The way to lessen the grip of the Tea Party on the electoral process would be to do what a handful have done and have a primary where all voters, members of every party, can vote, and the top two vote-getters then enter a runoff.

The Tea Party is a rear guard, not a vanguard.

The Tea Party people are ideologues. They are right, and no one can change their minds. There is no reason for compromise.

The NAACP believes the Tea Party is racist. The Tea Party believes the NAACP is racist.

A Tea Party tidal wave is coming.

The Tea Party

I had a little tea party
This afternoon at three.
'Twas very small-
Three guest in all-
Just I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,
While I drank up the tea;
'Twas also I who ate the pie
And passed the cake to me. Jessica Nelson North