If Republicans can't be bothered to turn up to their own tea parties, why should anyone else?

You are correct about one thing, the TEA party is not republican or democrat, but it is not a third party either. So taking that into consideration, there is not actual "TEA party" candidates to vote for in 2010 or 2012. There are merely candidates that are endorsed by the TEA party.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.