We at Red Shtick Magazine have not been holding our breath after recently urging Tea Partiers to come up with a better name for their movement. Thanks to one central Florida lawyer and political activist, though, many of them may be legally compelled to do so.

Longtime anti-tax crusader Fred O’Neal registered the “Tea Party” as a Florida political party in August. He said the name is an acronym for the “Taxed Enough Already” party and that he hoped to recruit candidates to run against both Democrats and Republicans.

O’Neal’s logical, reasonable, and perfectly legal actions, however, have drawn the ire of many people who identify themselves as part of the Tea Party phenomenon. We shouldn’t be surprised, since responding to logic and reason with anger seems to be par for the course with many of these folks.

Nearly three dozen people and groups of such people filed suit against O’Neal and two associates in U.S. District Court in January, accusing them of trying to “hijack” the movement and confuse the public. Ironically, a group of people who generally oppose federal government intervention has turned to the federal court to get their way. Score for Mr. O’Neal.

The plaintiffs, many of whom have “Tea Party” as part of their groups’ names, said they feared O’Neal might sue them for trademark infringement or violation of intellectual property rights. Florida law says the names and symbols of registered political parties cannot be used without permission of the party’s executive committee.

Some plaintiffs also accuse O’Neal’s group of being a “fake” Tea Party. Wow, they aren’t even an organized, registered, political party, yet they already have a “litmus test,” just like the GOP. So much for being tired of politics as usual.

As for O’Neal, “I looked for the rule book but I never found it,” he said. “I don’t even know what it takes to be an authentic Tea Party versus a fake Tea Party.”

We couldn’t agree more, especially since the definition of a “tea party” is relatively broad. Little girls hold “tea parties” with their dolls all the time, even though no actual tea is ever served. Would these so-called Tea Partiers accuse their own daughters of being “fake” tea partiers?

Last month, a judge agreed to hear the case. The trial is slated to begin December 6. We can’t wait to see dozens of flag-waving, sign-bearing protesters dressed in colonial-era clothing in front of the West Palm Beach courthouse. Tricornered hats go so well with brightly colored print shirts and gatorskin loafers.

Hopefully, this will finally force the rest of the Tea Partiers to give themselves a less silly-sounding moniker. At last check, the “Teabag Party” is still available.