The GOP and The Tea Party Crowd are not the same thing [View All]

Let's be clear about this the Tea Party Activists are not part of the GOP. There is considerable debate as to who is in control of the conservative constellation in general, but the bottom line is that the traditional Republican party coalition is being split as to who they have allegiance to and both the Tea Party folks and the Traditional Republican leadership have at best a love-hate relationship. It seems doubtful to me that they will will ever meld.

The big challenge for the Tea Party movement is figuring out a way to institutionalize organizations and fundraising when what we are really talking about 250 ego-driven fiefdoms. The Challenge for the GOP is to hold the Libertarians and Fiscal Conservatives in their coalition. Thus far the NeoCons and Fundies are still part of the base but the Fundies are tired of being lied to, its leadership is dying off and the Tea Party movement, because it is largely libertarian has yet to embrace them and from what I read probably won't.

This graphic is a work in progress,