has the tea party been sufficiently effective as to own some part of the US economy?

The "party" is actually a movement. There is no National TEA Party. They are out to lower taxes and reduce the intrusive government in their lives. They ( and it's really a collections of "they's" ) are not in business.

No not at this point. The "Tea Party" has only had members in congress for about nine months. They are not a majority and have not had enough time to be effective yet.

The thing that I find amusing is the Dem's are blaming the Tea Party for things that have been going on for three years!

they take credit for the good but run from the bad . its alway no no no and burn and destroy lets see if there for a jobs bill or against it i bet the will not be for a jobs bill.the economy is tanking now do something. not that bs tax cuts and deregulation it gets 0 jobs a proven failure. i wish fdr was here not wimpy obama fight fight or get the hell out.

Or you could say the Koch brothers own the Tea Party since they fund and promote it.

Yes, since they are directly responsible for the downgrading of the US Credit Rating.

Yes, a part.

Yes,,,they have been effective at slowing 0bama's spending spree.