Party platforms and "manifestos" as you call them have, for a long time, been determined largely by shifting public opinions. The people of America are starting to see the merits in libertarian ideals, so the Republican party is trying to incorporate them.

I won't argue that the Republican party has not kept good on its promises since Reagan left office, but that's the way of politics in America. It's a sad fact of our bipartisan government. And realistically, the Democrats have done no better. Everyone talks about reigning in spending, but no one ever does it. Everyone talks about freedoms and liberties, but no one ever does it. Obama campaigned on a platform with promises to take the middle path, to reign in spending, to end our wars responsibly. In a way, he didn't say anything much different than Nixon did when he campaigned (the comparison is rough, but give me the benefit of the doubt).

It's not Republican or Democrat here, it's straight politics.

If there's one thing I think the tea party movement suggests, it's that once again American public opinion is changing. A large sector of America is unhappy with the way neocons have guided this nation, but they don't accept liberal ideals either.

People want fairness, they want honesty, they want transparency, and most of all they want results.

The great thing about democracy is that if something doesn't work, the people will make sure whoever is responsible is out of power, and then some. Whether Democrat or Republican, some politician is going to take advantage of American discontent at a lack of results. We can be pessimistic and think that the nation might not make it to that stage, but I prefer to have faith in the people of America that they'll make the choice soon enough.

Already this economic climate is having lasting impacts on the American people. We are changing the way we spend and the way we think about spending. For a long time, Americans have taken the easy way out, choosing the path of personal gains rather than the difficult but better options.

Bottom line, both parties have done little to help this nation. To put all the deception and villainy on the Republicans is not only wrong, but irresponsible. Clinton, perhaps the Best Democratic president since Truman, governed closer to a libertarian ideology (post-healthcare failure, that is), but other than him, Democrats are just as much to blame.

Both sides use rhetoric and ambiguity to appeal to as many people as they can, all the while supporting their own agendas. But sooner or later, it all adds up.

It's adding up right now. And that's what the tea party movement is.

Politicians like Palin, who are relatively unknown, and personalities like Glenn Beck will try and piggy-back off the support the tea party movement is receiving, but that's going to happen in any political movement.

In the end, we can only hope that someone who legitimately supports libertarian ideals represents the movement.