America’s real Libertarians have the distinction of consistency over the last several years. Far different from their Republican cousins, who throw around terms like “small government”, “fiscal responsibility”, and “liberty”, Libertarians 
actually believe in those terms. That isn’t to say that I agree with the whole of their premise, but I do appreciate a political philosophy that accepts the consequences, good and bad, of its practice.
Libertarians believe in the most narrow interpretation of the Constitution, and in particular the commerce clause. They also believe in a minimum of intervention by state and local governments in the activities of citizens. This is an all-encompassing belief; social issues like sexual preference are off limits because civil liberties are absolute. Libertarians are close cousins of fiscal/business conservatives, and are as far removed from social conservatives as they are from liberal democrats. Their views on the size and scope of government, and the corresponding tax rates necessary to maintain needed activities have made libertarianism a natural political pairing for the Tea Parties.