I never cease to be amazed at the variety and strength of political opinions even among those united as fellow Tea Partiers. I enjoy hearing from many of you and your various views. We sometimes disagree on how to solve a particular problem and that is OK. We are all united in our belief that the federal government has overstepped our bounds, is taxing us too much, and is not following the constitution in any kind of logical or defendable way.

It is good to hash out ideas and solutions to our country's problems as we discuss many different ways to bring our country back to founding principles and proper bounds.

Unfortunately, I have seen too many cases where someone has attacked or blasted another person or their view, when in reality the person who started the attack did not actually read or listen carefully to the views, opinions, or statements of the other person before beginning the attack.

Before attacking a politician, writer, or any other, please take the time to carefully understand what they said and what they meant. Let us not be an "offender for a word".

It is critically important that we defend and strengthen our principles as we educate others on their importance. Our words and logic will have more force if we use them well on issues of substance and don't sucumb to the temptation to criticize and pile on when we failed to understand another's intent or to lay a snare for the good guys when they misspeak. Even the best of politicians and representatives are human. True failures on their part to follow conservative principles will of course result in working to get them defeated, but in my mind at least, that is not the same as differing on a practical way to get our country back to the principles we hold dear.