Crowd gathers at Leach for Oshkosh tea party

[undeterred]

12:10 AM, Sep. 11, 2011

Joan Reiter, a self-described independent, had never been to a Tea Party rally before Saturday. But her growing concern for the country’s economic problems prompted her to check out the rally held at the Leach Amphitheater Saturday. Her verdict? “I haven’t heard anything I dislike,” Reiter said. “I’m also impressed that with all of these speakers, there was no name-calling.” Speakers on the hot fall day included Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Rep. Michelle Litjens, R-Vinland and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson. Many attendees brought umbrellas to block the sun, but few, aside from one woman with a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, displayed signs.

The heat didn’t diminish the crowd’s enthusiasm. Kleefisch garnered roars when she said Republicans were responsible for instituting concealed carry laws, photo ID voting requirements and a business-friendly environment to Wisconsin while Litjens elicited laughs when she jokingly “thanked” President Barack Obama for uniting the Tea Party, and responded with a “you’re right” when an attendee shouted “he’s a lunatic!”

Minutes before taking the stage, Senator Dumbass said he wasn’t surprised enthusiasm remains high for Tea Party events. “First of all, we haven’t solved the problems yet, we’ve barely begun addressing the problems, quite honestly,” said Johnson, R-Oshkosh. “I’m glad the level of enthusiasm continues to be high. This isn’t just a flash in the pan type of movement, these are people out here that love this country, realize we’re bankrupting it, and are willing to step up to the plate and get involved.” Tea Party attendee Seth Cowan came to the event to hear Johnson speak and said others like him are concerned with the direction of the country.

“They’re concerned about the way things are going with the government,” Cowan said. “How much in debt the government’s getting, and there doesn’t seem to be any interest in getting out of debt.” Wayne Schmick is a Tea Party veteran who said he goes to all the rallies. He advised area residents to get involved with local politics. “Join the Tea Party, get involved with local politics and help turn things around,” Schmick said. There was little support on the grounds for Obama’s new jobs plan, which includes tax cuts. Many said it was just “more of the same.” “Unfortunately, I wish we could be talking tax cuts, but when we’ve had a $1.4, $1.3 and $1.3 trillion deficit the last three years and it’s going to be a trillion next year and almost as far as the eye can see, we can’t be looking at tax cuts right now,” Johnson said. “What we need to be looking at is reducing the rate of growth in spending.” Reiter, who said after attending the rally she’s leaning Republican, agreed. “I’m very concerned it means another $500 billion plus spending,” Reiter said. “It seems a lot of jobs he’s talking about are government type jobs that have an end to them, they’re not permanent type jobs.”


http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20110911/OSH0101/110910071

[Yon_Yonson]

1. Ten bucks to donuts says the woman holding the yellow flag ....

... has a clue about it's history! My GAW more than two people showed up!

[idrahaje]

2. senator dumbass?

loved that. how many dumb senator's are there. quite a few

[undeterred]

3. Dumbass is my special nickname for Johnson...

He is also known as "sunspot". :hi:

[mojowork_n]

4. I used that term, "Sen. Dumbass," when I wrote to his office.

It was one of those internet petition things in my inbox.

When I clicked the link it popped up form letter text to both Herb and Dumbass,
with the cursor blinking at the top of the page, expectantly.

So I did some fast typing, seeing how the letter was being addressed to one legislator
with a brain and a moral compass, and to another who lacked both of those things.

For the record, if you type "Senator Dumbass" into Google the SECOND result that's listed
brings up a link to D.U., with the individual threads he's been called that all clumped
underneath.

I'd like to see the name adopted universally, myself.

[undeterred]

5. Well, that makes me feel good.

I use it every time I post something about him at DU. I will never get over losing Feingold, the most intelligent man in the Senate, to the dumbest man in the state of Wisconsin. Johnson will always be Senator Dumbass to me.