My patience was short with the newspaper reporter. I am Lloyd Marcus, singer/songwriter, black conservative activist and participant on the national Tea Party Express II tour; 19 states; 40 rallies. At our finale rally in Orlando, Florida, a reporter approached me. She had a “these people are a bunch of nuts” attitude and smirk on her face.

Though annoyed, I was polite and refused to answer her questions from a defensive point of view. Approximately 4000 patriots were in attendance. Despite numerous speakers who expressed valid disagreements with the Obama administration, like a pit bull, the reporter latched on to one questionable comment made by one speaker.

What so offended me was not just this reporter, but most of the liberal biased media's campaign to portray the tea party attendees in a negative light; racists, rednecks, angry mob and just plain stupid. This arrogant reporter was the straw that broke the camel's back. I confronted her, “Why are you totally ignoring all of the legitimate concerns of the people and focusing on one comment by one person?” Not answering my question, she scribbled on her note pad.

She walked away probably thinking I was a jerk or nut case, but I did not care. I took it personal her attempting to trash the people I have met across America and have come to love and respect. How dare she trash my family!

Folks, the Tea Party Express II Tour was my third time traveling and participating in rallies across America. I have met and embraced the American people and they me. They call me brother because we share values. They are not racists. They are hard working decent people concerned for their families, grand children and country.

Here are a few of my fondest memories.

Lloyd's Journal: Tea Party Express II Tour

Surprisingly, most of our crowds on the Tea Party Express II Tour through small town America were a thousand plus. Our first TPX tour focused on major cities. This tour was through the heartland where diner servings were sized for Paul Bunyan. I now have a slight belly to lose.

In Cheyenne, WY, I met Smokey, a fine twenty five year old truck driver. He apologized to me for the small (300 people) crowd. Smokey said his mom downloaded the poster which he copied and posted all over town. He was frustrated the crowd was not bigger. I told Smokey, he and the organizers did a great job. Cheyenne is a small town. Most folks are at work on a Tuesday morning. Those who attended were enthusiastic and grateful. I thanked Smokey for a job well done. Smokey is symbolic of the spirit and grassroots nature of the tea party movement, everyone contributing in their own way no matter how small in their eyes.

The Rapid City, SD TPX II rally was held in a rodeo arena. Though the equine smell took some getting use to, our tea party team energized the crowd of 500 with an inspired and fun performance.

A big tall man, six foot something wearing a straw hat, bib overalls, flannel shirt and a ZZ Top style gray beard approached me; said his name was Norwegian Jim. The gentle giant gave me a bear hug and thanked me for what I am doing for our country. Jim confided that he had a wooden leg and was due for a new one. He said, “A new leg costs $20,000. I'm a wood carver. If Obama Care passes, I may have to carve my next leg”.

One day on the tour was particularly difficult traveling several hours on the bus with eleven people; entertainers, speakers and a photographer. We had been traveling in very close quarters for over a week with two more weeks to go. Nerves and patience were a little thin. Embarrassingly, I will admit that even I joined the chorus of complaints.

The next morning we were on the bus headed to our first rally of the day. I called the team together. “Let's have a gratitude session". Each person took a moment to express what the Tea Party Express tour means to them and why they are grateful to be a part of it. The session was incredibly powerful. Each person got a little emotional during their comments.
The exercise reminded us why we were graced by God to be on the bus. We were making a difference, encouraging the American people and a part of history. We were extremely grateful. Upon arriving at the rally, we gave one of our most powerful performances.

The Five Dollar Lady

Wichita, KS – As usual, the crowd loved my performances of the “Tea Party Anthem” and “2010”.

Like every rally, I signed several autographs, posed for pictures and shook hands. I called the TPX II tour my “Million Handshake March”.

With tears in her eyes, a middle aged white woman grabbed my hand with both of hers. She pressed something in my palm. “I wish I could give more. I just want to contribute to your efforts. God bless you”. With a line building behind her, without looking, I put her gift in my pocket and continued shaking hands.

Then, a heavy gentleman who was missing his front teeth pulling up on his bicycle. “Mr. Marcus! I rode all the way across town to meet you. Thank you for your columns and for what you are doing for our country. I love you and I am praying for you. You're my brother.” I gave my sincere white brother a hug.

Later that evening, I reached into my pocket and found a five dollar bill from the tearful woman. I got the feeling her finances were challenged which made her gift special. And why did she feel the need to give me anything? It brought to mind a woman in the Bible who humbly gave her all. Thank you Five Dollar Lady, I appreciate you.

A Great Day in Texas!

He hated it when we called him “cheese head”. Hustusa is a forty something white male who followed both of our Tea Party Express tours across America. He wore a triangle hat shaped like the cheese head hats worn by Green Bay Packer football fans. His hat read “I didn't vote for this Obamanation” on all three sides. He also carried a tall sign and sold buttons at every rally. A general contractor by trade, Hustusa said his business phone stopped ringing the day after Obama was elected. He lost his home earlier this year.

In Amarillo TX, I met a feisty grandmother who is raising a little boy, not her own, on a widow's income. She was definitely not infected with the entitlement mindset being spread by liberal democrats. “I never asked nobody for a bailout!”, she proudly told me.

At every rally, the crowds anticipated, loved and cheered my now famous trademark opening line, “I am not an African-American. I am Lloyd Marcus, AMERICAN!” In Beaumont, TX, a white cowboy ( tall, lean, cowboy hat, western shirt, jeans and boots) approached me pushing a stroller with two black babies. He said, “My babies are hyphenated Americans until we get their citizenship a week from today". He explained that he and his wife (also white) wanted children who really needed them. The couple believes God lead them to adopt their two black babies from Ethiopia. “Today they are Ethiopian-Americans. Next week, they will be Americans!”, proudly proclaimed the father. But how could such a “color blind” act of love happen? The Left says only racists attend the tea parties. “This movement is all about racists hating a black man in the White House”, says Jeanine Garofalo.

A Texas women asked me to inform America about the plight of our truckers. Her husband along with hundreds of thousands of other truckers across America have lost their jobs; hundred year old trucking companies are out of business and once thriving truck stops are half empty.

Our TPX II team heard the same concerns and felt the same emotions in every town, at every rally; fear, anger and frustration. “What can we do to stop the terrible agenda of the Obama administration?” We inspired and gave them hope assuring that “We The People” can and will save the America we know and love.

Black Conservatives

Though some may think rare as Bigfoot sightings, Black Conservatives do exist. I saw more of them on this second TPX II tour than I did on the first. Blacks in greater numbers are attending and participating in the tea party movement. In Texas, I met the conservative black woman, Mary Baker who founded 9-12moms.ning.com

Black clergy are firing up the crowds touting the virtues of God and country at tea parties. They worship Godly principles over skin color. Based on his abortion policies alone, I am still baffled as to how a Christian could reconcile voting for Obama.

I met several bright black youths who, refreshingly, were not taken in by Obama's rock star persona. One young black man who attended a tea party had just been released from prison nine days earlier. He admitted he made wrong choices and wanted to turn his life around. He was seeking truth. I gave him an autographed copy of my friend, William Owens' book, “Obama: Why Black America Should Have Doubts”.

William and Selena Owens are wonderful black conservative authors who traveled with me on the Tea Party Express II tour. My first book, “Confessions of a Black Conservative” will be released soon. Michelle Malkin wrote the forward.

Kenneth Gladney traveled with us on the Tea Party Express bus. Kenneth is a black entrepreneur who became famous after being beaten by SEIU thugs (Service Employee International Union) for selling “Don't Tread on Me” flags at a townhall meeting. The beating sent Kenneth to the emergency room. He was simply attempting to earn a living selling flags after being laid off. Liberals are quick to put independent blacks back in their place on the government dependency plantation.

On the tour, I also met young black conservatives running for political seats traditionally controlled by liberal democrats. Yes, the times, they are a changin'. No longer are blacks sheepishly and mindlessly following the leading of so called black leaders who thrive on convincing them they are victims.

Interestingly, most of the blacks I chatted with at the tea parties were current or ex-military. They have lived around the world and realize America truly is “a shining city on a hill”. Sorry, all you globalists, but America is peerless.

We blacks are blessed to live in the greatest land of opportunity on the planet. The day the majority of black Americans realize this truth is the day they can finally say, to quote MLK, “Free at last, thank God almighty, we're free at last!” Dr. King made that statement referring to the tyranny blacks were suffering from white racism in America. He could have never imagined blacks would someday need to be freed from the tyranny of traitorous blacks and liberal whites who wish to keep them on the government plantation.

Another phenomenon I noticed while on tour is all across America citizens are running for political office for the first time.

Traveling on the Tea Party Express II Tour is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. Numerous people told us seeing our bus roll into town was extremely exciting and brought tears to their eyes. We represented hope!

To pass the long hours riding on the bus, our team watched the DVD of the HBO John Adams series. Like our founding fathers, our team feels we too are patriots fighting for freedom, liberty and preserving our Constitution. My heart was stolen by the great American people. As God gives me strength, I will continue fighting for them. Stay tuned for Tea Party Express III. God Bless.

Readings:  

60% Want Fort Hood Shooting Investigated As Terrorist Act - Rasmussen Reports

The Man Who Despises America - The American Spectator

Mahmoud's Bite - Investor's Business Daily

The T-Word - Inside the Beltway

'At The Heart Of Our Common Defense' - The Heritage Foundation

Has Obama Peaked? Yes, He Has - The Boston Phoenix

It Isn't Political Correctness, It's Shariah - American Thinker

Video of the Day:

No wonder Lou Dobbs and CNN parted ways. Lou speaks the truth.

Cartoon of the Day:

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. - Greek Philosopher, Plato 429-347 BC

Greetings fellow South Florida riders, South Floridians, and Americans, here we are for another monthly installment of our Wheels on the Road (WOTR) political assessment. As this issue hits I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Hanukkah, and Merry Christmas……sorry, I am a traditional Southern fella that does not get this “Holiday” stuff.

Last month I discussed our being one year away from the most critical mid-term elections our Nation may ever know. We defined the difference between conservative and post-modern liberal political ideologies. In this past month we saw two very interesting Gubernatorial elections, well some of us missed them as WH Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the President was watching basketball. In case he still does not know the Republicans won in New Jersey and Virginia.

We are about to close out what has been an incredibly tumultuous year, the first under Emperor Obama…..townhall in China, give me a break!

I truly believe that it is necessary to consider Plato’s timeless quote and ponder, how does it apply to the elections of 2010?

Webster defines the word charlatan as “a fraud, quack, impostor”.

In this past year we have witnessed several instances of individuals that have perpetrated fraud against the American people. And our Country is plagued with charlatans.

We are all quite familiar with the Bernie Madoff case which devastated many people here in South Florida, quite a few in Florida Congressional district 22. So many people placed their trust in what we now know was an elaborate “ponzi scheme”. The life savings of countless individuals was lost.

Just recently we have experienced another such case in the Fort Lauderdale area with a local lawyer named Scott Rothstein. The dollar amounts are not in the same strata as Madoff, only $1Billion, but that is still a pretty substantial number. One would think that we would be more attuned after the realization of what Madoff had executed.

But on an even greater scale we see the future and legacy of our Republic being stolen away by those who truly are our inferiors, impostors.

We have a Secretary of the Treasury, head of the Internal Revenue Service, who cheated on his own taxes. We have Congressman Charlie Rangel, who is the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, keeper of our 67,000 page tax code. It has come to our attention that Congressman Rangel has also cheated against the document for which he is charged to keep. How is it that these individuals who have knowingly committed acts of fraud are in positions to govern us?

This year we have learned that we have members of Congress who have admitted that they do not read the legislation presented. I cannot consider this in any other term than being negligent in executing their duties, indeed committing fraud against those whom they should be representing.

I am sure there are multitudes of examples that we all can bring to mind from local to the federal levels of government. Former Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson recently  received a 13 year prison sentence for his corruption while serving in office; just another example of a charlatan.

I will not speak of our current President because the examples are too numerous to count. What I will speak of is the fact that leaders make a decision; they don’t vote “present”. However, as Benjamin Franklin stated, “sometimes you get the government you want, other times you get the government you deserve”.

How is it that over the course of the years our Great Republic has ended up being governed by lesser men, and women? Nancy Pelosi and my Congressional opponent Ron Klein are prime examples.

There is a simple answer; America has forgotten what leadership is.

As this year ends and we head into the election cycle of 2010 we must once again remember what comprises leadership. The individuals who now sit in key positions in our Country would have never been able to set us on course233 years ago to establish this “more perfect union” the United States of America.

Having spent 22 years in active duty service I have had the distinct honor to serve with an array of incredible men and women. I would like to share with you what I have been taught leadership to be.

Leadership has five basic components; the first is courage, not just physical courage but also moral courage to stand, sometimes alone, in order to do that which is right. It is about having a unique quality that in times of a trying crisis steps forth and exhibits itself in actions that are selfless and display uncommon virtue, valor, and resolve.

The second component is competence which is an ability to anticipate a problem, analyze viable solutions, and execute a decision. It is truly a talent that is necessary as America faces some of the most pressing issues in our economy, national security, energy independence, and illegal immigration. Competence knows no partisan agenda but seeks that which is best for those whom a leader is called to lead.

The third component is conviction which relates to one having a strong belief. What we need now more than ever are men and women who have a strong belief in America and its Constitution. America is a Republic and what is a fundamental principle of a Republic is adherence to Rule of Law….and that is our Constitution.

A conviction in America would have precluded the passing of the insidious healthcare legislation last week, in the wee hours.

The fourth component is commitment. In the military we all take an oath to our Constitution, to support and defend it, against all enemies foreign and domestic. We have a bond to our Brother and Sister Warriors. America now needs leaders who are committed to the American people, not their own self-interest and certainly not special interest, foreign or domestic.

Finally, leadership is about character, and for me that is defined by “doing what is right when no one is watching”. Far too many of those who are inferior to us have risen to positions of governance, only to make deals and decisions in hiding.

If our Country is to survive for another 233 years we must regain an ability to assess leadership. And in the coming year there will be many parading before us for support to gain that special honor to govern….yours truly is one of them.

Therefore, as 2009 ends and we head to 2010 we must become engaged in politics. Judge any of us with the hardest of scrutiny and ask the tough questions. Remember that leadership is not about having a nice image or giving pretty prepared speeches.

Leadership is about courage, competence, conviction, commitment, and character. Let us not allow the maxim of Plato to again define our Country. Let us no longer be led by fakes, phonies, and frauds.

Marco Rubio keeps racking up the wins when it comes to straw polls. Today, November 11th, the Republican Club of South Sarasota County (RCSSC) held a straw poll. This straw poll was conducted over the objections of the Republican Party of Sarasota Chairman Joe Gruters.

Listen to my interview with Ron Filipkowski, Chairman of the Republican Club of South Sarasota County, Florida below. This club is the second largest in the state of Florida and largest in the SW region.

Interview with Ron Filipkowski, Chairman, Republican Club of South Sarasota County:

Talking with those attending this meeting there is a serious concern about Governor Crist being named the "Statesman of the Year" by Republican Party of Sarasota Chairman Joe Gruters. Many I spoke with are planning to boycott the event, which is the largest local party fundraiser of the year. I heard several RCSSC say they will send the $100 per seat price for the Statesmen Dinner being held on December 13, 2009 to the Rubio Campaign as a donation.

I will be watching to see if other Republican Clubs in Sarasota County break with the Party elite and hold straw polls.

Here are the results of today's straw poll with 121 members present voting:

Marco Rubio - 70.2%

Charlie Crist - 16.5%

Bob Smith - 9.1%

Others - 4.2%

The momentum at the grass roots is for Marco Rubio, without a doubt. Crist losing yet another straw poll does not bode well for his campaign. If this grass fire begins spreading with more clubs bucking their County Party Chairs we may see a real change in politics as usual in Florida.

Additionally, I learned at this meeting that a group of doctors, lead by Julio Gonzalez, M.D. is hosting a major fundraiser for Marco Rubio on November 20, 2009 at the Venice Community Center. They are hoping to have over 300 party activists attend and open their wallets for Marco. If this movement continues to produce dollars then other candidates may start dropping out giving this match the one two punch of Rubio/Crist we are all waiting for.

Stay tuned.

On November 5 on CNN, Florida Governor Charlie Crist told Wolf Blitzer that he didn't back the $787 billion Obama stimulus bill. Crist has since said that it isn't a flip flop when he says he supported the stimulus "in concept" but didn't support the specific bill.

In essence he's trying to have it both ways. Claiming he wasn't a supporter of the actual bill, but hedging by saying he felt something was necessary. It seems to be Crist's way of straddling the line.

Unfortunately, the facts seem to belie Crist's delicately balanced tightrope act because in February of 2009 Crist was one of 18 U.S. governors (along with the governor of the Virgin Islands) that signed a letter informing President Obama that they supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). (See pdf of letter here)

Despite being a signatory of the letter Crist is now saying he didn't support the specific stimulus bill. After speaking at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Crist told the press, "“I think the question posed to me was, ‘Did you endorse this specific bill?' And I said, ‘No, I didn’t,’ but the concept I thought, and still believe, was important, necessary and it helped Florida.”

The letter Crist signed, however, does not mention any ideas "in concept" but specifically supports the $787 billion stimulus bill itself. The letter begins quite clearly in support of the $787 billion stimulus bill saying, "We are writing to express our support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)." What could be clearer?

How Crist can possibly claim that he never supported this specific bill when his name appears on this letter is anyone's guess.

Text of Letter:

February 3, 2009

Dear Mr. President

We are writing to express our support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which passed last week in the House and is under consideration currently in the Senate. As stewards of the economies of our respective states and regions, we urge the Congress to reach prompt resolution of all outstanding differences and you to sign the bill when it reaches your desk.

Families and businesses across the nation are hurting. Credit markets have seized up, which is affecting both business activity and consumer spending. Unemployment is rising sharply. While we all believe in the importance of free markets, we believe that the markets today need stimulating.

We support then objectives of the ARRA and welcome the partnership it offers us as governors. The support for a temporary increase in the federal commitment for public education, health care (including cost control through initiatives such as health records IT), and for rebuilding our public infrastructure will create and preserve jobs today, and represents a sound investment in our long-term economic interests as well. We look forward to working with Congress and your Administration to advance an economic recovery package that puts federal dollars to work in our states in the quickest and most efficient manner as possible.

Signed
Deval Patrick, Mass.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Calif.
Bill Ritter, Col.
M. Jodi Rell, Conn.
Jack Markell, Del.
Charlie Crist, Fla.
Pat Quinn, Ill.
Chester Culver, Iowa
Jennifer Granholm, Mich.
Jon Corzine, New Jersey
David Paterson, New York
Ted Strickland, Ohio
Brad Henry, Oklahoma
Ted Kulongoski, Oregon
Ed Rendell, Penn.
James Douglas, Vermont
Tim Kaine, Vir.
Jim Doyle, Wisc.
John deJongh, Virgin Islands

It is also telling that out of the 19 signers of the letter, only four are Republicans, all from very liberal states.

“To know your enemy, know yourself, and know the terrain, in countless battles you will be victorious” - Art of War, Sun Tzu

On Saturday, 31 October I attended the farewell services for a fallen Comrade, Army Specialist Daniel Courtney Lawson a Son, Husband, and Father of three. SPC Lawson’s life was cut short due to an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Arghandab Valley, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

It just happens that is an area of which I am quite familiar because of a 2 ½ year assignment I spent based out of Kandahar as an advisor to the Afghan National Army from June 2005-November 2007.

As I drove back down I-95 from Daniel’s final resting place I pondered, “How do we defeat this enemy”? My immediate answer went to Sun Tzu’s prescient strategic maxim.

First we must understand the enemy against whom we are engaged in truly a global conflagration. We continue to think of Afghanistan as a “war” within itself, which it is not. Afghanistan is a theater of operations within a greater engagement, War, against radical Islamic totalitarianism and state sponsored terrorism.

It is a War which extends to every area of the world, and right here in our America. We have to stop trying to define this enemy in comfortable, politically correct definitions. It is not just about Taliban or Al Qaeda, should they change their name can we declare victory?

When we clearly understand the enemy and their strategic perspective we can then delineate the goals and objectives to defeat them.

It requires the leaders of this Country to study and understand Islamic culture and recognize that no Islamic Republic can be “democratized”. The Koran does not support recognition of secular government, only the supposed word of Allah as a means of governance. We must understand what Sharia Law is and what does it promote.

What has been our major failure?

We have gone away from, what we call in military lexicon, being oriented on the enemy to a terrain orientation. This has resulted in “nation building” which dilutes your focus and drains your resources. Having been in both theaters of operation, Iraq and Afghanistan, I absolutely detest the words, “winning hearts and minds”. That is an extremely nebulous goal which can change in meaning from one day to the next in a counter-insurgent operation.

Furthermore, you must realize that in the culture that is Iraq, Afghanistan, and indeed the Islamic world, strength is respected, regarded, and yes, feared. Offerings of goodwill are often associated with weakness and truly disregarded.

Now, there are those who are saying “typical dumb military talk”, no, I am saying that before schools can be built, clinics established, and governing institutions advocated there must be security. My experiences have been that during the day we enter a village or area and offer assistance, funding, infrastructure support. However, at night the enemy enters and threatens leaders.

Therefore, here are the goals and objectives I offer as a strategy for Afghanistan:

1. Deny the enemy sanctuary; become enemy oriented and get out into the areas and reduce the bases of operation of the enemy. This also means separating him from resources he needs to survive. In Vietnam we did that with the “Strategic Hamlet” program and when we pulled back into large bases we surrendered the countryside to the Vietcong. In Iraq we went into the areas and proved to the tribal leaders, Sheiks that we would fight and stay.
2. Interdict the flow of supplies, manpower, materiel, and financial resources; no enemy can survive without resources. We must recognize that the opium production is a key part of the resourcing of this enemy. The local farmer does not care who buys the product, he just wants to survive. Separate the enemy from this resource, however destroying the crop only forces the farmer to the enemy.
3. Influence the populace; this relates to winning the Information War which we are losing. The enemy is getting their propaganda out far better than we are. In Afghanistan you have a huge illiteracy issue, over 70%. However, they listen to the radio like crazy. We don’t we establish radio stations on the secured bases and broadcast across the Country against the radical terrorist enemy. Get our message out so that we stop losing to their deliberate jihadist message.
4. Cordon off the Theaters of Operation; we have to understand that the surrounding countries have an effect. In 2006 the decision to pull the Pakistan Army out of the NW Federated Tribal Areas, North and South Waziristan, resulted in the creation of a huge enemy sanctuary. We need to create a security zone that extends beyond our operating areas; the same applies to Iraq as well.

In concert with these strategic/operational objectives we must do several other things:

1. Revise our Rules of Engagement (ROE); about two months ago a remote Army outpost became engaged in a horrific attack. The enemy staged from a local mosque, which is on a protected list. It took 21 minutes for close air support (CAS) to come on station because of the stringent ROE on precluding civilian casualties. The enemy knows the game, the rules have to change to support our troops in contact.
2. Institute a “Strike Operation” tactic; we must use our greatest asset, operational maneuverability to strike the enemy wherever he presents himself. We must regain the initiative, especially now as he seeks to “go to ground” for the winter. The tactical focus has to be on finding the enemy, fixing him in place denying his movement, engaging him with all available weapon systems, destroying him, and pursuing him. It has to be about maintaining pressure.
3. Breakdown the large operations bases; having been on Kandahar Airfield and Bagram I have seen the burgeoning “military cities” we have created. This results in an excessive need for resources and internal security that could be focused elsewhere.
4. Encourage our NATO allies; if it still remains in Kabul there was the renowned “book of caveats” which specified what NATO contributing forces could and could not do in support of the mission. I recall such heinous restrictions such as not being able to conduct night operations, not being able to leave the roads to fight the enemy, and not being allowed to participate in any combat operations, unless attacked.

No, I am not a nation-building advocate. The future of countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan has to be determined by them. I do support our setting the conditions, security, in order for them to truly choose the best course of action for their Nation.

Our leaders must articulate their strategic goals and match the right resources to their accomplishment. That has been severely missing over the past 16+ years. We must leverage every technological advantage we have in order to defeat this enemy.

Most importantly, we must have civilian leadership with a will, conviction, and a commitment to Victory.