Welcome! BLUFFTON S.C. TEA PARTY PATRIOTS!
For Bluffton Tea Party Patriots … you are in the right place! Here you will find all latest information, contacts, schedules and study group reports and these will be updated frequently. Just so you know, this page is an actual “post” inside an active blog called The Patriot’s Flag. If you look at the column to the right (called the “right rail”), the information and links you see there is for the followers of The Patriot’s Flag. You are welcome to browse anything on the site and you will see it change often. However, be aware only the information under the blue banner above is sanctioned by the Bluffton Tea Party Patriots. All other information on this site is for the the followers of The Patriot’s Flag blog.
For people not in the Low Country of South Carolina, you are welcome to browse through the information for our local Tea Party Group and watch our activities. We also hope you are getting involved in a Tea Party effort in your area. Contact Tea Party Patriots to find your local group.
For Conservative Bloggers: If your blog template can function similar to this template, you should consider adopting a local Tea Party Group as I have, (See Adopt-A-TeaParty). This is a quick and easy way to give them a web presence and gives you an opportunity to contribute to this important effort. To find a group and activities in your area you can contact the home page of the Tea Party Patriots.
If anyone has a question or comment about the site, they can contact us at jdlinn@ThePatriotsFlag.com.
Site Navigation/Menu
Click on any of these links to go directly to that information area:
- About Us – Mission & Core Values
- First Things First and News!
- Contacts and Committees
- Events and Dates
- Email Links and Reference Links
- South Carolina Legislation Study Group (ACTION ALERT!)
- Illegal Immigration Study Group
- BTPP Patriots’ Book Study Group
The Bluffton Tea Party Patriots – About us
About Us:
We are committed to standing together shoulder to shoulder, to protect our country and the Constitution upon which we were founded. We promote a better understanding of the Constitution and the Responsibility of citizens to protect and defend it. We are concerned about excessive government spending, taxation, and corruption in government. Our core values are fiscal responsibility, constitutionally -limited government and free markets. We are not a political party. We are your friends and neighbors concerned about the future of the nation. We are a loosely formed group who wants the government to hear our voices. We are a grass roots organization of individuals united by our core values derived from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights as explained in the Federalist Papers. Our group is planning the Tax Day Tea Party in Bluffton, SC on April 15, 2010.
Mission Statement
The impetus for the Tea Party movement is excessive government spending and taxation. Our mission is to attract, educate, organize, and mobilize our fellow citizens to secure public policy consistent with our three core values of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets.
Core Values
- Fiscal Responsibility
- Constitutionally Limited Government
- Free Markets
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First Things First! Latest News
Get on our email list:
- Since we have this web post, we will use it for most of our information. We will use the email list to send out announcements. We know many people would rather have an email come to them than have to go to a web page, so we’ll get you the information both ways. To sign up for the email list, click on this email address. teapartybluffton@live.com
Help us make the email list GROW!:
- Word of mouth, or word of “mouse” is VERY important to Tea Party communications. Ask the people on your email list if they would like to sign up for our announcements … once you have their permission, you can send in their address, or they can send it themselves. Then ask them to try to add people from their email list of friends. We really need your help in this area. Thank you.
Site Navigation and Site Explanation
Bumper Sticker:
- To the right is the bumper sticker we will be handing out to Bluffton Tea Party Patriots, keep an eye out for it, you’ll be seeing it soon!
National Tea Party Patriots (join the national group)
- Join the national Tea Party Patriots (click here). They have informative newsletters and the latest information on the nation-wide Tea Party Movement. When you join the group, here is an example of the QUALITY of newsletter you get from the national group (Click Here). These come about once a day … excellent information!
What makes a Tea Party Group work? (A quick read)
- Tea Party Group Dynamics … How to interface a Tea Party Group, what to expect, what to do, pitfalls, challenges and pure patriotic pride! This can help us understand how to work together efficiently, securing success, as failure simply is not an option!
National Tea Party Communications:
Activists’ Training Camp
Columbia “Field” Trip
- Here’s a chance for you to see your state legislature. Many of us are “transplants” … so here’s an opportunity to see “Columbia” with Al Linsky as your tour guide. Go to the “sausage factory” and see how it works up Close. Contact Al Linsky to tell him you are interested.
New Study Groups
- Don’t see your favorite subject? Well here’s your chance … start a study group. Get your name and email address to the Coordinators and we’ll help you get started. We’ll also support your group and its efforts right here.
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Contacts and Committees
Bluffton Tea Party Patriots Contacts:
- Mary Lou Lineberger – Coordinator
- Jane Kenny-Coordinator
- Al & Judy Linsky – SC Legislative Study Group
- Brenda Flowers – Illegal Immigration Study Group
- Doug Linn – Web Page coordinator (email here)
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Events and Dates
Next Meeting:
Tea Party Patriots of Bluffton will hold a general meeting on Friday, March 5th at 6:30 PM in the meeting room at Bluffton-Okatie Outpatient Center Building, 40 Okatie Center Blvd. All are welcome.
TAX DAY TEA PARTY
- Tea Party Patriots, let’s party like it’s 1773!
- Thursday, April 15, 2010 — Old Town Promenade, Bluffton – 6:00 to 7:30 PM.
- The program will feature a live musical “Salute to America,” citizen speakers, Founders Trivia and lots of audience participation. Prizes will be awarded for the best overall sign, most unique patriotic costumes and best decorated carriage, stroller or wagon.
- Bring your lawn chairs, come early and enjoy the camaraderie with your fellow patriots.
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Email Links and Reference Links
- Bluffton Tea Party Patriots (get on our email list)
- DeMint, Jim – US Senator Email - Washington Phone: 202-224-6121
- Graham, Lindsey – US Senator Email – Washington Phone: (202) 224-5972
- Davis, Tom – SC Senator Email – Columbia Phone: (803) 212-6008
- GovTrack.com – Sign up for week’s activities in Congress on legislation.
- Herbkersman, Bill – SC Rep Email – Bluffton SC Phone: (843) 757-7900
- Obama, Barack, US President Email – (caution: mail becomes official record!)
- Pelosi, Nancy – US Speaker of the House Email – Washington, DC (202)-225-0100
- Reid, Harry – US Senate Majority Leader Email - Washington, DC (202)-224-7327
- References and Research Links (Patriot’s Flag)
- SC.Gov – South Carolina Government Information Site
- Tea Party Express - National Tea Party Express Site
- Tea Party Patriots National Link Register HERE for newsletters
- U.S. Debt Clock … Taxed Enough Already?
- Wilson, Joe – US Representative Email Washington Phone: (202) 225-2452
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South Carolina Legislative News – Al & Judy Linsky
About this Group: This is a small study group that has formed to discuss on-going South Carolina state legislation and its impact on the citizenry.
SC Legislative Action Links:
Immediate Action Alert (items needing immediate attention)
- Sembler Mall Bill – Contact all the Senators at their Columbia offices concerning this bill: (Senate Link Here)
Legislation to watch: (Navigation Menu – Click on any link below to go directly to that bill)
SC Concealed Weapons Legislation S. 753 General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Knotts, S. Martin, Rose, Bright, Leatherman, McConnell, Courson, Williams, McGill, Elliott, Mulvaney, Rankin, Coleman, Campbell, Campsen, Shoopman, Grooms, Verdin, Fair, Cleary and Bryant
Introduced in the Senate on April 23, 2009
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary
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Sembler Mall -Multicounty Business Park S. 1054 General Bill
Note: SampleText for calls to Legislators …
Sponsors: Senators Pinckney and Malloy
- [Provides] counties a means of funding grants to certain private entities for the purpose of defraying a portion of the cost of infrastructure related to these developments after the developments have been constructed, certain initial levels of employment have been satisfied and new sales tax revenue targets have been met and the level of investment and number of jobs required to be created before the provision of the grants is designed to avoid speculative risk and, together with demonstrated revenues, are designed to ensure that the benefit to the public in new investment and jobs will render the public the primary beneficiary of the incentive notwithstanding the incidental benefits that may be derived by the private grantees;
- In addition to the matters specified in Section 4-1-170, the agreement relating to the designated economic development site may provide that an amount equal to three-fourths of the revenues collected in the designated economic development site from sales taxes imposed pursuant to Section 12-36-2620(1) must be paid quarterly by the Department of Revenue from the general fund of the State to the counties and allocated in accordance with the provisions of the agreement for the qualifying period, except during a suspension period.
Introduced in the Senate on January 14, 2010
Status: Currently residing in the Senate
Comments from Senator Tom Davis:
The capital threshold in order to qualify for the infusion of public cash for this private mall is $200 million, which could be met in part by Jasper County issuing special revenue bonds (the bill doesn’t require Sembler to put up the capital; the county can) — which the county has already said in a resolution it intends to do. The state law definition of “new job” is modified in the Sembler bill so that jobs shifted from existing stores can be counted (the state’s omnibus incentive law requires that new jobs created actually be “new”). The state’s chief economist, in the formal assessment of the Sembler deal’s impact, says that no new jobs will be created, thus the need to strip the “anti-shifting” clause from the definition of “new job” in Sembler’s bill. Even the “total sales” threshold is fake, with Sembler allowed to take the highest selling two quarters in any given year and annualize it (the third and fourth quarters — which include the prime tourist season and Christmas and Thanksgiving will probably be used. Over $100 million of taxpayer money will be paid out of the state’s general fund to this private mall developer. This is a waste of tax money and unfair to other retailers who are doing their best with their own money to stay afloat.
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Roll Call Votes - H. 3047 General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Haley, Ballentine, Wylie, Stringer, R.L. Brown, Kirsh, E.H. Pitts, Miller, G.R. Smith, Whipper, Huggins, Frye, Knight, Daning, J.E. Smith, Rice, Anderson, G.M. Smith, Phillips, Clyburn, Hart, Bowen, T.R. Young, Simrill, Duncan, Gunn, Agnew, Viers, Cobb-Hunter, King, Allison, Nanney, Bingham, Hamilton, Toole, Hiott, Millwood, Stavrinakis, Funderburk, Battle, Neilson, Erickson, Cole, Hutto, Pinson, Jefferson, Stewart, Bedingfield and D.C. Moss
Companion/Similar bill(s): 11
Introduced in the House on January 13, 2009
Currently residing in the House Committee on Ways and Means
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State Sovereignty – S. 424 Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Senators Bright, S. Martin, Alexander, Campbell, Fair, Knotts, Cromer, Mulvaney, Verdin, L. Martin, Shoopman, Rose, McConnell, Thomas, Cleary, Courson, Coleman, Davis, Reese, Campsen, Grooms, Ryberg, Peeler, O’Dell, Bryant and Massey
Companion/Similar bill(s): 3509
(What is State Sovereignty? … Patriot’s Flag Post – “Got State Sovereignty“)
(South Carolina State Sovereignty … Patriot’s Flag Post – “Getting States Sovereignty, SC”)
TO AFFIRM THE RIGHTS OF ALL STATES INCLUDING SOUTH CAROLINA BASED ON THE PROVISIONS OF THE NINTH AND TENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly declares that the people of this State have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign, and independent State, and shall exercise and enjoy every power, jurisdiction, and right pertaining thereto, which is not expressly delegated by them to the United States of America in the congress assembled; and
Whereas, some states when ratifying the Constitution for the United States of America recommended as a change, “that it be explicitly declared that all powers not expressly and particularly delegated by the aforesaid are reserved to the several states to be by them exercised”; and
Whereas, these recommended changes were incorporated as the Ninth Amendment, where the enumeration of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people, and as the Tenth Amendment, where the powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people; and
Whereas, the several states of the Untied States of America, through the Constitution and the amendments thereto, constituted a general government for special purposes and delegated to that government certain definite powers, reserving each state to itself, the residuary right to their own self government. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the General Assembly of South Carolina, based on the above principles and provisions, hereby declares by this resolution, that any act by the Congress of the United States, Executive Order of the President of the United States, or Judicial Order by the federal courts which assumes a power not delegated to the government of the United States of America by the Constitution and which serves to diminish the liberty of any of the several states or their citizens shall abridge the Constitution. The General Assembly further declares that acts which would cause such an abridgment include, but are not limited to:
(1) establishing martial law or a state of emergency within one of the states comprising the United States of America without the consent of the legislature of that state;
(2) requiring involuntary servitude, or governmental service other than a draft during a declared war, or pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law;
(3) requiring involuntary servitude or governmental service of persons under the age of eighteen other than pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law;
(4) surrendering any power delegated or not delegated to any corporation or foreign government;
(5) any act regarding religion, further limitations on freedom of political speech, or further limitations on freedom of the press; and
(6) further infringements on the right to keep and bear arms including prohibitions of type or quantity of arms or ammunition.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.
Introduced in the Senate on February 12, 2009
Introduced in the House on January 21, 2010
Status: Last Amended on February 25, 2010, Currently residing in the House
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Gold and Silver Coinage Legislation H 4501 General Bill,
Sponsors: M.A. Pitts and Loftis
A Bill to Amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding article 18 to Chapter 1, Title 1, so as to provide that silver and Gold Coin shall be legal tender in payment of certain debts.
- The South Carolina General Assembly finds and declares that the State is experiencing an economic crisis of severe magnitude caused in large part by the unconstitutional substitution of Federal Reserve Notes for silver and gold coin as legal tender in this State. The General Assembly also finds and declares that immediate exercise of the power of the State of South Carolina reserved under Article I, Section 10, Paragraph 1 of the United States Constitution and by the Tenth Amendment, is necessary to protect the safety, health and welfare of the people of this State, by guaranteeing to them a constitutional and economically sound monetary system.
Status: 02/02/10 House Introduced and read first time HJ-85, 02/02/10 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-86, 02/25/10 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Loftis
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Repeal of South Carolina Subversives Act
S1167 Attempt to repeal the law that all “subversives” must register with SC under penalty of fine.
This is an “old” law that, on the Internet, is being portrayed as a new law. It was enacted in 1976 and the present activity in Columbia is to repeal it … although this is not what you will see at most sites. The left paints this law as “active” to try and demonstrate how “backwards” we are in South Carolina. Here are some background sites:
This bill is now in the Judiciary sub-committee consisting of Senators Knotts, Coleman and Massey.
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Illegal immigration Study Group – Brenda Flowers
Welcome to our immigration group, our objective as a group, is to work together on a local, state and national level, while researching immigration laws introduced, enacted, adopted and signed into law in the United States of America. With this research we will implement and enforce passed legislation in South Carolina with our South Carolina elected officials.
Other States that are passing immigration laws on state and local levels are seeing their illegal alien population decline. But illegal aliens and their families are migrating to states that are behind in passing affective immigration legislation.
SAVE Act HR 4088
House Minority leaders are now introducing a, “discharge Petition,” to bring the Secure America through Verification of Enforcement (SAVE) Act (HR 4088). This petition will force Speaker, Nancy Pelosi and her constituents to vote on the floor of the House of Representatives. There are now 141 House members who have signed on as cosponsors, we need 218 to sign the petition. Call your Capitol Switchboard today at 202-225-3121 to reach your Representative and tell them to sign.
States with Mandatory E-Verify
Illegal Immigration Links
Study Group Links
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BTP Patriots’ Book Study Group – Tea Party Patriot Needed!
- We are currently looking for a discussion leader for the Book Club. At the last meeting 14 Patriots bought their copy of The 5000 Year Leap, and expressed an interest in a Book Club. If anyone is interested in being the discussion leader for the Book Club, please let Mary Lou know at the March 5th meeting or e-mail teapartybluffton@live.com.
- Update: We received another shipment of books and will have them for sale at the meeting this Friday. So far 16 Patriots have expressed an interest in a discussion group on The 5000 Year Leap. We found an easy-to-use, yet comprehensive, study guide, and we are looking for a discussion leader or leaders. If you would like to be one of the discussion leaders, please let Mary Lou know at Friday’s meeting. We could rotate discussion leaders if there are several of us who want to take turns. There’s a lot of “meat” in this book, so it looks like the group may want to cover the discussion in 3 or 4 sessions, or even more.
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For questions about the setup of this web page, please contact Doug Linn @ jdlinn@ThePatriotsFlag.com
Doug Gadsden Flag - Taxes & Tea Parties!
An Economic Enhancer in the Community, an Added Value
Why is this man, on the right, smiling? His name is Congressman Jim Clyburn, he is the United States Congressman from the 6th District of South Carolina. Mr. Clyburn is the majority whip for the US Congress. The Wateree Community Action, Inc is within his District, so the tax dollars (sans jobs!) we are questioning went to his district, so he should be smiling. He has brought value to his district. Perhaps he should also be looking into why so much money could come into his district and only create so few jobs. I’m sure as Majority Whip, he can get to the bottom of this for us.
Why is this man, on the left, smiling? This man is Mr. Willie Bethune, the reported Executive Director of Wateree Community Action, Inc. He is probably smiling because as the reported Executive Director of the group that got the money, money that only created 2 to 4 jobs. I don’t blame Mr. Bethune or his Community Organization for taking the money. If your organization was offered $13 to $15 million “free,” (i.e. no real accountability), you’d probably take it too. I’m betting everybody on the BOARD of DIRECTORS is smiling as they do their work. I’m betting most of the 10-19 employees of the organization are all smiling too. Everybody seems happy.
For example. Lets meet in New York, at Sardi’s (I’ll buy). I demand to take a boat. It is comfortable, there’s one leaving in an hour from Savannah, and it is my favorite way to travel. Therefore I am deciding that we take a boat. But you live in Nevada … what impact does my “demand” for the method of travel have to do with you? It doesn’t fit. You have different circumstances, perhaps even ones I cannot fathom (pardon the pun). But in the end, the goal to have a great dinner together at Sardi’s in New York, the mode of transportation is not important. Your goal is to enjoy the dinner and watch me pick up the tab … how you get there is of no importance. 
