Posted on 03/01/2009 8:53:36 AM PST by AJKauf
This year I had the pleasure to be one of the official bloggers for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which is winding down as I write. But rather than writing an action report with a long “to-do” list for fellow conservatives, I feel like writing an obituary for the conservative movement would be more appropriate.
On the positive side of the ledger, this was a rare opportunity to meet many top conservative bloggers and put faces with the names.
That said, however, those of us inhabiting the official bloggers row, sponsored this year by Pajamas Media, are clearly considered the red-headed stepchildren by CPAC’s organizers. The best evidence for this was that bloggers row was situated at the back corner of the exhibit hall (which doubles as the first floor of the hotel’s parking garage). The organizers could not have positioned us any farther from the events here at CPAC without setting us up outside the building. In contrast to political left, where bloggers and new media have propelled Democrats to stunning victory and are courted by their politicians at the annual Daily Kos convention, the conservative establishment still has no idea what to do with new media.
This year’s CPAC was the largest on record. It was encouraging to see the large herds of students moving throughout the hotel. Unfortunately, the constant theme those students heard during this year’s CPAC was that the proper role of the conservative movement is as cheerleader for the GOP.
I must strongly dissent. Ever since George H.W. Bush violated his no new taxes pledge and announced the appointment of David Souter to the Supreme Court, the conservative movement has been the victim of nearly two decades of serial gang rape by the Republican Party and its leadership...
(Excerpt) Read more at pajamasmedia.com ...
who need enemies when you have this......
serial gang rape by the Republican Party
Egg-Zactly.
Why is Huck and Paul even in the running?
NO kidding.
Talk about enemies...ugg
CPAC was awesome
Ann Coulter was GREAT
Mitt was GREAT
RUSH was just out of the park Awesome!
I think it was the best CPAC ever.....
Conservatives owe allegiance to what is right, not the GOP.
Very good article.
Bump and bookmark!
LOL... who is this guy? How many votes can he influence? One, two votes?
He’s a nitwit. But those who voted Romney to the top of the straw poll were nitwits too.
wasn’t that Newt’s message?
What you’re seeing is not the death of the conservative movement, but rather the infiltration and control of another conservative organization by the GOP.
Sounds like Newt. I haven’t seen the speeches.
When Mitt Romney leads the straw poll, you know something funny was going on in that hall.
No, really, tell us how you feel.
Yeah it struck me funny how strongly they agreed with Rush’s speech, only to (I don’t know if the poll was before or after Rush) have Mitt be the #1 choice.
Not that it matters now.
Exactly, I have to question what I have in common with any organization that picks Romney as a conservative or a leader.
I wrote here a while back that we must have a change of leadership in DC. Boehner has got to go.
Russek Kirk says that a conservative believes in an enduring moral order.
The conservative also believes the culture has developed over centuries. This culture and its customs, habits and institutions needs support and protection.
The typical conservative also believes that politics means prudent actions.
The conservative believes diversity is necessary, meaning tolerance of ability, social, economic and other differences.
The conservative denies that an all encompassing ideology can radically change society for the better.
Conservatives hold private property in high esteem as having been culturally determined by trial and error.
They see human nature as fatally flawed and prone to violence and fraud. The need for government is absolute if we are to have a decent society.
Conservatives prefer a smaller, less intrusive government but they do see the need for it. Government intervenes on human imperfections; it is needed because people are not perfect and there must be a restraint on out-of-control passions.
Are these the traits we could choose in a candidate that we could all get behind? A checklist for the next leader of the party?
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