Like Eri said in another thread, many of the "traditional" conservative values are not necessarily offensive to those who don't call themselves conservative. Fiscal responsibility, smaller and decentralized government...I can get behind those things as long as they are instituted for the good of the country rather than simply because they align with an ideology.

I consider the Tea Party as it is now an interesting and potentially beneficial organization, but I have grave concerns about its ability to remain so. As it gains influence, the far right will be unable to keep their hands (and agenda) off. The pressure to adopt a very conservative stance on social issues will grow rapidly.

I also have to admit I have some doubts about the sincerity of the claims that the Tea Party isn't interested in social matters, such as gay marriage and abortion. My concern is this: perhaps they simply don't want to "muddy the waters" with those issues at this time, knowing that by doing so they may alienate moderates. So they build an empire on omissions, then whallop America with their real plans. I'm not saying it's so, just that I have some suspicions. Be thrilled if they proved me wrong.