Does the Tea Party even care about winning general elections?

I am into politics a lot. First off, I am a conservative Republican. However, some of what the Tea Party did the last election really baffles me. They say if you aren't a true conservative if you don't support their candidates. Well, in Delaware, I was for Castle over O'Donnell in the primary, even though I am much more conservative than Castle. I would rather nominate someone who will definately win the general and be with us 50% of the time than someone who has no chance at winning and isn't qualified to be elected dog catcher, and instead ending up with someone who will be with us 0% of the time. In Alaska, I was for Murkowski as a write in over Miller. People said I wasn't a real conservative then. I wasn't for Murkowski over Miller because I'm not a conservative. I was for Murkowski because Joe Miller was a moron. If the Tea Party had done a better job vetting their candidate, and not nominated a moron, I would have supported that person. Was nominating Sharron Angle worth Harry Reid being reelected? No, I don't think so. Jim DeMint says he would rather have 40 true conservatives in the Senate than 60 RINOS. So he would really prefer being relegated permanantly to the minority and not even being able to mount a filibuster than having a few Olympia Snowes or Scott Browns or Mark Kirks? Seriously, what is DeMint and The Tea Party's logic and agenda?