Help us continue the Fourth Corner

Remember the Tea Party “We the People” event September 11th . The seven Dollar tickets are available here.  More info about the event and other news can be seen here at their blog.

BELLINGHAM TEA PARTY PRESENTS:
WE THE PEOPLE
Friday, September 11TH
7 P.M.
mount BAKER THEATRE
SPECIAL GUEST: JERRY STEWART
Admission $7.00
Bring the family for an evening to remember those that lost their lives on September 11, to show respect for our Founding Fathers and to honor what makes America Great.........WE THE PEOPLE

Tickets may be purchased online through MBT's by phone (360) 734-6080 or the web site listed above


OUR MISSION:  The Bellingham Tea Party's Mission is to reverse deficit spending and the concentration of power in central government, in order to preserve states' rights and individual liberty for future generations.

Contributions to help with advertising:  Make check payable to Whatcom County Citizen's for Freedom and mail to 1722 Euclid, Bellingham 98229.
To Comment on information on this site or to send additional information send an e-mail to
info@thefourthcorner.com
Click Here to watch the video "We the People". Presented at the September 11th Tea Party.
Click Here to watch the video "Tell Congress what you Think". Presented at the September 11th Tea Party.
Posted September 15th

What at night!  Friday night was an incredible evening.  Great Americans cheered the speakers, the videos and the great singers. 

You purchased 1,323 tickets!  We have had three Tea Party events.  One on April 15th, another on July 4 and now September 11th.  Any one of these events had the largest crowds for a political rally in the history of Whatcom County.  Don't think we don't count or that we don't make a difference.  We are making a difference.

Please go to our web site: http://www.bhamteaparty.blogspot.com
We have two videos on our web site if you want to see what Whatcom County residents wanted to tell Congress.

We will soon have a video of the entire event for you to see on our web site.  We have also had a lot of requests for the video "American Form of Government"  That will soon be available on our web site. If you would like me to e-mail this video to you, let me know and I'll send it to you.

The videos are also available on the left side of this page.

We will be meeting soon to discuss what comes next.  If you want be added to our committee level e-mail list, let me know.  
If you can't make the meeting, send me your comments.  Would you like another Tea Party on the Guide or another place?  Would you like an educational Town Hall meeting? Both?

For now, please keep the pressure on Congress.  Keep up with the phone calls, letters, e-mails and faxes to our representatives.

Thank you for an outstanding evening. Thank you to all the volunteers that worked to make this successful.  And, thanks to all of you who stepped out of your comfort zone with generous contributions.

I want to continue to surrounding myself with people like you. 

Lynn Carpenter
Click Here to go to the local Tea Party Web Site

Below is a report sent by a Whatcom County couple who flew to Washington D.C. to participate in the 9/12 March.  Thanks to Biff & Eleanor for sending these pictures and your report of this great event.
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Posted September 22nd

Hi All:

The March was awesome!

For those of you who don't yet know, Eleanor and I flew to Washington DC for the 9-12 March on Washington to protest the government's fiscal irresponsibility, the move toward socialism, the inattention of Congress, the lies, the Healthcare bill, the Media's disregard for opposing views, and lots more!

We have attached several photos taken on 9-12.  We have more if anyone is interested.

Since almost everyone wants to know numbers, here is our estimate: way in excess of 100K showed up!  We base this on Eleanor having attended the Rose Bowl, which holds 104K, and which she feels was far smaller than our visible group.  We also base it on the fact that the group had grown so large by 10 AM that the Capitol Police told us to start marching 90 minutes early!  Freedom Plaza, that was our central meeting point, had grown too congested to wait any longer.  We can tell you that when we joined The March about 10:30, the crowd was nearly shoulder-to-shoulder on Pennsylvania Avenue, and we were toward the back end.  It was a mile to the Capitol.  Later, when we called a friend we learned he was three blocks back, and it was still crowded.  This crowded marching continued for several hours.  From our vantage point we were never able to fully see how far back on the mall the protest extended, but were told that buses (over 450 permits were issued) and people were still arriving at 2PM, which was four hours after marching started.  Many people ended up walking several miles due to the traffic congestion, with buses parking anywhere they could find space outside the city.  Metro ridership was up about 200K over normal weekends.  We ended up west of the reflecting pool (the one that's just west of the Capitol), and were unable to hear most of the talks very well, due to the distance, but that didn't dissuade anyone!  We finally left about 3:30 and the crowd was still heavy.  Some well-analyzed and methodically constructed estimates by an engineer put the number at closer to 1.7 Million.  It was amazing to experience a crowd of that size. 

At one point after arriving at the Capitol building and finding the Texas flag, we tried to find the Washington state flag, since the flags were rallying points for each state.  We walked around the pool, which took over a half-hour, and even though we located the flag we were still unable to get within forty feet due to the densely packed crowd. 

This "unruly mob" was a pleasure.  Everyone was extremely polite and willing to share what little room they had.  The Capitol Police reported exactly ZERO arrests.  The only litter we saw was after the event, when many people had attempted to discard their posters and the trash bins were overflowing.  Otherwise, we left the place as clean as we found it. 

We were among those with posters needing to find new homes:  we shipped 11 posters and five sectional poles, and then made sandwich boards out of four, but had no easy way to get them back home.  We ended up giving most of them away to participants who arrived poster-less, and after The March we gave our remaining posters to a family from Ohio with young children who wanted to keep the posters as mementos.  Almost every poster we saw was handmade, with some simply written out on a piece of notebook paper and held up.  It was incredible that almost every poster was original.  Sure, they followed a number of basic themes, but the phrasing was unique to each person.  We only saw one off-color poster (carried by a young man about 22).  Some were anti-administration, but not obscene or distasteful.  This was good, since many young children were present.

LOTS of veterans in the group, as well as old people in wheelchairs, little kids (one in a Statue of Liberty outfit), and every age in between.  Virtually everywhere we went, both before and after 9-12 we ran into people who had driven, flown, been bussed in, etc. from all over the country.  We could pick them out by the excitement in their eyes!  (Or their T-shirts in many cases.)  We were told that every state was represented, plus some guy who flew in from Australia!

We are convinced that many, many more people would have attended if they had not had other obligations.  Also (amazingly) there were many people we met after the event who had not even been aware of it.  We are confident that the next time we march there will be two groups of people:  those who attended the first time (and neither hell nor high water will keep them from coming back again), and those who weren't there the first time, but wanted to be.  From the outright lack of news coverage, to the paucity of coverage (only FOX and CNN had news trucks), to the total lack of understanding by most of the media of why we marched, it appears We the People will have to return many times until we reclaim our country.  If they continue to ignore us, it may not be so festive on future occasions.  Future tactics might include marches on the headquarters of each media outlet in the country, effectively surrounding them with marchers so numerous that they HAVE to notice us (especially if they can't get out the doors to go home!) 

The marchers were focused and of a single mind, even though there was no "leader".  We all understand what is at stake, and that continued and strident opposition to this socialist-leaning government that's spending us into oblivion must not cease.  There was an interesting sentiment that came up often in conversation.  Virtually everyone there seemed to know that the event could have gone sour and violent.  They seemed to know that we could have been targeted by our government and either rounded up, beaten up, or picked off by snipers.  They realized that an opposition force could have seriously dented this movement with a massive attack on an obvious "core" group as we stood assembled in one place.  We knew that a leftist government might take photos of every one of us for subsequent repressions.  And yet, knowing all this, still we came.

We consider it an honor to say "We Marched!"  Thanks to all those who showed their support in so many ways.  We hope to see you the next time!


Biff and Eleanor

We prepare to march!  The green poster belongs to our good friend, who took our photo.

Our vantage point.  There were HUGE numbers of people just out of sight over the steps across the pond:
People just seemed to materialize out of thin air as the day unfolded.  Here is a view looking at Freedom Plaza as we approached.  People were streaming out of side streets into the plaza.
There was a rolling cheer, as marchers passed by this building.
Citizens Action Network  http://www.effwa.org/CAN/firstprinciples.html

Saturday, October 24 - 3:00pm - (Everett) American Freedom 101

Saturday, November 7 - 9:00am   -  (Mount Vernon) First Principles of Freedom: The Declaration of Independence

Saturday, November 7 - 3:00pm -  (Bellingham) American Freedom 101


American Freedom 101 is an introductory-level class that explores why citizens need to fight for freedom and outlines the basic steps to get involved.  Throughout October, this class will be available in many cities throughout Washington.  Take a look below to find out when we are coming to your area:

The First Principles of Freedom course is designed to educate you on where the idea of freedom came from and its place in our country's founding.  Upon completing this program, you will have a foundation of knowledge to build upon in order to continue the fight for freedom.  We have broken the class down into several sections to give you the choice of what you would like to learn about:

1. The Argument for Liberty
Why not empower government to do everything for us? Are there actually moral limits on government power? Few writers have so clearly and concisely presented the argument for liberty as Frederic Bastiat. This class examines and considers these arguments as presented in Bastiat’s famous little book, The Law.

Text: Bastiat’s The Law (iea edition); handouts
Supplemental: Thomas Sowell, Conflict of Visions; Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

2. The Declaration of Independence and its Critics
What did the Second Continental Congress mean by “Nature and Nature’s God”? And what exactly is a self-evident truth? Abraham Lincoln lauded the Declaration as a “rebuke and a stumbling block to tyranny and oppression,” but others have dismissed it as relevant only to its historical moment or even as a statement of “self-evident lies.” Join us and discover the how and why the Declaration was written, what it meant in 1776, and why it remains important for freedom-loving people today.

Text: The Declaration of Independence
Recommended: Carl L. Becker, The Declaration of Independence; Thomas G. West, Vindicating the Founders

3. Federalism: A Nation of States (2 Hours)
The United States was established as a "compound republic," which offered the people a "double security" for their rights. How was this system really supposed to work and, well, what happened to it?

Text: The United States Constitution; Federalist No. 10; Eugene W. Hickok, Why States? The Challenge of Federalism; Handouts

4. Power: Checks and Balances (2 Hours)
How was the original Constitution designed to restrain power and protect rights and how has the original design been changed to undermine these checks and balances?

Text: The United States Constitution; Federalist No. 51
5. American Freedom 101

What’s America really about? With a look into the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution, and Federalist Papers, we’ll answer that question.

What are “Progressives”? Some people don’t like individual freedom—we’ll find out where there ideas came from and how to show that they’re wrong.

How you can be a Freedom Fighter: Learn the basics of persuasive writing, public speaking, contacting legislators, preparing for litigation, impacting elections, and engaging online.

Join the Freedom Foundation’s Trent England for American Freedom 101, 90-minutes that will supercharge your citizenship.


OCTOBER 21 TEA PARTY

Our Tea Party was great.  The rain may have soaked us, but it didn't dampen our spirit.  Estimates of between 300 and 600 people attended on a cold, rainy October Day with some great signs and a lot of American Flags.  The cars & trucks driving up and down the Guide were part of the Tea Party and make it fun for all of us.  This was clearly not an "angry mob".  Do you believe as I do that our politicians completely underestimate the power of the people?  Thanks to all that attended.

* BELLINGHAM TEA PARTY NEXT GENERAL MEETING
Our next meeting is on Tuesday, November 3rd from 3 p.m. to 4:15 at Lairmont Manor.  Please plan to attend.  We have free "We the People" buttons and we have business cards with our mission statement and contact information for the Tea Party.  Take some to give to friends when they ask what the Tea Parties are all about.  Bring your ideas and comments.  We want to know what you are thinking.

* ELECTORAL COLLEGE VS. NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE
There is a meeting on Saturday, October 24th in the Lecture Room, which is downstairs in the Bellingham Public Library. The meeting is "Presidential Electoral College vs. National Popular Vote".  There will be two WWU professors speaking in favor of a National Vote and someone from the Evergreen Freedom Foundations speaking in favor of the Electoral College.  The meeting is from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.   This is an important issue and it should be a lively debate. 

*STATEWIDE TEA PARTY COMING UP - MAKE PLANS TODAY
There is a statewide Tea Party being planned for October 30th at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.  Tea Party participants from all over the state will be there.  It is the closest we will come to the 9/12 event in Washington DO.CO.  The Tea Party in Puyallup will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Final details as to the exact location has not been determined yet.  For further information you can go to:  www.OlympiaTeaParty.com

*WHERE CAN I GET A TEA PARTY T-SHIRT OR MUG?
Laserpoint Awards & Promotions has been a huge contributor in many ways to the Bellingham Tea Party.  Randy & Kathy now have a web site where you can get your t-shirts, mugs and more.  Check out www.teapartystoreusa.com  This merchandise would make great Christmas gifts.

*HOW CAN I BE A FREEDOM FIGHTER?
The Evergreen Freedom Foundation is coming to Bellingham on Saturday, November 7th  from 3 to 5 p.m. at the BIAWC.  (Building Industry Association of Whatcom County) 1650 Baker Creek Place.
Topics include:  "What's America really about?"  "What are 'progressives'?
and "How you can be a Freedom Fighter".  Supercharge your citizenship.
I plan to attend and hope you will too.  This class is free and everyone is invited.  The class is called "American Freedom 101"

*JERRY STEWART
As you may know, Jerry has moved to Texas, but he hasn't forgotten us.  Jerry will be writing a series of articles called the "Stewart Report".  We will be posting these articles on our web site: www.bhamteaparty.blogspot.com  I'll let you know when the first report arrives.

*DO YOU HAVE A "WE THE PEOPLE" SIGN OR TWO IN YOUR YARD?
If not, go to our web site to see where you can pick up some signs.  We are asking for a contribution of $5.00.  They are great signs of the American Flag with "We the People" underneath.  Our troops are fighting for our freedom in foreign countries.  We must fight for our freedom right here in America.  We are fighting our own Congress.  We cannot afford to lose this important battle, so get a "We the People" button and put a "We the People" sign in your yard.   If you have one in your yard, get another sign and give it to a neighbor.

*CONTRIBUTIONS ARE GREATLY  APPRECIATED
Thanks to you at yesterday's tea party for generously putting some cash in our donation jars.  These events can get expensive as advertising is the only way we can get the word out.  Contributions will also help us with future events.
Contributions are not tax deductible.
If you would like to be a contributor, please send your check made payable to:
   Whatcom County Citizens for Freedom (WCCF)
   1722 Euclid
   Bellingham, WA. 98229

*BELLINGHAM TEA PARTY MISSION STATEMENT
"To reverse deficit spending and the concentration of power in central government, in order to preserve states' rights and individual liberty for future generations."

We had such positive feedback on the "We the People" event at the Mount Baker Theatre in September that we have decided to do something similar in February.  Loraine Newman and Kris Halterman have agreed to co-chair this next exciting event.

We are looking for people who have some experience in this kind of production, or someone who would like to work to help put together another wonderful evening for Tea Party participants in Whatcom, Skagit & Island Counties. 

If you would be willing to serve on this committee,  please reply and let me know of your background and/or why you wish to serve on this committee.  We will be looking for about 8 to 10 people. Thank you.

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The Bellingham Tea Party has purchased 100 "The 5,000 Year Leap" books.  The books sell for $19.95 in book stores, but we were able to acquire them for $5.0o and will pass the savings on to you.  This is an  incredible book that clearly explains the principles used by the Founding Fathers in forming our great Republic. 

"The 5,000 Year Leap"  makes a wonderful Christmas present.  You can get your books from Randy & Kathy Cross at Laserpoint Awards & Promotions, 205 E. Kelly Road.  While you are there, pick up a "We the People" yard sign,"We the People" window stickers for the car, and "We the People" buttons.  Randy & Kathy have put together a great selections of Tea Party t-shirts, mugs and more.

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The Bellingham Tea Party is sponsoring a 9 week class based on the book "The 5,000 Year Leap".  The class, that began in October, filled up in days and those that are taking the class are raving about it.  Don Chadd is doing a wonderful job in coordinating this great class.

Due to the popularity of this class, that is produced by the National Center for Constitutional Studies, we have decided to offer two of these classes beginning in January.  We don't that the final details as to where and when yet, but if you would like to get on a waiting list for this class, please send me your name, address, e-mail address & phone number.  Hugh Foulke has agreed to work with Don in coordinating the second class.  Thank you Don and Hugh.

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The Bellingham Tea Party is proud to announce that we have booked a seminar in Bellingham presented by the National Center for Constitutional Studies (www.nccs.net)  entitled "The Making of America". 
What do we do at a Making of America seminar?
Here is the general outline and timing of our one-day Making of America seminar:
8:30am-12:00 noon - "Developing America 's Great Success Formula" This is the exciting exploration which Jefferson, Adams, Franklin , Washington and others made in order to rediscover the key to the creation of the first free nation in modern times. We trace their adventure from 1400 B.C. to A.D. 1787 12:00-12:45pm - Lunch break 12:45pm-4:30pm - "The Perfect Plan of Liberty " A refreshing look at the solid political and economic principles from the preamble through the amendments to the Constitution. You learn perhaps for the first time, how nearly every problem in America today can be solved by restoring these successful concepts.

Ellen Baker has agreed to chair the committee to plan this seminar.  The seminar will be held on Saturday, March 20th.  Details to follow.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SPONSORS FOR THIS SEMINAR.
We want as many people to attend this seminar as possible.  It is critical that more people understand how our and why America was designed to make us the great country we know and love. 

We are seeking sponsors to help with the costs of this seminar so that we can keep the fee as low as possible.  If your business would like to be a sponsor, or if you personally would be willing to be a sponsor, please send your check marked seminar to:

Whatcom County Citizens for Freedom (WCCS)
1722 Euclid
Bellingham, WA. 98229

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Check out our web site for lots of interesting articles and some other upcoming events.  www.bhamteaparty.com
If you would like to write a column for our web site, please feel free to do so.  Keep in my that we are nonpartisan and do not encourage comments directed at any specific person.  Thanks to Karl Uppiano for keeping our web site current and interesting.  Register on our web site and make comments.  Remember our mission statement:

"To reverse deficit spending and the concentration of power in central government, in order to preserve states' rights and individual liberty for future generations."

LET'S ALL SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS THIS SEASON!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

NEWS FROM TEAPARTY November 16 2009
NEWS FROM TEAPARTY January 15th 2010
In Defense of Liberty
The Bellingham Tea Party is having another exciting event at the Mount Baker Theatre.  Our theme this President's Day weekend is "In Defense of Liberty"  Please plan to attend on Saturday, February 20th.  We need your help in spreading the word.  Please forward this e-mail to friends and print out the attached flyer to post on area bulletin boards.

Want to be in pictures?
As part of our "In Defense of Liberty" program, we will be video taping Whatcom County citizens as they talk about the liberties they have lost in their lives.  Think back some years and think about all the new laws and regulations that now control your family or business.  Please make your statment brief.  Look right into the camera and let your voice be heard.  The committee will select some of your comments to show on the big screen at the Mount Baker Theatre on February 20th.
Here's how you can make your debut:

Lost liberties video
Saturday, January 16th
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Masonic Temple
2626 W. Maplewood Avenue, Bellingham

General Meeting
The Bellingham Tea Party is having a "general" meeting where anyone is welcome to attend to hear what is happening with the Tea Party and provide input.

2010 is a big year for us.  We must elect people to office that believe in the values we hold dear.  If we elect the same idiots that are currently in Washington D. C., the America our Founding Fathers invisioned will continue to disappear.  Now is the time for all good citizens to come to the aid of their country.  Don't assume your neighbor will do it for you.  Get involved.

General Meeting of the Bellingham Tea Party
Wednesday, January 21th
5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Lairmont Manor
405 Fieldston Rd., Bellingham


April 15th Tea Party - Plan to attend our Tea Party on Tax Day

April 24th - We are sponsoring a seminar put on by the National Center for Constitutional Studies at the Lakeway Inn.  The seminar is called the "Making of America".  This is a seminar that has received rave reviews as it as been presented at cities all over the country.

For details on these events: www.bhamteaparty.blogspot.com
This web site will also tell you where to get your "We the People/Flag" yard sign, stickers and pins.

Is it possible a conservative could be elected in Massachusetts to replace Ted Kennedy?   Scott Brown is closing ground quickly on the big spender candidate that was about 20 to 30 points ahead not too long ago.  Scott Brown will be on Sean Hannity's show tonight at 6 p.m. on FOX NEWS.   The election is January 19th and Tea Party people are making contributions to his campaign from all over the United States.  For more information: www.brownforussenate.com

The Tea Party movement is having a huge impact on American politics.  Here in Washington State it appears as if our Washington D.C. representatives are in hiding.  If you know of a Town Hall meeting with Larsen, Cantwell or Murray, let me know.  It seems as if  they don't have the courage to face the people that elected them and the people they are suppose to represent.

We need quality Candidates...don't look to your right and left, look in the mirror.  Here are some of the positions up for election in 2010.  We need change and I'm sure hoping.

United States Senate, currently filled by Patty Murray
United States Representative Dist. 2, currently filled by Rick Larsen
Legislative Dist. #40, Position 1, currently filled by Dave Quall
Legislative Dist. #40, Position 2, currently filled by Jeff Morris
Legislative Dist. #42, State Senator, currently by Dale Brandland
Legislative Dist. #42, Position 1, currently filled by Doug Ericksen
Legislative Dist. #42, Position 2, currently filled by Kelli Linville

"When the Government fears the People, there is Liberty.
When the People fear the Government, there is Tyranny."
                                                                       Thomas Jefferson

If you would like to be removed from this e-mail list, please let me know.  I understand that we all get more e-mails than we want and I don't want to send anything to you that you don't want.
Lynn Carpenter


NEWS FROM TEAPARTY February 4th 2010
Play the Advertisement for "In defense of Liberty"