Tea party movement

What do you think of its prospect in being a serious contender to the republican party?

What this country needs more than anything is a viable third party, but the tea party is not it.  They're just an astroturf republican attack group.

Groups like this cause people on both sides to solidify their positions, and ensure that what little creative thinking happens in the political arena is directed at finding new ways to sell old ideas, rather than coming up with new ideas.