Tea Party mindset overtakes Flushing Township board

[Shallah Kali]

Tea Party mindset overtakes Flushing Township board; will it be a trend in the state, nationally

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/05/tea_party_mindset_overtakes_fl.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+michigan-elections+%28Michigan+Elections+News%29

The Flushing Township board has cut vastly, from the township park to the police department.

“The choices that we’re making now in the township, you are going to see these same choices around Michigan and the U.S.,” said township trustee Mike Gardner, who also is the head of the Genesee County Tea Party. “It takes a very strong-minded politician to stand up and say we aren’t going to raise taxes and we are going to cut spending.”

Jack Minore, chair of the Genesee County Democratic Party, called the Tea stronghold in Flushing Township a fluke in Genesee County, which traditionally leans heavily Democratic.

“It’s possible that it can come into the township offices,” he said. “But virtually all offices in Genesee County trend Democratic.”

And, Minore criticized their aggressive cutting — including eliminating the one full-time staffer at the Flushing Township Nature Park, which he called a “gem” to county residents.

Township resident Gary Whitmire, who considers himself a conservative Republican, believes the cuts have gone too far. He ran unsuccessfully for trustee in 2008 and opposed last year’s police layoffs.

“I’m not in favor of giant government, but government has an important place to serve the people,” said Whitmire, 59. “It provides services that it can do for us and can’t be done any other way.”

[sakabatou]

1. "I’m not in favor of giant government, but government has an important place to serve the people."

And that's why you gutted the police?

[bluestateguy]

2. The Tea Party of 1773 had not a damn thing to do with government spending

I'm losing my patience with such analogies.

[pinboy3niner]

3. My patience has worn thin, too

If these folks get their way, history texts will be updated to include these quotes from the Boston Tea Party participants of '73:

"I want my country back"
"Drill, baby, drill!"
"We don't want no 'death panels'!"
"Don't pull the plug on gramma!"
"Illegal immigrants, get out!"
"No taxation--period!"
"In what sense, Charlie?"