NEW YORK — The Tea Party might not be over, but it is increasingly clear that the election last month significantly weakened the once-surging movement, which nearly captured control of the Republican Party through a potent combination of populism and fury.
Leading congressional Republicans, though they remain far apart from President Obama, have embraced raising tax revenues in budget negotiations, repudiating a central tenet of the Tea Party.
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The sad thing about the tea party is they claim to help the middle class but instead have helped the rich, at the expense of the middle class.
“I think the Tea Party movement is to the Republicans in 2013 what the McGovernites were to the Democrats in 1971 and 1972,” said Don Gaetz, a Republican who is president of the Florida Senate. “They will cost Republicans seats in Congress and in state legislatures. But they will also help Republicans win seats.” Quite a bold observation there, Mr. Gaetz.
Radical movements usually fizzle out. Leaderless movements, or those with poor leadership, fizzle out sooner. It doesn't much matter which side of the political spectrum. The occupy movement fizzled quickly and elected not a single candidate, even though much of the public were sympathizers.