Support Roanoke Tea Party member and all around good guy John Brill as the new chair of the committee, and get more information on the GOP candidates. It’s in the City Council Chambers

215 Church Ave SW # 456

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Attn: Mitt Romney

Forget about the cheesy grits and rolled up sleeves. Be yourself, put on a tie and be the Bain capital guy. Take the advice of Dr. Seuss: “Be who you are & say how you feel for those that matter don’t mind and those that mind do not matter.”  When you act like someone you are not, you come across as dishonest.  Our current president is this cool guy who is destroying the country. You do not need to compete with him on that level. You will not win at being cool. Be yourself and compete for the votes of thinking intelligent, hard working conservative Americans, Obama has the socialists wrapped up.

Pretend you are at Bain Capital. (The Constitution is the guide/handbook)

Trilateral leadership – Legislative, Judicial, Executive. The owners (stockholders) are taxpayers.

Company/Government Values – Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence. Mission – Protect the Life, Liberty & Property of US citizens allowing the pursuit of happiness.

First Step – Stop excessive spending of a wildly out of control, NO budget government.

Your goal is NOT: Regulating happiness, providing care & joy to all citizens, Re-distributing wealth, and spending taxes to “stimulate” the economy, fitting into a world government, or going along with the UN.

Do NOT speculate with tax dollars and stop current speculation. Leave speculation to free markets. In times of surplus CUT taxes or pay down debt. Remember public unions work for the taxpayer; a lucrative public union contract is not an example, it is a waste of tax money. Make cost savings a priority. Less spending is better, least is best. Keep firm the public trust to Social Security, Medicare ,and Medicaid. Do not spend them out of existence.

Work to spare our environmental problems but do not buy into Agenda 21 environmental extremism, banning fossil fuels, Cap and trade, forced Urban development areas, and energy speculation. The government should not own land. Regulations should only be in place to directly protect the public. Obscure light bulb regulations, nanny state food regulations and overbearing restrictions are NOT in the public interest and are unconstitutional. Even after you cut spending for eight years our federal government will still be too big.

Taxes are for raising funds to provide government services. They are not in place to redistribute wealth, punish your enemy, help your friends, or reward your political supporters.

Read on, readers to see the real-life effects of an unelected government agency gone mad with power.

Dear ****,

The Environmental Protection Agency is out-of-control. And your property could be next. Too often, our rights are being violated by abusive and power-hungry EPA bureaucrats, using threats, coercion and force to implement their power grabs.

These regulations have hampered landowners’ ability to manage their private property as they please and have impaired job creation. Americans are suffering from the overreach of regulatory agencies such as the EPA.

Our economy, job growth and private property rights are at stake. Today, I’m asking you to stand with me and start to fight back against an out-of-control federal government. Please take a minute to sign the “Defense of Property” petition I’ve had prepared for you, and if possible, lend your support today to our effort to stop the Obama EPA in its tracks. I’ll give you a link in a moment, but I want to tell you why this legislation is so vital. When power is left in the hands of the executive, it will ALWAYS grow. There is no mechanism to stop it within the executive branch. Budgets will balloon. Pages of regulations will proud. And power will cause those in charge to act like masters instead of servants, something that happens all too frequently in our government these days.

** EPA regulations cost more than 5 percent of our annual gross domestic product, the equivalent of the costs of defense and homeland security combined.

** Since EPA regulations have been taking property, jobs and businesses away from citizens, unemployment in America has increased by 33 percent.

** This abuse of power by the implementation of regulations infringes upon our basic rights, and it harms each and every one of us whether or not we are affected directly by one of their rules.

But that’s not all. These are the facts, but there are also the stories, the faces, the suffering. The omnipresent harassment of the government in the lives of ordinary Americans. In Pennsylvania, take the story of John Pozsgai, an immigrant from Hungary, who worked as a mechanic and eventually saved enough money to purchase the land bordering his home in Morrisville, Pa. This land was an old auto junkyard, and Mr. Pozsgai, taking pride in his home, proceeded to clean up this landfill by removing 7,000 old tires and rusted-out automobiles. However, the EPA did not view this effort as a clean-up but rather a violation of the Clean Water Act. You see, Mr. Pozsgai’s property was a “wetland,” ambiguously defined by the EPA as any property that has some sort of connection to a wetland. That connection to a wetland was a small drainage ditch located on the edge of his property. Mr. Pozsgai did not need a permit to dump topsoil on an isolated wetland. However, the Army Corps of Engineers insisted he apply for one. Next, the EPA set up surveillance cameras to capture Mr. Pozsgai filling his land with topsoil. EPA agents then arrested him for “discharging pollutants into waters of the United States.”These “pollutants” consisted of earth, topsoil and sand. The EPA openly admits that no hazardous wastes were involved in the case, yet Mr. Pozsgai was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison and fined $202,000. Mr. Pozsgai spent 1 1/2 years in prison, 1 1/2 in a halfway house, and was under supervised probation for five years. His family went bankrupt and was unable to pay its property taxes on the land. You may have recently heard the case of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sackett, of Priest Lake, Idaho, who have also fallen victim to the EPA’s abusive and overbearing practices. The Sackett family sought to build a house on their half-acre of land, yet after construction broke ground, the EPA interfered, claiming the family violated the Clean Water Act by placing fill materials into “wetlands.” Their property was designated as a wetland, yet their neighbors have built houses on either side of their lot and their lot already has established sewage lines. Their lot does not harbor a lake, pond or stream, yet the EPA is requiring them to obtain a building permit that would cost more than the value of their land. The Sacketts proceeded by filing suit, but the request was dismissed by a federal judge. This past month, the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in the Sackett’s favor, giving them a partial victory, but leaving the regulations that harassed them in place.

The repeated abuse of power by the EPA has been noted across the country, infringing on the lives of all Americans. Property rights were once regarded as fundamental to the protection of liberty, and it is time that legislators restore the value of personal property and do something about governmental overreach.

That’s why I introduced the Defense of the Environment and Property Act, which would finally define wetlands and navigable waters in the law, and stop the out-of-control EPA and its war on private property. And that is why it’s vital you act today to help pass this crucial bill. You can start by sending a Petition to your Congressman and Senators. The bill is gaining steam and supporters every day in Congress, as more and more of these stories are told. RANDPAC wants to keep telling these stories, keep up the pressure to take on the EPA and restore our liberty.

For Liberty,

Rand Paul
United States Senator

www.randpacusa.com

Conscience and Confidence

Roanoke Tea Party members are a free-thinking, independent group of folks who don’t need telling what the Constitution is about and don’t need to be told what is right or wrong. Sure, there are occasional differences of opinion but there is never the fear that they can’t be openly discussed. Not bending to some collective will is what makes us better, which brings me to the point of this. Should the Roanoke Tea Party endorse political candidates? A related question is should the RTP give preferential treatment to one candidate over another who may share the values we do?

Over the last year, I have directly or indirectly been engaged in several conversations on whether the RTP should or should not endorse political candidates. At first mention of it, I thought why not? After all, we are what would be called conservatives so how could we as a group not have some general consensus on a political candidate? I now see the horrible error of my initial thoughts and the wisdom of the board, as I understand it, in making a decision not to endorse candidates. Recall our presidential straw poll done when there were seven candidates standing? RTP members were all over the board on that one. I was somewhat surprised at the time and now realize I shouldn’t have been. Who am I to dictate to another’s conscience? Finding Tripp Godsey last year, or vice versa, was a coup of sorts for the RTP and backing him against John Edwards wasn’t a bad thing to do. But, was it the right thing to do?

I wouldn’t describe myself as ‘the sharpest tack in the box’ so this thought process has taken some time culminating with the current Virginia Senatorial campaign. What we have now is a de facto endorsement by the RTP for E.W. Jackson. This has been  apparent for some time with the many pro-Jackson posts on the RTP Facebook page and the RTP website. We have Jackson campaign updates at meetings. We had a post-debate picnic hosted by E.W. Jackson and the RTP in ‘Jackson Park’. The other candidates were invited of course, but why would they have bothered given that venue?

Just to be clear, I do not find any real fault with Jackson – only differences of opinion on some issues. The issue is the tacit endorsement of a candidate. I think we all appreciate the work Chip Tarbutton and Greg Aldridge have put into the Jackson campaign, and they should be commended for what they have done on his behalf. Take a moment to consider an extreme though. What if they had committed the same effort for George Allen’s campaign and used the RTP platform for that? OK, OK…. When pigs fly, but you get my gist.

We are all confident in our individual and resolute convictions that we are fighting the right fight regardless of how we approach it. We are ‘not a collective’ and that is the beauty of the RTP. If we end our discussions, we will have become the ‘Borg’.

Officially issuing an endorsement of political candidates for office is a road only twice traveled by RTP. Several members of the Board (myself included) have come to oppose these endorsements, the chief reason being, they tend to divide our numbers. That’s just the opposite of what we want to do, therefore, we have no current plans to offer endorsement in the Senate primary. That is no indication we’ll never do it again. Indeed, sometime in the future we may find it necessary or helpful to take that step.

Terry’s point is well taken – though there has been no official endorsement, there is no question, we have spent more time on E.W. Jackson-related coverage at both our meetings and here on the website than we have on the other candidates in the U.S. Senate primary. There are some in our membership who would prefer Del. Bob Marshall, Jamie Radtke, or Gov. George Allen, roughly in that order. The clear favorite though, has been Jackson.

As President, most of the responsibility of writing for the website and setting the agenda for our public meetings typically rests with me. Generally it’s taken on a first-come-first-served basis, and though I have not been approached by any of the other U.S. Senate campaigns to address our group, I have not personally reached out to them either. That will change starting today. If anyone is to be criticized for a lack of balance, it’s me. I need to do a better job presenting all the information, for I believe, as ever, when given that information, our membership doesn’t need advice on how to vote.

Stay tuned… The June 12th primary is just around the corner.

Gregory Honeycutt
President, Roanoke Tea Party

Another month has flown by… The Congress is back in session, and up to their usual shenanigans, the GOP Presidential primary is all but a done deal for Mitt Romney, but the U.S. Senate primary rages on here in Virginia. In other words – there’s no rest for the weary Patriots!

Please come out Thursday evening and join us for Roanoke Tea Party’s May meeting; this month features a presentation by Annie Cellato from Americans For Prosperity. Ms. Cellato is the chief grassroots organizer, and has prepared a powerpoint segment entitled “Economic Freedom”, which highlights State and Federal legislation that affect us daily. She will also touch on AFP’s grassroots phone-banking efforts.

We’ll be introducing the newly-elected Chairman of the Roanoke City Republican Committee, John Brill, and get an update from our own Greg Aldridge and Chip Tarbutton on the E.W. Jackson Campaign.

As always at our meetings, there will be coffee and beans at Mr. Tickle’s Liberty Cafe’, lively conversation, and comraderie between fellow Patriots, plus all the information you need on RTP’s local activities.

Hope to see you all there…

Gregory Honeycutt

President, Roanoke Tea Party

Some of you may remember this article from last month, where she takes on a revisionist history professor and a columnist who thought the individual mandate within Obamacare had 200 year old precedent.

Here is today’s:

WHY CONGRESS MAY LAWFULLY REQUIRE CITIZENS TO BUY GUNS AND AMMUNITION

By Publius Huldah
May 2, 2012
NewsWithViews.com

Harvard Law School was embarrassed recently when one of its graduates, the putative President of the United States, demonstrated that he was unaware that the supreme Court has constitutional authority to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional.[1]

And after reading a recent paper by Harvard law professor Einer Elhauge, one wonders whether the academic standards (or is it the moral standards?) of that once great school have collapsed.

Professor Elhauge says in “If Health Insurance Mandates Are Unconstitutional, Why Did the Founding Fathers Back Them?” (The New Republic, April 13, 2012), that Congress may force us to buy health insurance because in 1792, our Framers required all male citizens to buy guns; and in 1798 required ship owners using U.S. ports (dock-Yards) to pay a fee to the federal government in order to fund hospitals for sick or disabled seamen at the U.S. ports.

Oh! What tangled webs are woven when law professors write about Our Constitution! I have already proved that Art. I, Sec. 8, next to last clause (which grants to Congress “excusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever” over dock-Yards and the other federal enclaves) is what authorizes Congress to assess the fee from ship owners who use the federal dock-Yards. See: Merchant Seamen in 1798, Health Care on Federal Enclaves, and Really Silly Journalists.

Now I will show you where the Constitution grants authority to Congress to require adult citizens to get armed!

The Constitution Authorizes Congress To Require Citizens to Buy Guns and Ammunition.

In 1792, Congress passed “An Act more effectually to provide for the National Defense by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States.”[2] This Act required all able-bodied male citizens (except for federal officers and employees) between the ages of 18 and under 45 to enroll in their State Militia, get a gun and ammunition, and train.

Does Congress have authority in the Constitution to require this? Yes! Article I, Sec. 8, clause 16 says Congress has the Power:

“To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;” [boldface mine]

That is what authorizes Congress to require adult male citizens to buy guns and ammunition.

As Section 1 of the Militia Act of 1792 reflects, the “Militia” is the citizenry! Our Framers thought it such a fine idea that The People be armed, that they required it by law! See, e.g., the second half of Federalist Paper No. 46 where James Madison, Father of Our Constitution, speaks of how wonderful it is that the American People are armed – and why they need to be.[3]

So! In the case of Congress’ requiring adult citizens to buy guns and ammunition, Congress has specific authority under Art. I, Sec. 8, cl.16.

In the case of Congress’ requiring ship owners who use the federal dock-Yards to pay the fees to fund the marine hospitals at the dock-Yards, Congress is granted by Art. I, Sec.8, next to last clause, a general legislative power over the federal enclaves, such as dock-Yards.[4]

But for the country at large, Congress has no broad grant of legislative powers. There, Congress’ powers are few, limited, and strictly defined.

I’m thinking about granting this lady an honorary membership.

Here is the article in it’s entirety.

Gregory Honeycutt
President, Roanoke Tea Party

The incumbent Mayor, David Bowers faces a Republican challenger this time, in local entrepreneur Mark Lucas. As his platform suggests, Mr. Lucas seems interested in actually doing something in that job besides ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Roanoke City should be a target-rich environment for someone with such aspirations.

As far as City Council goes, the choices are pathetically slim. One Independent, Brandon Bushnell, who identifies with the Occupy Roanoke group, has stepped forward to run. Though his positions render his candidacy a non-starter for us, we salute the effort. There are no Republican challengers to the 3 incumbent Democrats. None, Zilch, Nada, Zip. That is plainly unacceptable.

The question has been posed several times, what role if any, Roanoke Tea Party would play in shaping this election. I’m sorry to report, the answer is; none.

Though Roanoke Tea Party has never shied from any task because it seemed difficult, it takes a substantial amount of lead time to develop a slate of candidates for City Council races. Due to the way council races are structured, a single candidate running alone is at a severe disadvantage. Our offer to the Roanoke Republican Committee to assist in recruiting viable candidates for this election cycle was met with an assurance that they had things under control, and by the time it became clear that only a single candidate was on board, there was simply not enough time to be of any assistance. That’s not finger-pointing – that’s just the way it was. Assigning blame at this late hour is pointless.

On a brighter note, we do have some assurance from John Brill, the newly elected Chairman of the Roanoke City Republican Committee, that in the future there will be an open and regular dialogue between the Committee and various Liberty groups in town. We hope that will ensure these circumstances will not be repeated.

As always, if you, or someone you know would like to run for public office in either Roanoke City or Roanoke County, we would very much like to meet with you.

Please remember to vote tomorrow.

Gregory Honeycutt
President, Roanoke Tea Party

Over 100 attended the event in Jackson Park!

The after-debate cookout was a huge success with over 100 in attendance! Thank you to everyone who came out.

Being in a part of the tea party movement has been a very educational experience. In the beginning, I felt a connection to others in the movement from all over the Virginia. Over time, I discovered that while we all had the same basic goals, all tea parties are not created equal.

Roanoke City GOP Chairman John Brill with RPV Chairman Pat Mullins

Most recently and as a catalyst to yesterday’s event, people working behind the scenes have kept Bishop Jackson out of a few tea party events. Most notable was his own tea party in Hampton Roads who’s leadership would not allow him to speak at their tax day rally despite the insistence of at least two members of their leadership. And to make matters worse, some attempted to shame him for just attending.

I am trying to think of an event that the Roanoke Tea Party has hosted where we refused participation to one of our members running for public office. I can’t.

Bishop Jackson and Jackie V. from the Floyd Tea Party. Thanks for making the trip Jackie!

We have never operated that way. Yesterday’s event should be an example to our patriot families in our area and across the state of how to treat people.

While it is true some of us in the leadership of the Roanoke Tea Party are Supporters of Bishop E.W. Jackson, and also would like to as the Hampton Roads Tea Party put it, “use our event to give our candidate the best possible platform to win”, we did not block the other candidates from participating. Bob Marshall, George Allen and even Jamie Radtke weren’t just invited to attend. They were invited to speak.

Patriots traveled from all over S.W. Virginia to see Bishop Jackson

I got involved in the tea party movement to fight alongside other patriots to regain our freedom, not to fight with other patriots about the details. The only way to save our republic is together. When can we start?

Gregory Aldridge

Do Not Let the Government Watch Your Every Move Online!

Congress is set to vote soon on a bill to allow government agencies to get information on your online activities. This isn’t the first time they have tried to encroach on your internet privacy rights. You may recall the earlier attempt best known as SOPA and PIPA.

This legislation, H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011 (CISPA) authorizes internet service providers to share customer communications and other personally identifiable information with government agencies.  This bill does not distinguish between thefts and public and private information. Click here for more information on CISPA.

Take Action Now!

Click Here to call Congress today and your representative to vote “No” on H.R. 3523.

Thank you!

First, at 11:00 am, the E.W. Jackson Team, headed by our own Chip Tarbutton and Greg Aldridge, is holding a rally at the debate site. Bring a sign and make sure you are in line for a seat for the first U.S. Senate debate…seating is limited.

Beginning at noon, the Virginia Tea Party Network will be broadcasting live from the debate site at the Clarion as well. We’re told the hour will be chock full of can’t miss interviews and some spirited exchanges. Tune in to 910 am in the Roanoke area or listen online at FoxRadioRoanoke.com

The doors open to the much-anticipated debate between the four Republican candidates for U.S. Senate at 2:15. Since the seating is limited, and first come – first served, we STRONGLY recommend you come early! The debate itself takes place from 3-4:30 and is certain to produce headlines, as this will be the first time all the candidates; George Allen, Jamie Radtke, Robert “Bob” Marshall, and E.W. Jackson face off with one another publicly. Here’s is our chance to see them in action.

At 5:00, immediately following the debate (and this is where we come in) is a BIG post-debate party. The party will be held at the pavilion at Jackson Park in S.E. Roanoke. Get directions here.

All the candidates are invited of course, as well as every local elected official and several other office-seekers. I’m told several prominent Republicans throughout the State have rsvp’d as of this afternoon including head of the State Republican party Pat Mullins. It’s really hard to tell who else might be in attendance.

One thing is for sure – The events of this Saturday are truly exciting, possibly historic, and we are proud to be the hometown Tea Party hosting the best party in town! There’s going to be FOOD, DRINK, MUSIC, and face time with the next U.S. Senator from Virginia.

This Saturday, bring your family, bring 2 or 3 of your friends, bring lawn chairs and come out to celebrate with us.

Gregory Honeycutt
President, Roanoke Tea Party