If...

[Dr.Traveler]

As for the TEA party; I think it will break off into it's own incarnation either at the behest of the GOP or because of the GOP. At some point, governing is all about compromise and the TEA party is about no compromise. It's unsustainable as a legitimate force.

The GOP had better think long and hard about hitching it's wagon to that diseased horse.

The TEA party is what I'm going to be very much watching for when this all plays out. The GOP successfully used them to pick up House control in 2010, and has tried to run away from them ever since with the theory that they, like the Religious Right, will stay where they're told to stay.

If (honestly When) Romney loses, there's going to be a hell of a lot of "I Told You So's" coming from the TEA party wing. I think the Obama win in 2008 pushed the GOP towards the fringe, I can't see an Obama win in 2012 doing anything else.