What If They Threw A Tea Party And Nobody Showed Up?

[GinaMaria]

This was part of a Progressive Breakfast newletter. Thought you might enjoy it.
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What If They Threw A Tea Party And Nobody Showed Up?
The Tea Party convention in Nashville, TN may not have any congressional leaders to speak to those assembled. Concerns about expense and allegation of profiteering (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/us/politics/26teaparty.html) , have ballooned into ethical concerns that caused at least two sponsors to bolt: (http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/another_tea_party_convention_sponsor_pulls_out.php) "...some groups have criticized the cost - $549 per ticket and a $9.95 fee, plus hotel and airfare - as out of reach for the average tea partier. And they have balked at Ms. Palin's speaking fee, which news reports have put at $100,000, a figure that organizers will not confirm or deny."

Politico's Ben Smith notes that Rep. Marsha Blackburn will be a no-show(http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0110/Blackburn_out_of_Tea_Party_Convention.html) at the Tea Baggers' bash: "After consulting with the Committee on Standards, Congressman Blackburn has decided not to participate in the Tea Party Nation Convention next week. Standards advised Congressman Blackburn not to participate in the event due to uncertainty about how any proceeds from the event may be used. Convention organizers have not been clear about how those funds will be put to use. We have every indication that any profit could be put to work to advance grass roots causes and some of those uses could make the Congressman's participation improper after the fact."

Steve Benen notes this brings the total number of lawmakers in attendance to zero (http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_01/022141.php) : "Former half-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) is still scheduled to be the keynote speaker -- and pick up a reported $100,000 check -- but the confused former V.P. nominee is under pressure to drop out, too."

[SharonRB]

1. $549?

Netroots Nation and America's Future Now are under $200. That's outrageous.

[GinaMaria]

2. Seriously. For that kind of cash, I would definitely need to know

where the money was going. Crap, are they raising funds to start another war? Makes me nervous.

[SharonRB]

3. Everything they do makes me nervous

Their mere existence makes me nervous.

[GinaMaria]

4. That is a lot of cash

Are they saving up to buy an island of their own? They do give the impression of being an unstable bunch. Their townhall behavior this summer was out of control.