Tax Day Rallies in Mission Viejo and Oceanside — Stop Spending Money!

More than ever before, in over two years of tea party coverage, the theme of overspending was the rage yesterday in Mission Viejo and Oceanside. Sure, out-of-control spending was a major part of tea party protests against the 2009 stimulus package and ObamaCare, but the signage this year seemed even more focused on the spending equation. I think this woman's sign from Oceanside captures the day's meme:

There's some mainstream media coverage of yesterday's tea parties in Mission Viejo and Oceanside.

The Orange County Register has coverage of the Mission Viejo event, "Tea Party tax-day rally draws supporters." And for the Oceanside event, see San Diego Union-Tribune, "Two political rallies raise their voices in Oceanside," and North County Times, "OCEANSIDE: Dueling rallies held Friday." (And check Bruce Kesler's post on the media coverage, "Raising Taxes is “Nonpartisan”!")

Here's the scene at La Paz Road and Marguerite Parkway yesterday:

This is former Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, who's running for county supervisor:

Here's Connie Lee, the event organizer. Love that Reagan shirt:

This was unusual, a confederate flag with "In God We Trust." We had nothing like this at the Irvine tea parties in 2009 and 2010, and I doubt this flag would be welcomed, given the likely media attacks on the group as "racist":

Folks might want to stay with this message, or Think Progress will be all over it:

Now, here's this from the Oceanside rally. The Union-Tribune notes, "The tea party rally, at the foot of the Oceanside Pier, attracted more than 1,500":

Ted Hayes, self-described "Black U.S. Citizen Patriot," was in the house. Folks might remember Ted from my coverage of the Arizona rallies last year:

Some of the tea partiers:

Some folks want Donald Trump to dump the Obama Chump:

Oceanside's hard to beat for beautiful tea party locations:

Here's the lady who wanted my picture with her tea party sign. That was also a first:

Here's the shot I'm talking about:

This guy was hard to miss. He obviously spoke for a lot of people:

More on that overspending theme:

Those signs read "Project 2012 - Vote." Folks talked a lot about November 2012, "the most important election ever" (again). People just want to get that sucker out:

Rick Roberts, a popular San Diego talk radio personality, gave the keynote speech. A great guy and a real patriot:

After things wound down, I headed out for a couple of beers with Left Coast Rebel, an Oceanside local and another true patriot. That's what's great about the tea parties: You're around people who love America.

I'll have more later ...

Added: Linked at Maggie's Farm and News Alert.