By 2012 The Tea Party Caucus was dead? Are they back now?
Back in time for the 2014 elections?
Sorry for bringing up old info, but I thought the Tea Party caucus was a real, functioning caucus with around 60 Republican Reps, which held meetings and pushed a publicly unified agenda.
Now I see that by 2012 they were too scared to meet. That since 2010, 10 members have been voted out of office. Also in April 2013, Michelle Bachmann was begging caucus members to join her for drinks to restart the caucus. "The Tea Party Caucus is Dead and That's OK" http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/03/20/the_tea_party_caucus_is_dead_and_that_s_okay.html
I ask if this shutdown was part of bringing back the group? If so, I don't think the shutdown was a great recruiting tool. Still, it would be nice to have them out in the open, as opposed to a secret society hiding behind Ted Cruz. "Say it loud, Tea Party and Proud!" Get behind Palin, Cruz and Mike Lee, they have a plan to more and more victories like the shutdown.
Once again I thank the DU poster for the following list of Tea Party associates. I will keep it handy. I see Senator Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania on the list. He is trying to move away from the radical Tea Party, hope that is a trend so we can identify the real Tea Party caucus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_politicians_affiliated_with_the_Tea_Party_movement