Need proof the Tea Party is on the decline in Florida? Compare photos of turnout for Americans for Prosperity’s rallies
Need proof the Tea Party is on the decline in Florida? Compare photos of the turnout for Americans for Prosperity’s rallies in Tallahassee from last year to this.
Here’s a shot of from yesterday’s Patriots Day rally in front of the Old Capitol. It’s kind of sparse:
Now, here’s basically the same shot from the AFP’s rally in Tallahassee in 2011.
Pretty significant difference, huh?
Of course, there are some other shots from both years showing smaller and larger crowds, but these two photos are comparable. That said, these photos illustrate what a lot of pundits have concluded: the Tea Party’s influence in the Capital is on the decline.
It is not the movement that is in decline, it is the leadership. This O’Brien character seems to think that you can buy everything and everybody. Someday he will understand that it is what’s inside that drives this movement.
The rally last year was not an AFP rally. I was there last year (had to work this year), and AFP helped a little but did not put it on. There were a lot of local people last year. Also, it was later in the spring and opening session so that made a difference right there.
Whether the tea party is in decline or not may be debatable, but these photos don’t prove anything. It’s comparing apples to oranges… As Bill commented above, this year’s event was an American for Prosperity produced event supported by tea party activists, while last year’s event was a tea party production from start to finish.
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We are in such decline that the author felt obligated to report on our “decline”. I’m pretty sure he’s well aware that the tea party played a direct role in the failure to pass privatization this week. What appears to be lacking is an understanding that we rallied in 2009 and found out that didn’t work, so we moved indoors where it has an influence.
Ask JD how many calls he got yesterday on the septic tank issue from tea partiers. It ain’t as sexy or commentary worthy as rallies, but we are having a pretty impactful role on legislation. Which, you know, is really what matters.
There were two events at the Capitol last year. The 1st was the opening day rally that attacked a very large crowd who were celebrating the success of the 2010 election cycle and the beginning of a new session. People came up went to the rally and then went home. The 2nd event was the AFP summit which was a two day event and included break-out sessions and a dinner program.
This year’s AFP sponsored two day event attracted a larger crowd (365) than last year’s two day event. This year we had the Rally on the steps of the old Capitol like they did last year but we had people actually on the steps surrounding the Speakers, last year they did not…..interesting that those photos angles aren’t shown. You are welcome to view them for yourselves at our face book site http://www.facebook.com/afpfl?bookmark_t=page or webpage http://www.americansforprosperity.org/021512-%E2%80%9Crally-tally%E2%80%9D-event-gathers-hundreds-activists if you would like to view some other camera angles.
This year’s event also had a dinner program that featured CFO Jeff Atwater, AFP 2011 Legislator of the Year Scott Plakon, noted blogger and author Trevor Loudon and the Writer/Director of Stephen K. Bannon. We also had breakout sessions for those that were interested, topics and speakers included; Krisanne Hall with a Constitutional Refresher, Daryn Iwicki on Economic Freedom, Patricia Nelson, the Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Fiscal Responsibility and Regulatory Reform, Terren Bragdon from the Foundation for Government Accountability spoke on tools for holding local government accountable and protecting you Healthcare Freedom, and the Heartland Institute spoke about insurance reform. We also provide space on the 22nd floor of the Capitol for Patriot Groups to cover issues outside of AFP’s mission.
But the main point of all this was to help put Patriots in front of Legislators and that is exactly what happened. The Attendees scheduled appointments with their Legislators or key committee members working on issues that matter to them.
As for the continuing attacks and assignation on my character on this site from “Conservative Voice” an individual who does not even that the fortitude to use his/her own name and prefers to hide in amenity, it is clear you have a personal agenda. Perhaps if you focused your energy on helping to build the movement rather than destroy it we would be more successful.