by Ashley Byrd

State lawmakers are off this week and will return to Columbia on April 13. When they return, they will be the focus of attention of the Tea Party groups in the state.

The conservative arm of the Republican Party gained momentum this time last year, with large-scale rallies on tax day in the state and in Washington. There will be a couple of Tea Party rallies coming up this month, but the attention is now shifting from Congress and the White House to the Statehouse. [Read more →]

By Daniel Hannan

The inaugural British Tea Party will take place on Saturday in my home town of Brighton, and I’ll be speaking. Do try to come: here are the details.

Labour has raised more than a trillion pounds in additional taxation since 1997. Yet, unbelievably, Gordon Brown has still managed to run up a deficit of 12.6 per cent of GDP (Greece’s is 12.7 per cent). A far lower level of taxation brought Americans out in spontaneous protest last year.

If you happen to be coming to the Conservative Spring Conference, do please pop in: the Tea Party is five minutes’ walk from the conference venue. It is, however, outside the security zone, and anyone is welcome to come. Oh, and this being England, we’ll be serving actual, you know, tea. I hope to see some of this blog’s readers there.

The Upcountry Coalition of Conservative Organizations (including local tea parties, RINO HUNT groups, 9/12 groups, ABATE, Americans for Prosperity, and others) held a press conference at Tommy’s Ham House in Greenville, SC at 11AM on 2/12/2010. The press conference was held to dispel misunderstandings regarding the relationship of the SCGOP and local tea party groups.

These misunderstandings arose following two interviews SCGOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd had on national television. To see the interviews, visit http://andersonteaparty.com/blog/342

Harry Kibler of RINO HUNT clarifies the agreement between the SCGOP and local “tea party” groups:

SCGOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd speaks regarding her statements to the national media on the agreement between the SCGOP and local “tea party” groups:

Q&A:

In case you missed it Wednesday afternoon on Fox News, SC GOP Chair Karen Floyd was interviewed by Eric Bolling (filling in for Neil Cavuto):

And again Thursday morning on “Morning Joe”:

Notice what Mrs. Floyd actually said, vs what the news anchors said. Had she been more emphatic about the fact that the SCGOP is not taking over the tea party coalition, etc, it might have helped quell the misinformation flying around out there.

RINO HUNT Newsletter
January 31, 2010

I am pleased to announce the outcome of a meeting early this afternoon. The leadership of the upstate coalition of conservative organizations met with the Chairman of the Greenville County GOP to discuss the Greenville County and State GOP plan to implement a Tea Party Republican organization.

The Chairman eloquently stated the goals of the County and State GOP to move the Party toward conservative ideology and adherence to the Party platform by incumbents and candidates. The coalition stated their position that the organization of a Tea Party Republican organization was offensive and would create unnecessary problems between the two organizations. We maintained that although our goals were the same, we desired to be independent from the GOP. Furthermore, we agreed that during the next precinct reorganization we would become involved through the precinct level.

After both sides aired their positions, it was mutually agreed that the County GOP would abandon their plan to create a Tea Party Republican organization and the website for the TPR would be taken down as soon as practical. The County Chairman has contacted the State Chairwoman and communicated our agreement with her. She has also agreed that there would be no attempt by the State GOP to start a Tea Party Republican organization in any County in South Carolina.

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The TEA Party movement is in danger.

The SCGOP is seeking to form new clubs in every county called the Tea Party Republicans, for the purpose of vetting and endorsing “Tea Party candidates”. This is a devious attempt on the part of the SCGOP establishment to hijack the Tea Party movement and exploit it for their own power-grabbing purposes.

We do not wish to be at odds with the GOP, but if the GOP gets control of the Tea Party’s endorsement to hand out to candidates of their choice, we will see more of the same elitists who are helping to drive our country into the ground go to Columbia and Washington to do more of the same… in the name of the Tea Party. This must be nipped in the bud.

Please join other tea partiers in Greenville on Monday at 6:30PM to let the Greenville GOP know (in typical Tea Party style) that we don’t endorse this action.

For more information:

• January 29th RINO HUNT newsletter
• A Tea Party Patriot Message to the SCGOP: Not interested in protecting the “Republican brand”
• Boiling Springs Tea Party Group Reacts to GOP “Republican Tea Parties” Announcement

RINO HUNT Newsletter
January 29, 2010

Once upon a time there was an organization called the Youth Scouts of America.  When they first organized they had lofty goals and worked really hard to accomplish them.  They wanted to prepare young boys and girls for life experiences and help them learn how to deal with difficult problems.  Building fires, tying knots, cooking in the wilderness and setting up tents was some of the things they taught in order for the youth to gain confidence.

Fast forward about a hundred years and let’s see where they are today.  Parents are upset and angry because after ten years, their child can’t build a fire, tie a knot, cook an egg or set up a tent.  In fact, their children are terrified to go into the woods behind the house let alone sleep in the wilderness.

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