Heading to CPAC 2009
posted at 11:30 am on January 11, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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I’ve made arrangements to return to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC at the end of February, and will once again cover the conclave from Bloggers Row. This will be the third year in a row that I attend the conference, and the second time I stay at the Omni Shoreham hotel where it gets held. The first year, 2007, I stayed at a hotel across town that not only was inconvenient, the door to the massively shared balcony wouldn’t secure, and everyone surrounding me had parties all night long. I learned that saving a couple of bucks doesn’t necessarily mean a more pleasant experience.
I’ll be curious as to the tone of the conference this year. In 2007, we had just lost the midterms but the activists sounded hopeful that the Republican Party had finally gotten the message about greed, corruption, and big-government solutions. In 2008, when it became apparent that John McCain would win the presidential nomination, it got somewhat somber and reflective. In 2009, after losing that presidential race and watching both Republicans and Democrats empty the already-empty treasury to partially nationalize private industries, what should we expect? I’m betting on flat-out anger, as well as a sense of having to start from scratch.
The conference has already begun to lay down that foundation. They will feature a Conservatism 2.0 Conference at CPAC, organized by Pajamas TV. Michelle will take part in that effort. That should make for lively debate, and the folks at Pajamas Media will make sure that we have bloggers aplenty to write about it. I plan to move away from the daily show during CPAC in favor of live interviews with some of the newsmakers, as well as writing about the events in regular blog postings. Stay tuned from February 26-28 to see where the 37th CPAC conference takes us.
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have fun, Anyway instead of getting angry work on a platform that balances the libertarian and Social Conservative wings of the party, at the same time work on a platform that stresses actual job growth not connected to directly or indirectly to government spending. Energy should be a central aspect.
rob verdi on January 11, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Looking forward to it ED.
Guardian on January 11, 2009 at 11:38 AM
I hope that the ideals of conservatism are the focus rather than self pity and how to compromise. With the contributions of rock solid conservatives such as y’all, maybe others will listen and follow.
DAT60A3 on January 11, 2009 at 11:41 AM
CYA THERE!
blatantblue on January 11, 2009 at 11:43 AM
I’d have that grin on my face too.
You lucky, lucky bastard.
jeff_from_mpls on January 11, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Is this the year that people start really talking about a Federal Consumption Tax as a fundamentally conservative means for the People to control the size of government? If we’re going to get angry and vow for a return to Conservative principles of the governed in control of the government instead of vise versa, it should start with setting the 16th Amendment to the ground.
Spc Steve on January 11, 2009 at 11:44 AM
37 years of CPAC, and this is what we have to show for it? Ed, if I were you, I wouldn’t waste my time.
gryphon202 on January 11, 2009 at 11:45 AM
When is Sarah Palin speaking?
Memo to Sarah, no whining, more GOP convention speech.
Mr. Joe on January 11, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Don’t worry Joe. When the stakes are high, Sarah comes through. She’s going to light the fuse for 2012 whether she ultimately runs or not. Believe it.
Nat Hound on January 11, 2009 at 11:50 AM
She never whined. Did Cheney “whine” criticizing the MSM attacks on his children?
the_nile on January 11, 2009 at 11:51 AM
I will be at CPAC for the first time. Would like to meet some of you guys.
Xolom on January 11, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Ed, I hope that those at the conference will be able to sort out what really matters in conservative ideals – and separate it out from the “special interests.” I also hope that a truly workable set of methods can be developed to explain and sell these principles to the American people.
No matter how excellent the programs, how sensible and how preferable to other paths, unless the people and the voters can see it and comprehend it – and believe in it – your efforts will mostly be for naught.
GOOD LUCK!
pbundy on January 11, 2009 at 11:54 AM
I’m also planning to attend C-PAC and would like to meet some of you guys.
Possible for us to have some sort of HotAir suite or party or beer bash?
I mean, better than just hanging around Ed’s table the whole time.
Ed???
ericdondero on January 11, 2009 at 11:58 AM
One thing that’s frustrating about the Republicans, is that they seem to ignore the bloggers. The dems have no qualms about embracing the kookiest of then nutroots. Yet, the Republicans (in power) act like bloggers are beneath them. Even after all of the milestones, uncovering of Democratic lies, etc that Conservative bloggers have achieved. Sometimes, I hear Rush say that the democrats have people assigned to listen to his program. If ONLY elected Republicans had people assigned to read these blogs, and listen to Rush.
ckdexterhaven on January 11, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Umm…so will the result of CPAC be some more domination of the Republican Party by left wing Democrats? Or is someone going to wrest control of the party and take it back? Or are you just going to talk about it for 4 more years? We are waiting to see… Another George Bush or John McCain will not be the answer and if you try to sell another one you will have zero credibility left…you have very little left after the last two elections after shilling for those two. And the Republican Party has taken a beating and you have done nothing to counter this! Talk is cheap…let’s see something on the leadership front, guys and gals!
sabbott on January 11, 2009 at 12:01 PM
I’m going with the FSU College Republicans!
crabtree on January 11, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Since DC is only an hour north of me, I may have to drop by.
flipflop on January 11, 2009 at 12:03 PM
If you get an interview with that Minnesota Governor (I won’t even say his name because I’m so ticked off at him) please beat him up for letting Weird Al Frankenstein steal the senatorial election!
Vntnrse on January 11, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Take Allahpundit with you. It’s a convention. Order him a couple of call girls. It might cheer him up.
Blake on January 11, 2009 at 12:19 PM
The first year, 2007, I stayed in a hotel across town…
petefrt on January 11, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Ain’t going.
Allahpundit on January 11, 2009 at 12:32 PM
We should have a HotAir get together at the bar!
blatantblue on January 11, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Ed you should get all HotAirers together if more than one or two will be there!
blatantblue on January 11, 2009 at 12:32 PM
It would be nice if a couple of Jindal jingle workshops were replaced with ” how Islam works in the world”. But I suppose that might lose votes.
BL@KBIRD on January 11, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Great idea.
I’m going and I’m all signed up with the Omni reservation.
We need a HotAir group get-together and let’s get a picture with the Cuda if she shows up.
T-Shirts? Logo? I’m having one made that says -
Front: SAPWOLF of HotAir
Back: One of “SARAH’S PEOPLE”
I have a great suit for the Reagan Dinner too. I’m sure the Team Sarah people will be there.
Sapwolf on January 11, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Have a great time. Looking forward to your reports.
kanda on January 11, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Okay, three call girls and free minibar. You drive a hard bargain.
Blake on January 11, 2009 at 12:47 PM
And at the Church the morning after.
My dream is that somebody tries to pie the Cuda and I dive in front of her to take the blow since I like banana cream pie anyway. :)
Sapwolf on January 11, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Tickets to Bill Cosby at the Kennedy Center thrown it too?
Sapwolf on January 11, 2009 at 12:49 PM
It’s not so much about what conservatism can do for people, but that conservatism can ensure the opportunity for people to do for themselves. There’s no need for a list of campaign promises, but a broad positive vision that the shining city on a hill is still there as beacon to the world. That we don’t know what the world will look like 25 years from now, but 25 years ago there were no web designers and cell phones were almost unheard of. The industries that will fuel the growth of the next decades will be brought to fruition not by government agencies but by entrepeneurs, some of whom will start in boardrooms, but many of whom will start in their garages. We must believe in the promise of economic freedom to let these people choose for themselves what path will lead to their success and prosperity and our nation’s success and prosperity.
We must maintain the promise of JFK-that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. We must remember that, although there is darkness in the world, our nation has seen far darker days than this. It was through the gifts of liberty, preserved for us by previous generations through perserverance and faith through the darkest of times, that we are here today with opportunities of which they never dreamed. We must remember that we maintain the strength of both our individual families and our American family as a whole so that our children and grandchildren can draw upon it’s strength to confront whatever darkness they find, just as we will confront the darkness we find in the world today.
It is the combination of economic and political freedom that has, only over the last two centuries, swept aside the subjugation of individuals to the cheiftans, kings and emperors that kept the blessings of Liberty from all men and women. We must be sure that, just as we fought and continue to fight to ensure our right to vote, we must also fight for our right to vote with our wallets and spend what we earn. As we strive for a more perftect union, we must not take steps backwards because of fear or uncertainty, because we know this with certainty: To relinquish our freedom, whether political or economic would be an affront to our forebears and an outrage for our progeny. We honor them both by fighting for our ideals and our freedoms today.
trubble on January 11, 2009 at 1:01 PM
I miss Romney
Drunk Report on January 11, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Was also thinking along those lines; I live in the DC area and would be interested in meeitng you HA posters and Ed for drinks one evening at the hotel bar.
Red State State of Mind on January 11, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Take Allahpundit with you.
Ain’t going.
Allahpundit on January 11, 2009 at 12:32 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++
What a surprise…
fabrexe on January 11, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Agoraphobia?
DaveC on January 11, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Self-determination, Ed. I’d love to see the Republicans rally around liberty, self-determination, and limited government as the core planks of the party platform. Not that I am holding my breath… Republicans don’t care about anything but trying to get Republicans elected, and then they do nothing but what Democrats do when in office.
So there might be a bunch of anger. It doesn’t matter. Nobody in the party gives a damn to listen to it or do anything about it. Republicans love them some government just as much as the Democrats do. It’s all just posturing.
beatcanvas on January 11, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Is Mrs. Palin to speak this year at C-PAC?
And by the way, I prefer Ed to Allah, too, but I have to credit both with the success of HA.The dynamics are good. It’s also good to have lots of Sarah Palin threads to pump the numbers up!
Don’t forget to vote every 24 hrs.in the 2008 Webblog Awards.
gracie on January 11, 2009 at 3:55 PM
He has to preserve his Man of Mystery image.
Blake on January 11, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Gosh I just voted for us in the blog polls. I can’t believe who we are getting beat by. I hope things change. We deserve to win.
kanda on January 11, 2009 at 6:03 PM
If McVain shows up there, crack him one on the snoz.
Or at least kick him on the bottom of his feet from behind (that’s alawys annoying).
madmonkphotog on January 11, 2009 at 6:17 PM
trubble on January 11, 2009 at 1:01 PM
You hit the nail on the head. Freedom is the word. Every human understands its implications. If you don’t have it, you long for it. If you do have it and don’t protect it, it will be gone. We are losing ours with every word Obama speaks.
BetseyRoss on January 11, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Ahhh… the annual gathering to present extremist gaffes to a broader audience.
*gets popcorn*
benny shakar on January 11, 2009 at 6:43 PM
That chick on the right looks familiar….
…..HHHMMMmmmmm…..WHO COULD SHE BE?
;) xoxoxoxo
I’ll miss you this year, Ed.
My invitation had to be declined for personal reasons, and I am going to miss you like the devil.I had THE MOST FUN with you guys.
For some damn reason those CPAC numbskulls still think I have something more to say that I have not already screamed and that they have not summarily ignored.
HAVE A BLAST, ED>>>>and hug Mary Katharine for me…..
***The reason you are grinning is that SWEET GEORGIA BULLDOGS look good on you!***
seejanemom on January 11, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Ed, dude. Mix in a salad and the occasional workout brah.
dakine on January 11, 2009 at 8:13 PM
What’s the matter Benny? You afraid you might go ‘injun’ if you went to CPAC. As you get older and understand things with more maturity, you’ll make the transition just like I and many others did to conservatism.
Why wait now?
Sapwolf on January 11, 2009 at 9:45 PM
One thing of note.. last year the straw poll held at CPAC showed that the War on Terror was the single most important issue for people when deciding on the Republican nominee – with 34% of the vote.
Reducing size of Gov’t was third at 15%
Reducing gov’t spending was 5th at 10%
it’ll be interesting to see if people still support the War on Terror or if they think fiscal conservatism is more important.
popularpeoplesfront on January 11, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Go Romney! The man that should be president right now.
therightwinger on January 11, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Stayed at the Days Inn – Conn Ave in ‘08. Didn’t have any of the hassles Ed described. Slightly inconvenient, but saved many hundred$. Can’t afford it this year :(
Ed, you better watch out. You may not end up stuck between MKH and seejanemom. You might end up next to some lib there to snark the enemy – Jane Hamsher?
eeyore on January 11, 2009 at 11:11 PM
I’d be willing to meet up, but not at a bar really since i’m only 19. going with college republicans from my college.
Xolom on January 11, 2009 at 11:45 PM
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