The Tea Party may have started with people who believe in smaller government and lower taxes, but they have splintered into factions already. There are some who have inserted religious beliefs into their platform. Some are merely Republicans by another name. There are Tea Party organizations supporting big government Republicans over small government Independents. This is why I say there are no uniting core beliefs. I would need to do some more research, but I do not know of anyone running as the Tea Party. There is a political movement, yes. The Green party and Libertarian party would be examples of movements that became parties. Trying to explain myself while accessing the forums on my nonsmart phone is not easy. I will reply as I can.
Your phone may be insufficiently smart for easy posting, Zorag, but I think you hit the nail on the head here.
On threads like this I'm always scared I'm going to say the wrong thing that'll send the discussion spiraling towards incivility. I don't want to do that. I'm genuinely interested in the discussion. And I know that no one on this board lies awake at night thinking, "I wonder what Boggled Coriander thinks of Barack Obama?"
At least, I hope not. That would be creepy.
So I'll just say that, like wakela, I'm an American living abroad, and I will be blissfully away from the States for the 2010 elections. I follow the American news, but I feel like I'm getting only bits and pieces of the prevailing mood. Interested to hear how this discussion evolves.