Growing The Tea Party Movement Beyond, "Mad As Hell"
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Having attended a couple of the Tea Parties that have been held in Carson City to protest the way government (federal and state) is expanding, I have been able to become connected through e-mail list groups to a number of the grassroots organizations taking shape.
These e-mail lists have the potential for building coalitions and networks for the upcoming campaigns to take back the legislative building and Congress. To accomplish the desired outcomes of turning “Mad As Hell” into successful election night celebrations the emphasis needs to transform into an expanded war room leadership core which is working on more than just planning the next tea party.
Emotion makes for a great motivating force to fire up voters for action, and those flames need to continue to blaze, spreading to all corners and expanses of Nevada. Focused concentration and thoughtful planning are also needed to better define the mission we hope to accomplish.
The first priority needs to be in recruiting individuals in every Assembly District, Senate race and Congressional area. (Finding, identifying and getting behind a strong champion to take on – then take down our Senior Senator in the U.S. Senate should also be on the “to do” list.)
These fields of electable representatives need to be equipped with a unified framework of proactive pillars to build their campaigns around. It goes beyond “planks” of a party platform that don’t seem to cause anyone to pay much attention or remember what they were working to get done. Our rally cries need to be more than “whereas” resolutions and be simple “we’re gonna…” bullet points.
Although I think the end result of what we’re trying to accomplish has to be “no more tax increases”, I sincerely believe that the “No” has to turn into a positive. Following something of the “Contract With America” model of a few elections ago, I think the unifying organizational road map has to be charted along these principled themes…
Other, more skilled thinkers, are welcome to reshape these ideas and add components for improvement, but the concept that I’m trying to get across is the importance of moving forward with a simple war plan that all of the members of our side can get behind to promote the goal of taking back the driver seat of government (state and national). Those taking us in the wrong direction need to be replaced with a group who believe as we do.
Having attended a couple of the Tea Parties that have been held in Carson City to protest the way government (federal and state) is expanding, I have been able to become connected through e-mail list groups to a number of the grassroots organizations taking shape.
These e-mail lists have the potential for building coalitions and networks for the upcoming campaigns to take back the legislative building and Congress. To accomplish the desired outcomes of turning “Mad As Hell” into successful election night celebrations the emphasis needs to transform into an expanded war room leadership core which is working on more than just planning the next tea party.
Emotion makes for a great motivating force to fire up voters for action, and those flames need to continue to blaze, spreading to all corners and expanses of Nevada. Focused concentration and thoughtful planning are also needed to better define the mission we hope to accomplish.
The first priority needs to be in recruiting individuals in every Assembly District, Senate race and Congressional area. (Finding, identifying and getting behind a strong champion to take on – then take down our Senior Senator in the U.S. Senate should also be on the “to do” list.)
These fields of electable representatives need to be equipped with a unified framework of proactive pillars to build their campaigns around. It goes beyond “planks” of a party platform that don’t seem to cause anyone to pay much attention or remember what they were working to get done. Our rally cries need to be more than “whereas” resolutions and be simple “we’re gonna…” bullet points.
Although I think the end result of what we’re trying to accomplish has to be “no more tax increases”, I sincerely believe that the “No” has to turn into a positive. Following something of the “Contract With America” model of a few elections ago, I think the unifying organizational road map has to be charted along these principled themes…
- “We will reform the state’s spending process – changing the budget system to a zero based system.”
- “We will use this responsible budget framework to pay for truly essential services and not increase tax loads on citizens to expand bureaucratic dynasties.”
- “We will institute tax reforms to keep resources in the pockets of the private sector to build our economy instead of in the coffers of government for the pleasure of bureaucrats and their legions of union cronies”
- “We will institute governmental accountability, especially in the areas of big-ticket expenses like education, to emphasize delivery of end results as opposed to ‘how much do we spend’ approaches like we have now.”
Other, more skilled thinkers, are welcome to reshape these ideas and add components for improvement, but the concept that I’m trying to get across is the importance of moving forward with a simple war plan that all of the members of our side can get behind to promote the goal of taking back the driver seat of government (state and national). Those taking us in the wrong direction need to be replaced with a group who believe as we do.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 6/13/2009 5:31 AM 
Categories: 2010 Elections
Tags: Campaigns Nevada 2010 Election Tea Party
Categories: 2010 Elections
Tags: Campaigns Nevada 2010 Election Tea Party
I agree we need a positive message. Two things from your list we could work on right now;
1)A quick and easy guide to what zero based budgeting is. I'll bet most people don't know.
2)Define and identify what an "essential" service is. This could be tricky as it means different things to different people.
We need to be able to show people what the end result of our actions is going to look like. Give them something to compare what is, with what could be.
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Doug:
I absolutely agree with the positions and vision you lay out. I too believe that we have to turn the anger across our State into resolution, and the resolution into action, which is why I am running against Harry Reid.
Let me know if there is anything that my Campaign can do to assist in spreading your message. I am confident that you will see a commonality in our Vision and messages. Over the next 18 months we will see a ground swell as we take back our country.
Please drop me an e-mail, or give me a call. I would like to meet
you face to face when possible. I am actively traveling across the State meeting with our fellow citizens discussing issues and strategies.
Best wishes
Bill Parson
http://parsonforsenate2010.com/
702-285-3822
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