This year at the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) there was a host of speakers such as Dick Cheney, Richard Armey, Tim Pawlenty, Jon Ashcroft, Marco Rubio, Steve King, Linda Chavez, Newt Gingrich, and the list continues. Fox News talk-show host Glenn Beck will be delivering the closing keynote address this evening. Marco Rubio, a Cuban immigrant, was the opening keynote speaker Thursday, which was the opening day of the meeting. Rubio is also running against Governor Charlie Crist in the Florida primaries. As of this date, Rubio is leading in the polls 12 percentage points against Crist. CPAC was first formed in 1973 and it's a forum for young conservatives. The very first keynote speaker at this event was then Governor Ronald Reagan of California. It's a gathering for conservatives to express their ideas and give speeches and "bash" the other party in power. There were plenty of speakers making derogatory comments about President Obama and his use of the teleprompter and the national healthcare bill he and Congress are trying to ram down the American peoples' throats. Iowa Congress Steve King called Obamacare "toxic stew". He's definitely rights in his assessment about Obamacare. This national healthcare bill would be toxic for Americans. There's no way to fund this monstruous bill. Taxes will have to be increased at all levels and that would push the American taxpayer over the brink considering employment prospects at this moment. So far, there wasn't much said that I enjoyed. I listened some to Linda Chavez and Newt Gingrich.
Newt Gingrich spoke this afternoon and he was making reference to U.S. Senator Evan Bayh's not running for re-election. He was commenting on the statement that Bayh made about creating jobs. Gingrich said as President Mr. Obama has created three jobs: Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. He was making reference to the Republican victories in those states. As true as those statements are, I thought the reverse is as true as well. I believe the Republicans that held control of Congress as well as President Bush helped created jobs for the Democrats that hold the majority in Congress as well as for President Obama. That's why the Republican Party is in the shape it's in. In 2008, the Republican party bosses elected John McCain in the primary. He was no conservative. Just think what would've happened if McCain won the presidency. It would've placed the conservative movement in further disarray. However, Obama's ascension to the presidency has energized conservatives and as a result the growing Tea Party movement has formed. And the Republican elites still don't understand. Linda Chavez was stating that we don't need to alienate the growing Hispanic population in the United States. The issue isn't over race: it's over illegal immigration. We're speaking of border security! Those that support closing the borders aren't promoting racism against Hispanics or any other race. They believe the illegals shouldn't sneak into the United States and receive benefits when they aren't entitled to them. Those that cross this border should go through the proper channels and be documented. It's a national security issue. It's dangerous to not know who crosses our borders whether it be through Mexico or Canada.
Another issue that I didn't hear discussed was the issue of the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq. There needs to be a commitment to win those wars immediately and then pull out as soon as possible. These wars are bankrupting our treasury. There's no purpose in fighting a protracted war when there's no commitment on the part of the President, the Congress, and the military brass to win that war in convincing fashion. It's foolish! Border security and the wars in the Middle East were issues that needed to be addressed. Instead all those in attendance have their mind on winning the general elections of 2010. Dick Cheney and some others stated that 2010 will be a good year for conservative ideas. The question I would like to ask what kind of agenda will they implement if they win back control of Congress? Are they going to continue their business-as-usual ways like they did a few years ago? They need to publish an outlined agenda of what goals would be if they returned to the helm of power. The Republican elites are more concerned about winning elections than standing for principle. They will be the loyal opposition as long as the Democrats are in power. They can criticize Obama's use of the teleprompter and his excessive spending from now until sundown. However, many Americans still remember how the Republicans were when they were drunk on power. The Tea Party movement is not a movement to promote the Republican Party. They desire to see power restored to the people and to promote candidates that will shrink the size of government. Many conservative Americans feel betrayed by the Republican establishment. I'm tired of hearing Republicans taking pot shots at President Obama and the Democrats when they were just as hypocritical themselves. Many of them were Progressive in their thinking and they promoted big government and huge spending. They lied about the principles they claim to uphold.
The Republican Party needs to take a trip down memory lane and remember their hypocrisy and how they betrayed the trust of mainstream Americans. They need to apologize for their arrogance and betrayal of the public's trust when they were in power. I liked what Senator Jim Demint (R-SC) said. He would rather have thirty Republicans stand by conservative principles than have 60 Republicans that stand for nothing. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum had it right when he said conservatism didn't fail America. It was "conservatives failing conservatism." Those that claimed to be conservative are liberals. Under former President Bush and the Republicans, spending was out of control as well as the scope and size of government grew. The Republicans deserve to lose if they are going to be Democrat-lite. The Republicans need to stand for constitutional principles and practice them when they win election. If they won't abide by that decree, then they don't deserve to win in November. We don't need any more RINO's in there.
In closing, there was a 2012 presidential straw poll taken at CPAC. Ron Paul garnered the most votes with 31% of the vote. Mitt Romney came in a close second with 22%. Sarah Palin won 7% of the vote and Tim Pawlenty won 6% of the vote. Sarah Palin didn't attend this year's CPAC. The previous three years Mitt Romney won the straw poll but he didn't win the Republican party's nomination for president in 2008. It's highly unlikely Congressman Ron Paul will win the Republican presidential primary in 2012. Last year's CPAC was capped off by Rush Limbaugh delivering the closing keynote address. He was assailed by critics last year when Rush Limbaugh stated that he hoped President Obama's policies fail. Bush explained in that meeting that he wanted to see Obama's policies fail because they're terrible for America. Limbaugh wanted to see America prosper but he pointed out Obama's policies would destroy our free market system.
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