Posted on 02/11/2012 3:53:58 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Washington, DC -- It wasn't speeches by Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich that generated the most enthusiasm at CPAC 2012.
That honor would go to former Alaska governor and Republican vice president nominee Sarah Palin, who stole the conservative summit with a rousing speech on Saturday.
Palin mania was palpable throughout the Marriott Wardman Park hotel. Earlier in the day hundreds of attendees swarmed Palin for photographs and an opportunity to get a glimpse at one of the most famous conservative women in the United States.
Elsewhere thousands of CPACers waited in line to try to get into the main ballroom where she would be speaking. There was so much interest in her speech, that the conference's organizers opened up three overflow rooms with project televisions to appease her zealous following.
It was an incredibly impressive showing given that Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum didn't get near the amount of attention when they spoke on Friday. It also directly went against the narrative that she has become irrelevant within the Republican Party after refusing to run for President and instead becoming a reality television star.
Even fellow journalists mentioned off-hand that they couldn't understand why Palin was generating the amount of interest she was at CPAC. Journalists might not quite understand the appeal of Palin, but it was clear on Saturday that she is still highly influential within the conservative base.
"I think she's still relevant," Corina Cappabianca, the president of the College Republicans at New York University said. "People like her ability to say what she feels without too much of a filter."
On Saturday that included joking about President Obama's rendition of "Let's Stay Together" and boiling down his job plan of "Winning the Future" down to "WTF," an acronym known as what the f---.
She didn't endorse any of the primary Republican presidential candidates, but told the crowd that next year there will be a true conservative in the Oval Office that will be "worthy of our troops."
It is messages like that one that seem to really resonate with conservatives much more so than anything Romney or the other candidates expressed the previous day. She received 10 standing ovations, according to Gawker, but one of the most surreal moments was when she led a frenzied crowd into chanting USA at a few protesters at the back of the ballroom.
A few Occupy protesters began to "Mic check" during Palin's speech, but were quickly drowned out by thousands of conservatives enthusiastically yelling "USA! USA! USA!"
After the ordeal, Palin smiled and said, "See you just won."
Palin isn't running for any public office at this juncture, but she also just won something. She showed that she is still highly influential within her base and can put together a smart speech when needed.
She gave conservatives what they wanted and proved to be the right end to the summit.
"I thought Sarah Palin was the perfect end to the conference," Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union, said after the speech. "She added the right touch and frankly it was one of the best speeches I've heard her give."
Those outside of the conservative bubble might not understand her appeal, but if CPAC 2012 taught us anything it is that Sarah Palin is still a force to be reckoned with and will likely have a big impact within the base for years to come.
Maybe he is the sort of fellow who finds fellow yellows especially mellow.
Sarah Palin Wows CPAC 2012; Proved Her Conservative Relevancy!
Yes, just after they voted for Romney! WHO’D HAVE THUNK IT?
And they talk about the “Iron Lady.” This is the Titanium Lady. This is the Conservative choice. Come on, brokered convention—I dare you not to nominate her.
The usual suspects are just conservatives, but Willard only one man is “extreme conservative”. LOL.
“They are liberals.” Actually some Mittbots have been tearing her to shreds on FB. They are fretting over all the lies she is spreading about their Mittens....???.. They really don’t like her or anyone who does....Mitt-wits!
“Liberal” and Mittbot” - A distinction without a difference ;)
WHat is “ Mic check “ ?
Worth Listening too,she says things No other candidate has touched on and would not dare to either,FANTASTIC SPEECH!!!
Worth Listening too,she says things No other candidate has touched on and would not dare to either,FANTASTIC SPEECH!!!
Incredible speech! She really took it to the muslim boy. Great job Sarah!!!!
Since Al Cardenas gave Slick Willard a glowing introduction, I’m not suprised he sees a “conservative bubble” as an obstacle.
I did take note of Sarah Palin’s comment that no one should be calling for anyone to step aside in the race to be our nominee.
Thanks! Wow! Speech was great. She looked great. She closed out very strongly.
Or how about the Chicago Tribune posting one that makes her look 75 years old?
Obama gets pictures with halos, Sarah get wrinkles. Go figure.
I’m LOVING that top one.
Take no prisoners, girl!
She made a great speech!
I just hope she has a future in changing this sinking ship!
“Sarah Palin. Where do I start?
Great woman, great message, terrible media interfacing.”
What your not recognizing is the 10,000 scares on her back from Romney operatives that have been sniping her since McCain lost in 2008. His crew were major behind the scene agitators keeping the media roomers rolling and on the attack. He didn’t want the competition for 2012 so he has been on a mission to take her out for 4 years. In effect she was the first notch on his belt this election cycle.
I heard that Mitt was “severely conservative.”
“...Even fellow journalists mentioned off-hand that they couldn’t understand why Palin was generating the amount of interest she was at CPAC. Journalists might not quite understand the appeal of Palin, but it was clear on Saturday that she is still highly influential within the conservative base....”
Incredible. What dolts. Amazing. What must it be like to walk around day after day just bone dumb like this? Stupidity at a mind-numbing level.
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