NEWS TALBOTT SPECIAL EDITION. 9-12-09 MARCH ON THE CAPITOL.

                                                                                                    9-13-09

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Hello to all. This is a SPECIAL EDITION OF NEWS TALBOTT. Before we go further, let it be said that over the past ten years, we here at the NEWS have taken many liberties with the truth, made fun of lots of things, been silly, been foolish, been profane, been lewd, told some absolute bold faced falsehoods and some glaring truths, all sometimes in the same paragraph. In this issue, unlike the norm, all the cards will be dealt face up, and all that follows will either be the unvarnished truth or the truth as seen and observed by the staff. Bottom line, no blarney here today. The reason: This is way too serious to be silly about. What follow are the raw notes compiled on the scene in company with the fine folks shown above, who represent no more than ten percent of the total crowd of protesters. We did not see the total magnitude of the crowd as it was too large to do so. Neither did we photograph it. The only people who saw the whole crowd were President Obama and his staff on MARINE ONE.  More on that in a bit. 

9-11-09. Let us begin by stating that the entire staff of NEWS TALBOTT departed Abingdon, VA on a bus arranged for by  THE 10 TH AMENDMENT FOUNDATION, INC, 903 E MAIN ST. ABINGDON, VA 20210. E mail        tenthamendmentfoundation@yahoo .com         web page 10thamendmentfoundation.org..... Feel free to contact these fine folks for more information.

The Tenth Amendment to The Constitution of the United States of America reads as follows:

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States , are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."     

Now to the trip notes. We left Abingdon about 600 AM on 9-11-09. Tour leader Strother Smith reports that DC has issued 4200 bus permits which translates  to over 200, 000 guaranteed attendees based upon 50 per bus.  A sign is mentioned: WE THE PEOPLE ARE TRIED OF BEING TOLD WE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE. Around 200 PM we were inside the DC beltway. Soon, we were all on the METRO headed to Capitol Hill to see the representatives and staff of our lawmakers. Of course, no actual lawmakers were in town as 9-11 was Friday and they seldom work in DC more than Tues thru Thurs. One, Rick Boucher of South West Virginia had agreed to meet with the Virginia residents on the Tenth Amendment bus but at the last minute claimed he thought they were coming on Thursday, and not on Friday as he had agreed to. Was he running from his constituents or confused? You decide. We were there. We have.  

We the people split into three groups. One group went to the House of Representatives Office building housing the offices of VA Rep Boucher et al. Another group went to the offices of the VA Senators and finally group, our group, to the office of Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander. Our  group included embedded newspaper reporter Deborah Mc Cown.  We spent a good hour with TN Sen Alexander's Chief of Staff Mr. Morganthall. He was kind, courteous, attentive, interested and helpful. He did what a chief of staff is  supposed to do, make us all feel good or at least better. He got an ear full, to include the breaking story of the ACORN bust in Baltimore where the undercover video team posing as a prostitute and her pimp seemed to have caught ACORN employees red handed advising the P & her P how to conceal their activities from the authorities and to dodge taxes. The same video also allegedly shows the P & her P asking how to bring 13 year old girls in from Ecuador for prostitution. They get advice on this from ACORN also. Mr Morganthall said he definitely wanted to view that video in that he did not know existed. We deduce he is not watching FOX NEWS. He did listen to everything we had to say. Whether he passes any or all of this on to the Senator is unknown.

The Tenth Amendment folks had prepared a document indicating why the current health care bill, HR 3200, is unconstitutional under the Tenth Amendment and for other reasons. Our intention was to deliver one of these to each member of the Senate and House of Representatives, a total of 535. Sadly, or gladly, our meeting in Sen Alexander's office allowed us time to only drop off 4 or 5 due to the late hour of completing our discussions. The Virginia group in the other Senate Office Building did much better, delivering to about half. In the House of Representatives Building, a strange thing happened. The Tenth Amendment folks were told by Capitol Police that to give anything to any one other than the representative of that particular citizen was not permitted and could lead to arrest and a night in the DC jail. Deferring  to authority, these folks took the materials to Rep Cantor's office(Virginia Rep) and his staff agreed to pass them along as best they could. No one was  arrested and all returned to the hotel safely for some rest pending the events scheduled for the next day.   

09-12-09. It was noted that the hotel room assigned the staff had a large portrait of George Washington on one wall, looking across the bed at a copy of the Declaration of Independence on the other. Nice touch Best Western. At breakfast we met protesters from Juneau, Alaska (told him to say hi to Sarah) and a man from the LA area of California. He may start a Tenth Amendment Foundation chapter on the west coast. Connie Chung reports DC METRO will be doing maintenance work on the lines feeding the Pennsylvania Ave area, the scene of the march. All trains will be delayed. Yesterday some authorities with the march were told the system would definitely be on maximum go, rush hour levels all day due to the crowds expected. Are we being hassled a bit or not? You decide. We were there. We have. 

The news media has been pretty silent about the whole thing.  A sign.  CHICAGO, TAKE BACK YOUR SEWER.  Soon we were on a standing room only train bound for 14 TH St and PA Ave. We immediately turned our back to the White House, and marched in reverse direction of the famous Jimmy Carter walk of several decades ago toward the Capitol Building.  A Chant of LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR went through the crowd many times. A rolling wave cheer made it's way many times across the throng marching the mile of so from the White House to the Capitol. The walk took well over an hour and a half  due to the mass of humanity moving in unison but very, very slowly slowly. Most had signs to carry, many insulting but none personally vicious or obscene. There was no litter seen though many of us had garbage bags handy if needed as our intention was to leave the place cleaner than when we got there.(As opposed to photos of the most recent Presidential inauguration). The POTUS  was leaving town via helicopter MARINE ONE from the White House to Andrews AB. Destination: the friendly confines of a planned and controlled town hall meeting in Minnesota. As the chopper left, it circled the mass of humanity on Pennsylvania Ave. Maybe someone should ask The  POTUS or the pilot for a crowd size estimate as they got the best look. The airspace above the march is permanently restricted to military aircraft only. We also wish to point out here that we understand that Presidential spokes person Robert Gibbs told FOX NEWS, the only network particularly interested in the whole thing, that as of Friday, 09-11-09 no one in the White House knew anything of any kind of march or protest  for the next day and had been taken completely by surprise. While we here at  NEWS TALBOTT do not believe this FOR EVEN A SECOND, we are willing in this instance to defer to the White House and accept the statement from Mr. Gibbs as absolutely true. Thus, they are by their own admission, totally inept and incapable of protecting us from enemies at home and abroad as mandated by the Constitution as they could not even see several hundred thousand home folks coming to town via 4200 busses, many trains  and planes and on foot, to tell them of the error of their ways. Many of the marchers walked with canes, a few rode in wheel chairs, many more in strollers or were in other ways physically hindered. Many we know walked in violation of doctors orders.  A good portion of the mass of humanity was way past 50. So, Mr. President, if you can not figure this out, a half million or a million (or maybe lots more) of the citizenry carrying signs coming out after you called us out on the previous Wednesday, we say, then sir, leave the office you hold as you are not remotely qualified to be Commander in Chief.

A Sign: OBAMA CARE   NEW COFFINS FOR OLD CLUNKERS.  A Sign: SQUIRRELS LOVE ACORN.

A Sign: OBAMA BIN LYIN.. A large poster with a nice picture of Sarah Palin was carried around the reflecting pond and a rolling cheer followed it's passage. A sign: ABORTION IS NOT HEALTHCARE. 

A Sign: "HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A TAXPAYER IGNORED. A Sign: GROW YOUR OWN DOPE . PLANT A POLITICIAN. A sign: THE PRODUCT OF MY LIFE'S WORK IS NOT YOUR SLUSH FUND. 

A Sign: WE NEED A COMMON SENSE CZAR. A Sign: GO GREEN- RECYCLE CONGRESS.

A Sign: ONE NATION UNDER PLUNDER.  And thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands more.

The big un-answered question as this is written is how many people actually were there protesting the present dysfunctional status of the federal government? What was the "official" number? Early on the media was talking hundreds, which was silly as the inner city march area was in major pedestrian gridlock by then. Later ABC and CBS and NBC, none paragons of conservatism,  were reported to have said the crowd numbered in the million range up to maybe a million and a half. The DC police department no longer provides crowd estimates, as our embedded reporter found out, though we do remember one "officially" estimated at 1.2 million for the most recent Presidential inauguration. So was this number, 1.2 million exceeded yesterday? We wish it so and think the answer is probably yes,  but frankly we have no idea and no particular expertise in judging crowd size other than personal previous experience. So, you all look at the pictures (we have many here in Talbott) and then you decide for yourselves. We were there. We have.

The bottom line of the demonstration, aside from it's noble purpose and apparent huge success was that we saw no hassles, no problems requiring the police and no litter. NONE!!!!  (If official DC Powers That Be estimate crowd  size by the amount of litter left, no more than a hand full of protesters showed up.) For all this we give thanks to the Almighty.

As the protest wound down it became more and more difficult to get around in DC. Some of our associates were delayed well over an hour on the METRO through no fault of their own and traffic was bumper to bumper on the interstate used by the outbound Tenth Amendment Express Bus. This continued for many, many miles outside the beltway. Was this all or in part due to the protest march or just normal Saturday traffic in DC? You decide. We were there. We have. 

A strange phenomenon was noted relative to the media. For a while, it seemed they might report what happened, or at least ten or 15 % of it. Many media outlets were checked via computers and some actual accurate reporting actually seemed to be taking place. Driving home, on the 2 AM radio news, CBS, the protest was the lead story, tens of thousands of protesters etc.  They even broadcast a quote from one of the speakers. True, it was not the quote we would have selected but it was good audio of  what actually happened. What was said was said, out of context or not.  By 3 AM, not even a mention. Nothing!  By the time we returned to Talbott, only FOX NEWS had a word to say about maybe as high as two million folks descending on the nation's Capitol, the largest group of conservatives to ever protest anything in this country's history. Their reporter checked and even the home town paper, the WASHINGTON POST was silent. So why the sudden change? Why the silencing of the controlled media coverage?  Did the POTUS come back from Minnesota, having spoken to only 15, 000 friends and supporters and decided this did not look so good for a sitting President? Did the White House send out the the order to the controlled media to shut up?  We do not really know, have no way of really knowing so you decide for yourselves. We were there.  We have.  

We take comfort and even a little sly delight in the media and the White House essentially ignoring us. This indicates they and the other liberal elites who pull their strings fear us. This is good. They should as we are determined to see them either change radically or become un employed, soon. A Sign. RECESSION IS WHEN YOUR NEIGHBOR LOSES HIS JOB.    DEPRESSION IS WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR JOB. RECOVERY IS WHEN THE POTUS AND THE CONGRESS LOSE THEIRS. 

A Chant. CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?     CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?   CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?

               CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?     CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?   CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?     

In Summary we can say this.     We were there.      We saw it all.        We saw what we saw.      We heard it all.      We heard what we heard.       There were between 200,000 and 2 million marchers in DC at this time( this is being written at 3 PM 9-13 -09 ) yesterday.  We believe the real number is toward the high end. These folks were not happy with the way the country is going yesterday and they are not happy today. Many, maybe most of them, actually for the first time in their lives, fear for the country, their country, the country they love, as they see it being destroyed before their very eyes.  Many, maybe even most, also fear their own government, a government that supposedly works for the people and is under the control of the people, for what it can and will likely do to them, left unchecked. All of the unhappy United States Citizens did not go to DC yesterday. How many are out in the country saying they wish could have been there? We really have no sure and accurate answer. You decide that for yourself. We were there. We have.

We do know this as fact. Pretending something did not happen does not make it a fantasy. Not reporting the facts does not change the facts.  Congress should heed the people before 2010. The POTUS should do so before 2012.  Actually, both would have been well advised to do so months ago, and certainly would be well advised to do so immediately. We feel a quote by an average citizen, a quote found in the KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL this very day on page A 4 is appropriate at this moment." "If the march has no effect on the nation's direction, then the politicians are a lot more stupid than we thought they were." To this we here at NEWS TALBOTT can only add that if things remain the same a year from now, there will be another protest, in DC we presume, and we will be there, God willing, hopefully with five million or ten million or how ever many million it takes to get the job done. CAN YOU HEAR US NOW? 

                                                                                                            Charles W Wise

                                                                                                                American      

Note to all. A copy of this will be sent to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and to the United States Representative and Senators representing Talbott, Tennessee. All receiving this piece are free to do with it as they might.  

NEWS TALBOTT SPECIAL EDITION---POST SCRIPT. 09-14-09 10 AM

To All.   Good Morning. We have a few comments not made yesterday as we were a bit fatigued and simply forgot.

1. Presidential mouth piece David Axelrod stated emphatically words to the effect that the few citizens at the protest rally on 09-12-09 do not represent even a small portion of the people, are a tiny fringe minority, an insignificant few and should simply be ignored as kooks. Simply put, he said SCREW YOU to over half the American people represented by the protesters, most whom were home getting though life alive in the Obamanation instead of marching for freedom in DC. To this we say GOOD, VERY GOOD. Ignore us at your peril Mr. A Rod. You sound much more like King George than King David.

2. The LONDON DAILY MAIL correctly reported on the demonstration in Washington DC from across the pond a few miles. They noted that between one and two million folks showed up to chat with their government. Their eyesight is very good. The MAIL certainly did not get the story from the local rag, THE WASHINGTON DC POST which has yet to note anything of significance near the Capitol Saturday. Again, GOOD , VERY GOOD. Being ignored is a good thing.

3. Please look again at the picture above. The Washington Monument in the background was erected as it is to honor the Father of Our Country and thus, the country he founded. It  was not placed there as an obscene one fingered hand gesture from The Imperial Federal Government of King Barack the Least to WE THE PEOPLE. It certainly can be seen that way, though during these trying times. 

                                                                                         Charlie 

By DEBRA MCCOWN
Reporter / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: September 13, 2009

WASHINGTON – The folks from the Tri-Cities region who attended Saturday’s national tea party left with one message still to share: They hope their voices were heard, and if not, they’ll be back.

“If they can’t take a hint from this, I think there’s a lot of them going to be losing their jobs come election time,” said Larry Swanger, a 66-year-old truck driver who traveled here for the protest on one of two buses from Greeneville, Tenn.

“It’s not over,” said Lori Grabner, a 41-year-old registered nurse and teacher from Greeneville, Tenn. “We’ll go back as many times as it takes.”

Strother Smith, who organized the group that traveled on a bus from Abingdon, Va., said it was a success – and his group, the Tenth Amendment Foundation, has commitments from folks in eight different parts of the country to start chapters in their congressional districts.

They also spread a lot of fliers on the constitutional reasons for their opposition to health care reform – and had fun.

“It was refreshing to learn that there are actually a lot of people who believe in what we’re doing and are finally waking up and taking an active role in their government,” said Richard Macbeth, 56, a retired information technology specialist from Abingdon.

“I felt so much positive energy,” said Sally Hale, 57, a customer service specialist from Kingsport, Tenn. “The heart-stirring singing of ‘God Bless America’ on the metro on the way there almost brought tears to my eyes … because of the patriotism.”

Smith said he’d received more than 125 last-minute calls from people wanting to go along – and the group could’ve brought three buses from Abingdon if they’d had advance notice.

Joyce Wallace, who rode on one of the Greeneville buses, said they, too, could have brought three buses – and even had long waiting lines of folks show up hoping to get a seat.

Amanda Milton was lucky enough to get a seat that way “It’s a big thing,” said Milton, 19, of Greeneville. “I think we will be heard.”

dmccown@bristolnews.com | (276) 791-0701

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Jim Bebout Seeking Republican Nomination For Virginia’s 9th District (At 10th Amendment Foundation Tea Party) Congressman Roe and Delegate Kilgore Also Speak

DEBRA MCCOWN

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By DEBRA MCCOWN
Reporter / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: July 7, 2009

BRISTOL, Va. – A Marion, Va., entrepreneur announced Monday he hopes to challenge longtime U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th.

Jim Bebout, 50, said he will seek the Republican nomination to run next year for the 9th District seat during a “tea party” protest at Sugar Hollow Park on Monday evening.

Soft-spoken and wearing a button-down shirt, worn loafers and a newsboy cap, Bebout described himself as the “average Joe citizen … who’s pretty much fed up with politicians that just let you down at every turn.”

He spoke to a crowd of more than 200, according to a sign-in list kept by event organizers.

“I’m watching my country get run over a cliff, and I have to do something,” he added.

Bebout said he moved to Southwest Virginia from Hampton Roads to retire – but he couldn’t stand to sit back and watch the country continue on its current path.

“Although he has brought home the bacon to the 9th District for 28 years, he’s doing it now while the kitchen is burning down,’ Bebout said of Boucher. “A lot of what he’s doing is unconstitutional.”

Boucher, asked in advance of the event for his thoughts about a then-unnamed political challenger and claims that the cap-and-trade legislation he supports is unconstitutional, said many of the statements likely to be made at the picnic were false, and he believed it would be primarily a Republican rally.

“The total cost [of the cap and trade bill] for the typical American family is less than a postage stamp per day,” Boucher said. “Coal production and use will continue to grow. ... This bill is a job-creator.”

Boucher, who ran unopposed last year, said he’s not surprised to hear of a challenger already announcing plans to run for his seat in 2010, when the congressional race will not be overshadowed by a presidential race.

“I’m sure there’ll be more than that before it’s all said and done,” Boucher said of likely opponents. “It’ll be a fun year next year.”

Bebout was among the speakers at Monday’s picnic who decried the size of recent government spending and declared the need for reduced federal spending.

The others included U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, R-1st, of Tennessee, and Virginia Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City. Boucher was invited but did not attend.

Bebout said he will only pursue the GOP nomination for Boucher’s seat if Kilgore chooses not to run; Kilgore said he plans to seek re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates, where he has served for 16 years.

Kilgore spoke about the need to fight cap-and-trade legislation, which would limit emissions of carbon dioxide; he also spoke in support of Republican Bob McDonnell’s candidacy for governor.

“It’s time that Virginia sends a message to the rest of the nation that we are going back to conservative principles,” Kilgore said. “Bob is not going to go for the government takeover of all this stuff. He will fight for our state’s rights.”

Roe said he has a simple philosophy for government: “Spend less than you take in.”

He said many congressmen vote on bills they’ve never read – and that’s why so many pass that saddle taxpayers with tremendous debt and, in his view, contradict the Constitution.

Roe, a doctor, said the proposed health care reforms would destroy the private health care industry, stifle medical innovation and the quality of life achieved by American medical technology.

He said he believes cap and trade legislation would drive Kingsport’s Eastman Chemical Co., a major employer in his district, out of business or overseas while raising the average family’s electric bill by $3,000 per year.

He said Congress recently approved $30 million to buy wetlands near California to protect a mouse, and $50 million to protect swans and big cats in foreign countries – and called it “unconscionable” wasteful spending with borrowed funds at a time when many Americans lack jobs and health care.

“We have spent $1.5 million for signs to say ‘This project was funded by the stimulus package,’” Roe said. “How dumb is that?”

dmccown@bristolnews.com | (276) 791-0701