Whatever Happened To The Tea Party?

Is the tea party losing steam? Is it no longer hot? Will they be serving cold tea from now on?

The presidential "race" is all over the news right now. I see reports on television and read about it all over the place. There is much coverage of the GOP, of Donald Trump, of Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders. What seems to be missing is any mention of The Tea Party. I wonder why this is so? Why is there no mention of The Tea Party when people speak of Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio?

Marco Rubio:

In his campaign, Rubio received the support of members of the Tea Party, many of whom were dissatisfied with Crist's policies as governor.

Rubio initially won his U.S. Senate seat with strong Tea Party backing, but his 2013 support for comprehensive immigration reform legislation led to a decline in that support. Rubio's stance on military, foreign policy and national security issues—such as his support for arming the Syrian rebels and for the NSA—alienated some libertarian-oriented Tea Party activists.

Marco Rubio, Tea Party pretty boy:

It's possible the Glenn Beck-inspired masses who propelled Rubio to become the "First Senator from the Tea Party" — as the New York Times famously dubbed him in January...

Ted Cruz:

In the Republican senatorial primary, Cruz ran against sitting Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. Cruz was endorsed first by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and then by the Club for Growth, a fiscally conservative political action committee; Erick Erickson, former editor of prominent conservative blog RedState; the FreedomWorks for America super PAC; nationally syndicated radio host Mark Levin; former Attorney General Edwin Meese; Tea Party Express...

Cruz also called fellow Republicans out as "squishes" on gun-control issues during a Tea Party rally.

Why did Sarah Palin abandon Ted Cruz? What is a squish?

A Republican Voice With Tea Party Mantle and Intellectual Heft:

But few may have imagined Mr. Cruz, 41, in his newest role, as the Tea Party favorite and Republican candidate for the United States Senate, trading verbal orchids with the likes of Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck.

Tea Party movement:

Tea Party activists have expressed support for Republican politicians Sarah Palin, Dick Armey, Michele Bachmann, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz. In July 2010, Bachmann formed the Tea Party Congressional Caucus; however, the caucus has been defunct since July 2012.

Is The Tea Party just for children? Has everyone outgrown it now? If so, why replace it with the Republican Party, where everyone still believes in make-believe?