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Thanks for getting involved, and for reporting.

I attended also, and echo your observations.

Setting aside the Paulistas, who are mostly a separate breed, it seemed that it was Walker and Cruz who were the real favorites of the crowd, with Ben Carson coming in third, but with less enthusiasm than last year. The Jeb Bush vote was artificial, and he was clearly the least popular - even hated.

The big winners out of CPAC were Walker and Cruz, especially Walker, who shows more momentum.

Although not a big winner, I did get a feeling that Marco Rubio was coming back in from the cold with attendees, with his contrite statement that he has learned that we don’t trust immigration reform before the border is secured, and that he now believes that is probably right.

I was surprised how well dressed and overfed the Bush astroturf guys were. They didn’t look to me like my image of awkward interns, but rather like privileged elitists with lavish expense accounts. Maybe that was just the ones who sat by me. Bush got a total of about 250 votes. I would not be surprised if almost all of them were astroturf, who just dropped in briefly to vote and cheer his speech.

I think that the walkout when Santorum came on was just the Paulistas filtering out after Rand Paul as you said, and general disinterest, no animosity whatsoever. There was some clear walkout protest during Jeb Bush, but it was a minority and not well organized. I noticed a nervous look from Bush early in his talk, and turned to see the guy in garb with the flag leading a column of attendees out the back door - clearly making a parade of it, but not making noise.

Agit Pai, the commissioners from the FTC and the ITC, and Rep. Goodlatte were all great in that breakout session. It was a real boost for my morale to see such quality people in Government, after all the depressing news from this administration. I didn’t know Congressman Goodlatte before, but I support him now. Agit Pai is brilliant and principalled - he is a star.

Bottom Line for me was a recommittment to get out there and help next election cycle. Some brave and competent Americans have been fighting on for our constitution while I have wallowed in bitterness during this administration. I have got to stand with them, in defense of our constitution, against all enemies, foreign and domestic.