Someone finally commissioned a poll to quantify what everyone with eyes already intuitively understood: the Tea Party is overwhelmingly far right, white, male, and aging (occasional outliers like the One Young Teabagger with Piercings aside).

The Times saved the best bit for last:

Some defended being on Social Security while fighting big government by saying that since they had paid into the system, they deserved the benefits.

Others could not explain the contradiction.

“That’s a conundrum, isn’t it?” asked Jodine White, 62, of Rocklin, Calif. “I don’t know what to say. Maybe I don’t want smaller government. I guess I want smaller government and my Social Security.” She added, “I didn’t look at it from the perspective of losing things I need. I think I’ve changed my mind.”