Umm Tea Party and rationality do not go together.
They are pretty much a fear driven reactionary bunch of right wingers deluding themselves.
Deluding themselves about what? You really think they're irrational? Like how?
Dunno what a reactionary is, but no doubt you meant it as a compliment.
What I see is a bunch of ordinary folks who are a little worried about the direction the country is going in and have the gumption to speak up about it. What's so bad about that.