Tea Party Resents Being Called Hobbits

As the tea party called for a default, McCain was one of the few moderate republican voices during the debt debacle:

U.S. Sen. John McCain's town-hall meeting Monday in Gilbert broke down into a shouting match at times as "tea-party" activists directed their anger and frustration toward the senator over issues ranging from his characterization of them as "hobbits" to the nation's sagging economy.

At one point during McCain's first town hall since last fall, a heated verbal exchange between two men prompted the senator to call for "a modicum of courtesy" and sent town officials scurrying for more security.

"If you are not courteous to your fellow citizens here, we're going to have to ask you to leave," McCain told a crowd about 75 boisterous constituents. Read more

A CNN poll. Aug. 5-7, offers a glimmer of hope. The democratic party received 47% unfavorable rating; republican party, 59% and tea party, 51%.
On the favorable numbers:  Dems, 47%; GOP, 33%; Tea party, 30%
And as of right now, Obama beats all of the republican candidates in general election matchup polling, according to RCP. Who would've thunk? Not me. I though Obama was done for.
And according to this WaPo poll, people are blaming the appropriate contingent -- the tea party.