The way for the Tea Party movement to both retain its independence, and to hold the feet of the GOP leadership to the fire, is to clearly become “A national movement at the State level”.
The basic problem is that neither political party, nor the national government itself, can fix our broken national government. It must be done in an orderly process by the individual States.
It is a constitutional process, and a legal process, and a conservative process, whose function is *not* revolution, but restoration of a functional national government.
It is a constitutional convention.
Called by 2/3rds (34) of the individual States, the bar is set high enough so that it can only happen in times of great need, such as America facing an economic collapse, with unimaginable debt, and a national government incapable of correcting itself, or doing what is necessary to restore solvency and order.
And the bar is even higher for any changes to be made. 3/4ths (38) of the individual States must agree to any changes, for them to be made law.
This is not a “people’s movement”, though the people would surely support it. This is to restore the balance between the national government, the individual States, and the people. So it is the duty and the obligation of the individual States to act, when they must do so.
So that while the Tea Party is protesting the actions of the national government, in truth its message should be directed at the State legislatures. They must be made aware that they may soon be called on to resolve that a constitutional convention must be held.
34 of the State legislatures of the individual States must agree to this. And they must be given strong incentive to do so.
The Tea Party must explain to them how even before a convention is agreed to, the individual States must confer among themselves. They must reach agreement ahead of time, as to how to restore the national government to order.
It cannot be done with a single constitutional amendment. And there is a large and growing list of possible changes that must be debated, so that our national government will return to order and balance.
(Please copy, save and distribute this list)
Among possible changes that should be debated is:
1) Repeal of the 16th (Income Tax) and 17th (Direct Election of US Senators).
2) New Amendments. While not all are feasible, these need to be considered as baselines for discussion:
Flat Income Tax;
Balanced budget;
Presidential Line Item Veto;
Corporate Civil Rights Distinct From The Civil Rights Of Living Persons; Oligopoly Antitrust;
Presidential War Powers and Posse Comitatus; Limitations on Presidential Authority To Declare Martial Law
Presidential Authority Only Through Cabinet Officers, Appointment and Impeachment of Cabinet Officers; A Writ of Mandamus Amendment; Term Limits for Recess Appointments;
Congressional Approval of Bureaucratic Regulatory Authority;
Creation of a State Appointed Constitutional Review Court, 50 Judges To Sit As a Permanent Nullification Court; Reorganization of Federal Judiciary
Amendment for the Reduction of the Size and Authority of the Federal Government and Enabling Acts;
Restoration of State Lands from Federal Takings; Limitations of Eminent Domain;
Congressional and Judicial Term Limits;
Limitations of Federal Intelligence and Police Authority;
Renunciation of the National Debt; Abolition of the FED;
Prohibition of Federal Largess to Individuals; Restrictions on Earmarks;
Abolition of Government Employee Unions.
You forgot the de-federalization of education.
You are absolutely correct. State level action is the best way to proceed. (Some states better than others).
Consider adding a repeal of the interstate commerce clause and a clause prohibiting the Federal government from restricting or requiring personal economic and commercial transactions to you excellent list.