Snore!

“WEST PALM BEACH — Venting about the conservative tea party movement and talking — at times heatedly — about the need for civility in public discourse marked the debut meeting of a local “coffee party” group today.

About 40 people showed up for the meeting at a Panera Bread restaurant, where organizer George Papison had booked a small room in expectation of a dozen or fewer.

The meeting was one of hundreds planned for today across the nation by Coffee Party U.S.A., a group that sprang from Facebook rantings against the tea party movement by filmmaker and Obama supporter Annabel Park.

“Frankly, we are petrified by the tea party and what they stand for and what they’re talking about,” said Monte Carmel, a retired business executive from West Palm Beach.

“I’m tired of all the misinformation, the cute little labels the fright-wing has thrown on everything,” said a man named Russ.

“To me, government is the answer. I’m really sort of perplexed,” said a man named Joe who said he had been a teacher for 44 years.

Participants broke into groups and wrote their priorities on white posters, then shared them with the larger gathering. Several called for passage of health care overhaul, which has galvanized tea party opposition. Others called for campaign finance reform and curbing the influence of lobbyists and corporations.

“We have to stop the mantra of no taxes, no taxes, no taxes,” said Marcia Halpern of Palm Beach Gardens.”

Halpern is a local DNC official, as well as a member of the ACLU of Florida, and treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach. In fact most of those in attendance were operatives or otherwise heavily involved in Democrat politics in Palm Beach. 40 people isn’t a movement, it’s a beer bash at best. I can get more people over for the Superbowl.

You have to laugh at Halpern’s bemoaning “No taxes”. Property taxes in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade have risen steadily while homeowners get foreclosed on. Get some t-shirts printed Marcia, “More Taxes!”, “Tax Me Till I Puke!”, “I’m Patriotic, Shaft Me Uncle Sam!”.

Should sell a lot.