CPAC NEEDS AN ENEMA!
Posted on 02/21/2010 12:15:05 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
SARAH Palin may be a darling of the political Right, but another outspoken critic of big government has emerged as the favourite of many mainstream US conservatives for the Republican Party's presidential candidate in 2012.
Ron Paul, a Republican congressman from Texas known for his strong libertarian views, won the annual straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington yesterday with 31 per cent of the 2400 votes cast.
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who has topped the poll three times previously, finished second with 22 per cent.
Ms Palin, the Republican vice- presidential candidate in 2008, came a distant third with just 7 per cent.
The decision of many conservative faithful to pick Mr Paul, 74, was a surprise and is not necessarily a good guide after John McCain overtook Mr Romney to win the Republican nomination for the last election.
But the choice of the influential gathering of conservatives confirms that the Republican machine is shifting further to the Right as confidence rises about performing well in mid-term congressional elections in November.
It could also indicate support for Ms Palin within the Republican establishment is not as strong as some of her backers would like to think.
Results of the CPAC straw poll were announced shortly before popular Fox News commentator Glenn Beck gave the keynote speech and received huge applause for his attack on "progressivism" as a cancer that needed to be cut out of the US political system.
While directing most of his attack at the Democratic Party, Beck took aim at Republicans, too. Acknowledging he was a recovering alcoholic, Beck said the party had to admit that it had a problem. To cheers in a packed hotel ballroom, the TV host said: "Hello, my name is the Republican Party and I have a problem. I'm addicted to spending and big government."
As a summit for American conservatives, the conference was a prime opportunity to brand President Barack Obama a socialist and attack his handling of the economy and national security.
But the annual event that started when Richard Nixon was president was much more - a gathering of people who believe they are on the march back to power.
Newt Gingrich, a former Republican speaker of the House of Representatives and possible presidential candidate, made a big entrance yesterday with the pop song Eye of the Tiger blaring. Mr Gingrich, whose book To Save America is due out soon, predicted the Democrats would lose their majorities in the Senate and House at this year's mid-term elections, and that Mr Obama would lose the 2012 election.
A surprise guest at the three-day conference - amid chants of "run, Cheney, run" - was former vice president Dick Cheney.
He dismissed any chance of him running for president.
Mr Paul ran for president in 2008 but was never considered a serious contender.
One disadvantage for Ms Palin in yesterday's straw poll was that she was not present. She was followed in the poll by Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty on 6 per cent. Indiana congressman Mike Pence scored 5 per cent. Mr Gingrich tied with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on 4 per cent.
Thus my name for those who support Ron Paul as being "Paul-tards."
Yeah, like we are going to vote for Ron Paul the idiot instead of Sarah. Those of you who want to vote for this idiot go ahead, I won’t be joining you.
I can just see Ron Paul's Presidential Tagline:
Ron Paul for President: Cuz kooks are people too!
Younger libertarians were more heavily represented than the Conservative, mature American backbone.
The Australian hasn't got enough reporters in the US to properly asses Palin's influence, but I don't think they're bashing her here.
You will do as Sarah tells you...and when Sarah sits out 2012 and endorses Ron Paul, just as she endorsed Rand in the Kentucky Senate rate, you will fall in line.
From the looks of things, and the angst engendered by such polling results, the GOP better hurry up and pony up some worthwhile conservative candidates.
You are exactly correct .. and also there was the fact that only TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT even voted in the straw poll.
If CPAC is going to have a “straw poll” then it should require everybody to participate.
Translation: Paul's people have the ground game, motivation, and organizational skills to win, while Palin's amen corner is too busy attending carefully controlled paid speeches.
LOL on the title.
CPAC has become a joke.
Were all the votes counted?
Or more cheating for Team Mitt Romneycare?
I like the people on the bottom of the list better than those on the top. The GOP again, has very little to show for.
CPAC NEEDS AN ENEMA!
Not a Palin demographic.
I am excited about the future of the GOP if that's the case. Maybe in another 10 years or so the GOP can return to its limited government / America first views.
Hmmmm ..?? If Mitt had cheated - I’M SURE HE WOULD HAVE WON .. or why bother.
Seems to me there’s a lot of Mitt-bashing on FR - and quite frankly, I don’t like it. If you have some evidence against him - fine - but to just smear him by accusing him of cheating when there’s no evidence to support it is stupid.
And .. I’m not a Mitt supporter either .. I just don’t like it. I didn’t like it when the dems were doing it to Bush and I don’t like it now for Mitt.
Actually, I don’t think people are ready to make a choice right now. There are a few good candidates out there .. or there could be somebody out of the blue who could capture the nomination.
Since most of the voters were between 18 and 34, I’d guess they’re just now getting involved in politics and it’s easy for them to get distracted by the “no-war” mantra.
If people have a brain, they already know that WAR is a necessary part of remaining free .. and if you say NO WAR ever, then you’re setting yourself up to be attacked because you have already told the enemy you won’t fight back.
I think that’s kinda stupid.
FReepers need to chill. Ron Paul isn't going to win the GOP nomination, but he's bringing new, young fiscal conservatives to the cause.
FR is still for fiscal conservatism, isn't it? Or are fiscal conservatives no longer welcome here?
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