Utah Tea Party Article in the New York Times

[David Kirkham]

Guys,

Matt Bai from the New York Times came out and did a story on the Utah Tea Party. He starts the article describing a ride I took him for in one of our cars a couple of weeks ago at our annual Track Day at Miller Motorsports Park. He really was quite nice and we had a good time together. He was in Utah for 2 days so we spoke at length. I wanted him to understand who the Tea Party really is. He made an interesting comparison of the Tea Party to MoveOn.org and how the internet has really changed how easy it is for us all to get together and communicate, and organize.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/we...cp=1&src=twrhp

David

[RICK LAKE]

David Kirkham It all seam so simple until you try and change something. My town is no different from any other town except for spending money at massive rates. 2 mid schools and highschool, all spended to the tune of 1/2 a billion dollars with bonds and loans. That's right 500 million. This didn't in clude 5 or 6 new PRO flieds for the kids to play on at 1.3 million per field. We had grass when I was there and if the field where maintained better this would not have happened. The main problem is that this is all for the kids. MY KIDS, Parents have turned into cult worshipers of them. Every parent wants there kids to be and have opportuinties more than what they had when growing up. PRO sports in not the answer. Our town get a special kid about every 10 years with ablitity for the pros. Jay Majuiski Pro pitcher for Philly triple a ball. 95 mph fast ball, blown out roto cuff in 4 weeks and cut. Man was a bull and now a working dad with one good arm, Walter Hastings, has the record for a high school kid 300 game average on match lanes of 877, should have went pro but drugs and drinking killed his life, today 3 kids living with wife in parents home. Future dead, bad rep. Best for last and why all the sports crap being done. Heather O'really soccer player for womens pro league. 1 gold metal, 1 silver metal, 1 champion ship in pro sports. This makes 3 out of 30,000 kids that have gone throught the system. I think the number is about 1 in 200,000 gets a shot at the pro life and most breakdown like racehorses in 1-3 years or learn to CHEAT the system to continue playing and hope they are not caught. Today kids are bigger and faster than 30 years ago. Poor coaching has cost kids there ability to walk though life and not end up in a bed or wheel chair. Sorry for the soapbox. Bottom line is that in my town the future was drafted 30 years ago and is not working today. It's just like highschool, vote in the popular person for a job and not the right one with brains and tuffness. In the end they all get greased, and a little deeper down the rabbit hole we go.
I would like to hope in the future that maybe we see your Name as govenor of Utah. I have seen Hatch over the years and like his ways and work done on senate committees. Problem is we need to clean houses an stop making these guys lifetime jobs. Limits really need to be made just like the president, 10 year max and out. this includes a VP taking over as pres in the middle of the other guys term. The problem is good guys like Hatch will also be chopped. There is no easy or simple fix. I bust George Andreson in Hastings for not running for Mayor. Go to Neb and it's had to fine a people who doesn't know George. Be honest, fair, no secerts and no BS is what is need in this country alone with alot of jobs. This we need to get back, Made in the USA, not Sold in the USA and built, machined, forged, or stolen from. I'm going drifting, see you latter Rick L. Ps the whole thing your parents tell you doesn't apply in todays world. We need a new John Wayne to start fixing the problems. Cowboy rules still work the best.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Education is not measured by the size of the school or the type of football turf. Too much $$ are being spent on non-essential programs and such, and this is Everytown, USA. Parents want to live their lives through their kids. Just look at the fights that break out between parents, coaches and officials at many of these school sporting events. Spend the money on quality teachers and plenty of updated books. Extra curricular programs should be in music and the arts, and the expensive sports programs should be financed by the PARENTS of the wanna-be athletes. Rick is correct in that one in a million kids become successful athletes, and success is fleeting, lasting sometimes only a year or two.
Senators and congressmen should have definite limits on their terms, just like the President. Way too much tax money is wasted on the 'elite' few, who seem to have a louder voice when it comes to spending programs. Just my opinion.

[David Kirkham]

Rick, ZOERA-SC7XX, Guys,

Thanks for the kind words. I sincerely appreciate them. I hope people read the article and realize all they have to do is stand up and they can really make a difference.

David

[zrayr]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

Rick, ZOERA-SC7XX, Guys,

Thanks for the kind words. I sincerely appreciate them. I hope people read the article and realize all they have to do is stand up and they can really make a difference.

David

I'm standing up, but on the opposite side of yours.


Z.

[Zoom This]

Do the Tea Partier's talk about 427 Cobras at "Tea Party.com"? I doubt it, so leave the Tea Party out of Club Cobra. Period.

[RestoCreations]

If you don't agree with or like what David Kirkham posted, then don't bother reading it and especially don't bother replying to the thread. However, i seriously doubt that you all bothered to read the article. If you had, you probably would not have been so quick to reply with your above comments. I'm sure you simply saw TEA Party(Taxed Enough Already) and felt you had to post something in opposition immediately.

[David Kirkham]

Guys,

Thanks for all the comments. Dissent is welcome. Free and open exchange of ideas is how well all learn. Let's just not get upset with each other (not saying anyone is, just saying). Zoom This probably thinks we at Utah Tea Parties don't talk about Cobras...that is entirely reasonable for him to say. The strange thing is, we do

I drove one of our cars to the first Utah Tea Party I organized and have had them at many of the 18 or so events I have helped to organize over the past year and a half. I take them to Honk and Wave events for candidates and hold "cottage meetings" in our shop. We all know how much better we feel around these cars. They help break the ice so people can get along and discuss the issues that matter to all of us, Democrats and Republicans alike. All sides are welcome in the process. Heavens knows the Republicans spent all the money when they were in power just like the Democrats are now. Only reasonable and rational debate will help us all to find the best way to get our country back on track.

Most importantly, our cars are a very real reminder of socialism and the perils of "The Road to Serfdom." Our cars are, after all, made at a former MiG factory. At every Tea Party, I speak of our cars and what I have seen in Poland, Russia, Greece, Tanzania, and other countries across the world. All Utah Tea Partiers know what a Cobra is

Our cars break down barriers--something our country desperately needs. That is why the very first thing I did with Matt (the NY Times writer) was take him out on the track to make some more "marbles." When we can each see each other as a reasonable human being--with real concerns--then, we can reach out to each other and find the answers we all need.

David

[67JET]

Well said Mr. Kirkham!!! It always seems like very little of the majority stands up and that most of us believe the government needs to be kicked in the gut and reminded that they are supposed to represent us the people that voted them in. It also seems like everyone in the minority has a loud voice and gets their way - " the squeaky wheel bearing always gets the grease". Our country was founded because of religious and class persecution. For some reason the minority that believes their is no GOD wants to use the very constitution that was created with GOD in mind to take him out of everything we know. I just don't get it. Thanks again for standing up to what you believe in and showing the rest of us how.

[David Kirkham]

67JET,

Thank you for your kind words. There may be many ways to achieve our goals. I am open to any reasonable suggestion to make our country better. My desire is others will realize they too can stand up and hopefully make a difference for the better.

David

[big-boss]

David, for just an old engineer you are becoming quite astute.

Your approach with the NYT guys was great, I have had such opportunity myself- it really works. Lets get to know each other before we go to battle- it is such a simple concept that no one ever seems to try.

I always remember back to the 911 days we were all Americans with a bond. My dad remembers back to WWII, the same feeling.

We Americans seem to always forget that we are Americans first and some of us even forget that we really are an exceptional people. We are here together, we want to be free, we want to help each other and if we are left to ourselves we will 9 out of 10 times do the right thing for the right reasons and we should be trusted.

These are only some of the reasons the Tea Party made such an impact- they really have reminded us, Americans, who we are and why we are here. They (we) did it with out a war or major catastrophe. Quite amazing- that is why the movement is here to stay- or more importantly ---Why it came back to the surface of our American ways.

Good going David!!!

[Bluedog]

I would love to see this added to the Tea Party Movement!

Congressional Reform Act of 2010


1. Term Limits.

12 years only, one of the possible options below..

A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

[cobrakalas427]

Bluedog - I agree with you 110%! ALL politicians are elected to SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY...NOT THEMSELVES! Remember...FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE!

[Excaliber]

67Jet seem's to make a couple of assumptions which are not all together true, or perhaps I misunderstood.

One suggestion is that the Tea Party or like folks may be in the majority, I don't think thats true. Another seems to be that those who aren't don't believe in God. Definitely not true.

I'm all for God and country and doing whats right, I simply have a different view point on how to get there than the Tea Party does.

In no way does that make me less a patriot than anybody else. Just sayin'...

[m5extc]

Great article David, thanks for sharing. I am impressed by the writer, though having differing opinions was able to report without name calling or anything else unproductive.

Andrei

[JWilly]

Mr Kirkham, Good luck with your efforts. I think everyone wants a govt. that is financially responsible. Problem is, for me, the Tea Party in many places has morphed into a social conservative movement. I don't think this is what the TP founders had in mind for the party. Is it?

[Jamo]

Congrats Buddy!

Folks...we've made CC a politics-free zone. Rather than close this thread, let's see if we can turn the discussion towards making a reporter load his pants on the track or something of that ilk.

Much appreciated.

[Tommy]

This is going to be fun to watch.

[Excaliber]

I absolutely support David in this project and a tip of the hat for getting involved. That was an interesting article. No question, Cobras DO bring people together, our views may remain different, by it's OK.

[4pipes]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Congrats Buddy!

Folks...we've made CC a politics-free zone. Rather than close this thread, let's see if we can turn the discussion towards making a reporter load his pants on the track or something of that ilk.

Much appreciated.

I love it when you talk dirty.