Posted on 03/01/2021 12:53:44 PM PST by Kaslin
It's still a Trump party, but it's more than that.
In February 2017, I attended my first Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Donald Trump was fresh off a stunning victory in the 2016 presidential election and it was very easy to tell he had all the energy, vim, and support of the attendees. What was less certain at the time was how Trump would govern and whether his control of the Republican Party would be a longstanding feature, or just some weird detour.
This weekend I attended CPAC again. This time, it was held outside of the Washington DC region for the first time in its 46-year history, in sunny, muggy Orlando, Fla. The change in venue was of course a result of the COVID lockdowns still imposed in the nation’s capital, but it felt like the switch ran deeper than that. Four years on, even in defeat, this is still Trump’s party and seems set to be for some time.
In some sense, though, Trump seemed to be less dominant than in recent CPACs. To be sure, the merchandise rooms and far more abundant sidewalk tables with hats, shirts, and flags to buy were dominated by his name and visage. But he was not the only star. Figures like former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell, Sen. Josh Hawley, and governors Ron DeSantis and Kristi Noem all had leading turns.
The issues and speeches also reflected Trump’s political philosophy, something many of his enemies still stubbornly refuse to admit even exists. The top theme was the fight against cancel culture, the new way to refer to political correctness long a target for the now-former president’s ire. But panels on the dangers of China also occurred, and so did a panel moderated by the New York Post’s Kelly Jane Torrance on how to defend the pro-life movement. Big tech was railed against. These are all Trump’s issues.
The media landscape was also different. For sure, there were familiar faces like Illinois-based radio host Michael Koolidge, and others of his ilk who prove the backbone of the conservative movement outside our nation’s once gleaming, now a bit run-down metropolises. In the air was the sense that with the recent loss of Rush Limbaugh their role in the fight was set only to get bigger.
There was something that almost felt like an apology from Fox News, which sent its Fox Nation division to the sunshine state en masse, hosting the opening reception and representing the biggest media footprint. The network understands that conservative frustration with how they handled the election and its aftermath opened the door to competitors like Newsmax and One America News. Both of the latter were well represented and one could feel just how ascendant their stars have become.
The environs were also telling. When you get out of DC or New York, the Republican civil war so hyped up a corporate media desperate for it to be real melted away under Florida’s winter sun. There is a jubilance among today’s active conservatives, a desire to party. Sometimes we forget how much of Trump’s appeal, and that of his political vision, was based in fun. Many in the media mocked a large golden statue of Trump that graced the halls. They warned about false idols, but really it was just kitsch and everyone there was in on the joke.
Trump spoke to the adoring crowd on Sunday in the late afternoon. This again marked a change. In past years Trump would speak as the capstone event on Sunday morning. By the afternoon, everyone was heading back to trains or airports. This year Trump would be essentially kicking off one last night of parties.
Trump gave his speech. He’s not fighting for a new party, he is the party. He brought his carnival of liberty back to a big crowd. Is he fighting the feckless? Yeah, of course he is. But he reminded us all that the GOP has changed, and it’s glorious.
I would not be terribly surprised if CPAC moves permanently to Florida. It speaks to a GOP and a conservative movement that its moving away from big city establishmentarianism and reliance on suburban white voters to a more national party. It sees its future in smaller and more diverse communities. The increase of diversity has been remarkable at CPAC these four years. Anyone who thinks this is a blip and not a trend really isn’t paying attention.
If that chilly CPAC of 2017 was the dawn of the Trump era, then this year’s warmer variety felt like the midmorning. Now people were dressed, had had their coffee, and were ready to take on the day, the challenge, the New Right charging forward.
There was a clarifying quality to it. For four years the wrong question has been asked. Why, everyone wondered, are some Republican electeds so scared of Trump and his tweets? It was never really Trump, and he’s not even on Twitter anymore. What those officials feared and still do is Trump’s voters.
Not long after I got to CPAC this year, I tweeted that GOP voters will no longer accept candidates who do not support their interests. A good friend who hews closer to the old establishment than I do responded, asking what if the voters don’t know what is in their own interests.
I said I imagined that was for the voters to decide. And they are deciding. That is ultimately the very image of populism. And for now, that populism is here to stay.
The voters remorse on biden... makes the question obvious.. what did you think when you voted for him...
will the republican voters find out what the heck they are voting for!
mcconnell and others thought Trump was done and turned on him to be with the winner.. whoever it was.. the few who stayed are the ones to keep..
someone on AV said Trump had some of the same crew and named names till the moderator stopped him.
last comment.. perhaps Trump was not wanting to give the left ammunition.. but I wanted to see more fight.. I guess maybe CPAK was not the place to exhibit.
And.. its beyond belief the dems would put a man who is past prime.. bungling along.. as the president.. it should be embarrassing.. and dangerous...
Populism is hurled as a pejorative to mock and belittle Trump and his supporters.
But Trump is pro-American, not populist.
It’s hard for the elites to wrap their tiny minds around the concept that America is a force for good, so they try to denigrate anyone who’s pedestrian enough to consider sacred the American ideal of God, family, country and hard work.
Both parties cooperated to cheat Trump out and put Senile Joe in.
On the other hand Washington had it and he is definitely the "Father of the Country". He could have been King George.
Reagan had it. A B-actor running for President? He had Aura.
Trump has aura. He had a good portion of Living US citizens voting for him. I think Trump will build to his future, I think Trump will try to setup 2022 for his candidates taking the house and senate. In 2024 he will have a number of grateful Senators and House members waving his flag. Biden/Kamala/Puppeteers will surely screw everything up, so 2022 & 2024 wins should be expected.
Except for the fact that something always comes along like COVID-19 to screw up predictions. I think my crystal ball has a lot of asphalt in it. COVID-19 will have cost the US greatly. It cost us a President and watch what the next 2 years cost us
Well said, and nothing more need be said.
Trump, Desantis, Noem. Two of those three are the 2024 ticket, best one can predict right now.
A good friend who hews closer to the old establishment than I do responded, asking what if the voters don’t know what is in their own interests.
________________________________________________
I can understand saying this to a child (or perhaps an very young adult), but to hold this view against tens of millions of mature adults is nothing short of ludicrous contempt for one’s countrymen.
"Hey everybody, I hear they have nice hot showers for us after the train ride!"
I don’t want GOPe interpreting Trump for me
A good friend who hews closer to the old establishment than I do responded, asking what if the voters don’t know what is in their own interests.
LOL....sad.
And build new social media platforms. Ones that have no censorship and no spyware tracking you like Theftbook, Gulag & Twatter.
To that, try out the new Gitmo.Life at:
Only if they have someone just as good to take over as gov (s)
I included the republicans.. but biden is a dem.. and why would they let this senile stand..as if thats all they had... they are on the wrong side of everything they do.. they do for control instead of what is right.
The opinion piece made no sense and was pointless? It was an observation... not an article. If it made no sense to you perhaps that is on you... not the writer.
Pompeo also was there, and is a STRONG contender.
And, he is quite close to Trump.
Very good relationship.
The Democrats are also planning to pass some gun control sometime during the next couple of weeks. This bill is particularly interesting.
HR 127 – A Blatant Attempt at Fascist Control
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3938647/posts
I guess you didn't see Kristi Noem's speech.
“add Candace Owens”
that’s the black woman whose name I couldn’t remember. I think before she can be considered up to the challenge she needs to at least win a seat in the House or the Senate. The Senate would be a long shot and I don’t even know in which state she resides.
Candace Owens
I do not remember which year, but I was looking at tips online, re an engine rebuild, and there was a link to her.
I saw her video in which she “outs herself” to her folks, that she is *conservative* (or Republican?). Funny.
She sure has a mind that seeks. I have wanted to send about 5 worthy American history books, to her.
Presently, I would pick her to be our US Ambassador to the UN.
Ive never gotten along well with noems. Are there any dwarves or hobbits (stouts, not those flaky hairfoots) running? They are just so much better grounded.
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