Several Tea Parties are planned in and around the Houston area tomorrow, and the big one at Jones Plaza should be jam-packed:
We expect quite a crowd. If we have overflow we are setting up an overflow area to protest the post office. Please stay on sidewalks there, and we apologize if Jones Plaza becomes too full. We are working to accommodate people in case this happens.
If you are unsure about coming downtown, The Woodlands, Sugarland, Clear Lake, Tomball, and a few other communities are hosting Tea parties. Please consider going to them. All Texas tea parties can be found here: http://taxdayteaparty.com/teaparty/texas/
Things will get underway at 4pm at Jones Plaza, at 5pm in The Woodlands, and at 6pm in Clear Lake — all accommodating folks who have to work, you’ll notice, unlike a METRO board meeting.
If you make it to one of the Tea Parties tomorrow, please tell us about it in the forum.
KEVIN WHITED ADDS (04/15/09): Houston’s Expert on Everything, Bicyclist (and Democrat) Bob Stein, has an opinion (actually, two opinions) on the Tea Parties. Here’s the first one, offered to KHOU-11:
Organizers say the events are non-partisan, but 11 News political expert Bob Stein disagrees.
“This is an effort by the Republican National Committee to build up grass roots for a decimated party,” said Stein.
Here’s the second opinion, offered to the Galveston County Daily News:
More than 300 people gathered in a city park Tuesday to rally against “out of control” government spending and to ship protest tea bags to Washington, D.C. Whether the first of what will be a series of tea party protests across the country is the start of a grass-roots political movement or just another form of political theater is yet to be determined.
“I think it is too early to say,” said Rice University political science professor Bob Stein. “There is a good deal of partisanship, but for an event the Republican Party would normally put its stamp on as the loyal opposition there really isn’t a (party) spokesperson on this.
“To me, the story is why the Republican Party is not jumping on this. (Republicans) are supportive of this, but not sounding the trumpet.”
Thank you, Bicyclist Stein, for those two contradictory opinions!
Incidentally, neither story identifies Stein as a Democrat.
ANNE LINEHAN ADDS: Our beloved Chronicle dips its toe into the Tea Party water with this story:
Anti-tax protesters turn out for dreaded April 15
Gosh, it’s a mystery why that paper is bleeding readers.
MEANWHILE: KPRC-2 covers the local story much better than the Chronicle.
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