The NYTimes has done a really solid reporting and profile of the Tea party. based on a joint poll with CBS News and extensive interviews the story and follow up discussion shed enormous light on the nature of Tea Party supporters and their sometimes contradictory demands. Here is why NYTimes did the poll:
The Tea Party movement burst onto the scene a year ago in protest of the economic stimulus package, and its supporters have vowed to purge the Republican Party of officials they consider not sufficiently conservative and to block the Democratic agenda on the economy, the environment and health care. But the demographics and attitudes of those in the movement have been known largely anecdotally. The Times/CBS poll offers a detailed look at the profile and attitudes of those supporters.
This is must read material because it not only gets at the heart of the Tea Party Movement but also has some solid analysis as well.