We've all seen the anti-Obama signs at the Townhalls this year, so there's no doubt about the racist under pinnings of their movement. But if you are wondering what the tea party's ideological underpinnings are, I think these signs give you some idea:
It's Glenn Beck meets Ayn Rand meets Dick Cheney meets Ron Paul. In other words, it's typical wingnut gibberish. But it sure makes for some clever slogans.
h/t to TPM for pics
Update:This seems to be a big part of their "philosophy" too::
The local Tea Party and a group called the Second Amendment Task Force (2ATF, a reference to the ATF, which enforces gun laws) encouraged people to bring guns to the event in Alamogordo, NM, in order to “put a positive light on gun ownership,” said 2ATF’s founder Dan Woodruff. While the two protests were technically separate, they were planned together for the same day in adjacent locations. Otero Tea Party Patriots coordinator Don Omey said he was “proud” of the gun-toters. “That’s what we need to turn some minds around,” Omey said. Under New Mexico law, it’s legal for anyone over the age of 19 to open-carry a holstered firearm in most public places.
And while there was no violence during the event, one protestor wearing a Tea Party shirt said his loaded gun was a “very open threat” to anyone who might “try to take over the country completely as a socialist communist [state].” The New Mexico Independent attended the protest and put together a report on the event.
There you go. Update II: Meanwhile, the Democrats, in their perennial quixotic quest to become the Southern party again, are going to be looking for more guys like this so they can prove their "Big Tent" bonafides. No matter how far over the cliff the Republicans go, the Democratic leadership will just keep chasing them.
Update III: Oh Jesus. And these are the top people.