Although there are "brick and mortar" Tea Party groups out there, IMO most T.P.ers are under the radar as far as being analyzed and counted. Those big gatherings in DC and elsewhere prior to Obamacare might have represented 10% or fewer of Tea Partiers due to distance or schedule. No one, including the NYT, can know the strength of this movement.
My guess is that those POed folks haven't gone anywhere, but are biding their time (as someone said upthread) waiting to vote in November.
Yes. It’s like the NYT is saying The Tide Has Gone Out; Ocean Not As Strong As This Morning.