365 days ago, I became a member of the Tea Party. I stood on the pier in Santa Monica, and watched a small, but vibrant crowd of strangers get together. I shook near every hand that gathered that day. And I had the privilege, and, as I look back on it, the honor, to be the first person ever to speak at a Los Angeles Tea Party rally.
In my review of the past 365 days, the economy sank – both the country’s and mine – and businesses floundered – both the country’s and mine . As a Capitalist, I have always known that if you keep looking, keep searching, keep fighting, keep thinking, keep trying, you will find you way to the success you endeavor. I knew that losing funding on a new business would be painful, (and it was) but it would not be forever. It was the business that lost, not me. I was still here. Organizing Tea Parties, letting my voice be heard, and helping others do the same.
From that first rally in Santa Monica, to the Tax Day Tea Party in Van Nuys, to the success of 912West and all of the events in between and since, I am overjoyed by the response of Los Angeles to the Tea Parties. I am thrilled by its success, and its growth, across the country. I am thrilled to see people actively participating in their nation, running for office on principle-based tickets, not party-based. It seems that there are millions who truly embrace the mantra of “Principle. Not Party.” I am thrilled to see that the movement is moving overseas. People taking control of their lives, taking responsibility for their past actions, and working to make better choices in the future, for their futures.
Nothing is done alone. The Tea Party Movement is proof of that. And while we remain joyously leaderless, (regardless of MSNBC’s claims) there are some people who need to be thanked. They were first, because someone had to be first. What makes me feel so great is the knowledge that they are not the last, and that we many not see the last for many years to come (regardless of what Gov. Schwarzenegger says.)
My thanks to Brooks Bayne, Stephen Kruiser, Ashley Nicole Ingram, Justin Smith and Gary Aminoff. I had a growing friendship with Brooks, but I didn’t know the others. 365 days later, they are friends. We talk, we drink, we smoke cigars, we laugh, we learn, we argue. We do the things that friends of a lifetime do. Our lifetime started 365 days ago. Our Tea Party bond makes us strong.
My thanks to Top Conservatives on Twitter, created in the fall of 2008, which got people talking to each other. The hashtag #TCOT made it possible to reach others quickly and effectively, and those early members helped spread the word about Tea Parties, and made them viable across the country.
My thanks to my wife, whom I do not blog about. And, while I haven’t done the research, I believe this is the first time I have ever referenced her. As I stated earlier, Nothing is done alone. While I was organizing, my wife was giving advice, holding down our family, and supporting the decisions that we made to work hard for the Tea Party Movement. We knew, and we still know, that we control our destinies. That our children should have the same freedom and liberty that we had. That this is our motivation. We owe it to them. If picking a spouse was a game show, then I’m the guy who won the Amazing Race. Luckily for me, I’m still on that race with someone I love.
And to all of you I have met over the course of this year. To the great work you do, and will do, let me say thank you. In Los Angeles, we don’t believe in career Tea Party politicians. That is why I have stepped back from organizing, and good people like Michael Fell have come in to lead LA. While I will never stop being a part of the Tea Party Movement, the Tea Parties are not about one person. They are about we. They are about you. Everyone must participate. Everyone must put their skin in the game. Everyone must take responsibility. Without that, the Tea Party Movement has no chance of survival. With that, Statism has no chance of survival.
One year later, and I couldn’t be more proud. A year that brought my family the worst economic times in our history, has made us rich beyond words. We thank you all for that.
I can not wait to see what 2010 brings us.
