WOW! Tea party's are really expensive!

[Joanne98]

Estimated costs of the San Antonio Tea Party, April 15, 2009
Prepared April 10, 2009
We are a new non-profit corporation, and appreciate all donations we receive. In order that donors are aware that contributions are needed and being spent wisely, we want to share with everyone the estimated costs of this event.

These numbers are just estimates, of course, and we’ll revise them as we get more information. In the description below, AP stands for Alamo Plaza and HP stands for Hemisfair Park.

So far we have raised about $12,000 from the website and passing the hat at our meetings.

Amount Description
$ 5,000 Costs of permits from City of SA
$425 Insurance binder paid to City of SA
$4,000 Reimbursement of travel costs to stage set up crew
$1,235 Barricade rental for AP and HP
$13,000 Rough estimate of security costs for AP
$3,750 Port-a-pottie rental for both AP and HP
$30,000 Estimated cost of stage equipment for AP
$300 Media room rental
$13,000 Rough estimate of security costs for HP
$20,000 Estimated cost of stage equipment for HP
$1,000 Flags to hand out for donations at the event
$91,710 Total so far

http://www.theythinkyouarestupid.com/funding.shtml

:nopity:

[janedum]

1. Huge Right Wing movement behind tea-parties

Thousands of tea parties are scheduled for the summer.
This is a full-fledged assault against Obama.
WHY WEREN'T THERE ANY TEA PARTIES DURING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION?

[spotbird]

5. It looks to me like they are

working on fascist revolution. They are pretty stupid, but with sufficient numbers they might do some real damage.

Why does the right hate civilization?

[janedum]

17. You're right .. Real damage IS coming ..

Right-wing radio is rounding up all the angry right-wingers.
There are some real angry people out here. And they're angry about two things:
Obama is president and illegal immigration. They don't care that the economic situation was created on Bush's watch. They only care about what's happening NOW.
You won't believe some of the stuff I hear from right-wingers at work. It's pretty scary.
THEY are getting ready to cause a lot of problems for Obama.
It's no laughing matter.
Dems and libs who think this is a joke or thing right-winger are stupid, better think twice.
THEY ARE ORGANIZING.

[bunnies]

2. ha! Idiots spending $ to bitch about spending $.

Thats perfect. :rofl:

[spotbird]

3. $26,000 for Security?

What makes me think the security is the organization of a militia?

This Tea Party thing seemed like a joke until I saw that.

[DS1]

21. Police overtime

They make some serious cash here in MA anyway, of course they have a strong union.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Pocket Change On K Street

And that total definitely doesn't include all the money being paid to the party operatives to "organize" these "spontaneous" protests. I wouldn't be surprised if people are, again, bussed in...free food and a couple bucks for their time...to fill out the crowds. It's what rushpublicans do.

The fun will be the aftermath...or lack of it. Once all the noise has been made, what will they have accomplished? They sure won't have an effect on tax policy or the economy. This is an attempt by party leaders to keep their hordes in line...throw some red meat at them and let the animals growl and fight for the meat. In the end, they have nothing to show for this other than a lot of overstuffed porta potties.

What is amazing is how two people...Chris Dodd and Barney Frank...both in the minority for all but the past 2 years somehow ruined the entire banking system. But then responsibility and accountability were never a rushpulbicans strong suit.

[meegbear]

6. $1,000 for flags?

They sure are expensive.

[gratuitous]

19. You'd think all these uber-hatriots would have their own

But while they don't have any money to pay taxes, they have lots of money for ersatz tax protests. Things that make you go "Hmmmmm."

[samplegirl]

7. Teabagging rally in my town today......

where thousands of GM workers stand to lose their jobs and their pensions.
Can't wait to see what kinda idiots turn up for this.

Maybe I can find a few Moran pics.

Anyway I K&R this thread!!!

[bdamomma]

8. Krugman has it right on this one

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Krugman_Astroturf_groups_organizing_teabagging_events_0414.html

snip of article:

"Playing off a Sunday op-ed by New York Times economist Paul Krugman, Maddow touched on the issue of "AstroTurf" in the tea parties, which Krugman suggested are in-part "manufactured" by "right-wing billionaires."

[Blue Meany]

9. No scones or crumpets? n/t

[GinaMaria]

10. Tea Parties have been in the works for over a year... read more here

Here are some threads

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5426459 posted by Mari333
Playboy Mysteriously Pulls Rick Santelli/Koch Industries/Tea Party Astroturfing Article
http://broadcatching.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/playboy-mysteriously-pulls-rick-santelli-koch-industries-tea-party-astoturfing-article/ Mari333 also posted this in her thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5181795 More from AnnaBanana
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5157810 Great post from RedEarth
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/drm604/40 check out drm604’s journal. He traced this back to last March (a year ago)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5155235 post by Christa
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5164585 Babylonsister’s thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5158396 kpete’s contribution
There are many more. We need to find a way to loop all this information together.

[bdamomma]

11. read this article tells everything.

http://savetherich.com/content/open-letter-media-what-astroturf-looks

snip of article.

"Astroturf." Fake grassroots. It's what you get when big business and rich zealots hire pricey consultants to manufacture public outrage.

With big budgets, limitless manpower, sophisticated targeting, and a sympathetic media channel, it's not difficult to generate anger.

We will spend the next days documenting exactly who these people are. They are pushing a message out to the press, and with the press. It's going to take information and work to push back.

The evidence of astroturfing is everywhere:

Corporate lobbyists and their consultants are organizing behind the scenes. Many of the events are being run by staff from think tanks like Americans for Prosperity, Freedom Works and American Solutions for Winning the Futures (ASWF) an organization run by former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Fox News is encouraging turnout, sponsoring, and covering "Tea Parties" across the country. They're coordinating much of the information for organizers on-line. Fox News hosts -- Beck, Cavuto, Hannity, Bruce, Van Susteren, Malkin and Gingrich -- are featured guests at some of the largest gatherings.

Protesters have no idea what they're talking about. At Tea Parties that have taken place over the last few days, attendees are more concerned with Obama's birth certificate than high taxes or government spending. Fringe gun groups, secessionists, anti-immigration activists and neo-Nazis are out in force.

Republican officials are driving turn out. Sen. David Vitter is even sponsoring a bill to honor the protests. At least 12 Republican members of Congress will be featured guests at the Tea Parties. 11 of the 12 Members of Congress attending the events voted against limiting excessive bonuses just two weeks ago.

[Stevenmarc]

12. Cost of Teabags $2.39, the tea party $91,710..... Stupidity... Priceless

[TankLV]

13. Who/what is "AP" and "HP" and why the separation out of the same costs?

It's more like a twenty bucks for these items at most, and the rest goes to the SALARYIES of the idiots running this scam!!!

[Laelth]

20. Looks like two separate events.

IIRC, AP = Alamo Pavilion. Can't remember what HP stands for, but it's another location.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Hubert Flottz]

14. "$3,750 Port-a-pottie rental for both AP and HP"

Proof of how full of shit these shitbags are.

[cherish44]

15. It's "parties" not "party's"

:hi:

Sorry but I've seen a lot of misused aspostrophes today and it's not even 8 a.m. Wake me up when this day is over!

[Joanne98]

18. Too late to edit. Sorry.

:spank:

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. We protest against the war twice a week and it doesn't cost a dime

Why the hell are they spending all this money??

What a bunch of numbnuts.