ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Is the tea party the new Republican Party?

The grassroots network of fed-up conservative-libertarian voters displayed its power in its biggest triumph of the election year: the toppling of Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska’s GOP primary. Political novice Joe Miller is the fifth tea party insurgent to win a GOP Senate nominating contest, an upset that few, if any, saw coming.

With the stunning outcome, the fledgling tea party coalition and voters who identify with its anti-tax, anti-spending sentiments proved that democracy is alive and well — within the Republican Party. Don’t like who is representing you? Rise up, fire them and choose someone new.

The tea party has taken hold in the Grand Old Party, unseating lawmakers, capturing nominations for open seats and forcing Republicans to recalibrate both their campaign strategy and issues agenda. Out is talk of delivering federal dollars back home; in is talk of fiscal discipline.

Within minutes of Murkowski conceding late Tuesday night, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., was among the conservative Republicans cheering Miller.

Taking a shot at Murkowski if not the entire Republican establishment, he added: “Joe Miller’s victory should be a wake-up call to politicians who go to Washington to bring home the bacon. Voters are saying ‘We’re not willing to bankrupt the country to benefit ourselves.’ ”

Continues @ LubbockOnline.com

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Certainly the Tea Party seems to have taken over the GOP from the far right. That's the voice that is MOST prominent and predominant voice in the Tea Party.  Reinforcement from the far right leaders from within the GOP such as DeMint further envigorates the Right-wing Tea Party-ers.

Tells me I did good in staying on my guard in not wading into the Tea Party waters. It was NEVER meant to be bipartisan. It had too much extreme voice to moderate the force.  Then again, it may have been a deliberate move by the GOP to take over the dissenting voices... but the energy seems to have swung them to the far right altogther.  NOT A GOOD SITUATION for GOP, nor for the country in a two-party system!