Cornstalked: As the 14 Wisconsin Democrats run, meet the numerous Illinois Tea Party activists giving chase

This isn’t to suggest the Tea Partiers always keep on the straight-and-narrow in their pursuit of transparency.

You see, the “Flee Party Tracker” profile page on Facebook is private. Several other Tea Party-focused Facebook pages have a lot of shareable information, but for the “Tracker,” you have to be invited.

“We don’t need just anybody in there,” said page-creator Terrell. “There’s a lot of people who don’t agree with what we’re doing.”

Terrell said he might be able to invite TheDC after a message of introduction — which he would first pass around to the other members  — was sent. The request was respectfully denied because members feared (rightfully, it’d seem) that they wouldn’t be able to speak “off the record.”

“Doc” wouldn’t give his real name because he was worried the police might be after him. No need to be suspicious, he said reassuringly. He had just given a TV interview and  “everyone knows me as ‘Doc’ anyway. I’m ‘Doc’ when I talk on the radio, too.” As for that phone call Alger got in the middle of grocery shopping? Well, it was from a “person I trust completely,” though she just couldn’t say who.

After the eight senators eluded attention in Harvard there was a flurry of emails and Tea Partiers gave notice of numerous rumored sightings. There were reports that some went back to Rockford.  A week after they first began fleeing coverage, a community newspaper reported that nine Wisconsin-plated cars were parked at a private residence in Woodstock, Ill., 12 miles southeast of Harvard. According to one source, the senators had been moving back and forth from there for two or three days.

“Someone” sent Alger an email about the location.

“Just open eyes. Ooopen eyes. That’s how I’ll describe it,” she said. “No. I can’t tell you who sent it — who gave me the information — but it’s a person in the network.”

Because it was a private residence, Alger was doubtful she’d get out of her car — private property rights and all. That same day, Hale said he had “somebody” do a “drive-by” of the mansion owned by Victor Narusis, who a quick Google search reveals is a registered Republican.

After eight full days, the Tea Party bounty hunters seem to be pretty effective at wearing down the Wisconsin 14. Chatter on the wires has the Democrats going back to Rockford. Back to the Clock Tower Resort, in fact. It’s déjà vu. The senators are still recycling the same lines they’ve been using for a week now. Gov. Walker is screening his phone calls.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Tea Party is only getting better and better at keeping the spotlight on the elusive ones. There are the constant phone calls and emails and Facebook posts between activists. But now, even the entire city of Rockford is drawing attention to the Wisconsin 14. The city’s promotional organization just launched a “Hideaway in Rockford” campaign. Soundbite: “Here in Rockford, our doors are wide open, we want people to come here and hideaway, from whatever they’re trying to get away from.”

Unrelenting public mockery, though, that’s tough to hide from.

Email Jeff Winkler and follow him on Twitter

This article has been updated.