So what? some Democrats have sniffed, rather derisively. When you have Fox News and talk radio and conservative Web sites promoting an event, of course people will turn out. These Tea Partiers who protest taxes don’t seem to understand that taxes for the vast majority of the public will go down if President Obama gets his way, other Democrats added. This is a mistake Democrats often make, countering an emotional argument with a process-based response. The fact is that a certain segment of the public was fed up enough last Wednesday to skip lunch, leave work early or have dinner late so they could cheer speakers, shake fists or wave signs in protest. But the real question for Republicans is: Protest what?/Jim Camden, SR Spin Control. More here.

Question: We've been focused on the impact of the Tea Parties last week on a national level. Jim Camden brings up an interesting point. The Tea Parties were relatively well attended in the Inland Northwest. Will they have an impact on local and state politics?