled. Some of us have even been physically assaulted by the government-sanctioned SEIU and ACORN thugs. We have been coerced and lied to. We have been manipulated, robbed and then violated at the very heart of our National Identity, through blatant assaults upon our sacred Constitution."Wow. In the 10 months since President Obama has been in office, they've been that abused? I haven't see anyone being trod or spat upon even on Fox Noise. I do, however, recall Glenn Beck pouring fake gasoline all over one of his staffers and pretending to set him on fire to make some unknown point. The words incendiary and hyperbole sprung to mind as I read his statement, but that's just me. Rather than some perceived abuses, it seems more likely that these folks just didn't like the result of the last election.
The FBCTPS also brags about its sponsors who support their activities, including La Madeline cafe, which apparently provides them food and meeting space. You might look over the list of sponsors, and if someone on the list is a business you patronize, you might think about telling these businesses what you think of their support for this group.
You can bet that these people, who are willing to exploit a Christmas celebration for political purposes, are the same folks who were outraged after Bill O'Reilly touted his fake "War on Christmas" to sell books the last couple of years. It will be interesting to see what kind of political statement these folks are planning at this holiday festivity. We, of course, will be watching.
I sent another letter to the corporate HQ of La Madeleine and said that the general manager of their Sugar Land establishment evidently doesn't realize that Democrats also dine out. And that Ft. Bend County is getting bluer with every election.
I told Jimmy Thompson, whom I have known for nearly 30 years, that I could easily take my shopping dollars up the road to Houston if Sugar Land allows this family event to be politicized.
I emailed LM's corporate office inquiring if their organization as a whole had instituted a policy of endorsing political movements, or if it was only the Sugar Land franchise that appears to have done so. I drew parallels to Beck and his advertiser trouble, and comparisons of their galettes to latkes.
No reply yet.
art i posted a copy of a letter i emailed to LaMadeline to challenge the use of their name on a tea party website. i also posted a copy of the "bonjour" reply i rec'd, stating in NO uncertain terms this eatery does NOT endorse any tea party, fort bend or otherwise. today i called the dallas offices of this confused corporation to express my disappointment verbally, and received "apologies" until i never wanted to hear the word again. i hope jefe posts my letter and the company's response, because in this case LaMadeline was either slammed or the local franchise approved sponsorship of something they had no right to do. i will next call the ft. bend county tea person and make sure they get this message. think i'll forward them a copy of the denial i rec'd. this way if someone local did set this up, it can all come out in the wash. just like the crazy zealot tea partiers who have NOTHING to complain about.
David Cobb wrote: Brilliant! Obama should issue an order mobilizing all State militias whether state sanctioned or not into immediate military service under the special command of the President. Let's then see who the real patriots are.
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They would have to "march" on themselves. In that case.....which way do you point your rifle?
If I send a quarter, do you think they'll be able to hustle up someone who can spell vigilance?
Humm, the web site pushes people to "donate" so maybe they have a scam going.
Let me ask a basic question - what is the point of showing up at a local Christmas tree lighting?
Are they protesting local taxes and local government spending? Fine. The time to do that is when local elections are held and when local governments adopt operating budgets. Wonder how many teabaggers have ever attended a budget hearing? I wonder how many could come within ten million dollars of knowing what the Fort Bend County general operating budget is? I wonder how many have ever even seen a copy of it? My guess would be, pretty close to none. I've asked our own lovable Texas Sparkle show us she knows what she is talking about, to start small and give us a list of local government program cuts she would propose. So far, I've heard diddly squat out of her.
I wonder if Sparkle and others of her ilk (and was there ever a more appropriate use of the word?) have the slightest idea of what they are talking about? I wonder if they realize that Texans pay the lowest per capita tax burden of any of the fifty states?
Well, we are learning that phone calls and emails to the sponsors get noticed. Candelari's tells me, too, they had nothing to do with the teabaggers and want to be taken off the web site. But why would we expect manners, like asking permission, from these people?
I say let Sparkie and the rest of the teabaggers show up in all of their Christmas finery, which I assume will include flashing teabag ornaments hanging from their ears and other appendages. Let them disrupt the event and show others what complete assholes they are.
You're probably right about that, "sweetie".
Not to be ugly or anything, but could you possible BE more stupid?
Brilliant! Obama should issue an order mobilizing all State militias whether state sanctioned or not into immediate military service under the special command of the President. Let's then see who the real patriots are.
please go to the flyer, get the number and call La Madeline. i just did, asked to leave message and spoke to "daniel" who identified ed himself as the manager. i politely explained my parents, sibs & i have a traditional (9yrs) christmas eve morning brunch at their establishment in tanglewilde. also that my mother demands we cancel (true) because we are a politically divided family and never patronize partisan establishments. i was prepared for many replies, but not for the reply of "i don't know anything about this, and we do not support any political party"!!! i left my name, phone number and assured him my mom would call tomorrow. he seemed genuinely horrified. told me they "rent" a private dining room like anyone else, but had NO permission to list the establishment on any flyer. he asked me to go to the corporate website and leave the info on comments, which i did. tomorrow i will call the corporate office. please CALL this place and do the same, the tea party of fort bend are slamming this eatery!
$200K? Yeah, in the lower-end. Try $2 million in Sweetwater.
However, you have the right idea. They got theirs, so some of them don't give a rat's ass if anyone else is struggling.
I heard at least 50,000 Tea Baggers in attendance. At least that is my "sparkling" prediction.
Tea Party militias? Then this should make their heads explode: "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; ..."
UPDATE: Candelari's has notified me that it was placed on the website without their permission, and will request that the group remove the restaurant's name from its list of sponsors. I should have known the restaurant was too much of a class act to get involved in something that would politicize a community event.
Thank god, because I eat there way too often and was on the verge of tears at the idea of missing out on their soup.
No kidding. Since they're just going to pull some number out of their ass and have about zero credibility anyway, I guess there's no need to wait.
Actually, I think they ALREADY have announced the attendance. Why wait?
These people are becoming as bad as Fred Phelp's Westboro Baptist Church. Only pure trash politicizes Christmas. Wonder if the organizer is a relative or follower of Phelps, sure sounds like it.
Item #1: I assume they will ALL be driving out to Sugar Land Town Center from their $200K First Colony homes in their Lexus SUV's?????
I am gonna have to look up "outrage" in the latest edition of the "Cheney Dicktionary". Perhaps they/he set the threshold a little low
Item#2: I STILL think that encouraging the overthrow of the United States government by force is against the law somwehere.
Again, I'll check my U.S. Constitution QRG.
Item#3: I like to think there IS a God. I certainly hope so. I've always tried to lay low around his son's birthday and not call attention to myself.
La Madeline has just been informed that they will no longer receive my custom as well and told exactly why.
Will tell my friends and family to avoid them until they change sponsorship to something benefiting the community like a food bank.
Who wants to bet that they'll come out afterward with a head count for teabagger attendance that counts every man, woman, child, dog in attendance and also some imaginary people? Maybe they can get some more yardage out of the 9/12 crowd photos by posting them on their website as evidence of the massive turnout they had.
That is one damned shame. What doesn't Sugarland understand about separation of Church and State. Why would thee want to turn a Christmas Tree lighting affair into a political rally ? I can tell you when we go to Sugarland to visit our son we won't go to any store that sponsors these nutcases.
Maybe someone should ask the local churches how they feel about this hate spewing group taking over the town's public celebration of the birth of Christ? Seems to me the focus of the day for the community and the Tea Baggers are the antithesis of each other. One encourages Christ's message of treating all our brothers and sisters as you would treat Him, while the other espouses hate towards those who don't agree with their secular political views, religious beliefs, or ethnicity.
Merry Christmas Sugarland, I hope you have a peaceful celebration of Christ's love.
While no longer living in Fort Bend Country (after 31 years), I am horrifed that the City of Sugarland would allow this to happen! I have sent an email to several of the sponsors telling them that they have lost my business for good and WHY they have lost my business.
Chistmas Tree Lightings are about the season, not damned politics!
Kellybee, the second reason being the astonishingly high increase in home burglaries over the past year.
Regarding the sponsors, I have sent one email to a business on that list expressing my disapproval, and I will not patronize any of them again.
The mayor of Sugar Land is Jimmy Thompson. His email address is jthompson@sugarlandtx.gov. Feel free to email him and tell him your opinion of this group of lowlifes trying to politicize a city holiday event.
I have already emailed three of those restaurants telling them I will no longer patronize their establishments and why.
I guess they're kind of like this era's Charles Atlas' wannabees...you just don't wanna kick any sand in their faces, huh uh, no way. Those kinds of people have shoved around more sand than a veritable Sahara, or perhaps, we should say Mojave as this is THE godda** United States of America. Apparently they have a distinct aversion to turnabouts. They are blind, ignorant fools that deserve a kick in the teeth from each and everyone of the people they have disparaged in the past 200 years.
I was planning on attending the tree lighting ceremony but this just ruined it for me. Why can't these people just stay the hell home? Must everyone else be subjected to their stupidity and ignorance? Now they have to ruin a wonderful Christmas time and fun for others? As for the sponsors, I don't do La Madeline anymore since I found a hair in my food. I sometimes frequent the Swinging Door for BBQ but I'll skip them now!
The statement by the Fort Bend County Tea Party Society president is just one delusional right winger offering delusional assurances to his followers. So what if they are outraged? They are still a minority of a minority. But thanks for reminding readers of their sponsors. La Madeline just went off the list of places at which I spend money.
...one more reason not to live in Sugar Land...