Tea for two...or 300 million

This weekend in Nashville, the Tea Party will hold it's first ever national convention. The party has received much attention this past year. In less than one year of existence, they have been able to muster a national grassroots effort that has no equal in American history. They filled the National Mall back in September displaying their disgust with business-as-usual Washington. Their support helped Scott Brown win the bluest seat in the bluest state. Most Democrats hate them, Republicans fear them and Independents embrace them. But exactly who and what constitutes a Tea Party member? What motivates them? They're angry, sure. But at who and why? The tip off is the historical flag they claimed for their cause. The Gadsden flag. Most people simply know it as the "DONT TREAD ON ME" flag. The coiled snake advising those who would cross it to think twice. I wont bore you with the history lesson that goes along with that flag & motto. You can "Google" that. All you need to know is that it goes back to our proud revolutionary roots. (Our forefathers didn't much like being pushed around either) Yep, the Tea Party members feel that they've been ignored by a federal government that has spent too much, taxed too much, intruded upon us too much and usurped power far beyond what is constitutional. And you know what? I couldn't agree more.
While it's safe to say that most Tea Partiers are Conservatives and therefore mostly Republican in nature - that would ignore the large amount of Independents who have found a home there. Not to mention newly disenfranchised Democrats. They're mad as hell and just like the line in the movie, they're not going to take it anymore! They have motivated and mobilized the movement without money from big oil or big unions. They have no national spokesperson or singular leader. They have massed power simply with a message and support from average Americans from both parties and every walk of life. They are truly an American invention born out of necessity. Their voices weren't being heard. Now they can not be drowned out. The left-leaning press tried to marginalize them as gun toting, bible thumping right-wing kooks. But that didn't work. They tried to tie them to radical agendas like... the Constitution. The press looked weak and hateful and the party partied on.

What's next

The real question is, what happens now? Clearly the party is a force to be reckoned with. As the next few months pass, questions will arise as to exactly what is the near and far future of the movement. Will they attempt to field candidates under the Tea Party banner? Is a third party in the offing? What would be the effect of a Third party?
Currently, I don't think that the Tea Party is seriously considering itself as a third party option. Not yet. I believe that option would doom Conservative Republican candidates and end up strengthening Democrats as votes are siphoned off to the Tea Party candidate. A clear case of that "cutting off your nose to spite your face" thing. The fact is that the Tea Party is actually stronger without fielding their own candidates. They can use their growing influence to screen Republican candidates and nominate true ideological Conservatives who will govern within the limits of the Constitution. Although many members will tell you that they are as equally upset with Republicans who have lost their way as Democrats who never knew the way - they must know that true change will happen under the Republican banner. Steering the party to the right will be where their influence takes effect.
A message of fiscal restraint, strong national defense, limited government, individual and states' rights have been a powerful message before. It launched our nation. But somewhere along the line special interests and corruption have made us weak and debt ridden. We are at a crossroads where the decision to expand the role of a failed progressive ideology or return to a limited role for government must be made. Clearly, one ideology or the other is failed. And clearly the Tea Party has made it's decision which one it is. So have I. I fly the Gadsden from my front door and the decal on my car. I usually drink coffee. But I think I could learn to like tea.