The scary thing about it all is the powers behind mass movements like the Tea Party, as you say. The public opinion is manufactured, in many ways. Existing discontent is channeled by those whose agenda may be more self-serving.

Info here: Covert Operations; The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama (New Yorker magazine)

A good interview with Jane Meyer, the author of that article: Fresh Air with Terri Gross

She has also written critically about George Soros, a big funder from the other side of the spectrum. She said that the big difference was that Soros spoke with her and is very transparent about his political funding efforts. The Koch brothers, as a former employee apparently said, "are not only under the radar, they are underground", truly operating covertly.

~ Becky in Tucson