"Music and Meander" at the Capitol is a bust

LANSING -- It might have been called "Music and Meander" or "Mega Bust," but the so-called "Chicago Tea Party" protest by right-wingers on the Capitol steps at noon Friday certainly did little to change anyone's mind.

The protest was based on the over-the-top, unprofessional rant a few weeks ago by CNBC's Rick Santelli on the trading floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to protest President Obama's economic stimulus package, and it did little but illustrate right-wingers are in the minority. The majority of Americans in both parties think a spending stimulus is needed to try and reverse the crisis caused by the Bush Administration policies.

I wasted my lunch hour to hear what they had to say, and all I saw was a maximum – a generous estimation - of no more than 150 people milling about, carrying handmade signs, passing out propaganda and listening to patriotic music. I saw a few of the usual suspects, like Leon Drolet, but not much was going on.

The protest was supposed to last until 1 p.m., but I left after listening to Bruce Springsteen's song "Born in the USA." Just like Ronald Reagan in 1984, these people have no clue what the song is all about. It's like their complete misuse and lack of understanding of what the Boston Tea Parry was for and about.

The song was about the tribulations soldiers experienced in the Vietnam War, and it also protests the hardships Vietnam veterans faced upon their return from the war.

I saw the normal signs with the rightwing talking point about the alleged "socialist Democrats," but even funnier were the ones complaining about the budget deficit. Where were these people when Bush took a budget surplus and turned it into a record budget deficit with tax cuts for the richest 1 percent and spent it on an unnecessary invasion of Iraq. Just think what we could do to rebuild and stimulate our economy with the billions of dollars spent on rebuilding on Iraq and the millions that disappeared because of the lack of oversight and no-bid contracts.

They could have went to the end of the Capitol sidewalk and asked the handful of people protesting the Iraq invasion what they thought. To their credit, they have been there every Friday rain or shine in the two years I have worked in Lansing.

Because my office overlooks the Capitol, I looked out the window at about 12:50, and the "protest" was basically over. If there were any speeches they had to be between 12:30 and 12:50 p.m.

To be fair, it's nice to be with like minded people who think the way you do. I know that's one reason I like political conventions and rallies after so many years of being neutral. The good news is more people agree with the President, and the people on the Capitol steps are a small minority.

Republicans should bring history book to protest at the Capitol

Apparently, somebody needs to give Republicans and Wall Street traders a history book.

Based on the over-the-top, unprofessional rant a few weeks ago by CNBC's Rick Santelli on the trading floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, something called the "Chicago Tea Party" is set for Friday, Feb. 27 against the economic stimulus package. It's all a little confusing, and it makes little sense. Republicans have no solution to the mess their policies plunged the country into, but they sure are trying to make a lot of noise by saying little.

Apparently, Santelli is under the mistaken belief that President Obama'a Homeowner Stability Initiative – which is not what they are protesting, I think – will give people something for nothing. What it will do is help people who need it and not give him something for nothing. Apparently, he's upset that the plan does not immediately foreclose on everybody and kick them out into the streets, and it supposedly "rewards bad behavior."

Of course, he ignored the greed, risky lending and bad behavior of the financial interests he supposedly reports on, and who actually caused the economic meltdown.

But, here in Michigan they are organizing a "tea party at noon on Friday at the Capitol in Lansing". They are asking people to bring "tea bags, protest signs and American flags." They should also bring a history book to read what the original tea party was all about.

The Boston Tea Party was to protest the Tea Act of 1763, and it was part of the discontent brought about by the Stamp Act of 1765. The Colonists were protesting "Taxation without Representation." This is just one more example of the Republicans not paying attention to the November election. The fact is the American people want the stimulus bill, and they voted for President Obama and his polices. The American people also gave Democrats control of the House and Senate for a reason, and that was to represent them.

They are represented, and somebody should tell then that on Friday.