It is important to know the difference between the objectives of the Tea Party and the Populist movement. Both are going on in this country right now. We hear the Tp'rs rant about reducing or doing away with "big"government--except when they need it, which coincides with the efforts of the wealthy and corporations. Tp'rs don't name which big government--federal, state or local or what departments and services in those governments that they want to eliminate--nor do corporations and the wealthy elite. So none of those really have constructive plans which aspire to creating a prosperous people that legislators can respond to for the good of all.

The Populist movement's goals are to ensure that government works for everyone-not just corporations or the 1% of the American families who own 90% of the country's wealth now. These movements have a long history of success. Armey's creation of Tp'rs do not.

If readers will google Populism to check its history in the 1800's, they will find those movements originated in the rural areas of this country (as some do now) and were succesful in creating farm granges, farm cooperatives (locally like Blue Diamond), community banks and other legislation to take control away from corporations and the country's wealthiest. The country benefits from these yet today.

Readers will also learn early presidents and other leaders worried that our government would be taken over by an elite few monied interests as is happening today. Armey or his Tp'rs do not state their opposition to that. See the following quotes:

"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country." Thomas Jefferson

“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong it's reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” Abraham Lincoln

Beware Tper's that you are not being used to advance corporate and the economic elite's goals.

I don't have any problem with the Tea Party Patriots (I'm a conservative and I frankly support their movement as I support all individual freedom and political movements), nor do I believe (as the other commenters are insinuating) that it is a 'white' group.
However, this is a poorly written article. Thumbs down, sorry.

The "Tea Party" emerged out of a grass roots movement - it was a great idea - for a few weeks - the movement was almost immediately co-opted by the GOP - for two reasons, they feared not being able to control the movement and they wanted to mislead those supporting the movement into voting for neo-conservative Republicans.

Despite the TP's vocal rejection of this notion, it is a fact. The GOP also funds much of their activities and rally's indirectly or directly.

The people who started the Nor-Cal Tea Party appear also to have a financial motive more than any civic motive.

This country needs a revolution, but voting for a Democrat or a Republican in not revolutionary it is big business as usual.

Let's face it; the Tea Party is a straw man for those who want to organize something "legitimate" to face their fears of the Obama administration. Sure, they've managed to trick a few people of color into their ranks by whatever means to add to their legitimacy, but when their real leadership is easily exposed to be made up of the Palins, the Armeys', and the other fringe GOPers who find themselves without a true national leader, and the corporate interests who are backing them financially, the tea bags will burst under their own dead weight...just another anti-progressive lobbyist group. Every Tea Bagger I've had the misfortune of talking with, numbering in the lower teens, has had a deep-seeded fear and loathing of - gasp - our first Black President. Don't kid yourselves: Palin is about as "grass roots" as a Chia Pet is an organic garden. Go back to Adak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S38VioxnBaI

Great Teaparty link above shows you some signs that you will not see on TV.
I do hope that many see this party for what it is. Their is no strong tea party movement in Sacramento. Most of the individuals that you seen the other day are properly organized volunteers from the caravan that you seen during the election,outside the county.

As to the link posted above, an example included of signs damaging to the Tea Party is one reading: “God bless Glenn Beck”. Other unfortunate signs may have been staged by the opposition.

Infiltrators of the Tea Party have become a nuisance at events. The organizers are becoming more affective at exposing them. The obvious ones are carrying signs not appropriate for civil discourse. The opposition had no problem with such offense pointed at the previous administration.

Picking out a few signs, among one hundred thousand, as emblematic of the Tea Party is unfair.

Have a few TPP zealots gone over the top with their message? Yes, and other event attendees attempt to dissuade them, but the movement is open to all nonviolent individuals who show up.

People who speak / write as if they know about the internal financing of the vary fragmented TPP groups are simply wrong. How could they possibly have such insider information, from some opposition website?

Elites (from left and right) have always controlled every civilization. Elite's corruption is enhanced by further centralizing command. The distinction of the USA is the large middle-class; we must work to protect and grow the average person's lot in life.

Many people who routinely denounce the Tea Party movement have never attended. Please actually show up at the next event to witness for yourself.

This notion that "Elitists" are somehow ground-zero for all of our problems is, in my mind, suspicious, at best. Double-ya proved this in spades. Frankly, I'm GLAD that we have a true "Elitist" in the White House now.
There are political, economic, social and intellectual elitists. To use such a general terminology as a derogatory seems, at best, to be disingenuous!
As one American, I am grateful that we have a President who is able to conjucate verbs and use complete sentences.
We don't need the Tea Party to portray him as an "anti-christ" or something equally as silly to undermine his efforts.
He was elected...by those Americans, including those of us who are white, middle class, and pissed off at the far left as anyone. Deal with it.

Elites by definition are a vary small minority. I abstain from a discussion with someone who is in favor of the elites having any more control than necessary to run our Constitutional Republic.

As to the donation of financial support by Armey, I tell you none of those funds reached any of the groups I have personal knowledge of. The “NorCal TeaParty Patriots” take NO funds from the GOP.

Please explain how your “Populists” activities are financed.

The internet reports George Soros is funding those groups; in secret behind the curtain.