CPAC Review: Irrelevant or Mandatory?

After a long three days at CPAC 2011 (my first conference) I took away a lot from the experience. Mainly, that CPAC, while largely a token mandatory conservative event, has become so far removed from the conservative and Republican movement that its very existence is threatened.

Free Market? What Free Market?

Any event that allows subsidizing of tickets (in large quantities by Ron Paul and Mitt Romney) in order to tip the balance of something as meaningless as a straw poll is a questionable event. Mitt Romney purchases large quantities of tickets for supporters in return for straw poll votes, while Campaign for Liberty (Ron Paul) subsidized tickets by purchasing blocks then reselling them at 25% of their value in return for votes.

Yes, the Republican party proclaiming the free market is subsidizing something as silly as a straw poll. CPAC’s straw poll has become a mockery.

Ron Paul Supporters Embarrass the Movement and Organizers

In large part, this is due to the overwhelming attendance and passion from the Ron Paul supporters. While commendable that such a movement exists, frequently throughout the weekend Ron Paul supporters did their movement severe disservice. Displaying boorish and downright rude behavior throughout the weekend, the Campaign for Liberty organizers were embarrassed repeatedly by their supporters. Screaming ‘war criminal’ at former Vice President Dick Cheney and booing and being completely disrespectful throughout Cheney and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s speeches, heckling and screaming at Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, booing throughout speeches, these supporters made fools of themselves and embarrassed the group as a whole. This contemptible behavior went on despite Ron Paul’s specific request for professional behavior and conduct leading up to the conference. As a result, the straw poll results were predictable and scorned, given the behavior of the supporters over the weekend any votes they placed were rightfully ignored.

Speakers

Rand Paul was surprisingly centric, delivering a well-written speech, played to the crowd while avoiding the Ron Paul-esque rhetoric.

Mitt Romney was strong, leading off a strong day 2.

Michelle Bachmann was weak in the leadoff to the conference, delivering showers of red meat but revealing a general removal from any mainstream or centric appeal.

Ron Paul played purely to the crowd, getting generous applause but largely alienating the non-Campaign for Liberty groups.

Tim Pawlenty was completely generic, delivering his same speech with more vigor but little specifics. One of the few candidates who went into religion. Though meeting him, his one on one interaction was surprisingly personal, I was impressed.

Newt Gingrich delivered as expected

I skipped Rick Santorum, Mitch McConnell, Herman Cain, if you want to see their speeches, click HERE

I’d be happy to answer any questions from my personal experience in the comments below.