Open thread: Glenn Beck keynotes CPAC; Update: CPAC straw poll won by … Ron Paul
posted at 5:24 pm on February 20, 2010 by Allahpundit
6 p.m. ET on Fox News, although you may want to tune in a few minutes early: The hot rumor circulating on bloggers’ row is that Sarahcuda might swing by to introduce him.
This is the rare CPAC speech that’s genuinely unpredictable, with Beck claiming last night on his show that he hadn’t decided yet what he was going to say. Palin and Rubio spent the past week using their cred among tea partiers to nudge them towards uniting behind the GOP (provided the GOP reorients itself towards smaller government, of course); if there’s going to be any pushback to that message, it’ll come from Beck tonight. And why shouldn’t it? He’ll never have a better opportunity to speak directly to the Republican/conservative establishment than this. If he truly believes third parties are the way to go, at least in the short term, let ‘er rip and make the case. Why, he’s even got a handy news peg available to help make the point.
Erick Erickson calls it his “coming-out party” within the conservative movement, although depending upon how bareknuckle he gets with Republican bigwigs, it could be a short party. Stand by for video afterwards. The thread is open.
Update: Romney won the straw poll the last three years but the Paulnuts had their act together this time. For one evening, the three-percent rEVOLution is a 31 percent rEVOLution:
Ron Paul has ended Mitt Romney’s three-year run as conservatives’ favorite for president, taking 31 percent of the vote in the Conservative Political Action Conference’s annual straw poll.
Paul, a Republican congressman from Texas known for his libertarian views, ran for president in 2008 but was never a serious contender for the GOP nomination…
The straw poll is not binding — and not necessarily a good forecaster, given that in 2008, John McCain went on to take the party’s nomination over Romney.
Romney came second with 22 percent and Palin finished third with seven percent. Yet another reminder that the wisdom of “insiders” ain’t always that wise.
Is the huge Paulnut contingent in the seats tonight good news or bad news for Beck?
Blowback
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Bring the chalkboard, Glenn.
Disturb the Universe on February 20, 2010 at 5:27 PM
So far, the Republicans have squandered every opportunity to correct the course of this nation. They have failed to innovate, make their care, inspire with ideas.
If they are to be trusted, now is the time to come up with a plan. Obama is deceptive, crafty and bent on burying the Republicans. I am sick of him and out leaders making all of us look like craven idiots.
eaglesdontflock on February 20, 2010 at 5:30 PM
Damn the Paultards!
Narutoboy on February 20, 2010 at 5:30 PM
Beck should endorse Medina in his speech.
That would be a good topic.
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 5:30 PM
s/b make their case.
eaglesdontflock on February 20, 2010 at 5:30 PM
Good Gawd, Ron Paul wins the presidential straw poll?
conservnut on February 20, 2010 at 5:31 PM
If he said that…you wouldn’t want to piss off the Sarahcuda would you?
Family Guy
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 5:32 PM
CPAC is infested with RuPaulians.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 20, 2010 at 5:32 PM
I betcha those rumors about Palin are right!
Who just voted for Ron Paul in the CSPAN straw poll. Sheesh.
Buy Danish on February 20, 2010 at 5:32 PM
Ron Paul? Gag….
BrianA on February 20, 2010 at 5:33 PM
And the red phone!
Buy Danish on February 20, 2010 at 5:33 PM
http://www.ronpaul.com/wp-content/gallery/ron-paul-2008/ron-paul-2008-thumbs-up.jpg
The great Ronaldus Paetinus wins the straw poll?
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 5:33 PM
Will it be streaming live on C-SPAN? If so, it’ll probably be right here.
Free Constitution on February 20, 2010 at 5:34 PM
Troofers infest CPAC?
BrianA on February 20, 2010 at 5:34 PM
It occurs to me that Ron Paul probably bought the tickets for the Ronulans who voted for him.
Buy Danish on February 20, 2010 at 5:35 PM
Cool! Thanks for the head’s up, AP!
John the Libertarian on February 20, 2010 at 5:35 PM
Cool. Hopefully he won’t say something that will get him banned from RS.
Spirit of 1776 on February 20, 2010 at 5:36 PM
i agree with everything yall say about Newt. but damn, he was hot during his speech. he can turn a phrase. or as we say here “he’s good at speechifying!”
kelley in virginia on February 20, 2010 at 5:36 PM
ron paul 33%
ken doll 22%
Saracuda ?? 3rd but don’t know the number
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 5:37 PM
yep, the libs/dems will be gunning for Beck tonight. so i hope he is measured.
kelley in virginia on February 20, 2010 at 5:37 PM
How was the straw poll conducted?
d1carter on February 20, 2010 at 5:37 PM
Ron Paul wins?? Link?
El_Terrible on February 20, 2010 at 5:37 PM
Worth at least 1000 comments and a few hundred, “OH SNAP”s
Weight of Glory on February 20, 2010 at 5:37 PM
spathi! for whom did you vote? har
kelley in virginia on February 20, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Young Americans for Liberty is larger than the college republicans now. They are all loyal to Paul so he should be able to win I think.
YAL was the group that was booing the guy who was against gay marriage.
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Ron Paul won the straw poll??? WTF (‘scuse my language?
Willie on February 20, 2010 at 5:39 PM
(‘scuze my language) sorry
Willie on February 20, 2010 at 5:40 PM
and the pipe, tennis shoes and blue jeans…GO GLENN!!!
sicoit on February 20, 2010 at 5:41 PM
The Ronulans must have stuffed the ballot box. typical
BrianA on February 20, 2010 at 5:41 PM
If Ron Paul won the straw poll, it may be just as well. He can’t possibly win the nomination and we will have been spared endless punditry about Why Sarah/Mitt/Huck Won/Lost & What It Means For 2012.
INC on February 20, 2010 at 5:41 PM
This is Ron Paul isn’t it?
daesleeper on February 20, 2010 at 5:42 PM
Drink if:
- Kermit voice is employed
- He cries over George Washington
- Says the phrase “stinks on ice”
- Talks about his weight
- utilizes any reference to Woodrow Wilson
Weight of Glory on February 20, 2010 at 5:43 PM
Young Americans for Liberty needs to shut that Glen Beck speech down with Medina chants.
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 5:44 PM
Damn, The ‘Stache is ripping Obama and The Left a new one right now! Check it out!
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN.aspx
CultureWar on February 20, 2010 at 5:44 PM
If he brings the frogs everybody can have hors d’oeurves.
entropent on February 20, 2010 at 5:45 PM
No problem–if there was ever a WTF moment–it is this!!! I’m holding my keyboard upside down to try to clean the coffee off of it…
*Goes to kitchen to get the whiskey…
lovingmyUSA on February 20, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Is it just me or is the CPAC coverage far more interesting this year and the crowds truly revved up…. compare to 2008 when McCain showed up and lied that he was just like Ronald Reagan.
Oh and BTW, This is one conservative that will not vote for the GOP candidate if rat bastard traitors like Ron Paul and is corps of morons and right wing nutjobs have a place at the table in deciding the agenda. Paul and those of his ilk are the people who give conservatism a bad reputation because they live up to the stereotypes of the left.
highhopes on February 20, 2010 at 5:46 PM
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 5:47 PM
Who knew CPAC stood for Crazy PAC?
misterpeasea on February 20, 2010 at 5:47 PM
That would be the Ron Paul way, wouldn’t it? No different than the leftists.
Narutoboy on February 20, 2010 at 5:47 PM
Can we start “asking questions” about the validity of this poll?
Questions like…
Is Ron Paul the anti-Christ?
Can Ron Paul make thermite with his mind?
Is Ron Paul the father of Trig?
Is Ron Paul an extreme right wing racist white supremacist? Oh wait. There is that whole Stormfront connection thingy…..
Just asking questions…..and what’s wrong with that?
/s
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 20, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Oh noes, not Ron Paul!
therightwinger on February 20, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Americans have mostly domestic concerns right now, and Paul is really good on most domestic issues. Why call them “Paulnuts?”
David Shane on February 20, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Ron Paul “Instead of a chicken in every pot I promise to put a nut in the white house !”
William Amos on February 20, 2010 at 5:49 PM
Ron 2012
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 5:49 PM
The most awesome awesomeness will be if he calls Meghan McCain as a “useful idiot” in reference to her “progressive Republican” shtick and that revolutions are only carried out by young people. Can you say fireworks?
Weight of Glory on February 20, 2010 at 5:49 PM
Maybe he’ll bring the pies, cakes, twinkies and little army guys too!
sicoit on February 20, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Alternate new movie
“Wat if they gave a poll and only Ron Paul showed up ?”
William Amos on February 20, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Really? Who would object?
Spirit of 1776 on February 20, 2010 at 5:51 PM
Cripes, I thought we were done with the Paulbots. Don’t tell me 2012 is gonna be rEVOLution II….
JetBoy on February 20, 2010 at 5:51 PM
That’s the thing. What happens if he gets the nomination and everybody in the media starts saying Ron Paul is a racist and that he willingly accepts money from white supremacists? For the first time in their history, they’d be right and conservatives would have no way to respond.
Narutoboy on February 20, 2010 at 5:52 PM
its dEVOLution in the case of the paultards.
William Amos on February 20, 2010 at 5:52 PM
More than half of the conference was 18-25. No surprise about Paul, then.
entropent on February 20, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Haven’t seen ya in a while…good to see you’re still around!
JetBoy on February 20, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Because anybody who supports the rat bastard traitor is clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed. And, BTW, Americans do not have mostly domestic concerns right now. They are concerned with jobs and the economy and taxes but social issues are not in play which is where idiots like Paul gains traction with the pot heads and those who want to marry their pet and make an honest hamster out of them.
highhopes on February 20, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Thanx for that! Am listening now!
lovingmyUSA on February 20, 2010 at 5:53 PM
I’m gettin’ the vapors at the thought!
Monica on February 20, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Riiight. Iran has increased their centrifuges from 400 when Obama took office to 8,000 a year later. Nothing to see there, move along…
Buy Danish on February 20, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Bolton makes too much sense.
daesleeper on February 20, 2010 at 5:54 PM
But will he bring the RED PHONE?
Monica on February 20, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Yes, glad to see ya WA!!!
lovingmyUSA on February 20, 2010 at 5:55 PM
All the YAL’s had left the compound by the time the straw poll was announced.
All the romney people were still there though lol.
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Meghan McCain would. And in this political climate, that’d be all it would take to see some sparks fly. She may even go so far as to paint some political slogans on her face again.
Weight of Glory on February 20, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Noooo not REAL limited government, balanced budgets, restrained foreign policy, adherence to the Constitution, reduction of the welfare state and depency! Nooo!
therightwinger on February 20, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Paul is a nut. No shot. Very disappointed…. HAS CPAC BEEN HIJACKED????
El_Terrible on February 20, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Wow. Long time no comment. Good to see you back.
Weight of Glory on February 20, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Hey, I didn’t say they should!
David Shane on February 20, 2010 at 5:57 PM
For an intro song, how about Funky Cold Medina?
GnuBreed on February 20, 2010 at 5:57 PM
The Stache 2012!
Monica on February 20, 2010 at 5:57 PM
Thanks lovingmy I moved receintly into an internet dead zone and couldnt get a provider finally after 5 months found one.
And Im back on <twitter as well
William Amos on February 20, 2010 at 5:58 PM
+++100
lovingmyUSA on February 20, 2010 at 5:58 PM
Oh geez. Beck is going to lead a call for a third partay, ain’t he? Third party! Third party! Third party!
El_Terrible on February 20, 2010 at 5:58 PM
Thanks for reaffirming my decision not to attend.
This explains much.
Branch Rickey on February 20, 2010 at 5:59 PM
I got Bolton on C-SPAN right now and, good grief, does that guy make sense.
Weight of Glory on February 20, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Its time for HotAirPAC. AllahPundit can give the keynote speech via satellite. He’ll wear a max and have his voice modified through some gizmo.
El_Terrible on February 20, 2010 at 6:00 PM
If only the YAL crowd from yesterday knew this would happen, the place would have gone nuts when the straw poll results were announced.
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 6:00 PM
He doesn’t leave home without it…
sicoit on February 20, 2010 at 6:00 PM
***AP will wear a mask via satellite
El_Terrible on February 20, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Beck is being intro’d not by Palin…
daesleeper on February 20, 2010 at 6:00 PM
Glenn is in.
El_Terrible on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Victory youtube video
Defeats the Allah Pundit hump bot.
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Ooooh. Starts of with Muse
Weight of Glory on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Ron Paul!
forest on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
It
starts
now
macncheez on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Monitor clean-up! Thanks hh, it wuz gittin’ a little dusty anyways…..
Rovin on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
So the Birchers return to CPAC and Ron Paul wins the straw poll.
Coincidence?
(Bet Townhall’s not too pleased with the poll.)
notropis on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
The Ronbots did their thing again and screwed up another sampling of a small gathering with their antics. But Ron Paul will never get above 10% in any election nation wide.
rich801 on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
That is laughable. Yep….they wew pulling an ACORN!
Winebabe on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
He is already crying!
daesleeper on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Crazy
Paulbots
Acting
Childishly
JetBoy on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Damn, the Paulnuts won. Can’t the crazies get their own venue.
Lance Murdock on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Ha WW in the first statement!
Weight of Glory on February 20, 2010 at 6:01 PM
oh well, he’s actually in a full suit tonite….GO GLENN!!
Woodrow Wilson, glug…first sip o’the evening!
sicoit on February 20, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Did he color his hair!!
Weight of Glory on February 20, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Is there a drinking game for this…?
Seven Percent Solution on February 20, 2010 at 6:02 PM
Paul winning the straw poll might not be that bad of a thing. It just means that the libertarians are moving into the conservative fray. Could just be a sign of strengthening of the ranks.
Hoping anyway.
conservnut on February 20, 2010 at 6:02 PM
In your dreams. Pat Buchanan won NH and lost Iowa by 1-2 percentage points.
The blue bloods can and will be defeated. Ron Paul can win in 2012.
Spathi on February 20, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Straw polls don’t mean anythinng. Half the conference is under 25 years old, and even then, less than 30 percent of the participants voted. It doesn’t make any difference.
entropent on February 20, 2010 at 6:03 PM
No Teleprompters…
Seven Percent Solution on February 20, 2010 at 6:03 PM
I threw out a couple above.
Weight of Glory on February 20, 2010 at 6:03 PM
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