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South Dakotans looking to block President Donald Trump's policies are set to hold a town hall forum Thursday in Sioux Falls.

Leaders of agrassroots group calledIndivisible 605 said they wanted to hold an event at which members could learn how to start constructive conversationswith congressional delegates using"polite, non-violent techniques." The local group stemmed froma national campaignto resist the Trump administration using Tea Party tactics like targeting elected officials at a local level to prevent policy changes.

Sens. Mike Rounds and John Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem will return to South Dakota during a congressional recess period, but don't plan to hold formal town hall forums. Spokespeople for the three said they hadn't received invitations to the Thursday forum.

MORE:Guns, dark money, marijuana: #SDLeg enters home stretch

KateHayes, one of the group's organizers, said she thought it was important that constituents remain an active check and balance system, weighing in regularly about Trump's comments or policies that might worry them.

"We want to get back to wherewe're doing our job as part of our democracy," she said. "We need to be there to watch them and hold them accountable."

And the state's congressional delegates should be expected to weigh in on the comments, too, she said. The three Republicans have shared their opinions on Trump's cabinet appointments in press releases and on Trump's executive order restricting immigration from certain countries when pressed by reporters.

Hayes said Rounds, Thune and Noem should listen to their constituents and represent their views when addressing Trump's comments or voting on his proposals.

SEE ALSO:Shell game? Legislators question vehicle bill practice

"There's obviously been a lot of verbiage and vitriol coming out of the Trump administration and it's deeply troubling," Hayes said. "You can't ignore that this is a different tone and a dangerous one."

Spokespeople for Thune and Noem said the two have remained open to constituent questions and comments. They said they would welcome constituent input and would visit with South Dakotans who come to visit their offices in the state and in Washington, D.C.

Follow Dana Ferguson on Twitter @bydanaferguson, call (605) 370-2493 or email dferguson@argusleader.com

Town hall details:

When: Thursday, February 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: Icon Lounge + Events, 402 N. Main Ave. Sioux Falls

Read or Share this story: http://argusne.ws/2loFauv

Originally posted here:
Group aims to use Tea Party tactics to block Trump policies - Sioux Falls Argus Leader

For those of a certain age and classic rock-steered predilection, introduction to Windsor, Ont.s Tea Party via opening single The River off 1993s Splendor Solis was a memorable revelation.

The guitar and bass sounded like Black Sabbath. The drums sounded like Led Zeppelin. And the voice of lead guitarist/vocalist Jeff Martin? Ahaunting reincarnation of Jim Morrison. Together, it made a lasting impression. That's one reason the trio can scatter a handful of full-length recordings and reunions over its more than 20-year existence and still generate enough interest to book two sold-out shows at the Town Ballroom (681 Main St.) at 8 p.m. Feb. 23 and 24.

Fusing a hypnotic blend of blues with Indian and Middle Eastern influencesall while injectingits required Canadian quota of roaring guitarsthe band followed its debut success by nosing into select northern corners of the '90s alt-rock scene with the ambitious The Edge of Twilight, the electronica-infused Transmission and the bluesy Triptych.

But after disbanding more than a decade ago, the trio of Martin, bassist Stuart Chatwood and drummer Jeff Burrows thankfully reunited to eventually record 2014s The Ocean at the End.

Now, the Tea Party is back to tour for the 20th anniversary of Transmission, playing the album from front to back, and ready to renew itsimpression on music fans of all ages.

Doors are at 7 p.m. Those in need of tickets should scour the secondhand ticket market.

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A rocking Tea Party for two at Town Ballroom - Buffalo News

The next meeting of Fountain Hills AZ Tea Party will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Fountain Hills Unified School District Learning Center.

This month, Fountain Hills AZ Tea Party will address two issues - veterans and prosperity. Guests will include Matt Dobson of Concerned Veterans for America and Chalon Hutson of Americans for Prosperity-Arizona.

Matt, an Army Veteran, will discuss the current status of veterans issues and what we can do to address them. Chalon will speak about the activities of AFP-Arizona, which include public education and activism to influence legislation which threatens economic freedom and the pursuit of prosperity.

Both presentations will include ample opportunity for attendees to ask questions and receive answers.

Fountain Hills AZ Tea Party (fhteaparty.us) is a not-for-profit organization, providing a local venue for one-on-one contact with candidates, elected officials and authorities on matters of interest. The group is committed to education about life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the Constitution.

The group adheres to the words of President Thomas Jefferson: Educate and inform the whole mass of the people...they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m. All interested parties are encouraged to attend. Admission is still free, but donations to offset expenses are accepted. For additional information, visit fhteaparty.us.

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Tea Party hosts speakers Feb. 21 - FH Times

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Three Methods:Hosting an Elegant Tea PartyHaving a Fun Childrens TeaMaking Your Party Stand OutCommunity Q&A

Tea parties became a popular social event in the early 1800s, though there are signs of tea parties occurring earlier. To this day, tea parties remain an enjoyable and popular pastime. Tea is, of course, necessary for tea parties, but often small snacks are served as well. There are several types of tea parties you can have. You can have an elegant tea party, or choose to have a tea party for children. No matter what type of tea party you have, you can make your tea party stand out with elements like costumes, music, and decorations. Tea parties became a popular social event in the early 1800s, though there are signs of tea parties occurring earlier. To this day, tea parties remain an enjoyable and popular pastime. Tea is, of course, necessary for tea parties, but often small snacks are served as well. There are several types of tea parties you can have. You can have an elegant tea party, or choose to have a tea party for children. No matter what type of tea party you have, you can make your tea party stand out with elements like costumes, music, and decorations.

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Plan a theme. A tea party for children is the most fun if a theme is involved. If the party is for mostly girls, you could choose a princess theme. An Alice in Wonderland theme is another cute and classic option. You could also choose a theme based on a country, which would be educational and fun. A British theme or Chinese are a couple of options. Research the decorations, costumes, food, and music based on the theme of your choosing.

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Dress up in costumes. You can ask the children to come in costume, or you can have some costumes set out for the children to dress up in at the party. Even if you do ask the children to come in costume, it is considerate to set out a few costumes for children that may have not gotten the memo. Make sure the parents are aware of the theme if you are asking them to bring their children in costume.

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Wear costumes. Ask guests to wear costumes according to the theme youve chosen. Even if you dont have a specific theme, you can ask guests to wear costumes anyway. They could dress up in flamboyant hats, like the British are known for wearing to formal events. An option for dressing up without a theme is asking guests to dress up in their formal attire. Make sure to specify costumes on the invitation.

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Where would I hold the tea party if my birthday is in December?

wikiHow Contributor

Hold it inside, either at home or at a suitable hotel that specializes in afternoon teas, such as The Ritz. Some department stores have afternoon tea events, such as Harrod's, so that is one other option for the colder months.

What if I wanted to make the tea party a little different?

wikiHow Contributor

Try giving your party a theme, such as: Victorian, royalty, princess, or Alice in Wonderland. You can also look into how other cultures serve tea, and mimic their customs. For example, the Japanese and Turkish ways of serving tea are quite different from the British way of serving tea.

What kind of food do I serve at a tea party?

wikiHow Contributor

Finger sandwiches and cookies are perfect.

Do guests sit at a table or can it be just chairs?

wikiHow Contributor

A table would be better; the guests can sit down and not worry about spilling their tea in their laps, but just chairs will work fine.

How do you act at a tea party?

wikiHow Contributor

Unlike in the movies, you do not have to act like a princess or prince. Just act as you usually do. Any rule applicable for any public occasions applies with a tea party too: don't be rude, dress appropriately, etc. Ask the host if you need to bring anything so that you know ahead.

I am holding a large tea party for mother and daughter. Where and how do I get the teacups?

wikiHow Contributor

Teacups can be found at many places, such as kitchen ware stores, house-related stores, department stores, Etsy, online retailers or auction traders, thrift or charity stores and large furniture stores such as IKEA. You could also borrow them from a friend or family member but that has the added worry about not breaking any.

Where should I have the tea party?

wikiHow Contributor

Anywhere there's a nice ambiance is a good choice. Going to a park or another outdoor venue on a nice day is wonderful, but it's perfectly acceptable to have a tea party inside if you prefer.

Should I also have linen napkins with a white tablecloth, or can I use pretty paper napkins?

wikiHow Contributor

Normally, a proper tea party would have cloth napkins, but for a normal get together with your friends, you can use whatever.

Do the tea cups have to match?

wikiHow Contributor

No. They could be different, making it fun to see who gets which cup.

Is a tea cup with handles on both sides appropriate for a tea party?

wikiHow Contributor

For a relaxed, fun tea among friends, sure. For a more formal tea party, no.

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3 Ways to Have a Tea Party - wikiHow

Do two wrongs make a right?

Thats the dilemma facing Democrats, liberals, resisters and others as they confront the prospects of a Trump administration that appears to be gearing up to do just what Trump the candidate promised.

Do they adopt Tea Party-style obstructionist tactics that gridlocked the wheels of federal government with the goal of making Obama a delegitimized, one-term president? Do they raise and deploy the mega-millions in unaccountable dark money unleashed by Citizens United to fund candidates and initiatives at the state level?

Or do they work within legislative and electoral channels and build transparent coalitions thatcheckmate and ultimately reverse the results of the 2016 election?

The last time there was a sea change in White House leadership was 2008, and back then it was big business, the health care establishment and social conservatives who refused to play ball with the new administration. Conservative foundations bankrolled the more confrontational tea party movement and its front group, Americans for Prosperity, and the 2009 congressional town halls on Obamacare saw Democrats shouted down. By 2011, radical Republicans were shutting down Grand Canyon National Park over a debt ceiling that was about re-election politics, not fiscal responsibility.

Fast forward eight years, and Republican members of Congress are girding for the same reception this coming week during the first recess of the new term. Several already have had a taste of confrontational tactics that leave little room for discussion the volume is too loud, the rhetoric too polarized.

Locally, Trump resisters have been organizing rallies, writing postcards and making phone calls. And since Trump supporters like state Rep. Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff, have blocked their calls and emails, they are itching to get him to hold a local town hall that would likely follow the same shout-down script. After all, it seemed to work against Republican Paul Gosar, who received such a hostile reception in Flagstaff as a first-term congressman that he switched districts for the next election.

In truth, however, Gosar was redistricted out of a seat that Republicans felt he didnt have a chance to win. And the Democrats who were on the receiving end of such tactics in 2009 decried them as the work of verbal bullies with no respect for the democratic process. The hostilities only escalated from there until a congresswoman meeting her constituents at a Safeway in Tucson was met with lethal force and all sides called a timeout.

So where is resistance that observes the democratic spirit andprocess supposed to lead? If the Trump resisters of today were the same ones bemoaning the tactical monkey-wrenching and obstructionism of the anti-Obama tea partyers, how can they call for Democrats in the Senate to filibuster every nomination or for EPA employees to slow-walk every climate change-denying order? If the answer is that when the other side doesnt play by the rules, neither should we, then we return to our original question: How do two wrongs produce a better outcome?

On Friday, this newspaper printed a guest column by a retired congressman who first came to Washington in 1975 with advice about how to influence your lawmaker face to face on Capitol Hill or the district office. The tips do your homework, use group leverage to get on the appointment calendar, be brief, follow up with a thank-you note seemed almost quaint, given the hyper-polarization and the no-holds-barred social media campaigns today. But if a congressman is not going to hold town halls, then maybe a semi-private meeting is the next best thing.

Our sense, given this countrys history, is that the political power pendulum only swings so far to the left or right before it heads in the opposite direction. Parties with supermajorities in power almost always overreach, and voters let them know it often after just two years at mid-term elections. The key, however, is that the traditional checks and balances of an independent judiciary, broad-based voting rights and a vigorous press protected by the First Amendment keep the pendulum from flying off the clock.

Well concede that after a month in office, the Trump administration has shown little respect for those institutions. But so far, the pushback has been firm and Trump finds himself with one of the lowest approval ratings of any president so soon after taking the oath. The tea party types might have taken over the reins of government, but they have yet to show they know how to govern. Resisters who emulate their tactics at this stage of the game do their cause and their country no favors.

Serving on the Daily Suns Editorial Advisory Boardthis week were Publisher Don Rowley, Editor Randy Wilson and citizen membersCharlotte Welch, Laura Bustamante-Myers, Jeff Ross,Ken Lamm and Alison Walker.

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Our View: Tea party tactics won't support real change - Arizona Daily Sun