The party's over...

Four months after first opening its doors at 4512 Hampton Avenue, the headquarters of the St. Louis Tea Party is no longer. The Riverfront Times has more on this story.

In other news, three newly elected senators, who were elected under the tea party banner, elected not to join the Tea Party Caucus.

From the Washington Post

The decisions of Johnson and Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.) not to join the Tea Party Caucus underscore the fissures within the Republican Party as it seeks to build an effective governing coalition in Washington while satisfying an emboldened conservative base outside the Beltway. And for the tea party, the new Congress presents a test of whether the movement's activist momentum can continue within the rhythms and business of governing.

Locally, and all politics is local, local Congressman Billy (I was tea party when tea party wasn't cool)Long's tea party bonefides are wearing thin. Remember when he or his office turned in a list of names to Greene County Sheriff Arnott as being "worrisome to Long"? It gets better.

Long, who refused to confirm that he has a conceal and carry permit and whether or not he pack heat, is a newly appointed member of the House Homeland Security Committee.

He, and several others members of that committee(Blake* included) are co-sponsoring a bill that expands the current bill -- "If you see something, say something".

Remember it was Long who gave the names of bloggers who wrote posts critical of him were to law enforcement officials.

It seems that in Billy Long's world not agreeing with him is "suspicious activity" and needs to be investigated by the F.B.I.

Where's Billy today? He and 56 other representatives are at Heritage Foundation Conservative Members Retreat.

Oh, he seems amusing.

*I do not believe that Blake Farenthold and Billy Long are related other than by political ideology.