Think of it as "the little party that could" -- small as it is, the Boston Tea Party has placed its presidential slate on three state ballots, qualified for write-in status in other states, and opens its second biennial convention this Friday.
On Monday, party chair Jim Davidson announced that the party had surpassed 500 members -- a goal he had personally set for it before his term ends with this convention.
Unlike other parties, the Boston Tea Party does its national business online -- completely. In 2006, it became the first political party to conduct an entire national convention on the Internet with all members eligible to participate as delegates.
America's new libertarian party nominated its presidential ticket -- Charles Jay of Florida and Thomas L. Knapp of Missouri -- in a special convention in June, also held online. This Friday evening, party members will "gather" to elect new officers and national committee members, draw up the party's two-year program, and amend its bylaws.
The platform? It won't be amended -- it's one sentence long and permanent: "The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose."
The Boston Tea Party's web site is located at www.bostontea.us.
