Yes and no. Dramatic, acute change is often a case of “say Hello to the new boss, same as the old boss”, due to institutional rigidity. But institutional change, far less flashy, can have much more powerful consequences in the mid to long term.
Citing the Tea Party, for example, while it has not yet struck at the highest levels of the Republican party, it has taken out several major RINO obstacles to reform. These obstacles were always willing to join with liberals against conservatism, undermining and thwarting their policies from being enacted. They held a death grip on the Republican leadership.
Eroding them will finally permit conservative ascension in the Republican party, and eventually an option other than liberal Democrat or RINO control over the government. And when that happens, much of the national government Tower of Babel will be collapsed.
The resultant jump in efficiency in the US economy and industry will be extraordinary.
It is happening from a decentralized organization for the simple reason that any hierarchical organization that would try would be crushed. And while the current regime hates and fears the Tea Party, it is extremely hard to attack in any way other than name calling. And even that slides off because there is no ‘face’ to condemn.
What's going on in the UK with the abandonment of the squishy Tories for UKIP is giving me a little more hope, though.