John and Ken Have Thousands Attend Tax Protest

Written by CA Political News on March 08, 2009, 11:35 AM

Thousands join talk show hosts in tax protest

Officials estimate more than 8,000 people showed up in downtown Fullerton to protest tax hikes in budget deal.

By LINDSEY BAGUIO, Orange County Register, 3/8/09

FULLERTON They're revolting. Families with children, bikers, seniors, pirates - by the thousands descended on a Fullerton bar Saturday to join talk show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of KFI in protesting tax increases recently approved in Sacramento.

Police estimated that some 8,000 people came to the Slidebar Caf頩n downtown Fullerton to listen to The John & Ken Show.

"I expected a lot and it was way more than I expected," said co-host John Kobylt.
The talk show hosts put forward an ambitious goal for their Tax Revolt 2009 live broadcast that ran for more than three hours.

"The purpose is to vote down Prop 1A on May 19 because it's a two-year tax extension," said Kobylt. "The purpose is to tell people how their Republican legislators lie about their votes. The purpose is to get support to recall Schwarzennegger, (Assemblyman) Anthony Adams, (Assemblyman) Jeff Miller, and everybody else."

Some wore buttons. One man brought a bloody effigy head of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and waved it from the end of a pike, while the crowd joined their hosts in a chant of "Repeal, recall, revolt."

Many in the crowd held up cameras to capture a big hit as VHS cassettes, DVDs, laser discs, an action hero lunchbox and other memorabilia from the governor's Hollywood career, were piled up and smashed with a sledgehammer.

Johanna Common, 45, of Fullerton, pushed her way to the front of the crowd to contribute her copy of the Schwarzenegger movie "Total Recall" to the pile.

"I wanted to see it smashed to smithereens," she said.
When all is done, Common plans to get involved in recalling her local representative, Assemblyman Michael Duvall, she said.

Like many others, Kimberly Smith, 29, of Tustin, sported a button showing how much more she'll have to pay in taxes: $1,645.

Capt. Jack Sparrow came by to say the taxes would cost him loot.

"With people losing the money they are losing, I lose too as an entertainer," said the pirate, who goes by Vince Bartolome of Costa Mesa in his downtime. "It sucks for us all."
Some of the demonstrators brought crayons in response to a column in the Los Angeles Times that called John and Ken's politics simplistic. Some children opted for something a bit more artistic.

Hannah Ross, 6, and her sister, Olivia Ross, 4, of San Diego, used squeeze paint brushes to express a message suggested by their parents: "Stop Generational Theft."

For Stacey Ross, it was her first time bringing her children to a political event.

"I believe children need to learn the First Amendment and their freedom of speech," she said.
Moving forward, Kobylt said there will be other events to come. The talk show hosts discussed participating in future recall efforts.

"For day one, this is fantastic, but this a long road that's going to take months and years," said Kobylt.

Blog Comments

Name:

Carol Derbis

Comment:

This was an AWESOME event. We had a busload from San Diego there and we were not disappointed! It's awesome to see that people are FINALLY waking up and realizing what this government - State AND Federal are doing to them...which I can't put here without being 'bleeped'! KFI estimates were higher - 15,000 - and I'm more inclined to believe those. we arrived a little after three - and there were crowds coming and going...as soon as one group left, they seemed to be replaced by a larger crowd. I can tell you that this was the FIRST time in a very long time that I have felt true pride in my countrymen! AMERICANS STANDING UP and FIGHTING FOR THEIR RIGHTS AND SPEAKING OUT! We need to do this MORE! Why has it come to this? Because Americans, in general, have been infected with what I've called a "Collective Coma of Complacency" - complaining among themselves, perhaps, of government wrongs, oversteps, overtaxation, etc....but not really standing up and DOING something about it. Had we been awake and alert all along, this country - THIS STATE - would never have gotten to the point where we now are. I hope this wakes up MORE AMERICANS to join the Revolution...search out Tea Parties and Tax Revolt demonstrations and websites that will give you info on joining in. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! It is your AMERICAN RIGHT - do NOT let them steal that from you! Remember all of these legislators the next time you vote....and vote ALL OF THEM OUT OF OFFICE...that goes for State Legislators, governors, etc. - AND House Representatives and Senators as well! (Pelosi, Boxer, Feinstein - ALL OF THEM!) there are sites online where you can get their voting records...if they voted FOR all these pork projects which have NOTHING TO DO with normal governmental operations, but everything to do with getting more money and votes for THEIR OWN POCKETS! - vote them OUT! Let them know: "WE'RE MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE!"

Name:

Mary Ann

Comment:

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House. One is from Chicago , another is from Tennessee , and the third is from Minnesota . All three go with a White House official to examine the fence. The Minnesota contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. "Well," he says, "I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me." The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me." The Chicago contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, "$2,700." The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?" The Chicago contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence." "Done!" replies the government official. And that, my friends, is how the new stimulus plan will work.

Name:

Hell in a Hand basket

Comment:

According to the Fullerton Police report, the crowd was estimated at 15,000. LINDSEY BAGUIO needs to polish up on her fact finding skills. I was there and it was definitely closer to 15,000 people. I mean it was packed with people... an awesome site to see. It's good to know that grass roots democracy is alive and well.

Name:

fred

Comment:

When we have leaders that refuse to lead-then this is what we need!