And from the Santelli CNBC rant that I thought launched the term. I think "Tea Party" once had a distinctive meaning - people who think the federal government spends far too much money doing far too many things - but now just seems to mean "movement conservative." But if others know better I am happy to be corrected.
Many FReepers were calling for a second “tea party” when TARP was first proposed in 2008. Some have claimed it started with the last Republican Congress. Santelli in 2009, picked up on what was stirring over the previous months and provided an eloquent national event.
That’s my understanding as well. The TEA Party had an impact because its focus was narrow; it focused on taxing and spending and didn’t take a position on social issues.