Sacramento’s ’Tea Party 2′ features more than 8,000 at the Capitol – again.

The first Tea Party was held on April 15, 2009 and gathered one of the largest crowds in the history of California’s Capitol.

Yesterday, another large crowd gathered at the Capitol to protest unaccountable, oversized government, the tax and spend politicians and evil government regulations.

Since April there has been an introduction of  legislation called “Cap and Trade”, Obamacare and California’s CARB laws; it was time to rewind and push play once again.

‘Tea Party 2′ featured the same ‘no more tax’ theme, and added messages that included the Delta water, the CARB legislation and numerous emission rules that have cost farmers, truckers, miners and laborers millions of dollars while adding more taxes in the process.

More than 8,000 people on a very hot afternoon (100-degrees plus) shouted, protested, carried signs and held another peacefully protest the growth of government. 

This time, the rally featured two organizations: The Tea Party Patriots, the group who originally birthed the concept, and the new ’Tea Part Express’.

It’s important to understand their differences; the Patriots are the original common-folk, grassroots organizers who are focused on one thing – the rallies for people to gather and communicate their outrage over government control, socialized legislation and the heavy burden of taxes and regulations upon families and their liberty. The Tea Party Patriots are determined to stay non-partisan in their efforts.

The new group, the Tea Part Express, is nationally created and well funded; featuring a new twist to for the Tea Party agenda. The Express has decided to ‘connect’ this round of Tea Party Rallies by driving two big RV’s full of singers, speakers and staff to each event. Yesterday, the Express left the Sacramento rally near 2PM, making their way to the next rally and eventually arriving in Washington DC later this year.

As the Express travels from rally to rally, they are asking for donations and continually promoting their website which is a clearing house for funding. The money they collect (understand, proceeds here) will eventually be ‘offered’ to support conservative (Republican) candidates in future elections.

There is a necessity for understanding here:  

The Tea Party Patriots are a locally organized committees that have a desire to stay on message and separate from campaigning, or party affiliation.

The Patriots are a group focused on government as a whole, by representing all common citizens locally and regionally. The Patriots are the individuals who are organizing the rallies at certain Capitols across America.

The Tea Party Express is organized nationally, and outside of the local groups.

The Express desires to raise money and create TV ads, Internet ads and other media to work against Democrats in the future. They are organized much along the same lines as other PAC groups, or if you’re familiar, much like  ’Move America Forward’.

While both groups have their legitimate purpose; I find myself resting within the stated purposes of the Tea Party Patriots. I always grow concerned when marketed rallies, t-shirts and other materials are sold ‘within a citizens protest’ in order to raise money that supports salaries, payrolls and organizers who are creating their own political action committee.

The necessity of forced revenue is eventually the result, and the loss of the organic and germane evolution is lost. When money grows tight, you are tempted to manufacture events so to manufacture revenue.

But to each his, or her, own; if you control the temptation, then the addition of the Express may offer some interesting impact during the 2010 elections. Here is hoping they stay true to the cause.   

I can say this – yesterday, was sincere and this groundswell of government outrage is still natural, common and the fuel of the Tea Party Protests across the country.

The passion doesn’t need to be produced, it is overflowing. As for the Patriots and the Express, congratulations on a job well done – again.

For those who attended, it doesn’t stop by just attending. Sign those petitions, make those phone calls, join with your neighbors and fellow citizens and make your voice heard.

And keep your posters, signs and noise-makers handy, I am sure there will be more rallies in the future - because I don’t see the end of government’s liberty and freedom grab under the current regime in Washington DC and Sacramento, California.

* For pictures of the event Friday at the California Captiol, go to the HOGUE NEWS PICTURE PAGE.

Here is a neat video put together by staff related to State Senator George Runner: