The Tea Party is a conservative movement that began in 2009 to
protest government taxation and spending policies. It is
disputed which was the first Tea Party protest, but the first
official organizations were created after CNBC reporter Rick
Santelli went on a rant against the government plan to refinance
mortgages and suggested holding tea parties to dump derivatives
into the Chicago River. It now has a caucus in the House and the
Senate, although it doesn't have any official leaders. It is
rather a loose affiliation of local groups and calls itself
grassroots, although many accuse it of astroturfing with
donations from powerful conservative backers like the Koch
brothers. Some notable names involved with the movement include
Sarah Palin, Dick Armey, Michelle Malkin, Jim DeMint, Ron Paul,
and Michele Bachmann. What's the significance? The Tea Party
favors reduced government influence in almost all arenas. Its
adherents oppose taxation and support reducing the national debt
and the federal deficit, reducing