Thanks.

When I have heard the basic desires of the Tea Party, as described above, it all seems clear to me and makes sense. But, perhaps polls are supposed to tell us what to think(?)

abaco, here is the entire poll with the questions. They say random sample nationwide of 1580 persons by phone both landline and cell.
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/poll_t...

it goes to show that people who self identify with tea party also have no idea what the main goals are. The fact that only 6% of respondents cited lowering taxes is an alarm bell for me. Here is the wording on the tea party patriots (national) website:
"OUR CORE PRINCIPLES

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY means not overspending, and not burdening our children and grandchildren with our bills. In the words of Thomas Jefferson: “the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity [is] swindling futurity on a large scale.” A more fiscally responsible government will take fewer taxes from our paychecks.

CONSTITUTIONALLY LIMITED GOVERNMENT means power resides with the people and not with the government. Governing should be done at the most local level possible where it can be held accountable. America’s founders believed that government power should be limited, enumerated, and constrained by our Constitution. Tea Party Patriots agree. The American people make this country great, not our government.

FREE MARKET ECONOMICS made America an economic superpower that for at least two centuries provided subsequent generations of Americans more opportunities and higher standards of living. An erosion of our free markets through government intervention is at the heart of America’s current economic decline, stagnating jobs, and spiraling debt and deficits. Failures in government programs and government-controlled financial markets helped spark the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Further government interventions and takeovers have made this Great Recession longer and deeper. A renewed focus on free markets will lead to a more vibrant economy creating jobs and higher standards of living for future generations."

I noticed that, and was surprised by it too. Sounds like a mainstream, beltway GOP group. Nothing special there...

I understand that statists and establishment republicans feel a need to define the Tea Party. But they miss the point that there is no 'the Tea Party.'

There is simply disappointment and anger at what our government has become and the arrogance of the political and bureaucratic class. Poll questions are simply going to run up against that wall and the nuances aren't going to get around it.

I think we're witnessing a sea change in the expressed attitudes of the American populace. I think it began under Reagan, but Tea Partiers have finally realized that just sitting back and waiting on another to appear isn't going to work and that those with the so-called conservative label have used them and lied in order to get their votes, but basically don't support what America is really about.

It's not 'the' Tea Party those elitist need to fear, it's the combination of those with Libertarians, Constitutionalist, and right leaning Independents that is revolting against the status quo and the loss of America.

Although the ACA is ahuge reason for turn out, the fact there is a rally or event every April 15 should be an indicator of the group 's focus. As for the % who identify yet not or have never attended, their impression is skewed to the portrayals the media hype. I think Fox News does a pretty good job of representing those organizations which are loosey goosey since conservatives and libertarians tend to clash on several issues but one thing they share in common is more knowledge about the Constitution than the average person. A point of contention is always Ron Paul because libertarians see him as presidential and conservatives can 't stand his foreign policy stance. So the % above are probably accurate on Paul. Around 30% or a third of the signs tables at events are libertarian issue driven. The only other issue not polled above that I find glaringly omited is the Constitution erosion perceived by all those attending. It is definitely part of the anger.

Again I point to the liberal paper which conducted the survey and the regional sample. Any event I attended the majority opposed spending under Bush but preferred Bush to Obama, did not support the dismantling of social Security (the average age of attendence was 50 plus, very articulate as to why they did not support Obana - I wonder how the questions were framed. Taxation was the top issue followed by healthcare.

Hence my remark in another thread that you missed the gist of--“If it weren’t for the ACA, the Tea Party would go the way of the Whigs.”

In other words--if it weren’t for the ACA, the Tea Party would fade into the annals of history, (like the Whigs did.)

The Tea Party isn’t a cohesive party as far as having a well-defined platform that all Tea-Partiers would gather around. When Congress passed the ACA, many people felt the government had taken a step too far and want something to believe in that will stop the government from further intruding into our everyday life.
The many factions of the Tea party fall under a large umbrella that wants to stop the projection of the “Life of Julia" by government.

It was a national poll. NYC has 8 million people in it. Some may be brain dead, but they apparently were a small segment of this poll.

The statistical data are supplied at the source and the sources are cited.

Your offense at the facts is difficult to understand. My "notion" was fronted by a warning that teasing out the "typical" supporter is difficult, but, "it seems...." Perhaps, you can find some other seeming conclusions. My own surmise was based on the aggregate of majority opinions that contradict each other, such as having no reason for opposing President Obama, except "not liking" him yet believing that he is "increasing socialism" which means "more control and regulation" but does not mean "running businesses."

Generally, it shows an ad hoc, non-conceptual reaction driven by Fox News. That none actually contributes money or actually attends meetings indicates a large population of television viewers whom Washington can ignore. That said, as I indicated above, providing them with a consistent philosophy may give them the intellectual courage that they seem to need.

The regions are shown but it is a national sample, statistically valid. See the posts. Also, you can follow the links as given or find them.

I'm going to commission a poll about the brilliance of new yorkers -from outside New York-
welcome to fly over world

I am happy to go take a poll in NYC any day of the week. brain dead will arise to the top of the pile...I have no doubt

sample and regional location. I am offended at the notion of how you frame the "Typical" supporter

sample....what region....we don't know that

I am suspicious of the sample-regionally and and other criteria....source...

"Atlas Shrugged" might be the potential for radical change in tapping their discontent to open them up to a consistent framework of explanation. I was shocked by their approval of President Bush. Overall, it is difficult - perhaps conceptually impossible - to construct the "typical" supporter, but they seem largely non-conceptual and driven by mass media.

Here is the CBS news link:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tea-party-su...

Here is the New York Times link
http://documents.nytimes.com/new-york-ti...