LEAD, FOLLOW, OR CRATER: Republican Party facing its moment of truth.

What the Washington insiders and beltway pundits fail to understand about the Tea Party is that we don't expect the Republicans to win every battle, what we want is for them to fight -to get our ideas out in the public domain, promote them, and make the Democrats defend their wacky progressivism.

Donald Trump understands the Tea Party; the Republican establishment does not. That's why his poll numbers are increasing while the establishment remains flat.

RELATED: Cruz understands.