By Stella Lohmann

January 9, 2012–Denver Broncos Rookie Quarterback Tim Tebow’s first overtime playoff pass to Demaryius Thomas to not only lead an upset against the Pittsburgh Steelers–notably the best defensive team in the National Football League–but also a place in the records books—the shortest OT in NFL history, 11 seconds.

”When I saw him scoring, first of all, I just thought, `Thank you, Lord,”’ Tebow said. ”Then, I was running pretty fast, chasing him — like I can catch up to D.T! Then I just jumped into the stands, first time I’ve done that. That was fun. Then, got on a knee and thanked the Lord again and tried to celebrate with my teammates and the fans.”—Tim Tebow, January 8, 2012

Tim Tebow wasn’t supposed to be in the first round of the NFL Playoffs with the Denver Broncos.

Tebow shares who and what has inspired him to live his faith openly.

No one expected either to be anywhere with a lackluster season start, but they were on Sunday.

Tim Tebow wasn’t supposed to even be in the National Football League even after leading the Florida Gators to two national titles as quarterback and being a Heisman Trophy recipient. Coaches, sportscasters, players, fans alike debated whether he could change his throwing style needed to play professional football. And he did.

Tim Tebow wasn’t supposed to be drafted much less be picked up in the first round of the NFL college players’ draft ? But he was.

Tim Tebow wasn’t supposed to use John 3:16 instead of Philippians 4:13, the scripture verse he inscribed with black strips on his face on game days. Then FL Coach Urban Meyer questioned strongly the switch before the 2009 BCS Championship game against Oklahoma. But Tebow did.

The list goes on and on what Tebow shouldn’t be doing, defying expectations of naysayers at his demonstration of faith at any opportunity. Sportscasters have been fed heaping helpings of humble pie time after time. To punctuate their indigestion, ‘tebowing’ and has caught the attention of old and young people beyond the realm of sports. Some students have been suspended from high school for blocking hallways and amassing on gymnasium floors on bended knee in solidarity with Tebow.

And as a postscript, add this to the list:

 Tebow wasn’t supposed to be alive.

Tebow talks about his Faith, Family and Florida Gator in GA Bulldog country in addition to the controversial Super Bowl ad about his mother's decision not to abort him.

His pregnant mother was advised by doctors that her ‘fetus’ was not viable, to consider abortion since she could endanger her own life. She didn’t and their story became a 2010 Super Bowl ad created by Focus on The Family ministry that has since had more than 5 billion impressions on the internet. Tebow told a packed Sunday morning service at First Redeemer Church in Cumming, GA in July 4, 2010, that he talks about his mother’s choice not to abort was not politically driven but rather yet an opportunity to give Glory to God for what He has done for and through them.

What’s next for Tebow and the Broncos is anyone’s guess. Tebow would most likely say it doesn’t matter. God knows. And he’s fine with that.

Amy Kremer, Nationwide Coordinator-March on D.C. 2009 ends rally attended by estimated. 1.2 million just 6 months after creating Tea Party Patriots.

by Stella Lohmann

November 11, 2011–Atlanta, GA

After four days of testimony, a Cobb County jury has ruled in favor of Tea Party Patriots, Inc. in a more than two year battle over who owns its email list and intellectual property.  At odds are two recognized figures within the two and a half year old Tea Party Movement–two founders of the original Tea Party Patriots organization—Roswell, GA resident, Amy Kremer currently Chairman of Tea Party Express, and TPP President, Jenny Beth Martin, of Kennesaw, GA—co-workers after CNBC reporter, Rick Santelli called for ‘a tea party’ in protest to a pending stimulus bill by President Barak Obama and Congress in February of 2009.

The Woodstock-based Tea Party Patriots Inc. alleges that Amy Kremer, who lives in the Roswell ea of Cobb, wrongly retained control of the group’s email list and intellectual property, including its trademark name and websites, after she was removed as a member of the group’s board of directors in September 2009.—Marietta Daily Journal. Both sides asked for punitive damages and attorney fees but were denied.

Now more than two and half years after the two women began working on tea parties together, Kremer sat on the witness stand telling her side of why in September following the 9/12 March on Washington that drew an estimated 1.2 million at the Capitol she was ‘kicked off a board that I never agreed to be a part of.” Testimony was limited to events through December 2009 when the court restricted Kremer from access to her websites and email lists.

Kremer testified that she offered in September of 2009 to turn over the Intellectual Property in exchange for three things: an apology, reimbursemenf of three months of expenses totally just more than $3,000 and access to her Constant Contact account. The TPP Board of Directors instead filed suit against Kremer. TPP, Inc. has sued individuals/groups to stop them from using the Tea Party Patriots name since 2009 in efforts to own trademark rights exclusively.

“I was ‘set up’ by Martin and other initial organizers: Mark Meckler, a lawyer from Sacramento, CA; Rob Neppell who Kremer says became involved by ‘default’ when another initial organizer Michael Patrick Leahy of TCOT (Top Conservatives on Twitter), recommended Neppell’s technical involvement; and legal counsel, Doug Chalmers, a political law attorney from Atlanta suggested by Martin in May of 2009. 

9/12 March on D.C. inspired by Glenn Beck shocked America and organizers with its million + in attendance. National Sponsors: Grassfire, FreedomWorks and Tea Party Patriots

Tea Party Patriots grew exponentially following the March on Washington in numbers of members and donations. Martin has given interviews nationally claiming millions of members and thousands of local groups under the umbrella of the corporation since then. Donations, estimated in the millions of dollars, are solicited through its website, emails and other promotional pieces on a regular basis.

Martin testified that early on she was the only one paid and Meckler (treasurer) added during testimony, “It wasn’t based on the volume of work but the need…Jenny Beth couldn’t remain working.” 

Kremer was paid $3,000 for her work for the month of August 2009 but not for June through September which became part of her countersuit for reimbursement of those expenses incurred on behalf of TPP for road trips to Washington with Martin and with Kremer’s 21 year old daughter, Kylie. 

“How could they be squabbling over $134 food receipt when they are spending $150,000 in TPP donations to litigate this case against the woman that created it? The donors don’t know that their money isn’t going toward fighting for fiscal responsibility, limited government and free markets—but rather for lavish buffets, high end hotel suites and near six digit salaries for Jenny Beth and Mark,” said Toby Walker, a Texas tea party organizer and member of TPP. Walker was in Atlanta to support Kremer and sit in on the proceedings. 

Billie Tucker, Co-founder of First Coast Tea Party of Jacksonville, Florida said after court adjourned that she was disappointed that the judge interrupted her testimony saying it was not admissible since she had never met Kremer and had only been told by other board members they wanted a settlement with Kremer in September, but TPP filed a lawsuit instead. Tucker, a professional corporate governance consultant, resigned from the TPP Board of Directors due to concerns over the focus on the Kremer controversy and lack of transparency and governance by the board of directors.

 On re-cross examination, Meckler was asked about his role as treasurer for TPP, Inc. and said, “It’s about being good stewards over the donors’ money.”  During closing arguments, he shook his head a number of times when Kremer’s attorney said that both Meckler and Martin had a reason to maintain control—“the sound of money.”  

Meckler and Martin are said to earn salaries upwards of six digits and extensive expense accounts according to Scott Boston of St. Louis before closing arguments on Friday. Boston was Martin’s assistant during the March on Washington in 2009 and later hired by TPP in January of 2010. “They used their accounts for everything.”  

“I believe Doug Chalmers saw this as a ‘cash cow’” as he worked with the other board members to have me removed.”Kremer stated matter of factly. Why? “He knew this was becoming big…His August bill was outrageous…”  

Deborah Ausburn of the Galleria-based Taylor English Duma firm, Martin’s attorney, played a taped recording that Kremer provided the court of the conference call where Meckler, Martin and Neppell agreed if Kremer remained on the board of directors’ conference call that she is stating that she is part of the board to protect confidentiality. Repeatedly Kremer explained she was protecting her interests and was afraid of if ‘these people are capable of doing this, then what else can they do?”  

Martin never contested Kremer’s statements as fact that she indeed purchased and created sites using Tea Party Patriots name. Kremer’s attorneys, Shaun Daugherty and Kevin Leipow of the Atlanta firm Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover entered receipts as evidence of social networking sites that she purchased as early as March 6, 2009—teapartypatriots.ning.com and teapartypatriots.org and later .us, .net and .info domains. She also created a Tea Party Patriots group on the Smart Girl Politics website using the name of her personal website “Southern Belle Politics” name to direct traffic to tea parties being planned nationally for Tax Day Tea Parties (TDTP).  “It had Southern Belle name and I used my picture,” Kremer told Martin’s attorney, when asked if her name was found anywhere on the created pages early on. 

Tea Party Patriots became Tea Party, Inc. following an incredibly successful Tax Day Tea Party (TDTP) collaborative effort, led by Kremer as the Nationwide Coordinator, when it became necessary to incorporate in order to solicit donations. The legal process required establishing a nonprofit and the initial four organizers decided on a 50l C4 status in lieu of a PAC which could support candidates. That decision laid the foundation for a controversy surrounding Kremer’s involvement with the Tea Party Express, Our Country Deserves Better PAC, that had received national attention with its promotional bus tour across the country ending at the TDTP in Washington, D.C. on April 15, 2009.  

Meckler was not part of the initial team of nationwide organizers and Kremer said Meckler had sent her emails wanting to be involved since he organized tea party efforts in Sacramento, CA. “I never would sit on a board with Mark Meckler and Rob Neppell, never. I didn’t know these people.” Meckler testified that he was the one who began talking with Martin and later was introduced to Kremer. As events unfolded Meckler would be the one to suggest Kremer accept an invitation to join the TPX bus tour representing TPP as well as the one to push for incorporation, hiring Chalmers as legal counsel, and later with Martin and Neppell, Kremer’s removal from ‘the board’.  

In testimony, Chalmers admitted he had researched ‘how to remove someone from the board’ the night before after having discussions with Meckler, Martin and Neppell. Kremer testified Chalmers never returned her calls the night before all three voted her to be removed from the board of directors of TPP.  

Tea Party Express bus tours have drawn huge crowds in their stops across the country since the March on D.C. in 2009. (Shown here in Atlanta in 2009, the first of many tours, some featuring Sarah Palin, Herman Cain and other tea party figures.

Today, Kremer is Chairman of TPX and is seen regularly on all network and media outlet. In 2010, she was named The Most Influential Person in the Tea Party by a United Kingdom media outlet. Martin was listed among the Most Influential People in the World by Time Magazine in 2010. 

“I’m just a regular person who had never been active in politics but I was concerned about the direction my country was going in,” explained Kremer. “I saw a void and I wanted to fill it.”  

Martin, mother of boy and girl twins, testified that she was also concerned and had spent countless hours ‘tweeting’ about what was happening in Washington. “I was one of its (Twitter) first adopters…’Mommy’ blogging.”  A self proclaimed active participant in politics since age 14, Martin listed her involvement in campaigns and associations with elected officials as well as her technical business training from Reinhardt College ’90 and University of GA ’92.

“I heard (about Santelli’s Rant) on Rush (Limbaugh) radio show,” while cleaning houses at the time, explained Martin who had lost her home with husband, Lee in bankruptcy and foreclosure before the tea party movement began.  She testified that she posted on the Smart Girl Politics internet site and was asked by its founders, Teri Christop and Stacy Mott to be actively involved.

It wasn’t long before Kremer’s and Martin’s social networking crossed paths. Kremer credits Michael Patrick Leahy of TCOT as the one who got ‘the movement’ organized and set a conference call of 22 across the nation to decide how to move forward after Santelli’s rant. Martin asked Kremer to be one of those on that first conference call. She and Kremer would talk privately immediately after that initial call and determine to host a tea party at the GA Capital a week later.

Jenny Beth Martin with Julianne Thompson and Debbie Dooley of Atlanta Tea Party in 2009 at Countdown to Judgement Day rally at the GA Capitol,.

The Atlanta Tea Party event was created and Fox News made contact wanting to broadcast LIVE from the rally which drew more than an estimated 20 thousand, one of the largest of 48 held nationally that day. Martin credits her relationships with elected officials for their involvement at the rally and Debbie Dooley of Gwinnett County for securing the site permit and promotion on several media outlets. Both worked on the March on Washington in 2009.

Who knew behind the scenes of rallies, signs, and chants of ‘fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government and free markets’—the principles promoted by TPP—that their efforts and friendship would lead to the civil court and charges of wrongdoing individually and corporately in counter suits?

 “It’s so sad. I thought she was my friend,” Kremer told the court tearfully. When asked if Kremer was a friend, Martin responded, “No, she was a political associate.”  

“What would you do if you had ownership of Tea Party Patriots trademark again?” Ausburn asked ending her cross examination.  

“It was never intended to be a money maker. I would return it back to what I envisioned at the beginning—a tool for others to connect and communicate in the movement.”

• Kremer has filed an objection to Tea Party Patriots, Inc. federal trademark application under ‘first use’ provisions.

Other links: Billie Tucker (Heritage Foundation on CEO’s) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXSBBxLJApY

April 16, 2010–Atlanta, GA
Tax Day Tea Parties require stamina, resolve and a good hat—to protect from the sunshine in Hotlanta, Georgia especially! So I wore my “Freedom Czar” hat, the one Laura Ingraham’s radio producer gave me at CPAC in February. The red, white and blue colors were perfect for such a sunshiny day of patriotic protest! So when it was time I forged into the masses of outdoor tea parties to ‘bake’ in the mid day heat, I was ready!

Stella Lohmann, Freedom CZAR

GA State Rep. Steve Davis announced GA Freedom Czar!

Later at the Atlanta Tea Party where an estimated 8 to 10 thousand returned for the second Tax Day Tea Party, fate would have it that Rep. Davis would again spy me and my hat and proceeded to announce on stage to the masses my new title—Georgia Freedom Czar! He pointed to me in the wings of the stage so I waved the hat to the crowd! A few friends later told me they were the really loud ones cheering in the crowd.

Actually, to think about it, those attending tea parties are all self-appointed Freedom Czars in one way or another. How many times in the past year have they called a friend, attended a rally or meeting, or listened or talked on the radio about defending America and what has made it great?

We may not all have a hat or a story to tell about how we acquired such distinction but we do know that the reality is clear—all those who ventured out on a Thursday to stand with a sign and or stand with a neighbor or friend—IS a Freedom Czar. If President Barack Obama can appoint an unprecedented number of Czars for any and every purpose under heaven—all unconfirmed by Congress–then why not add a few million more to advocate for Freedom?

Hear ye, hear ye! Calling all Freedom Czars–No credentials or Senate confirmation needed—Must have heart for America, Constitution and Liberty. Only those with courage to show up need apply.

January 17, 2009–Quincy, MA
President Barack Obama’s agenda to ‘remake’ America may be derailed should Republican Scott Brown win in Tuesday’s special election to fill the Massachusetts Senate seat once held by the late Ted Kennedy who passed away last fall following a bout with brain cancer. Now Massachusetts voters are at the center of what could be the most critical race the President and his party could imagine.

“I have voted in every election since I became of age in 1991, but I have never felt like my vote has mattered so much. Tuesday’s vote can truly rock the current system!” Amy Kelly is a 36 year old mother of two and was out on Sunday campaigning for Brown in Quincy. “It is important to always vote, but this time we are so close to bringing about huge change and change that can have such positive results for our future. Scott Brown can be the voice which puts our country on the right track! Currently this country is heading down the wrong road.”

Kelly isn’t alone in her resolve to keep up the pressure on Massachusetts voters. Both parties are running ads around the clock, some sponsored by conservative organizations like the Tea Party Express. Supporters on Facebook posted links to help raise funds and to help make phone calls in the last days of the campaign, many from other states.

Meanwhile in Washington, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi are in ‘hurry-up’ offense mode promising to pass the President’s all important healthcare legislation before the winner of the Massachusetts election can be seated, possibly disrupting their 60 vote-filibuster proof majority. A win for the Republicans would be yet another vote in the Senate against the President’s overall agenda.

So while the President and Coakley spoke to less than capacity crowds in Massachusetts on Sunday, Brown drew record crowds, the likes some say have never been seen for a Republican candidate, much less during a special election.

“All of these photos were taken at the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy for The Scott Brown “Bold Leadership Rally in Quincy”, said Kelly, a professional photographer. “Those in attendance were pumped! People were so happy and enthusiastic to be there to support Scott. His message is clear and I am proud to support him and cannot wait to call him my senator!”

On Tuesday, Kelly is anticipating a possible upset win for Scott Brown who trailed almost 30 points in the polls only to surge in the last weeks to make this special election a real race to the finish!

The last time a Republican won a Senate seat in the state was in 1972.

Host of SOU: Voice of the People, Feb. 2nd from D.C.

Organizers expect a tsunami of viewers in response to the current administration’s efforts in Congress as well as repeated disregard for WE THE PEOPLE concerns.

1) Register at website
2) Submit your personal State of the Union address on video
* One personal SOU address will be featured daily up to the February 2nd event

Organizations represented:

Americans For Prosperity
FreedomWorks
TEA Party Patriots
The Heritage Foundation *site of webcast in Washington, D.C.
The New Voice
Let Freedom Ring
The Media Research Center
The Institute for Liberty

By Stella Lohmann

December 18, 2009—Atlanta, GA

Seventy five year old Doris Fowler has spent much of the last twelve years planning for Christmas year round. When it’s humid in Hotlanta-Atlanta, Georgia, Fowler is raising money so that Jesus Christ can be part of the city’s holiday decorations on Marietta Square in December. This year is no different except Doris is another year older and is moving a little bit slower.

When city officials decided in the mid-nineties to remove Jesus from the holiday displays, Doris confronted her elected officials. The compromise was to pay a fee, a thousand dollar per day. She must find a Nativity, find the money, and find a way to draw others to the square. As in years past, this year, there are choirs singing hourly from noon to 10 PM Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 17-19rh.

Snow is predicted in the area and it should be cold again on Saturday evening. “Oh, Doris will be here. She won’t leave, “says Ron Hollingsworth, Cobb County resident and board member of the Citizens for a Christian Christmas Celebration, the organization Doris founded to assist in promoting the Nativity on the Square. “She’ll be here until her feet give out.”

This Saturday Doris will be honored by the Atlanta Christian Conservatives, a politically active social group begun on Facebook.

“She was confronting elected officials long before it was considered a ‘tea party’,” says an ACC group member. “Her efforts deserve recognition and are an inspiration for those who want to make a difference. Besides, it’s a great excuse to invite like minded Georgians to gather holding blankets and hot chocolate instead of a sign!”

For Doris, Jesus is the Reason not only for the Season but for everything she does year round. Perhaps that is the bottom line.

Which is stranger?

To see the world-famous Tiger Woods admitting to a hidden lifestyle of adultery or witnessing Susan Boyle’s swan like transformation to international acclaim? Reminders of ageless stories of rags to riches or a fall from grace come to mind: one inspires; the other shatters. Susan sang “I Dreamed A Dream” and Tiger sunk his. His began at age five and hers at age 47. <

Woods, undoubtedly the world’s wealthiest athlete, acquiring almost 1 billion dollars in life time earnings, won’t see that ten digit figure fully materialized at least for the near future. Damage control and a return to sanity from the media frenzy of the past two weeks are calling for drastic measures. His announcement Friday that he would take an indefinite leave from golf in order to deal with his personal life has given sponsors an open to show Tiger for the time being at least. Accenture, the world’s largest consultant agency, has announced it will give Tiger that time he says he needs from his endorsement obligations.

Susan Boyle on the other hand is living her Cinderella Dream. No skeletons in the closet after captivating the world with an extraordinarily unexpected brilliant performance on Britain’s Got Talent. She ends 2009 with a million dollar debut album and an international special on the TV Guide Channel singing a duet with her idol, Elaine Page.

What lessons do we derive from both icons stories? Quips of here today, gone tomorrow don’t fit rightly. The American people are overwhelming forgiving. If they can excuse former Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick for his animal abuse convictions and this week welcome him back to the Georgia Dome now wearing a Philadelphia Eagle uniform, well, Tiger can expect even more from a leave of absence paid for in full via his years of good will sown into the sport of golf.

The shocking reality is Tiger lived a double life and the public bought the marketing version. Why? Because it sells and it felt good to see a wholesome youth rise to manhood with a seemingly seamless personality, void of any dark traits. On the other hand, most expected Susan Boyle to be one of those bloopers airing on television reality shows. She didn’t look like a star, act like a star, but did she sing like a star.

Heading into 2010:

Susan is a multi million dollar singing sensation having met her childhood idol, Donny Osmond, as a bonus of her new found fame.

Simon is without Paula Abdul on American Idol this upcoming season but is incredibly busy managing Susan’s meteoric success making up for decades of dreaming her dream.

And Tiger may be learning to do what “Tiggers do best!”—bounce.

By Stella Lohmann

Patricia Sullivan is daring to go where many women would never have dared to go before Sarah Plain and Barack Obama came on the national political scene. She’s running for Florida’s 8th Congressional District currently held by Democrat Alan Grayson against a trial lawyer and a real estate agent. Palin inspired her; concern for her children’s futures motivated her to leave her current position as a self described Domestic Engineer/School Teacher/Community Organizer. “… and that still wouldn’t come close to covering everything I do,” quips Sullivan.

“The first thing I would like to do is repeal the “stimulus” spending bill and put all unused funds back in the Treasury. Clearly that was a tremendous failure,” says Sullivan with confidence. Sullivan recalls the day that changed her life as a homeschooler with an associate’s degree.

‘Sarah Palin really was a breath of fresh air. I remember the day she was announced as McCain’s running mate. We stopped our book work to watch TV. Our oldest daughter, Jennifer, was immediately engaged in the election because of her. I remember watching Sarah walk through crowds with Piper holding her waist and now my youngest is doing the same while I’m talking with voters in my district.”

“My family has always been active and engaged in the community. My husband and I have four children and have been married for 18 years. We’ve always home schooled which has given us the freedom to volunteer at all hours of the day, from nursing homes to boys and girls clubs. Two years ago I founded the Lake County 4-H Foundation which secures funding for our county 4-H program, enabling youth to attend leadership camps and participate in activities they otherwise couldn’t afford. Serving together as a family not only blesses others, but we typically receive the greater blessing!”

What sacrifices and challenges have you endured in running for office and what how do you expect it to change you and your family’s lives?
My family has already had to pick up the slack when it comes to preparing meals! Our oldest daughter now does the grocery shopping. Instead of spending evenings at home, we find ourselves out at speaking engagements, but because we usually go as a family, it has been fun. Home schooling will look a little different than it has in the past, but we adapt.

As a woman do you think that you will be scrutinized more strictly than male candidates?
I already have! One comment on an online article actually read “She’s going to leave her kids and go to Washington? Nice family values!” Recently I visited DC for the “Health Care House Call” and was able to visit Representatives Ginny Brown-Waite and Michele Bachmann. These are both strong, vocal women and have been called names because of it. They’re paving the way and both offered great advice. They will be incredible mentors for future congresswomen. I look forward to learning from their examples.

What is your advice to those who may have tinkered with the notion of running for office at any level at this time of their lives?
Run it by your closest friends. At first, I thought my friends would talk me out it, knowing the busy life I have and everything I am committed to already. I was truly shocked when they weren’t caught off guard by the idea at all! I think they all saw it coming before I did. Of course as a family, we individually prayed about this decision and had several discussions about it. I wouldn’t have moved forward if the entire family wasn’t 100% on board. If you’ve got support, go for it! Our country needs you! I am a woman of deep faith. Everything I do is driven by it. I believe that is why serving is such a joy, because it is simply an expression of my faith “