Jupiter/PBG Chapter Energized and Ready to Tackle 2012!

This was our first meeting at Abacoa Golf Club and we had a great turnout.  Several folks were new to the Palm Beach County Tea Party – thanks to all for coming!

Mark Wohlschlegel entertained the attendees while we enjoyed the buffet dinner. 

Chapter leader, Gary Summers, kicked off the meeting at 7pm with a welcome, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star-Spangled Banner.   Then Pam Wohlschlegel, Chairman and County Coordinator, took the podium.  Since there were new attendees, she stated the groups 3 tenets and talked about our upcoming meeting in Boca on Tuesday (tomorrow)  featuring Congressman Allen West,  and next week’s Presidential Preference Portfolio event on January 10th as well as the associated member survey and voter’s guide.  Pam also talked about the need for volunteers in all aspects of our operations.    She also mentioned the new organization that Barry Carson is kicking off – the new Jupiter/Tequesta Republican Organization.  The group’s goals will be to be an activist group, not a dinner-club – with each of the members expected to be REC members, or poll-watchers and to join campaigns.

Gary then introduced our guest speaker, Guido (George) Lombardi.  An acclaimed author and international expert, Mr. Lombardi is the Executive Director of the North Atlantic League, (www.northatlanticleague.us ) which promotes positive foreign relations between Italy, Israel, and the United States. In addition, he is a leader in the Tea Party Italy, which has brought the values of small government and more personal freedom to Italy.

Mr. Lombardi began by telling us about the new Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Monti – and how the first things he’s done is raise taxes even on the smallest of items.  The European Union (EU) is stomping on each of the 3 tea party tenets every day.  The speaker said that the Prime Minister of Hungary stated the desire for Hungary to leave the EU, and that there is tremendous resentment through-out the EU for the un-elected leadership of the EU called the European Commission – which is an entirely appointed body.  Lombardi stated that the EU was convinced to print money as a way out of their financial difficulties by our Secretary of the Treasury – Timothy Geithner.

He also stated that much of the Italian economy is ‘underground’ and thriving.  He spoke positively about Sylvio Berlusconi, who is a personal friend.  Mr. Lombardi felt that Berlusconi’s conservative government, and business background, drove a lot of the more conservative government that have won elections throughout the EU.   

China’s impact on Italy was also a fascinating piece of Mr. Lombardi’s talk.  He described how small farms were being purchased by Chinese groups; then produce/farm products from other countries were delivered on Chinese ships to nearby ports and sold throughout the country in lieu of local production.  Struggling farmers were attracted to the large cash buyouts. 

Several questions were asked by audience members.  Mr. Lombardi concluded his talk by saying that he was optimistic that we would all prevail if we stood up for what we believe!

Some pictures from Fred and Ed:
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Jupiter/PBG Chapter Meeting on Monday, Jan 2nd

Jupiter/Palm Beach Gardens Chapter Meeting with Keynote Speaker:

DATE:

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

TIME:

Doors open 5:30pm
Buffet at 6pm. Meeting starts at 7pm
$15 per person (tax and gratuity included)

PLACE:

Abacoa Golf Club
105 Barbados Drive Drive, Jupiter, FL 33456
Click Here for map.

RSVP:

Register by clicking on the “RSVP” below or call (561) 444-8086 if you have questions.

We look forward to seeing you there!!!

Boca Chapter Meeting Featuring Colonel Allen West

Boca Raton Chapter Meeting with Keynote Speaker:

DATE:

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

TIME:

Doors open 5:30pm
Buffet at 6pm. Meeting starts at 7pm
$15 per person (tax and gratuity included)

PLACE:

Boca Greens Country Club
19642 Trophy Drive, Boca Raton, FL 33498
Click HERE for Map

RSVP:

Email to rsvp.boca@gmail.com, or call 561-302-1479. Or register by clicking on the “RSVP” below

We look forward to seeing you there!!!

Wellington Chapter hosts the Senatorial Candidate Forum

Palm Beach County Tea Party’s (PBCTP) Wellington Chapter hosted our Senatorial Candidate Forum on Monday, December 12th.  Most of the attendees partook of the tasty buffet at the Binks Forest Country Club prior to the beginning of the meeting.

Gina Rascati, Wellington Chapter Leader and PBCTP co-founder, kicked off the event with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Then Mel Grossman, PBCTP Vice President and co-founder, spoke about December events – encouraging attendees to help work the upcoming Gun Show.  In addition, he said that he’d be starting rallies, once again, in the new year.  Iris Scheibl, one of the PBCTP co-founders, described the upcoming Presidential Preference Primary Portfolio Event on January 10th to be jointly hosted by PBCTP and South Florida 912.  Alex Berry, Boca Chapter Leader took the podium and kicked-off the events – first describing the tenets of the PBCTP, then doing the introductions.  The guest moderator for the event was Jim Sackett, former WPTV NewsChannel 5 news anchor; time-keeper was Gina Rascatti; and the participating candidates, in order of opening statements were:  Mike McCalister,  Deon Long, Ron McNeil and Marielena Stuart.

After opening remarks, each of the candidates rotated going first in responding to the questions with one minute responses.  The excellent questions ran the gamut of conservative issues:  Repeal Obamacare?  Which departments to scale back or get rid of?  How to reduce the National Debt?  Would you have voted for the Defense Authorization Bill?  Would you support removing the US from the UN, NAFTA, and NATO and expel the UN from NYC?  Would you refuse to sign any treaty that says the US contributes to global warming or climate change?  Would you work to reform the tax code and repeal the 16th amendment?  Would you work to repeal current executive orders that put restrictions on States’ rights and if so, which ones?  Would you follow current immigration law while striving for a long term solution?  Is the U.S. Constitution a living document?  Would you abolish or limit the number of Czars?  Would you support making the Bush tax cuts permanent?  If not, why not?  While many of the responses were similar – there were distinctions based on the personal viewpoint of each of the candidates.  McCalister brought his military background and other experiences into the mix, Long spoke of his economic outlook and the fair tax as a framework, McNeil cited his paradigm as a successful engineer and businessman, and Stuart her perspective as a Cuban immigrant who lived under Communism and described Agenda 21/Sustainability as socialism.

We had time for two great audience questions as well.  Would you support and pass term limits for the House and Senate? – leading to probably the funniest line of the night, given by McNeil – “Yes – two terms – one in office and one in prison!”, and What would you do with the Federal Reserve and what would you replace it with?

The candidates then closed with 5 minute closing statements.  Alex closed the meeting with calling the raffle.

It was a very informative event offering us an opportunity to learn more about these principled but lesser known candidates.  There is a long time until the August 2012 primary and any one of these fine folks could emerge as a strong Conservative candidate.  Thanks to all who attended.

The following pictures were taken by Alex Berry.

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Presidential Preference Portfolio Event

South Florida 912 and the Palm Beach County Tea Party are jointly hosting a Presidential Preference Portfolio event for January 10 at the First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach on Flagler Drive. It will be moderated by Brian Mudd, Program Director 1290 WJNO & 1230 WBZT, Financial Analyst & Co-Host for The Palm Beaches Morning Rush.

The introduction of our 2012 Grassroots Presidential Preference Primary Voter’s Guide is a key part of preparation, and it will be made available at the event.

Each of the eight major Presidential campaigns are being asked to participate, and have been sent a series of questions designed to “get beyond the sound bites” and help us get to know the contenders on the basis of how they would approach the job, and how well suited to it they are.

The project has three parts – the questions, the event itself, and a member survey that asks each of us to score the candidates in the key areas of Leadership, Character, Worldview, Quality of Solutions, and Governing Style. The results of the survey will be included in the Voter’s Guide (available the night of the event), along with the candidate’s answers and our analysis of their policy positions. Following the event, after you have seen how they answered, we will ask you to take the survey a second time and we will record the changes (if any).

The Voter’s Guide will also have a section for the candidates policy positions, either provided by the campaigns or determined by our researchers from publically available campaign collateral and websites. Through this process, we hope to help you (and others who use our voter’s guide) to make an informed selection in the January 31 Florida Presidential Preference Primary.

Click below to RSVP:

Member Survey

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We need your views of the candidates for the process. Please CLICK HERE to take the survey now. You must be logged in to register your results.

Background

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The 2012 Elections are both a referendum on the stewardship of Barack Obama, as well as a choice of what kind of country we are going to become. The Republican standard bearer will carry enormous responsibility to offer a compelling alternative to the progressive, anti-business, social-democratic future that the last 3 years has foreshadowed.

So much damage has been done to our country through enormous deficits, out of control spending, suffocating regulations, erosion of property rights and the rule of law, and a feckless and incoherent foreign policy, that stopping the damage is not enough. The next President must roll back the excesses of the past few years and restore our Republic to one of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets.

It is a unique time. The country is gripped by fear and crushed by pessimism, yet we are yearning for leadership and open to new ideas. Not since the Carter Administration has there been such malaise, and polls show many think America’s best days are behind her and their children are destined to a lower standard of living and crushing debt. We fear our liberties are being eroded by a massive and growing federal government, that crony capitalism has corrupted the highest reaches of government, corporations and the banking system, that our traditional values of the family, the community, and the nation have been morphed into something unrecognizable. Yet there is some leadership to be seen away from Washington as the states press their case to overturn Obamacare and take the initiative on immigration policy from a failed federal bureaucracy. We as a people are resilient and capable, and will respond to a leader with bold new ideas and a commitment to fixing America.

The next President must have the right policy prescriptions for today’s known problems, and most of our candidates do, but that is not enough. Whoever assumes the position must also be able to meet and triumph over the challenges that lie ahead in an increasingly dangerous world, for a country left in a weakened state from fiscal irresponsibility, a decade of war, and a business sector left reeling from suffocating regulations and economic hardship that has led to the highest sustained level of unemployment since the Great Depression.

How can we determine who can carry this mantel?

We believe the qualifications of our champion can be found in five key dimensions:

• Leadership – who can inspire us to greatness? Who has the ability to clearly lay out the problem, communicate the urgency, convince us to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve success?
• Character – who can we trust? Who is loyal to their principles and their countrymen, respects others’ points of view, yet has the courage and confidence to make politically difficult choices?
• Worldview – who sees the world as we do? Who sees America as exceptional, its people capable and motivated, its strength in the individual efforts and decisions of the many,not the central wisdom of government?
• Quality of Solutions – who has proposed solutions that really get to the crux of the problem? Who understands that changes have consequences and can explain the broader ramifications of their tax plan or their entitlement reform proposals?
• Governing Style – who is likely to see their solutions implemented? How will they work with Congress, particularly the other party to form governing majorities on issues? Who can use their political capital and support from the voters to realize a mandate for change?

Candidate Questions

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In order to explore these dimensions for each of the candidates, we have prepared the following set of questions. The campaigns have been asked to answer them both in an absolute sense as well as how their candidate’s values may differ from their competitors for the nomination. Obviously, there are no wrong answers, but their responses will help us understand them better.

1. Leadership
a. What are the characteristics of a great leader?
b. What leader has most influenced you in your life?
c. In what leadership roles that you have held have you been most effective and whatdid you accomplish?

2. Character
a. Some of the dimensions of character include trustworthiness, loyalty, warmth, respect, courage, and reverence. How do these attributes guide your behavior and how much do they influence your view of others?
b. Who was the major character influence in your life? How and why?

3. Worldview
a. What do you see as America’s role in the world for the next 20 years?
b. What level of debt, deficit and taxation is “reasonable” and why?
c. What are the top 3 economic problems that “must be solved” to secure our future?
d. What are the top 3 foreign policy challenges of the next decade?

4. Quality of Solutions
a. Explain the major advantage and the most important side effects of your tax plan.
b. What is your “doctrine” regarding the intervention in foreign conflicts?
c. What should be “done” about the United Nations?
d. Close to 50% pay no income taxes – how do we change that?

5. Governing Style
a. How would your style differ from George Bush? From Barack Obama?
b. It is difficult for a President to “change Washington” – how will you work with the existing DC environment and avoid both frustration and/or corruption by it?

Policy Positions

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Policy positions on today’s key issues are also important, and we will attempt to profile each candidate based on their campaign collateral, public statements and debate performances. If a campaign wishes to specifically provide material to us on policy we will feature it in the assessment. The policy areas of interest are found in the following 10 questions:

1. Tax Reform – what are the key aspects of the tax reform initiatives (if any) that you would attempt to implement if you become President?
2. Spending and Deficit – Our $15T debt is the largest single threat to our institutions and our way of life. What are your top policy prescriptions to address this issue?
3. Size of Government – the federal government has become a major factor in everything we do and would be unrecognizable to the founders. How will you “make Washington inconsequential in our lives?” What federal programs would you eliminate or turn over to the states?
4. 10th Amendment – the states have asserted themselves in the last couple of years over immigration policy and health care. There are additional moves coming over EPA overreach, education and energy. Where would you draw the line between federal jurisdiction and that given to the states by the constitution?
5. Health Care – Most agree that Obama care must be stopped and 26 states are taking their judicial challenge to the Supreme Court. A legislative solution is needed and there is some fear that the PACA has already made turning back the regulations almost impossible. What steps would you take to deal with this issue and what priority would you give it?
6. Federal Regulations, EPA, NLRB, FCC – The Obama administration has greatly increased the regulatory assault on business and citizen alike. What can be done to reign in the entrenched bureaucracy and how will you approach this task?
7. Trade policy, China – What is your position regarding fair trade with China concerning currency manipulation, intellectual property protection and dumping? Should our trade policy favor certain countries or regions or should we treat everyone equally? What do you see as the future of manufacturing in this country?
8. United Nations, NATO, European Union – In what way would you change the relationship between the US and these organizations from what the current administration has done?
9. Radical Islam, Arab Spring, Iran – Contrast your approach in these three areas to the Obama administration. What should be our future posture towards the emerging regimes in the middle east and Maghreb and how should we deal with Iran’s weapons program?
10. Role of the Military – Our force composition has changed in response to the asymmetrical threats we face, yet our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan has illuminated many shortcomings in regards to “nation building” projects. How does the military factor into your vision of America’s role in the world for the next decade and what changes would you make in structure, weapons systems and human resources in the military forces?

Fashion Show Postponed

The Luncheon and Fashion Show that was scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3rd has been postponed until after the first of the year.  If you purchased a ticket, please email info@palmbeachcountyteaparty.org for a refund.  We apologize for the schedule change!

Senatorial Candidate Forum – December 12

Jim Sackett, WPTV NewsChannel 5 news anchor, will be our special guest moderator at our Senatorial Candidate Forum on Monday, December 12th. 

We have invited all of the primary candidates for the Florida US Senate seat and now have confirmations from: Mike McCallister, Ron McNeil, Deon Long, Craig Miller and Marielena Stuart..

The forum will be held in the large ballroom at Binks Golf Club.  Doors will open at 5:30pm.  The $15 dinner buffet will start at 6pm and the Forum will begin at 7pm.

Directions to Binks Country Club

We will have limited seating so please click on the button below to RSVP by Wednesday, December 8th.

GOP Booth at Palm Beach Gardens Green Market

Palm Beach Gardens Green Market:

• Sunday November 20, 27, Dec 11 & 18
• 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Market is located at City Hall Complex next to PBG Fire Station # 1 at 4301 Burns Road
• We will register volunteers
• We will direct people to SOE web for voter registration
• We will hand out information on issues and candidates

• Our booth will be recognized by the American flag proudly on display and the elephant logo
• Candidates can stand in the booth and speak to visitors
• Candidates are allowed to walk around but not campaign as walking
• All handouts can be placed at the booth
• All signs can be placed at the booth
• Contact person is Linda Gore- please call 686-1616 to volunteer

Wellingon Chapter discusses Term Limits

Gina Rascati, Wellington Chapter Leader, began our November meeting by reporting on the State Tea Party Convention in Daytona Beach.  Pam Wohlschlegel, president of Palm Beach County Tea Party and state co-ordinator for Tea Party Patriots, announced the senatorial forum for our December meeting. 

Philip Blumel, our keynote speaker, was acknowledged as the leader of the effort to set term limits for the Palm Beach County Commission.  He is also the national director of  US Term Limits and discussed the importance of term limits and how voters overwhelmingly approve term limits whenever it’s on the ballot.  The lawmakers are the ones that oppose it.  But, Philip ascerted that there are way more of “us” than “them”. 

Announcements:  Pam mentioned two events for this week – Tuesday, 11/15, Anita MonCrief – Acorn Whistleblower/Brandon Darby – FBI Informant; and a Herman Cain Rally on Wednesday 11/16.  Terry Brady – co-founder, mentioned the upcoming Fashion Show Luncheon.  Mike Lamayer, candidate for Fl. Senate District 25 was also present.

Blumel’s mother won the 50/50 raffle-$60.00.  Binks Forest provided a scrumptious buffet (salad, rolls, green beans, carrots, barbecue ribs, mashed potatoes, beef sirloin and chocolate cake for desert.  We ended the meeting well nourished and informed.

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County GOP Picnic Draws Assortment of Candidates and Enthusiasts

Quite a few 912 and Tea Party members were sighted among the 120 or so attendees at the PBCGOP picnic today in John Prince Park, in spite of the competition from the Tea Party Convention in Daytona and the AFP Conference in DC. The food was good and the networking was worth the visit, but the program was somewhat chaotic.

In addition to the local luminaries – Congressmen Allen West and Tom Rooney, Florida House members Bill Hager and Pat Rooney, and former Senator and candidate George LeMieux, we were joined by Presidential candidate Rick Santorum, and a surrogate for Texas Governor Rick Perry, his son Griffin.

Senator Santorum gave a rousing speech (in my opinion), focused on some of the issues that have been minimized in the campaign so far. These include the importance of the family in restoring America to greatness, and the importance of bringing back viable manufacturing to this country to restore the position of the middle class. Unfortunately, by the time the Senator spoke much of the crowd had drifted away and many of those who were left continued talking among themselves and hardly paid attention to the speech. This seemed rude to me, but when the Senator had finished it got worse. The speakers that followed him had to shout to be heard and were ignored by most of the crowd. If this is the way the Republican Party of Palm Beach treats its candidates then we are in for a rough 2012 indeed. Nothing was done by the organizers to restore decorum to the gathering.

This was a shame as two very interesting candidates for the seat being vacated by Bill Snyder (FH82) introduced themselves near the end. Calvin Turnquist and MaryLynn Magar are new on the scene and both seem to have a lot to offer. We also got to see Anna Trujillo who is running for Ted Deutch’s CD19 seat, and the candidates for County Commission district 1, Hal Valeche and Laura Hanley, and Senate 25 candidate Mike Lameyer. Others who were present, including Albert Key and Karen Harrington did not speak, probably because it got to the point that very few were even listening.

Besides the rudeness of the crowd, another troubling thing was the way Joe Budd was refused the opportunity to tell the crowd about the Herman Cain PBC Convention Center event in a little more than a week. “NO SURROGATES” said chairman Dinerstein. Interesting – what was Griffen Perry, chopped liver? I guess there must be a rule exception for relatives of candidates.

Herman Cain is in town on 11/16 for several events, including a $50 fundraiser at the Convention Center expected to bring out the grassroots volunteers before he goes over to the island for the big bucks. This might have been of interest to the attendees, and the appearance of any Presidential candidate in Palm Beach County should be noted. “NO EXCEPTIONS”, we have to stay neutral says the chairman. In the grassroots universe, educating people about candidates is what we do. The local Republican party has a different mission and different rules. This is one reason that grassroots groups like the Tea Party and 912 have arisen – the “establishment” is not always your friend.

Here’s a few pictures of the event.

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