Posted on 01/08/2010 2:30:00 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Sarah Palins plan to deliver the keynote address for a fee at next months first-ever National Tea Party Convention is getting renewed attention in light of her rejection Thursday of an invitation to speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.
The decision to blow off CPAC traditionally seen as the years must-attend event for the conservative establishment in favor of a little-known convention is prompting some soul-searching among CPAC supporters, and is being interpreted as a calculated play by the former Alaska governor to cast herself as the potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate of the high-energy, anti-establishment Tea Party movement.
But its also renewed questions about her political judgment and brought scrutiny on the Tea Party Convention, which kicks off two weeks before CPACs Feb. 18 start date and has cast itself to some degree as a more homegrown, grassroots alternative to the traditional conservative conference.
Its a missed opportunity for her, for sure, said GOP operative Brad Blakeman. CPAC is an established mainstay of conservatism that those seeking to be active in 2010, 2012 and beyond should take advantage of to be seen and heard, while the tea parties are a manifestation of frustration that is loosely organized and hasnt proven itself at the polls.
Palin has committed to speaking at Aprils Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, considered a must-attend for_prospective candidates for the 2012 Republican nomination.
Still, the CPAC snub combined with the Tea Party commitment were clearly intended to send a message, asserted Erick Erickson, founder of the influential conservative_blog_RedState.com, which is owned by a publishing firm that is co-sponsoring CPAC. I get why she did it, he said. It is a purposeful decision on her part to try to claim a segment of the conservative movement as her own.(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
yup...looks like a doctored photo to me.
“conservative establishment”
Where is this “conservative establishment”?
If Palin wants to run as the anti-establishment candidate, she has to essentially be against all the existing “establishments.”
When she announced she was resigning as governor, she asked us to trust her, and I’ve chosen to do just that. I have to admit, sometimes I scratch my head, and wonder at certain things, but so far, things have worked out very well when you consider just 6 months ago just about every talking head, left and right, and not a few here at FR were pronouncing her politically dead. Well, she’s the most lively corpse I’ve ever seen, and she is getting herself well positioned to ride the wave of anti-0bama/big government sentiment right into the White House.
I think you're absolutely right.
All you need to know.
Yep. The status quo trying to beat off the encroaching reformers. Buncha' weasels.
Nah. I've seen that picture before. Optical illusion because of the way her glasses sit on her face and the angle.
What you think CPAC is?
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