Barker - When the tea party concentrated on numbers 6, 7, and 8 and didn't overstate numbers 9, 10, 11, and 13 they had the support of the moderate Republicans, libertarians, independents and blue dog Democrats. When they had that coalition they were an effective force force change. When they added the other objectives they lost the moderate Republicans, libertarians, independents and blue dog Democrats they need to affect change.
Regarding number 4, the NRA is a special interest group. So is the Military/Industrial complex.