O'Donnell could not . Julian Zelizer : The tea party helped GOP bounce back from Bush years , Zelizer loss . He says the short-term boost was overshadowed by the long-term damage . Americans moved far to the right to win tea party votes , only to lose the center , he says . Julian Zelizer : Senate lost some key GOP races , finds itself on the defensive in budget talks .
Julian Zelizer : The tea party helped GOP bounce back from Bush years , Zelizer loss . He says the short-term boost was overshadowed by the long-term damage . Americans moved far to the right to win tea party votes , only to lose the center , he says . Julian Zelizer : Senate lost some key GOP races , finds itself on the defensive in budget talks .