Some final observations and thoughts after an afternoon at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Committee, in Washington today:

-- I've been coming to CPAC since 1987, and this was the largest crowd I've ever seen. It was mobbed. More attendees, more exhibits.

-- Wherever he went, a crowd and camera crew followed Mitt Romney, who -- as always -- looked tan, rested and ready. I've said this before, but had he run for president in 2008 boosting his business acumen -- rather than as a new-right convert -- he would have stood a better chance at getting the nomination. Especially when John McCain self-imploded toward the end on the economy. Maybe all will be forgiven if he runs again. I couldn't stay for Romney's speech today, but I was told by more than one person that it hit all the right notes.

-- I came across a lot of sour faces, who were doing a lot of "woe is me" reflections in the wake of Barack Obama's victory. I still think that conservatives were never happier, or more energized, than they were when Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter was president. It's so much fun being on the outside. They were miserable, and defensive, during the latter part of the Bush presidency.

-- A lot of supporters for Ron Paul at today's session. The GOP establishment may not be crazy about him, and I'm not sure if conservatives ever warmed up to his let's-get-our-troops-out-of-Iraq mantra (though, on reflection, maybe they should have been). And when they had the chance, in Republican primaries, Ron Paul's name was not the first one voters sought out on the ballot. But a lot of them loved him here.

-- Best buttons for a 2012 candidate that I saw: You betcha, it was Sarah Palin, hands down.

Three Sarah Palin buttons.

More Sarah Palin buttons than any other prospective GOP candidate at CPAC today.

 

-- Did I just mention "2012?" Please forgive me. It's only February 2009, and here I am talking about 2012. (Well, actually, I was only talking about buttons.)

-- Lots of self-referential comments and congratulations about bloggers and Tweeters that got me a bit nauseated until I realized I also am one of those who blog and Tweet.

-- The knock on Michael Steele, who was at CPAC this week, was that, of all the candidates seeking to become the next Republican national chairman, he was considered the most liberal. But he hasn't shrunk from red-meat conservative rhetoric since he was elected last month.

-- Lots of references to how much everyone there hates taxes, but even more references to those prospective Cabinet nominees who had problems with taxes. Lots of anti-IRS buttons.

-- Didn't see much anti-Obama stuff, but the usual supply of anti-Hillary Clinton buttons and bumper stickers was easy to find.

-- There still were a handful of nut jobs and folks roaming around in costumes, but what would CPAC be without them?

categories: Right This Way

6:08 - February 27, 2009

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