Fellow Patriots,
In our last update, we mentioned a second part to our announcement about the next march on Washington being planned for April 15th (Tax Day Tea Party). Many of you sent enthusiastic emails and we’re excited to see so many folks already getting involved.
The second part of our announcement, however, is going to be much bigger, and much more important for the movement. But before I let the cat out of the bag, let me explain why we’re doing what we’re doing.
To borrow a line from Barrack Obama… “let me be clear.”
This government is now rogue. And I’m strongly inclined to believe the government has deliberately chosen to go this direction. Which, in my mind, presents a malicious act towards the people they were elected to represent? In effect, this move represents a clear violation of their oath to the United States of America.
The dangerous vote for anti-constitutional legislation disguised as “healthcare reform” in Congress presents us with a perfect example. Our calls, our faxes, our rallies and every poll in the country made it clear that we the people opposed the bill.
Yet, Congress ignored us and refused to represent the majority. They cast their votes in favor of the bill, and they laughed, smiled, and applauded themselves for doing so.
Again… this government is operating outside of the restraints of the constitution and is now completely rogue.
We as a movement have had a tremendous year. We’ve accomplished great success in many areas, but we’ve also had our shortfalls.
One of the areas that we seem to be lacking in is the ability for organizations to cross promote and collaborate. I think we’re all guilty of this, and it’s not something we should be ashamed of.
The reality is, once an activist puts time and energy into a group or organization, it is in the person’s best interest to see that particular group or organization succeed over others. This is not a malicious scenario, but one that prohibits true unity within the movement.
The second area we’re behind in, but catching up on some fronts, is the ability to shift our activism into campaign mode.
I don’t think anyone can deny that if we do not defeat a BUNCH of corrupt thugs in our government in 2010 and 2012, they will rip our constitution to pieces. And our liberty will be the greatest victim.
So over the past few weeks, a deep conversation has taken place within a quiet group of tea party organizers and activists. The general agreement is that we need to fix a leadership vacuum, mend the unity gap between groups and organizations, and work as a collaborative effort to shift the movement into campaign mode.
The following is a part of what we’ve come up with as a solution.
The Patriot Caucus
The purpose of the Patriot Caucus is to directly address each of the shortfalls mentioned above.
-Leadership
-Unity
-Electoral Victory
Before we get in to what the Patriot Caucus is, let’s make sure we know what it isn’t.
The Patriot Caucus is NOT an effort to replace any organization. It is not an effort to duplicate any plans and it is not in place to try to be the “mega group” of the movement.
The Patriot Caucus is NOT a political party, nor does it support or endorse a political party. And the effort is certainly not an effort to back third party movements. In fact, the Patriot Caucus will strive to be as “party blind” as possible with its political activism.
So what is it?
The Patriot Caucus is a peer powered entity being put in place to facilitate an environment of mass collaboration and communication within the liberty movement.
Every leadership position within the national structure will be an elected position. Each of these leadership positions will function as a “delegate” for a district, state or region.
Unlike a political party or existing organization, delegates within the Patriot Caucus exist to build bridges of communication between liberty minded groups and activist hubs. This is to be done with the following action items in play:
-Create a coherent, organized, state based directory of liberty minded coalitions, groups, orgs, think tanks, candidates and more
-Host conference calls and meetings with group leaders and movement organizers across districts and states
-Set up training events in districts and states (with involvement of groups and orgs)
-Collaborate with state and national communications teams to help market and promote events/efforts of existing groups, coalitions and orgs
-Work to ensure less duplication of efforts occurs
-Collaborate with delegates of other states for potential of unified efforts across state borders
And much, MUCH more!
As you can see, Patriot Caucus delegates are not in place to lead organizations. They are, instead, in place to help create unity and collaboration amongst existing groups and orgs. And to take it a step further… help promote and market efforts/events of existing groups and orgs.
The electoral system of the Patriot Caucus is in place to ensure that the structure is not self appointed or partisan in any way. Instead of having individuals self appoint or be appointed, the patriot Caucus creates an environment where states elect their own delegates. And those delegates elect national leadership teams.
This all sounds very ambitious… is it really possible to pull off?
When we first starting debating this idea, we were reminded of the challenges presented to General George Washington back in the late 1700’s. His army was broken into segments, was untrained, wasn’t properly communicating, wasn’t operating with proper resources, and major parts of the army were not supporting each other.
During the winter of 1777-78, Washington set up camp in Valley Forge and began doing what was believed by many to be impossible.
He regrouped, rebuilt, and eventually… reclaimed.
Is the Patriot Caucus possible? Absolutely.
Valley Forge, PA
To take this effort even further, we’ve booked a large venue in Valley Forge for the weekend of April 16-18 of 2010.
On April 16-18, 2010, we will convene for the first annual meeting of the Patriot Caucus in Valley Forge, PA.
There will be no charge for attending the three day event, but there will be a credentialing process. Each state will have a specific number of reserved seats to ensure a voting block for every state in the union.
On April 15th, we will make a move on Washington D.C. for one final warning. One final statement to Congress. One final plea for a reversal.
After the nationwide Tax Day Tea Party, the Patriot Caucus convenes for three days of meetings, panels, training sessions and more.
When we leave Valley Forge on April 19th, we leave prepared to do what is necessary to remove power hungry thugs from Congress and Senate.
This is our government. This is our country. This is our time.
Stay tuned for the public launch of the Patriot Caucus. A website is in the works. Free registration and a nominating process will roll out before the end of 2009.
There is a temporary “planning committee” in place that consists of nine tea party organizers. This committee will serve as the foundational leadership until April 18th, the day the full national infrastructure is voted for and approved to take over the Patriot Caucus.
Please join the Facebook Page and keep an eye out for the next announcement.
For Liberty,
-The Patriot Caucus planning committee
I agree with many who think we should start NOW!!! It is quite scarry to think of the madness in the decline that OBAMA has caused in the errosion of our COUNTRY in such a short amount of tim!!
Perhaps the reason the obama adm. does not seem concerned about 2010 elections is because they know Acorn has secured their re-election through voter fraud. What can b e done to clean this mess up and help secure that the voting process next year can be considered clean and honest? am also happy to see the effort to join all the other orgs. with the same goals.
Time I do not have to pledge in this worthy “cause” … since entrepreneurial endeavors occupy near all of it … but my treasure I do and will pledge instead for this cause! ALL I ASK IS WE BE OF ONE MIND AND UNITED IN ONE CAUSE — TO THROW THESE RASCALS OUT!
@Steve
I’ve already addressed this in previous comments. These are two very different efforts.
The CC is set up much like a Congress. The Patriot Caucus is set up like a party, but it isn’t in place to support candidates loyal to a party (that is why it isn’t a party).
And, unlike a party, the goal of the Caucus is to collaborate, unify and elect.
It isn’t in place to create documents or make pleas to the Government (which, I might add, is pretty useless at this point because the government doesn’t care).
Try and think of the Patriot Caucus as an electoral action force.
Marcia says: Please tell me what I need to do to participate as a delegate. Considered running for office================= Marcia, if you feel the same as we do, than you wouldn’t need answers from us. How can you lead when you don’t know what to do yourself? I am sorry if I seem critical but I’m giving you something to reflect on. We don’t know exactly what to do. We just come up with ideas and react like anything else in life. I think it’s called experience. The more we attend our tea parties, the more we learn, and know how to do it more better and effective next time.
I’m sorry but I have one more thought I would like to leave you with. Obama and his administration have caused serious injuries to America and our economy, business and future. They caused an awful lot of damage in just eleven months. We have a whole year to go before the 2010 election. Can you fathom the damage that is going to continue in the next year? Also, most of us know that elections have a deep history of being corrupt/crooked. Are you sincerely satisfied and secure about the election system? I know I’m not. One year to go America. It’s only been eleven months and look at where we are. One More Year And Maybe, just maybe, you are heading into a big let down come election time. Maybe the election will not go the way you and I hope for and want. One year to go than Maybe more after that.
If we are talking about not duplicating efforts, why this “Patriots Caucus”? A Continental Congress, with elected delegates was just convened Nov 22 in St. Charles Illinois. They have a preamble, pledge and soon to be Articles of Freedom. Visit cc2009.us for more info.
I agree that we should identify and help promote candidates. However, we should do this at the state level, for the several not federal states retain the rights of the people. If say for example the “caucus” were to promote Newt Gingrich as the Republican candidate for president in 2012 they would lose all my support…the list could go on.
We need to identify candidates who actually understand the constitution and law. We need to find candidates who can point out the violations to the constitution and lawfully remedy the situations. If we cannot find them then we must be them, but we cannot be them if we do not understand the constituion and law ourselves. If we cannot find them or be them then we must revoke the power granted to them until we make a revolution (not rebellion) back to the constitution! Power is granted thusly; From the Creator to the people, from the people to the government.
Yours in Liberty!
While most are content waiting until the 2010 election, I am not. Do any of you notice the fact that Obama’s administration doesn’t seem too threatened about losing their seats? I mean, do they know something about their electoral seats than we do? They have this deep sense of job security and I am truly baffled by their arrogance. I wonder, are they safe? Do they really know something this coming election that we don’t? Are they already secure for 2010? Does anyone feel they are hiding something about the 2010? I have a sense something is seriously wrong here for 2010. I would love to know what is really in that health care reform bill they are so desperately attempting to pass. Is there something in that bill that may secure their future? There is something more sinister in the health care bill and obviously, we won’t know what until it has passed, until it is too late. Something is wrong here and it is more serious than we could possibly dream.
This a great idea and necessary considering what is happening in Washington, D.C. I also totally support the non-partisan approach. We need true Conservatives that follow the Reagan ideals and support our Constitution. I look forward to April 15 March on Washington, once again and would be honored to attend the Patriot Caucus and/or support our representative from Virginia.
The left have organized for years; while we were building the wealth they plan to steal. Any move to become better organized and coordinated will only help in catching up. Plus, we know what we stand to lose. Congratulations of a excellent next step. I agree with others-no “final” march on Washington until we again, own it!
I’m in for this….a true blue footsoldier ready to go door to door spreading knowledge of what CAN be again!
It’s all well and good that we have all of this “Born again” enthusiasm, however we have a group of people in our leadership that is using, and seemingly not the least bit afraid of using the media against our organizations and affiliations. It matters not how upset we get at them for calling us Thugs and Teabaggers etc., they have got the support of the right organizations on their side. There is a way to do this however, but it requires that we absolutely maintain our integrity and composure. We need a much stronger media presence, to get that we need to keep our groups active, but more importantly we need to play their own game against them. At all costs, we must maintain our civility. Any person or groups that become overzealous with their attempts to get their point across is only hurting our cause. Remember for every incident of positive media attention we get, the oppressors and their media accomplices will spin it out of control. Even the best of reports will be derided as disorderly at best. We can beat them, make no mistake about it…and they know it. It’s their greatest fear. We must stay focused and deliberate in our mission.
Tired of talking. Time for action!
As we get closer and closer to November 2010, we should be identifying candidates and supporting them. We can create group after group that protest, march, call Congress, and support our ideals, but if none of these groups unify us and throw our support behind the right candidates, we’ll have another NY-23 - Hoffman won’t win. We’ll have another Bush-Perot-Clinton election where a conservative won’t win… and then, following our failure in November 2010, we’ll still have our marches and our protests and our calling campaigns, but do you think Congress will listen, then? They aren’t listening now!
If we want to take back our country, we MUST unify behind candidates - and start that candidate identification process NOW. The lofty idealism of not supporting any particular candidate will only lead us to failure.
I hope that this is the next step and I will continue to support this movement either way because it’s waking up those mired in complacency, but if we want to succeed, we MUST unify our vote.
COUNT ME IN!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Count me in. A little FRESH Air, instead of the STINK of Chicago ” CROOK ” County, Illinois, where I live will do a Body, Mind and Spirit GOOD. Thanks Eric.
It is exactly what we need. We have incredibly passionate groups and individuals that need a leadership structure that is unfettered by the institutionalized agenda driven at the expense of truth.
My continued support.
Thank you
Tom Mulrooney
Count me in for the Valley Forge event!
I’m in. This is a fantastic idea and I’m glad to see an event of this nature planned. Prayers are starting to be answered. I’m looking forward to being chosen as a delegate in my area and hope to become more and more involved.
Kristina
Colorado
With leadership such as your plans will develop, we the people will rally. What I see lacking are worthy conservative candidates for office that can be identified and supported. We need them at the local, state, and federal level.
For the 2010 election, they need to be identified now. It seems to me that this should be the highest priority.
I commend you for your work.
“When the people fear the government, it’s tyranny. When the government fears the people, it’s liberty.”
Thomas Jefferson
This is a great project, and I will make every effort to attend both April 15 in D.C. and April 16-18 in Valley Forge.
It is appropriate and beneficil that this Patriot Caucus effort work to improve unity, collaboration, and communication. The concept of not trying to compete with or replace existing groups, or to serve as a “mega group,” is laudable.
When it comes to issues like limited government, federalism, taxes, spending, healthcare, cap and trade, etc., we pro-liberty fighters and Tea Party activists certainly will have some nuances of disagreement among ourselves (both substantive and tactical), but our areas of agreement are far more important.
I support the April 15 march on D.C., and I note that other groups will also be organizing regional and local actions on that same day. I support that as well, since not everyone can make it to D.C., and since there are benefits from both tactics.
Also, I favor a strong electoral push in the 2010 primaries and the 2010 general elections. But I don’t necessarily believe that April 15, 2010 should be the final march on D.C., forever. I expect we will be marching and protesting for a long time, including after the 2010 elections.
I’m not sure that pro-liberty fighters will always be able to agree on candidates - for example, here in Washington State there are as many as eight likely Republican challengers to Senator Patty Murray, and all of them seem to be quite conservative and several of them are strongly supportive of the Tea Party movement.
I also note that some other groups are planning a Tea Party national convention in Nashville (coincidentally, perhaps, on the 99th birthday of Ronald Reagan). I support that effort as well and believe it will have positive effects for organization, communication, collaboration, and unity.
Steve Beren
Seattle, WA
BerenForCongress.com
This country MUST stand up NOW, otherwise we have much to lose in the future!
AMEN…….
I would be very happy to participate in the effort as a delegate, as I have held strong freedom views, written papers, and made speeches and appeals to people for the same Constitution as the Founders–based on Free Choice, as the Ten Commandments, and God-given Right To Life in Liberty. I also sing a pretty darned good National Anthem, etc. I have credentials a normal person whom the founders envisioned would have to represent regular people. I have achieved academic and music, as well as research and presenting awards and achievements. Please tell me what I need to do to participate as a delegate. Considered running for office, as there are 2 very unsavory choices who currently “serve” in office for the state of Missouri (native means misery).
I serve the living GOD and he is answering my prayers. I have been praying for people to organize something of this nature. Now you have come forth. Thank you for listening to the call.
Your ideas sound great, you can count me. This corrupt group of politician must be stopped.
Many years ago when joining the US Army I raised my right hand and took an oath to protect America and the Constitution from foreign and domestic enemies. Although I am no longer in the military I still hold that oath. It is time again to Stand, Fight, and Die (if need be) for the protection of the Constitution and Our Liberties. Thanks Patriot Caucus. I’m there.
Great News From Our Fellow Patriots!
My thanks to all of you who are doing the job that needs to be done. The 535+1 (plus czars) thugs that are in office need to be swept clean out of office and into the gutter where they belong. This must be accomplished in steps over the next few years. Persistent will prevail. Kick em’ out, take our country back, head in a new direction, using our time honored Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Count me in for whatever you need done.
What is the plan for the states to organize and to select delegates?
It all sounds great to me.
Count us in!!!! Let’s reclaim our country. May God bless America, again!
Another and last March on DC is a good idea, but I for one cannot see how so many people like my family can’t afford the trip. How about some local Tea Party Marchs on the same day?
There are many other groups that need to be notifed of this event as well.
Campaign for Liberty
The Liberty Coalition
End the Fed
Oath Keepers
We Are Change
912 Project
Sons of Liberty Patriots
These are the most influential groups that I know of. Please use http://www.startpage.com for your search engine. There is no reporting of what web searches you do to the Federal Government.
I will try to attend this event.
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds..” –Samuel Adams
You can count my wife, children and grandchildren in.
We are 8 months from the primaries. We need to be working on campaigns of good conservative candidates, registering people to vote, and organizing our precincts to get out the vote.
I’m excited about this. Thank you for everything you do and I’m looking forward to help out any way I can.
For America I will educate myself, I will ware my desire for this great nation on my sleeve. I have defended this great nation and I am willing to do again. please give me a post in the SF bay area and allot of ammunition.
Mr. Dodd, “Team with the ACLU”???? We don’t need the Fox in the Henhouse. That would be like asking Obama for advice.
I am in for the long run but not with the MARXist’s in Washington running the show!!!!
Looking to learn just the things you are speaking about.
Road Trip!!
“Is this similar to the CC2009 that happened last month?”
Not really. We aren’t looking to create a sort of legislative body or anything of that nature. We’re simply looking to generate a peer powered network of leaders and folks to help unify all aspects of the liberty movement.
Is this similar to the CC2009 that happened last month?
You have my full support to organize and form a new army willing to die for the good of this nation. I am ready to serve and be part of the battle that must be fought to restore our nation to the intended path set by our forefathers. I served my nation for four years in the Air Force defending our Democracy, not communism, socialism, or radicalism. Now nearly 50 years later, I have not given anyone permission to change our land into something we cannot recognize. May God bless your efforts.
Rev. Bill
This is great. I look forward to helping out as much as I can. With what’s going on in Washington DC these days, this TDTP (tax day tea party) activity is essential! Keep up the good work!
Great news! It’s time. We have no choice and we have an obligation to act. FOR LIBERTY!!!
Eric,
Cool idea. Count me in.
I am so excited to hear this news! I have been fired up and wanted to do something more. And here is the opportunity!
I am really happy about the Liberty Movement and excited to participate. Are you partnering with the ACLU at all, seems like it would make sense.
Thanks for what you do. I believe the conservatives will muster a majority in 2010 and 2012. Let’s pray that the elections are not totally corupted by the incumbants. You know they will do their best to stop us at all costs…
-Praying fo you/us.
Ted
I’m in!