Only dozens showed up to hear Tea Party darlings Michele Bachmann and S.C. Governor Nikki Haley speak at a rally in Columbia, SC.

While the media tries to talk up the significance of the Tea Party, the showings at recent rallies have told another story. Yesterday was a prime example of this, as the Taxed Enough Already rallies the Tea Party holds on tax day saw dismal turnout.

Yesterday was tax day and as in previous years, Tea Party activists rallied across the country on the movement’s most significant organizing day since it exploded on tax day 2009. But as observers wonder if the movement is waning in popularity, a ThinkProgress analysis found that in many cities, turnout was significantly lower at this year’s rallies than those on tax days in 2010 and 2009.

Moreover, there seemed to be fewer rallies this year than last. A listing of events on the umbrella group Trea Party Patriots’ website for Monday and Friday showed a total of 145 events — the same listing shows 638 events on tax day 2010. Notably, there was also no tax day tea party rally in Washington, D.C. this year, unlike in years past.

Think Progress also compiled turnout numbers from around the country. My favorite is Tulsa, OK:

Tulsa, OK: From “several thousand” in 2010 to “less than 30” in 2011. “The turnout was a far cry from the 5,000 who showed up to a similar event on April 15 two years ago outside the Capitol,” the Tulsa World notes.

It’s beginning to look more and more like the whole Tea Party thing was just a fad. They are starting to see that they won’t change Washington or the Republican Party, so they are giving up. At the same time, true Republicans, who dabbled with the Tea Party, is starting to distance themselves from it as they see the movement being damaging to the GOP’s 2012 prospects.

What we really need is a new movement in this country – one that can peel away members from both parties equally. A party that is tired of our run away spending, especially on things like corporate tax giveaways and defense, but also maintains that the government has a duty to provide for its people. This party should also be controlled by no special interest group or lobbyists, like Freedom Works. It’s time for a real people’s movement to wake Washington up.