The Tea Party has shown its grassrootspower, but from its beginning had an electoral and financial infrastructure and a huge influence on the Republican Party.
As CNN's Candy Crowley pointed out Monday in an analysis: If Walker sidesteps a recall, it would speak to conservative's grassrootspower, the waning power of unions -- which typically ally with Democrats -- and could further Romney's efforts in the state.
Establishment Republican leaders seek to maintain their political power by whispering romantic sweet nothings into the ears of grassroots conservatives, but they continue to govern as if they are the reincarnation of Republican-turned-Independent (and soon to turn Democrat) Charlie Crist.
The result was SandyBaggers, a grassroots Facebook movement to circumvent red tape and galvanize immediate and effective local disaster relief by leveraging the power of digital media.
He created grassroots community councils and networks to attend to local needs in neighborhoods across the nation, placing the power to govern in the joint hands of community groups.