Populist Reform of the Democratic Party

The Reform Party made a big splash in 1992. In fact, its presidential candidate, Ross Perot, outpolled both Clinton and Bush just prior to the election. In a 1-900 pool. Making it the #1 party among people stupid enough to pay for a meaningless vote.

By 1998 it was the third largest political party in the United States. It was always a rightwing, populist party. In fact, rank-and-file Teabaggers would have fit the 90's Reform Party to a tee. It is at the leadership level that the Tea Party swings wildly away from populist to the point of making the rank-and-file look like deluded idiots.

Hard rightwingers led by Pat Buchanan then took over the party causing it to fracture. This was made easy for the Right because the Reform Party used a national caucus

Ultimately, the hard right abandoned the party to join the Tea Party leaving today's Reform Party a shadow of its former self. But it does still exist. But it now just stands for the flavor of the day. One election they nominated Pat Buchannan. Next election they nominated Ralph Nader! It doesn't get any more disjointed than that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Party_of_the_United_States_of_America