Louisiana’s own C.L. Bryant, a tea party favorite wherever he goes, appeared on PolitiChicks yesterday.

The episode was titled “Rules For Tea Party Radicals,” and Bryant, flanked by the lovely ladies of the conservative news website, made the case that rumors that the tea party is dead have been greatly exaggerated—to paraphrase Mark Twain:

Bryant is right in saying that the tea party is around to stay and continues to make a difference, as indicated by Richard Mourdock defeating longtime Sen. Richard G. Lugar of Indiana in the Republican primary as well as Scott Walker’s victory in Wisconsin.

If Mitt Romney wins the presidential race, the energy of the tea party will play a crucial role in bringing him to office like it did with the U.S. House upset and Senate gains in the 2010 midterm elections.

Romney wasn’t ever really the tea party’s guy, but he’s the only guy they have now to get Obama out. If he’s smart, Romney won’t turn his back on the conservative principles that embody the movement. If he does, he will probably be a one-term president—kinda like Obama is shaping up to be.