FRANKFORT, Ky. — Around 700 people showed up on the state Capitol steps on Independence Day to stage their own TEA Party and voice their displeasure with policies of President Barack Obama and Congress.
TEA stands for “Taxed Enough Already,” and that was a theme of most speakers and their supporters in the crowd, but there were plenty of complaints about Obama who many said is leading the country “on a path to socialism.”
Miranda Davidson, 16, of Greenup carried a sign which read: “Obamanomics: Chains You Can Believe In.” She said her primary concern is the federal debt.“I don’t like being put in debt before I even have money,” she said. “When me and my sister get older, we’ll have to pay for all the bailouts and we have no say in it.”
Her father, Jeramie Davidson, said it isn’t just Obama, not just Democrats who are the problem, but both parties and the whole government.
“I’m tired of all of the government sticking their noses in our business and taking away our freedoms,” said the elder Davidson. “You’ve got the radical left-wing in control of everything and we’re fed up about it.”
John Brown of Flatwoods told the crowd that nationalists are in power and distinguished that philosophy from patriotism.
“A nationalist is a person who loves his government,” Brown said. “A patriot is a person who loves his country and I am a patriot.”
He went on to say it is “foolish to keep returning to power” the same political leaders who have created a “central government out of control.” He said the people have the power to change things, the power of the ballot.
Most of the speakers primarily blamed Obama – who lost both the Democratic primary and general elections badly in Kentucky – for unemployment, high taxes and creeping socialism. But several sprinkled in boiler plate conservative social issues, including abortion and second amendment rights.
One of those was David Carr of the King of Kings Radio Network, a conservative Christian broadcasting group. Carr, of Somerset, talked about abortion as well as economic issues and said at one point that “members of Congress have no right to appropriate public money.”
Several in the crowd held small signs that said Democratic Kentucky Congressmen John Yarmuth of Louisville and Ben Chandler of Versailles should be replaced. Others held up signs critical of Obama, including some recalling unsubstantiated campaign charges about Obama’s citizenship.
“Where’s the birth certificate?” read one held by an elderly lady.
Dan Miler, a Lexington attorney and partner in The Conservative Underground Company, was doing a brisk business selling T-shirts with a large “O” over the word “crap” and “Don’t Blame Me – I voted for McCain” bumper stickers.
He said, “Business is booming,” but he said it wasn’t just anti-Obama buyers boosting his take.
“Based on my sales, it’s more anti-tax, anti-government,” Miller said, pointing to T-shirts which bore those kinds of messages. “The O-No and O-Crap shirts are selling well but anything with McCain isn’t selling.” One bumper sticker that was selling was “Sarah 2012.” That would be Sarah Palin, John McCain’s vice presidential nominee and Alaska governor.
Palin announced Friday she’s resigning as governor. She’s a popular choice among some conservatives to run for president in 2012.
Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com.
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Pulaski County is not at war. The booming you may hear at dusk is mock cannon fire to scare away birds.
Stuart Spillman, environmental director for the Lake Cumberland Health Department, said at least three cannons are on loan from the department to residents who want to scare away swarms of starlings and blackbirds settling in to roost.
He said a cannon is being used by a resident on Laura Lane off Ky. 39; another is in the Oak Hill Road area and a third is on Ashurst Street in the eastern part of Somerset.
Spillman said a timer on each cannon allows it to “fire” at whatever frequency is desired. The cannons must be used as the birds circle before going to roost. “After they settle in, nothing will chase them out,” Spillman said.
The Health Department doesn’t operate the cannons unless there is a specific complaint in an area where there are lots of birds, Spillman noted. He said so far this year the birds are not as bad as in the past. -
Boil water advisory is lifted countywide
The water controversy that Pulaski County has been boiling over — so to speak — for the last week is finally over.
At 10 minutes after noon Wednesday, the “boil water” advisory for the Western Pulaski Water District was lifted — almost a full week after the problems began around 1 p.m. last Thursday.
Prior to that, the Somerset Water Service — along with the other water providers in its system, including Science Hill Water, Southeastern Water, and Eubank Water — lifted their advisories, with Somerset on Saturday afternoon and the last, Southeastern, by Monday morning. Western Pulaski was the last in the system to complete sample testing for potential contaminants, due to not being able to access its Pikeville-based testing lab until Monday.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler thanked the public for its patience and understanding during the duration of the boil water advisory — put in place to keep citizens from drinking water that could have been contaminated after an accident last Thursday at the water plant site — and also thanked all the city employees for their hard work during this time.
“The boil water advisory went about as well as would be expected,” said Girdler.
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The message is clear: There are heroes. Even here in our own hometowns.
That’s the idea organizers hope to get across Saturday night at Somerset Christian School, when Congressional Medal of Honor winner Sgt. Dakota Meter speaks to all who choose to attend.
For further questions, ticket purchases, and sponsorship opportunities please contact Susan Adams at (606) 875-0255. -
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