The party is over for those “Tea Heads.” After listening to their diatribe of rants and railings against the evil federal government over the last three years, they have finally met their match in the Occupy movement.

Tea Party Patriots, the nation's largest grassroots organization, will hold its first-annual national policy conference in Phoenix on Feb. 25 to 27. The Tea Party Patriots' American Policy Summit - Pathways to Liberty will bring tea party supporters, national speakers, 2012 presidential candidates and public policy analysts together for briefings, discussions and policy debates. The summit will celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the founding of the tea party movement, one of the fastest growing and most dynamic grassroots movements in American history. The conference is open to all Tea Party Patriot supporters. To register, visit http://www.summit11.org.

Analysis: The Associated Press reviewed tea party operations in almost every state, interviewing dozens of local organizers as well as Democratic and Republican strategists to produce a portrait of the movement to date — and its prospects for tilting this November's elections.

Jay Ambrose: Like a hero rescuing a damsel tied up and lying on the railroad tracks as a train approaches, the tea party movement has been trying to save America from runaway leftism. But this hero, instead of being applauded, is taking it on the chin from critics who will invent any calumny and revise any truth to make their case.

Based on the opinion columns written by Mike McClellan, I have come to the conclusion that he is of little understanding of the principles of tea party members. While I am not a tea party member, I certainly subscribe to the ideas they represent. For McClellan to debase a group of people who have opinions that do not agree with his own by referring to them in terms that he hopes will make them look small only illuminates his lack of understanding. If McClellan would open his eyes to the truth, he would realize that this country and most of the states are going broke and maybe tea party ideas can save us.

Tea Party Patriots has announced that former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be a keynote speaker at the organization's first national policy conference in Phoenix Feb. 25-27. The group's "American Policy Summit - Pathways to Liberty" will bring together tea party supporters, national speakers, 2012 presidential candidates and public policy analysts.

Tea Party Patriots has announced that former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be a keynote speaker at the organization's first national policy conference in Phoenix Feb. 25-27. The group's "American Policy Summit - Pathways to Liberty" will bring together tea party supporters, national speakers, 2012 presidential candidates and public policy analysts.

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says he believes the tea party is built around a "core group" of people who question whether he is a U.S. citizen and believe he is a socialist.

Egypt's upheaval provides dramatic contrast to the most recent, orderly American revolution. And, as we approach two years since the tea party explosion, one can be awed by its success at shifting our American political poles. Especially notable: How the grass-roots movement has conducted its business. With rare exceptions, it's been the role model of revolutions.

A major concern of most wire service editors in the old days was a bad taste practical joke story that inadvertently found its way into circulation and ended up in dozens of newspapers in too much a rush to verify it. Young reporters were told repeatedly to keep their humor to themselves and away from the filing system at the risk of permanent damage to their careers.

Now why would some “journalist” assume the tea party is losing influence? The RNC convention was full of members. I have to wonder where such “journalists” get their views. The last time I checked, the tea party was gaining influence.

Linda Turley-Hansen: It’s heartening to see the Republican Party in the makeover seat. The old girl is in bad shape, and so are a bunch of her incumbents who’ve gone off to sleep in their rockers. Both parties have left the people, but the Dems don’t seem to even care that they’re out of touch.

Tom Patterson, guest commentary

Veteran Mesa lawmaker Russell Pearce will take the helm of the Senate in January after being elected by his Republican colleagues on his promise to run the chamber with a Tea Party philosophy.

The National Tea Party Patriots announced Tuesday that the group will celebrate the second anniversary of the tea party movement with an American Policy Summit in Phoenix in February.

SAN FRANCISCO - The protest known as Occupy San Francisco is Mark Schwetz's first demonstration. After watching protesters mass against Wall Street excesses in New York last week, the soft-spoken 36-year-old carpenter's apprentice wanted to share his story of how a middle-class guy lost his home.

Isn’t it interesting that we didn’t hear a peep out of members of the tea party either before, or after, Congress extended the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. There will be $374 billion added to the federal deficit in 2011 alone, so why is the tea party silent?

The East Valley tea party observed tax day Thursday with a protest against all things Obama, tax increases and incumbent politicians. 

Former congressman J.D. Hayworth hopes the tea party movement can help him topple one of the Republican Party's best-known politicians.

While the tea party’s influence seems to wax and wane, in Gilbert, anyhow, it’s running the show, determined, apparently, for a Total Tea Party Takeover.

There’s a rumbling. Compared to the election shrill of the past two years, it’s so small it may not be noticed. Yet.

Nearly one out of four Arizonans consider themselves part of the “tea party’’ movement.

A somewhat condensed restatement of tea party principles taken from teaparty.net follows: