



Most worrisome for Republicans is that these possibilities might merge and give rise to an independent presidential challenger. The Tea Party's march on Washington may have stalled for now. But that doesn't mean that it won't reconnoiter and try again.



Joshua Green writes a weekly political column for the Boston Globe.





It's important to note that the Tea Party itself -- its ethos, principles, and many committed activists -- has not disappeared, and shows little sign of doing so. Rather, it has simply been impeded by a political reality that many of its members angrily reject. One possibility is that the movement could channel its frustration into the presidential primaries. Another is that it could abandon the Republican Party. A new Gallup poll shows that 60 percent of Tea Party members would like to see a third party compete with Democrats and Republicans.