2009 was just the beginning for the Tea Party movement.  At last estimate there were over 3,000 Tea Party groups around the country meeting in person and online on a regular basis.  Tea Party groups on facebook for example have as many as 50,000 members.

While each group has several vocal members, often they are followed by hundreds of members who attend large Tea Party events while quietly reading newsletters, blog posts and espouse privately to the core values and beliefs of the groups.  This coalescence of the silent majority is not simply standing by, they are now beginning to take action in their own ways.  Slowly these groups are becoming more involved in the political process, and taking up important positions within the existing parties. In just the past week, the most high profile actions of the Tea Party movement involve influencing the GOP in both the County and State levels in the most dramatic ways:

January 5^th Florida: Republican State Chairman Jim Greer, who resigned from as state party chairman this week, in part because of the activists' objections to his alliance with Florida's Republican governor, Charlie Crist, who is running for the U.S. Senate. The activists are vocally supporting Crist's opponent -- a young, outspoken conservative, Marco Rubio -- and some believe the tea party group may bring down Crist, aswell.

* Fox News and ABC News

January 6^th Nevada:  Tea Party Movement invaded and took control of the Clark County GOP. Spread the message to other members in the State who used Clark County as the model. Clark County “RINO” Central Committee had 300 members and only about 1/2 of them were active. As of January 5th, it was up to 600 active members strong with the vast majority are like minded grassroots conservatives. The movement took the County by surprise and then the State by force of numbers.

* Canadian Free Press and Philadelphia Bulletin

The list of examples will grow with each passing week, and will happen in many different forms.  Long time party members who have suppressed their conservative roots out of fear, are quietly cheering this revolt in hopes of seeing what they started a political career for, finally become a reality.

2010 is going to be a truly amazing year for both the Tea Party movement.  The majority of Americans will no longer be shouted down for the conservative beliefs they hold; the ones this country was built on and is destined to flourish on its return to greatness.