Posted on 03/07/2014 2:06:29 PM PST by Red Badger
One year after his filibuster, the Paul love at CPAC is stronger than ever.
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—A year after his 13-hour filibuster won the hearts of young conservatives just a week ahead of the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference, the fandom for Sen. Rand Paul here has only grown.
Paul gave a speech Friday before the first standing-room-only crowd at the conference so far, asking a cheering audience, "Will you, America's next generation of liberty-lovers, will you stand and be heard?"
Following his typical style, Paul's speech focused largely on personal freedom, the Fourth Amendment, and rights he alleged are being usurped by the Obama administration, while avoiding the tricky topic of foreign policy, where his libertarian views are not as widely accepted by conservatives here.
Paul's biggest applause line of the afternoon—the biggest applause line at CPAC so far—came during his discussion of what he perceived as President Obama's failures, particularly at the National Security Agency. "As our voices rise in protest, the NSA monitors your every phone call. if you have a cell phone, you are under surveillance. I believe what you do on your cell phone is none of their damn business," he said to loud cheers.
Paul continued an assault on Obama's record, getting laughs when he asked how history will remember the president, and later quoting Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters in asking whether former supporters of the president now believed they had "trade[d] your heroes for your ghosts? … Did they get you to exchange a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?"
"I don't question President Obama's motives," Paul added, "but history will remember his timid defense of liberty."
Like his father, who was known to pack conservative conferences with supporters, the younger Paul has shown a striking ability to bring in engaged activists. In the packed hallways of the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center over the last two days, the bright red-and-black "Stand With Rand" gear easily overshadows the few dozen Ted Cruz stickers and Ben Carson buttons adorning attendees' lapels.
Paul's team didn't have its own booth at CPAC this year, but the Young Americans for Liberty—which sold "I Stand With Rand" shirts and gave away stickers and posters—was easily the most crowded of the booths at this year's event, with dozens of largely young conservatives waiting patiently in line for their Rand gear throughout the conference up to now. Another group installed a life-sized cutout of the senator for photo ops, an honor that was only accorded to Paul and William F. Buckley.
Young Americans for Liberty Executive Director Jeff Frazee said that the booth was even more packed than at last year's event. The group gave away each and every one of the 1,100 T-shirts they brought with them by early Friday afternoon, Frazee said. The group's goal before the event was to sell 250 CPAC tickets through their website, he added. They sold more than 460.
Posters aren't allowed into the main ballroom where Paul took the stage Friday afternoon, but even an hour before his speech more than 30 "Stand With Rand" signs were lying on the floor outside the entrance, having been confiscated by security staff. Several made it into the room, though, thanks in part to a few Young Americans for Liberty volunteers who guided activists in how best to hide their signs to hold up during the speech.
Paul's book is easily the best-selling title this year, according to volunteers manning CPAC's bookstore, and his book-signing event Friday afternoon was crowded with activists dressed in full "Stand With Rand" gear.
And stand they did. As Paul wrapped up on Friday, he reminded the audience of his popular filibuster to a standing ovation. "It's a time for boldness and action. The time is now. Stand with me, stand together for liberty," he said, before exiting the stage.
Freedom isn’t ‘free’ it costs real money (and other things too). Debt is the destroyer of freedom and liberty.
...We have a lot of debt.
A society with more freedom ‘can’ be more efficient and thereby ‘can’ give more to the participants. But not neccessarily, and even moderate debt payments will wipe out that advantage.
Of course frivolous societally expensive lliberties only cost more and reduce the people’s freedoms.
Knowing the speaker and audience I assumed I didn’t have to read or listen to the speech. Was I wrong?
( I’m not especially critical of Rand, he’s better than the average politician on issues.)
Now that we are in this economic mess, it is definitely curtailing some of our freedom. I see your point. We do have to get out of debt.
The intentional jungle of federal regulations is not making it easier for people to start businesses, so it would help to get rid of a lot of those. It would help not to be under threat for our beliefs, and to not have government spying on us every minute.
That got the biggest response, by the way, his remarks about the NSA. The media picked up on that, especially his use of the word “d___” to underline his point.
I would watch the speech if you have the time. It is the most-watched speech of CPAC. If only to see the passionate response from his standing-room-only pack of mostly young people.
So who the hell let Little Mitchie McConnell in the CPAC door?
Who do you think the Death and Bones crowd of the Republican party really wants? Losers like McCain and Romney. Chris Christie as a choice will surely give Hillary(”Oh what difference does it make that I’m not responsible for the death of four heros in Benghazi!”)Clinton the nomination for (dictator)President.
He wants us to be lovers of liberty. Who can argue with that? At a time when our Constitution is under attack, this speech is spot on.
85-90% of Ron Paul is great; it’s the other 10-15% that’s a real problem.
Just amazing. Paul sides fully with the GOP’s Mitch the TEA Crusher McColnell, backs amnnesty, PRAISES OBAMA and not only are we seeing people freely make excuses, but suggesting that Perry, Mr no fence/vaccinator himself is an alternative.
Why are we screwed? I cannot imagine.
Hardly. From the Ron Paul supporters I've met face-to-face, I'd estimate around 70-80% of them are kooks, and the remaining 20-30% are rational "tea party" types. The biggest Paulbot I know went from supporting Sarah Palin is being convinced that "9/11 is an inside job" and that "the zionists" control our government, once she joined the Paulbot movement.
Paul might rule fudge-PAC
The funny thing is I’ve met as many nut job Palin supporters.
I have met various nutjob Palin supporters, but they are far outnumbered by nutjob Ron Paul supporters. The person I referenced in the previous post was both: she supported “drafting” Palin, then switched to Ron Paul and determined retroactively that her former favorite Sarah Palin was a “neo-con war monger”
It’s way too early to pick the leading candidate in 2016. About 2 years too early.
We’ll see who emerges from the fray. I doubt that my first preference (Sarah Palin) will decide to run, so it’s up to the other candidates to demonstrate their bonafides and why they merit conservatives showing up.
Ron who?
Since your discussion has drifted to Ron Paul, I remember how the Paul-bots were fixated on legalizing dangerous addictive drugs like crack, crystal meth and Heroin .
They talked like American voters would just let the resulting addicts just wander around like zombies till they starved or died from weather, not costing us anything,
Apple...tree...............
But... but... having to come up with actual evidence instead of throwing out cheap innuendo is too much like work!
Unlike the other candidates, of whom the reverse is true.
I agree with 100% with Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin.
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