Say what you want about the Tea Party, but they have been smart. Those who align themselves with the Tea Party can be proud of that. Locally, they went into the Republican Party meetings, filled the place with supporters, and systematically took over the GOP; nationally. Yes, they developed a plan, then carried it out with perfection (or almost). Then, they set up candidates to run for office, and got them elected.

The GOP office holders looked at all of this and made the decision to go along with the Tea Party. I believe that was a mistake.

I have talked with local Tea Party and national Tea Party members. I get about the same answers from all of them. Basically, they tell me the Tea Party wants to bring back the policies that our founders had intended. I find that amusing. Our founding father's owned slaves, and women were denied the right to vote. We still have a Constitution, and a Bill of Rights. If they and the rest of Congress would just follow those documents, we would still be what they want us to be.

Yes, I am a Republican. I am central conservative. However. all I see from the Tea Party is "it's our way or the highway". I believe in compromise. They refuse to compromise if there is a D before the other office holder's name. I am from a party of inclusion who welcomes everyone that can bring something to the table, not excluding other parties, race, religion, or bank account. I am a Republican who will reach out to shake hands with someone and tell them they have done a good job regardless of party.

I am going to offend a lot of Tea Party members with this. However, I do not view you as a political party. I look at you more as wanting to be dictators. You want to make all of the decisions, hold all the offices, and give people what you want them to have and nothing else. You want to take away from those who need it most. You refuse to even talk about ideas from a Democrat, and most times those who consider themselves REAL Republicans.

Yes, the way the Tea party did things was very smart. Can you imagine what could happen if those who "occupied Wall Street" really did organize, try to take over a political party, then get their candidates elected? It would be more productive than just CAMPING OUT.

We can like or dislike any party we want. We can complain about how bad things are. But, most never get the real facts. They do not educate themselves on the issues. They watch a certain news organization, or listen to some nut on the radio. That's how they decide who to vote for. What is happening now is our fault. It's easy to sit back and blame Washington or Nashville. However, we keep sending the same ones to represent us. I personally believe term limits would take care of that.

OK, until the GOP decides to take back and take control of their party, the Tea Party is here to stay. I just wish they would stop calling themselves Republicans.