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I would definitely not call it a "victory." However, I do think the Tea Party was successful in changing the focus onto "it's the spending, stupid." With the Harry Reid Senate and Obama Presidency I did not expect a different outcome. On to 2012 when I hope a true fiscal conservative President and majority in the House and Senate will bring sanity to the budget process.

I remain hopeful because I remember how long it took Reagan to change the thinking in the Cold War. Appeasement, Mutually Assured Destruction and moral equivalence between the East and the West were the thinking when he took office. To actually speak of "winning" the Cold War was considered lunacy. It didn't happen until after he left office, but there is no doubt who finally won the Cold War because he was actually willing to fight the fight.

To speak of limiting the growth of government and entitlements is what is today considered lunacy and impossible. Reagan understood that winning the hearts and minds first was necessary to win legislatively. The Tea Party has been successful in getting the country to understand that the size and scope of the federal government is unsustainable. George W. Bush attempted to take on Social Security and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac but retreated when he met resistance. We just now need a new Reagan who is willing to actually fight the fight.