I see very little evidence that the TEA Party has any real organized base from which to draw power..

[Thunderstruck]

...until I tune to one of our broadcast media outlets. To hear them, you would think the TEA Party has every bit as much presence as the Democratic or Regressive parties have.

Just thinking out loud here.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. It's been that way since the 'tea parties' were created by the corporations.

[Mojeoux]

3. They are having a rally in Washinton this coming weekend,

How do we distinguish the Koch paid players from the real baggers?

[Blue Owl]

2. So true

Wish I saved the photo from a few weeks ago showing Florida's teabagger conference and its 2/3rds-empty hotel ballroom.

It's all smoke, mirrors, and vote fraud.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. All you need is a group willing to make a lot of noise for a long time

and some "news" networks to cover it like it's something other than a corporate shill, and you have a "movement".

I am now going to visit the room of rest and have a movement.

[daa]

5. There are

76 members of the progressive caucus, but that includes the likes of Steny Hoyer (progressive?)who is more a corporate crat. The tea party caucus has 52 members, strong and committed, unlike the Hoyers so that is a pretty equal power base.