Tea Party? Liberty Caucus? What?
Duane Rasmussen and I have this ongoing disagreement re: what constitutes the tea party. He says that the tea party folded in Kootenai County when Phil and Leslie Damiano ended their Tea Party Patriots of North Idaho organization after being targeted by the IRS. I say that "Tea Party" is a generic title for the uber-conservative wing of the Republican Party that features former Libertarians, Constitutionalists, John Birch Society members, etc. He says my description describes the Idaho Republican Liberty Caucus, in which controversial former state legislator Phil Hart (pictured) serves as vice chairman. But I say that Liberty Caucus doesn't mean much to individuals beyond those who are battling for control of the Idaho Republican Party. Should we call uber-conservatives in Kootenai County "Phil Hart Republicans"? What do you say?