Tempest in a Tennessee Tea Pot

It was just a few weeks ago when Mark Skoda -- chairman of the Memphis TEA Party -- was loudly complaining about paying high taxes.

Mark and his group of Tennessee patriots were fighting mad about the tax money they're shelling out and staged several anti-government rallies.

Questioned as to anger directed specifically toward the President -- who has actually cut income taxes -- Mr. Skoda reasoned, "Obama was the Pearl Harbor moment for conservatives."

But now Mark and his fellow Tennessee Tea Baggers are facing a new crisis moment.

Flooding from two days of heavy rain is wreaking havoc in Tennessee. Up to 20 inches of rain has fallen in parts of the state over the weekend. The rains have washed out major roads, caused evacuations, and prompted dam failures. In Nashville alone, more than 600 people were rescued from the water this weekend, reported emergency management officials.

Of course the rescue missions, emergency shelters and other services are supplied by local, state and federal GOVERNMENT.  And they cost a lot of MONEY.

The TN Emergency Management Agency has already requested help from the National Guard.  The state will now appeal to President Obama for federal relief.

Needless to say . . . the anti-tax protests from Mark Skoda, and the angry complaints about taxes from the Tennessee Tea Baggers, have instantly dried up.