Like most other groups, the Tea Party people are diverse, spanning from the ultra-conservatives to the slightly more moderate. Unfortunately, the ultra-conservatives tend to be more vocal, more colorful, more insane, and thus more noticed. They get the press coverage and thereby taint the Tea Party, and the Republican Party, with their bizarre platforms. To my mind, the only hope the Republicans have to retain any credibility is to separate themselves from these whackos, before it's too late.