Stiffening the spine of progressive members of Congress is crucial.

I really do not think there is a serious split between Republicans and Democrats in Congress in how responsive they are to constituents.

When someone is running for reelection in Texas, they're not looking for votes in California or New York.

If people don't get as engaged as the tea party was, we're going to lose.

Stiffening the spine of progressive members of Congress is crucial.

It is really crucial that folks focus on their own representatives. If you call or write a member who does not represent you, I can tell you that contact is going to be a waste of time. You might as well just talk to yourself in your living room.

The tea party had a lot of nasty tactics that were needlessly aggressive and petty and scary. But they proved it is indeed possible for a committed, relatively small number of folks across the country to make Congress listen to them and to slow and stop an agenda.