Remembering the Tea Party, other Republicans undermined Mike Ellis

Seeing Walker's remarks today on the passing of the former old-school, relatively-moderate GOP Senate leader Mike Ellis

made me remember how the Tea Party bashed Ellis before he got the message and retired.

I also remembered who had boasted to CNN that he was "the original Tea Party in Wisconsin."

Walker: 'I was the original Tea Party in Wisconsin'

"When people ask me, 'How do you appeal to Tea Party folks?' I say: I was the original Tea Party in Wisconsin," Walker said.