October 10, 2009 - The parking lot of Tucson Electric Park filled quickly Saturday morning with Tucsonans eager to take part in The Tucson Tea Party.
Organizers said they expected up to 10,000 people to descend on Tucson Electric Park for the rally to demand less government. Long lines of cars and a healthy crown of tailgaters Saturday morning made it clear organizers could get as large a turnout as they had predicted.
“We’re normal, non-racist everyday Tucsonans who are very concerned about the direction our government is going, ” said Chris Bubany, a small business owner who was serving chile relleno and peanut butter cookies while tailgating Saturday morning. “It helps to know other Americans are very concerned as well, that it’s not just me.”
T-shirts, with slogans like, “I am the mob,” were being sold, and a petition to recall Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was being circulated.
Organizers say they have heard from people all over the state who are angry about unsustainable spending and government’s encroaching role in the private lives of citizens, and who plan to carpool or rent charter buses to come from such places as Sierra Vista, Phoenix and Flagstaff.
The free event, started with tailgating at 8 a.m.. It features a meet-and-greet with political candidates running for seats from City Council to Congress. Speakers will follow from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Judge Andrew Napolitano, an author and senior judicial analyst on the FOX News Channel, as well as a regular guest on the Glenn Beck program, will be the featured speaker. Other speakers include Barry Goldwater Jr., former Arizona Congressman J.D. Hayworth and local talk radio host Jim Parisi.
The organization, registered as a non-profit political organization, is also soliciting donations to support future events, both in the upcoming city general election, as well as the bigger statewide general election next year. It is renting guest suites, at $4,000 for the suite or $500 for a single person, for a chance to mingle with the speakers.
Organizers said they expected up to 10,000 people to descend on Tucson Electric Park for the rally to demand less government. Long lines of cars and a healthy crown of tailgaters Saturday morning made it clear organizers could get as large a turnout as they had predicted.
“We’re normal, non-racist everyday Tucsonans who are very concerned about the direction our government is going, ” said Chris Bubany, a small business owner who was serving chile relleno and peanut butter cookies while tailgating Saturday morning. “It helps to know other Americans are very concerned as well, that it’s not just me.”
T-shirts, with slogans like, “I am the mob,” were being sold, and a petition to recall Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was being circulated.
Organizers say they have heard from people all over the state who are angry about unsustainable spending and government’s encroaching role in the private lives of citizens, and who plan to carpool or rent charter buses to come from such places as Sierra Vista, Phoenix and Flagstaff.
The free event, started with tailgating at 8 a.m.. It features a meet-and-greet with political candidates running for seats from City Council to Congress. Speakers will follow from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Judge Andrew Napolitano, an author and senior judicial analyst on the FOX News Channel, as well as a regular guest on the Glenn Beck program, will be the featured speaker. Other speakers include Barry Goldwater Jr., former Arizona Congressman J.D. Hayworth and local talk radio host Jim Parisi.
The organization, registered as a non-profit political organization, is also soliciting donations to support future events, both in the upcoming city general election, as well as the bigger statewide general election next year. It is renting guest suites, at $4,000 for the suite or $500 for a single person, for a chance to mingle with the speakers.
