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It’ll only get worse after Bush By: Jeremy Lott July 19, 2008 11:02 AM EST At this year's CPAC convention of conservative Republican activists in D.C., many young supporters waited in long lines overnight and braved metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs to hear President George W. Bush speak the next morning. After he had finished, they broke out an eerie chant: "Four more years! Four more years!" I heard tell of this later that day and thought they had all gone barking, foaming-at-the-mouth mad. By almost any measure, this has not been a successful presidency — certainly not when on...

"Alert Washingtonians were treated to an odd juxtaposition not long ago. John McCain was booed at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the big annual gathering of the right-wing tribes, while trying to establish that he was a conservative. On the same day, across town at the American Enterprise Institute—another conservative stronghold—Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, was warmly received when he touted a new book called Real Change. Never one to go underboard, Ging­rich called for “explosively replac[ing] the failed bureaucracies of the past.” "The irony of the contrast seemed lost on conservatives. No one in the movement doubts Gingrich...

That was one of Newt Gingrich’s most important messages in a brilliant speech delivered to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington last month. While the message may seem incongruous amid the fury of a presidential campaign, it is wise counsel nonetheless. Though he does not minimize the importance of the presidency, Gingrich rightly notes that, as the standard bearers for limited and local government, conservatives “should believe in a decentralized United States, where every elected official has real responsibility.� In light of this vision, Gingrich urges conservatives to devote energy, resources and intellectual capital to contests for the some...

"McMitt"...Because Americans Deserve a Break Today by Rose Pedenko & Tanya Simon February 21, 2008 The structure and strength of conservative ideals as they stood against the anti-climaxes of the Republican state primaries must now be examined based on the outcome of those primaries. Scrutiny should not involve what should have been or could have been but what has in fact occurred, which is, John McCain has pitched past his competitors and is the de facto conservative leader. It is clear that while the polls fluctuated almost daily on the issues most important to Americans, the war on terror continues...

I just got back from the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C., where conservatives began lining up behind a man who’s been sticking it to us for years. By a process of self-hypnosis, many have managed to convince themselves that McCain is actually one of us. Not for nothing did Benjamin Disraeli call conservatives the stupid party. What part of John McCain do we not get? McCain-Kennedy, McCain-Feingold, McCain-Lieberman, McCain-Edwards -- among other socialist, anti-speech, open-borders, enviro-Marxist measures he’s co-sponsored with the hardcore left of the Democratic Party over the years. If Il Duce had served with...

 You Talkin’ To Me?  February 14, 2008 There seems to be a growing Republican dismay and an equally Democrat glee that Conservatives are hesitant to throw their support behind the recalcitrant John McCain. “How,” Republican stalwarts ask, “can good Conservatives sit on the sidelines and watch a Democrat take the White House?” Well...yes and no. Many Republicans and most Democrats just don’t understand Conservatives.  Party loyalists are politicians driven by Party and self-interest.  Conservatives are ideologues. And, that ideology is simple to explain but, inextricably, hard for a politician to fathom...God, Country and Family. And even more difficult for...

I spent three days last week in Washington, D.C., where, like a recovering alcoholic, I am not infrequently drawn for sustenance and comfort. Part of my time on this latest trip was spent at the 35th annual Conservative Political Action Conference, known among political junkies and media hounds by its acronym, “CPAC.” CPAC this year attracted a record number of participants — nearly 7,000 conservative activists of all ages, from mid-teens to octogenarians and beyond. However, most of the time the constant rush of young people charging through the all-too-narrow corridors of the huge but still inadequate Omni Shoreham Hotel...

In a rousing speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Sunday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called for a conservative “declaration of independence” from the Republican Party. He also warned that Republicans face a “catastrophic” election this year unless the GOP changes course. Gingrich pointed out that on Super Tuesday, 14.6 million voters took part in the Democratic races, compared to 8.3 million Republicans. “There were 14.6 million Democrats who thought the presidential nomination was worth voting for, and there were 8.3 million Republicans on Super Tuesday,” Gingrich said. “That is a warning of a catastrophic election. I was...

In a rousing speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Sunday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called for a conservative “declaration of independence” from the Republican Party. He also warned that Republicans face a “catastrophic” election this year unless the GOP changes course. Gingrich pointed out that on Super Tuesday, 14.6 million voters took part in the Democratic races, compared to 8.3 million Republicans. “There were 14.6 million Democrats who thought the presidential nomination was worth voting for, and there were 8.3 million Republicans on Super Tuesday,” Gingrich said. “That is a warning of a catastrophic election. I was...

Now that the race for the Republican presidential nomination has narrowed to two main candidates, Republican voters are questioning whether the frontrunner embraces enough of the party's conservative standards. Arizona Senator John McCain has angered conservatives in the past with his congressional votes. VOAs Carolyn Presutti takes a look at both sides. Political experts say these people are the core of the American Republican Party: conservatives. They embrace low taxes, traditional values, a strong military, untethered campaign spending and strong immigration laws. Every year, about 6,000 of them attend the Conservative Political Action Conference. Enter Senator John McCain, the Republican...

Reagan's son criticizes McCain ! .. at CPAC "An Inside Report by Robert D. Novak Saturday, February 09, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. John McCain's managers, fearing an unfavorable reaction at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Thursday, wanted to precede his speech with a video of Ronald Reagan praising McCain. Talk show host Michael Reagan, the late president's son, offered his own video criticizing McCain. David Keene, chairman of the sponsoring American Conservative Union, turned down both.down".... http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/political_commentary/commentary_by_robert_d_novak/mccain_at_cpac

"We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn't make any sense at all." – Ronald Reagan, 1965 “A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency or simply to swell its numbers.” – Ronald Reagan, CPAC address, 1975 With that, I give you 2008 Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain. He went before the same Conservative Political Action Committee and gave...

At CPAC, Senator John McCain promised: I intend to nominate judges who have proven themselves worthy of our trust that they take as their sole responsibility the enforcement of laws made by the people’s elected representatives, judges of the character and quality of Justices Roberts and Alito, judges who can be relied upon to respect the values of the people whose rights, laws and property they are sworn to defend. This promise was absolutely critical if McCain was to win over conservatives. To be sure, Presidents all too often break campaign promises. Remember George Bush 41’s “read my lips” pledge...

Conservatives Frustration with McCain - - Former House Majority Leader Tom "still The Hammer" Delay (R-TX) and Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), who endorses and is Virginia co-chair for John "Soros Shadow Party" McCain for 2008 President, debate whether Conservatives will unite behind the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. Whether you like Tom DeLay or not this is a very good issues discussion video. VIDEO - 8:24 minutes See related Free Republic Thread:Video Interview from CPAC: Tom DeLay Hammers John McCain After John McCain's speech at CPAC, Tom DeLay said in an interview with Chris Matthews on MSNBC "Hardball", that Mr....

Reagan's Speech at the 4th Annual CPAC Convention: A New Republican Party February 6, 1977 I’m happy to be back with you in this annual event after missing last year’s meeting. I had some business in New Hampshire that wouldn’t wait. Three weeks ago here in our nation’s capital I told a group of conservative scholars that we are currently in the midst of a re-ordering of the political realities that have shaped our time. We know today that the principles and values that lie at the heart of conservatism are shared by the majority. Despite what some in the...

He in a "firing us up" mode, for sure, and, thank God, he looks wonderful. Tony Snow @ CPAC

WASHINGTON - Talk about cold comfort. Mitt Romney, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race on Thursday, won a straw poll of conservative activists on Saturday, edging out likely nominee John McCain. Ballots for the straw poll conducted at the Conservatives Political Action Conference were collected Thursday morning through Friday afternoon. Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, quit the race in a midday speech to the conference on Thursday. In the straw poll vote, Romney got 35 percent and McCain 34 percent. Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas tied with 12 percent. Romney won the straw poll at...

Speaking to a crowd of about 5,000 conservative activists, Sen. John McCain tried to calm conservatives to win over skeptics who had only a few hours before heard his principal rival, Mitt Romney, drop out of the race.Romney’s exit was graceful, and surprising only for its timing. Conservative talk radio star Laura Ingraham, introducing Romney, said she was proud to be the only person privileged to be introducing a conservative candidate. But Romney’s speech – as good as any he gave in the campaign -- tipped his hand early, hinting, “If I fight all the way to the convention…”...

Not so fast, John McCain. Republican White House long shot Mike Huckabee cast himself as the New York Giants of political candidates, a scrappy David hustling to knock off Goliath. Huckabee won the Kansas caucuses and beat McCain, the presumptive nominee, in Louisiana Saturday night - though there will be a runoff because neither crested 50%. Huckabee insisted yesterday he's in the race for the duration, or until McCain wraps up the 1,191 delegates needed for the nomination - even though the Arizona senator now leads 714 to 214. "I didn't major in math," the former Arkansas governor told a...

This is Governor Huckabee's speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday morning. It's a half hour long. The entertaining stuff is at the beginning. The most serious part starts at about 25:30.

A Tale of Two Speeches Posted By Bobby Eberle On February 8, 2008 at 8:25 am On Thursday, both former Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain addressed the audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). For Romney, CPAC set the stage for his emergence as a presidential candidate. At last year's CPAC, Romney came away as the winner of the presidential straw poll. This year, it was the stage for his farewell address. For McCain, who skipped last year's CPAC, Thursday's speech was his first attempt to make nice with a conservative base he will certainly need if...

Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island PHOTO(s) OF THE DAY President George W. Bush smiles as Mrs. Laura Bush is introduced Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, during the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton Hotel. If you didn't hear or read the President's speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, I urge you to take the time to do so. It is incredibly inspiring. President Bush makes remarks to the 35th Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, in Washington. President Bush's speech at CPAC, AND Vice President Cheney's CPAC speech. QUOTE(s) OF THE DAY President's Radio Address...

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney narrowly beat John McCain, 35 to 34 percent, in a straw poll of conservative political activists gathered Saturday in Washington — a vote that is viewed as a barometer of support from that major GOP voting bloc. The announcement of Romney’s win was greeted by cheers from the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference. McCain is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. Roughly three-quarters of the votes in the three-day CPAC 2008 straw poll were cast before Mitt Romney dropped out of the presidential race, and one-quarter after his withdrawal.....

More than three-quarters of the ballots cast in the CPAC straw poll were turned in after Romney's much-publicized announcement. But Romney still edged out Sen. John McCain, 35 percent to 34 percent, according to the CPAC web site.

The first question asked of the 1,000 conservative activists was: "In your opinion, is Senator John McCain a true conservative?" The results: Yes 197 (19.7%) No 595 (59.5%) Undecided 208 (20.8%)

Today I come to CPAC 2008 to speak not about conservatism’s past, but its future. Because, despite the obituary that is being written for conservatism in this election, I believe this movement will define the Republican Party for generations to come. And, as the theme of this conference attests, the future of freedom and the future of conservatism is forward. We are past the time where we can indulge in woulda, coulda, shoulda. We must look forward. Though the odds are still 50/50 on who the eventual Democratic nominee will be, the odds are 100 percent it will be a...

click link above

Bolton speech at CPAC (click on source link above)

Bush Signals Support for McCain By Peter Baker President Bush plans to give an implicit endorsement of onetime rival John McCain's conservative bona fides tomorrow as the Arizona senator seeks to consolidate the party behind his candidacy. In a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in the morning, Bush plans to say that the nominee of the party will be a strong conservative, according to excerpts released by the White House tonight.

Watch Ann Coulter's (unofficial) CPAC Speech Best-selling author and columnist Ann Coulter elaborated to Conservative Political Action Conference participants why she said she would campaign for Democrat Hillary Clinton for president over Republican John McCain. “She won’t want to be the first girl President who loses a war… and she [Hillary] would actually enjoy torture in Guantanamo,� Coulter said in a Friday afternoon speech at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. The event was held at the CPAC convention hall, but not sponsored by CPAC-- largely because of controversial remarks she made at the convention last year about former...

Tom DeLay went after John McCain on Hardball with Chris Matthews. In it, he discusses McCain’s stand on immigration and global warming. VIDEO - 7:14 mins ------ After John McCain’s speech at CPAC, Tom DeLay said in an interview with Chris Matthews on MSNBC “Hardball”, that Mr. McCain had failed to acknowledge or repent his many votes and campaigns where he had waged war against the Right. Tom said, "He (McCain) didn't make many friends here today." DeLay concluded his interview to Matthews final question by stating “If he continues to be the same old John McCain that has disdain...

Ann Coulter wasn't invited to CPAC this year but she came to CPAC anyway and gave a speech just down the hallway from the ballroom where John McCain spoke Thursday. The speech was only open to 1000 attendees but you can watch it here on Townhall.com. I guess we'll name this speech, "Ann Coulter's 2008 not-at-CPAC-CPAC speech."

On Thursday, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Sen. John McCain stood before thousands of conservatives he has done his level best to anger and alienate for a decade -- to ask for their support. And he made a not unconvincing case. What he said essentially was this. We have fought each other in the past, and we have fought side by side. And I admit to having made my share of mistakes. But if we do not work together, we lose the presidency. And if we lose the presidency, your causes will be lost, as well as...

[...] Among so many of our friends and our colleagues and folks who are involved in politics outside the four corners of this room, being a conservative or describing oneself as a conservative has gotten right-confusing. Now we have compassionate conservatives-- we've been down that road. We have convenient conservatives--those who are conservative when it's convenient to be conservative. And we even have big-government conservatives. I know that's an oxymoron, but a lot of these folks have never been known for consistency. It used to be if you were a conservative, people knew exactly where you were...you were a supporter...

------- Conservatives anew prefer Bush, instead of McCain ! (While eyeing Huckabee)... ------------------ - US President G.W.Bush urged today Conservatives to "help" to "elect a person who shares our PRINCIPLES". Abstaining from endorsing McCain at all, Bush, on the contrary, expressed a hope that "we will have a nominee who will carry a CONSERVATIVE BANNER". - "Without (even) naming Sen. John McCain, President Bush marshaled the Conservative wing of the Republican Party on Friday", at the annual CPAC. In an indirect hint to Governor Huckabee's Younger age (53, while McCain is 71), Bush stressed that his call extends "into this...

Early this morning, President Bush spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington D.C. In his outstanding speech (Transcript—must read!), the president talked about his time in office, “about what you and I have achieved together, what it tells us about the stakes in the year ahead, and why it is so important that we keep the White House in 2008. (Applause.)” Audience Member: “We love you, George!” President Bush: “Well, thank you. (Applause.)” From there, the president traveled to Lafayette, Tennessee to survey the damage caused by Tuesday’s tornados and to meet with the survivors as they...

S Needs No 'Permission Slips,' Bush Tells CPAC By Kevin Mooney CNSNews.com Staff Writer February 08, 2008 Washington (CNSNews.com) - Removing Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq was the right decision when it was made and remains the correct call to this day, President Bush told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday. Instead of taking cues from international agencies and self-described peace activists, the administration put America's national security needs first in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the president told the conference in Washington, D.C. The United States has a right to self-defense and cannot be compelled...

A Hensarling Sandwich at CPAC by Jillian Bandes Posted: 02/08/2008 After the booing of Sen. John McCain, CPAC attendees were attacked by pundits on the right and left for dividing the Republican Party on its choice of Presidential nominees. But if Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex), had been more of a featured item at CPAC, maybe some of that criticism could have been avoided. Hensarling’s speech came right after Romney’s withdrawal announcement, but his words of reassurance on the nominee issue briefly united the thinned and raucous crowd. “When our nominee is chosen, we will be there and we will enthusiastically...

By Peter Baker Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, February 8, 2008; 12:58 PM With the race to succeed him reaching a critical juncture, President Bush this morning began rallying the Republican base around its presumptive nominee, John McCain, and in the process tried to define his own legacy for the general election campaign to come. In a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Bush offered an implicit endorsement of McCain's bona fides as a true conservative in the face of deep skepticism on the right. Although he did not mention McCain by name, the president said whoever...

W's speech at CPAC from early this morning.

Friday, February 08, 2008 LIVE @ 4pm: Ann Coulter Speaks At CPAC Posted by: Jonathan Garthwaite at 3:38 PM Ann Coulter wasn't invited to CPAC this year but she's still giving a speech 50 yards away. The speech is only open to 500 attendees but you can watch it live here -- courtesy of uStream.

Ann Coulter wasn't invited to CPAC this year but she's still giving a speech 50 yards away. The speech is only open to 500 attendees but you can watch it live here -- courtesy of uStream. (VIDEO)

Congressman Mike Pence Issues Challenge to McCain WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 /Standard Newswire/ -- The following is U.S. Congressman Mike Pence's (R-IN) speech to Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this morning in Washington, D.C.: Today I come to CPAC 2008 to speak not about conservatism's past, but its future. Because, despite the obituary that is being written for conservatism in this election, I believe this movement will define the Republican Party for generations to come. And, as the theme of this conference attests, the future of freedom and the future of conservatism is forward. We are past the time where we...

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Friday rallied his party's conservative wing to unite behind the Republican nominee in the battle for the presidency, but avoided mention of John McCain, the leading candidate and presumed winner who has a history of clashing with his party's right flank. Democrats Barak Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, looked to upcoming weekend contests as they strove for an advantage in their tight and historic bids for the White House. Bush still is not ready to weigh in formally on the race, even though Republican Mitt Romney announced on Thursday that he was suspending his...

ypically, a gathering of conservative activists and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is no cause for unease. ADVERTISEMENT Enter John McCain — a Republican with a history of clashing with his party's right flank. For the first time in three decades, Republicans are likely to nominate a presidential candidate who lost the conservative and evangelical votes in the primaries. Even as McCain reached out to them Thursday during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, some made no attempt to hide their distaste.

That’s the beginning of the limerick Pamela Geller wrote for her introduction of Mark Steyn yesterday at CPAC.

Yesterday's speech to CPAC gave John McCain an opening to rational consideration of support by conservatives, and it didn't come in the necessary phrases of rapprochement. John McCain made an offer to conservatives for access and influence. Will they take it, or will they walk away and leave McCain to make that offer to other Republicans and centrists? McCain focused the latter part of his speech on the big issues that he says will define the election -- the war, the Democratic insistence on statist policies, and entitlement reform. He concluded that part of the argument with this (emphasis mine):...

It was as Mitt Romney was announcing his withdrawal from the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination that I arrived yesterday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Apparently Romney’s supporters were handing out stickers and signs up until his announcement – they didn’t even know. Regardless, it was the beginning of a great day for John McCain. At that point, the McCain team had switched from campaign mode to conservative love-fest mode – its staffers filled the halls of CPAC, the Mecca of conservatives that McCain snubbed last year. That was a fascinating political novelty, considering that candidates usually...

A good conservative speech, no matter how stirring, will not solve the problems that grass-roots conservatives have with Sen. John McCain, Richard A. Viguerie, America's leading conservative direct-mail guru, said Thursday. Viguerie made his comments in response to John McCain’s address Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C. Prior to McCain’s speech, various news reports suggested that the speech gave the Arizona senator a chance to make amends with conservatives and bring them on board his bandwagon. “Rhetoric isn’t enough,” Viguerie said. “To get the enthusiastic support of conservatives – support he must have, to win –...

Today, many in the Republican party and the conservative movement are saying some strange things about the prospect of our very likely nominee, Senator John McCain, and his ascent to the GOP nomination. Many think he will destroy the conservative movement if not the Republican party, and many have even said they simply will not vote for him in a general election if he heads the GOP ticket. Moreover, others have even said they would consider voting for Senator Hillary Clinton or that there is simply no difference between Senators Clinton and Barack Obama on the one hand, and Senator...