Is this the moment the "Tea Party Movement" will transition into "The Tea Party?" The Democrat strategy was to deligitamize mainstream Republicans by tying them to the Tea Party Movement. But in a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC poll, the Tea Party Movement had a higher favorable rating then either major party. What it lacks is a leader. Is Sarah Palin that leader? And if she is, what does it mean for the Republicans in 2010, for Sarah Palin in 2012 and the Tea Party movement in those years and beyond? I have no answers to these questions, but if Palin does become the true leader of this movement, how the Republican party reacts will be key to its long-term viability. At this moment it appears you could describe the two "parties" if you will this way:

Republican Party: The blue blood party

Tea Party: The blue collar party. This is why the elitists running the GOP hate the Tea Party movement almost as much as liberals do. If Democrats continue to underestimate this movement and Republicans embrace it, a conservative resurgence could be at hand. If Republicans reject the Tea Party Movement, you may see a third party to the right of the Republican party, and goodness knows how that plays out.