... If an election was held between a Tea-Party-perfect candidate running as "X" (say, Libertarian, or Beer Party, or whatevere) and a Republican candidate who voted for TARP (and no Democrat on the ballot), I can confidently predict that an overwhelming majority of Tea Party affiliated voters would vote AGAINST that Republican.

@DA. - That's what you don't seem to get (about them or, if you read my profile, about me). They are not "affiliated" with Republican party. They are simply pragmatically choosing which party to support based on tactical goals, which are anti-DNC....

There's a difference between being "affiliated" and "choosing the most tactically sound choice" (or a lesser of two evils)

I get that you all in the Tea Party have some desire to not be seen as Republican. Fine by me. But that doesn't change the reality of the current situation: every tea party affiliated politician is a republican. You can SAY you're not affiliated with the Republican party, but the world pretty much sees it that way.

Let me ask this: is it the word 'affiliated' you two have issues with? Would another phrase be more applicable? Associated with? Caucused with? I don't think 'aligned with' is quite right, as there are clear differences. But the reality is that most Tea Party members associate themselves with the Republican party and all candidates have been republican. So there's a consistent and identifiable connection there.