Van Zandt Tea Party Calls Patriots to Action

Van Zandt Tea Party Calls Patriots to Action

The Edom Tea Party met at 7pm Monday night, October 8, 2018, at Big Rock Church of Christ, in Canton, TX. In addition to a review of upcoming events, attendees were treated to two speakers: Josh Siegel, Senator Ted Cruz’s East Texas Field Director, and Texas State Senator Bob Hall.

Doc Collins (Dr. Dwayne Collins) opened the evening, reviewing upcoming events.

October 12, 2018: Grass Roots America We the People (GAWTP) will host Russell Ramsland, former Reagan Administration Department of Defense Advisor.

• Lunch buffet line begins at 11:00 a.m., and the meeting is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• The event is free and will be held at the Holiday Inn South, 5701 South Broadway, Tyler, TX.
• Mr Ramsland will speak on: The Deep State – How an Army of Bureaucrats Protect Big Government

October 13, 2018: Flag Wave and Block Walk

• 7:00 a.m. Breakfast – Dairy Palace, 2301 N Trade Days Blvd, Canton, TX 75103
• 8:00 a.m. Flag Wave – Hwy 19 overpass at I-20
• 8:45 a.m. Neighborhood Walk – lists will be given out, to contact voters

October 23, 2018: Grass Roots America We the People (GAWTP) will host Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

• Buffet line starts at 5:30 p.m., and the meeting goes from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• The event will be held at Holiday Inn South, 5701 South Broadway, Tyler, TX.
• Mr Hegar will speak on: Is Texas in Danger of a Credit Downgrade?

October 27, 2018: East Texans for Liberty PAC will host its Stars of Texas Fall Celebration.

• Speakers: Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas State Representative and Freedom Caucus Chairman Matt Schaefer of District 6, David Barton, Alma Perez Jackson, KrisAnne Hall and a Special Guest who is yet to be announced.
• Gilmer Civic Center, 1218 US Hwy 271 North, Gilmer, TX 75644
• VIP Private Reception at 5:15 p.m.
• Dinner at 6:15 p.m.
• Program begins at 7:00 p.m.
• Cost: $25.00

Josh Siegel

Josh Siegel, East Texas Field Director for Senator Cruz spoke about his great concern that Democratic opponent Beto O’Rourke is greatly out-spending Senator Cruz. Not to mention, O’Rourke’s funding is coming from out of state, and significant amounts come from George Soros, who’s spending patterns demonstrate a plan to turn Texas blue (democratic). Given the candidates he supports, he doesn’t just want Texas blue, he wants Texas as socialistic as California. O’Rourke has raised $25 million more than Senator Cruz, and moreover, has about $50 million in the bank to spend over the remaining 4 weeks until election day, on November 6, 2018. Thus, O’Rourke is spending his way into prominence through tv and radio, visiting every college campus in the state, registering thousands of students who could turn the tide on the election results, and hiring block walkers to go house-to-house.

Bob Hall

When Texas State Senator Bob Hall of District 2 Spoke, he echoed Mr. Siegel’s concerns. Senator Hall talked about how different republican and democrat values are, and how there is no way to meet in the middle since there is no more ‘middle’. He also talked about how this election is like a perfect storm. Two factors make up the elements of this storm. The first, is that Democrats are running in almost every category on the ballot, throughout the state. These democratic candidates are largely unqualified for the office they seek. They are also radically liberal, and like O’Rourke, have out-of-state funding behind them.

The second factor in this perfect storm, is that for the most part, Republicans vote for those they’ve had an opportunity to get to know, and those they consider qualified. Often, many republican voters leave many of the republican posts on the ballot unmarked, because they either don’t know anything about the candidate, or don’t like the candidate. In contrast, democrats tend to vote straight ticket – every Democratic post on the ticket, from top to bottom. Most vulnerable to this republican practice, therefore, are republican judges at the bottom of the ballot. Hence, democrats tend to fill those seats. Senator Hall said this was how Dallas, once deeply conservative, became democratic.

Voting Straight Ticket

With this in mind, Senator Hall is urging republican voters to vote straight ticket. In other words, vote for every republican in every slot, all the way down the ballot. The Senator said, “If there is a republican out there on that ballot that did something you don’t like, or you don’t know ‘em, or there’s just something about them…you supported their opponent in the primary and it was a tough race… well that’s over with now. I guarantee, the republican you don’t know, and you may not like, you may not like him a lot, but they will be better than the democrat that you absolutely do not want. Make it easy on yourself. Mark one button on the ballot – straight ticket voting.”  The room broke out in laughter when he encouraged early voting, “as you never know when you’ll get run over by a bus. At least leave your vote behind. The last good thing you did for your country.” Though this is quite humorous, it also shows the degree to which the republican party in Texas is not resting until voting closes on November 6th.

In talking about how big a debt we leave our children and our grandchildren, Senator Hall challenged us to at least leave our children and our grandchildren with people that will not lead them into socialism. He closed the evening with this statement: “Let me share this one fact that will scare you to death.” He mentioned a Pew Survey measuring the percentage of millennials who believe that housing, health care, college education, and a living wage should be guaranteed. Three years ago, 32% of millennials believed these elements should be guaranteed, whereas today, the number has risen to 49%. What this reflects, is that almost half of all millennials believes that what was once worked for, should now be guaranteed and or given.

An Opportunity to Get Involved:

Taxes pay for everything that is “free” in California. As a result, the average take-home is a fraction over 50% of earnings. The other 50% therefore, (aside from the Federal portion) goes to pay for the “free stuff”. It is in fact, to keep Texas from the same fate, that the speakers encouraged all present to get out and meet people face to face; to encourage them to think through what they believe. See the October 13, 2018 Flag Wave and Block Walk being held this weekend, on the above calendar of upcoming events.

A quick summary of where the candidates stand:                        

Susan Skommesa is a freelance writer and editor with The Northeast Texan. Her many interests include studying Biblical and Paleo-Hebrew, renovating houses, all things health and nutrition, knitting, homesteading, and teaching and writing on topics of faith, gardening, pets, chickens, and human interest.

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