North Texas Tea Party

Well, a small handful of us went to represent- at a respectful distance of 150 yards down the road- at the MoveOn-sponsored ‘candlelight vigil’ and political rally. (Make your own judgment here on how much of this was a true remembrance vigil and how much a straight political rally).  This is what many of these same folks were doing sometime between Ted Kennedy’s funeral Mass and his graveside service; really somber.

Only about a dozen of us were willing to face the controversy (certainly not like facing the cannonfire our Founding Fathers did) of being there.  But it was an interesting and peaceful event; and the first numerical victory MoveOn has managed to organize since all of this started local 2 months ago.  It was at least 15 to 1.

Most of us were there to keep a lid on things, representing differences over policy, especially health care, without getting personal or tacky.

One of us had earlier expressed desire to visit the goings on for the express purposes of offering condolences- from himself and our small group- on the loss of Teddy Kennedy, the Liberal Lion.   This was a sincere effort to offer consolation, for his view is that a man who so long held, served and championed his beliefs (especially even when they were not popular) deserves a certain measure of respect.  And the end of the older Kennedy line, agree with them or not, is a loss that transcends the political realm.

It was felt that one rotund old man- no sign or political shirt- should not be too intimidating to the gathering of 150 or so on the hill. Apparently it was not to be so: one organizer stopped him from approach and refused to even come within 20 feet to speak, shouting “You can’t be here.” (a danger of ideological contamination, I guess)  She’d called the cops before she even appeared.

The ‘dangerous intruder’ told the officer to pass on his condolences and that he’d meet them halfway to do so in person, if they were willing.  No takers before we left at dark.

Apparently, ideological purity was at risk here; they might have actually found out that some of us can be gracious, while continuing to disagree on policy.