According to a new Gallup poll (link), those in the tea parties movement are aligned with Republicans on most issues. And, asked to name "Extremely Serious Threats", they (first number) and their opponents (second number), say:

* "Federal government debt": 61% 29%
* "Terrorism": 51% 29%
* "The size and power of the federal government": 49% 12%
* "Healthcare costs": 41% 33%
* "Illegal immigration": 41% 14%
* "Unemployment": 35% 32%
* "The decision to have U.S. troops in Iraq/Afghanistan": 24% 22%
* "The size and power of large corporations": 16% 32%
* "The environment, including global warming": 13% 30%
* "Discrimination against minority groups": 13% 17%

It's not clear whether respondents were able to make multiple choices, or whether they could only choose one. In any case, the corporations and environment questions reveal what we already know: the tea partiers are more or less just corporate stooges. Neither of those are the most serious threat facing the U.S., but one would think that those opposed to government power wouldn't at the same time downplay the power that large corporations have.

And, while some in the tea parties are opposed to illegal immigration, they don't go about that opposition in the right way. Illegal immigration needn't be a partisan issue, and it should only be supported by the far-left, open borders ideologues, and those directly profiting from it. If those tea partiers who opposed it were going about that opposition in the right way they might be able to raise the 14% above.