What we learned at CPAC.

The annual conservative summit known as CPAC has wrapped up in Washington DC.

I’ve been watching video clips and reading dispatches from the conference and here are my big take-ways.

1. Though the media simplifies the conservative “movement” in a lot of ways, this is a big, complicated mix of right-of-center groups.

That’s a good thing.

It was fascinating to hear former Republican Congressman Bob Barr (now a Libertarian) mixing it up courageously with CPAC attendees over waterboarding.

(He was booed for saying point-blank that it’s torture.)

It was equally fascinating to see Republican Rep. Ron Paul win the straw poll — gaining almost a third more votes than second-place finisher Mitt Romney.

Paul is an anti-war, America-first contrarian. He, too, was booed by the crowd.

In the media — including the right-wing media — conservatives are sometimes portrayed as mindless ditto-heads, eager to fall into line.

Not so.

2. Conservatives are really angry at Republicans.

Yes, they hate President Barack Obama more. A lot more. And that’s giving them a veneer of unity.

But much of the vitriol at CPAC was aimed at GOP leaders in Congress. ‘

Glenn Beck, who gave the keynote address, slammed Republicans for being big-tent, big spending fakers.

3. Conservatives love media hucksters.

There was a time when people on the right were openly derisive of the left’s infatuation with media and movie stars.

From Jane Fonda to Michael Moore to Sean Penn and Al Franken: infatuation with Hollywood elites was something conservatives mocked.

Not anymore. Beck is a former rock-and-roll DJ turned television “rodeo clown,” to use his own description.

He and Rush Limbaugh (another music DJ turned provocateur) polled among the top figures among CPAC participants.

Both men describe themselves (accurately, I think) as great entertainers. Both men have Hollywood-style personal histories, checkered with drug abuse and kooky behavior.

Unlike many of the great conservative pundits of the past (Buchanan and Saffire, to name two) they have no experience in government or actual policy-making.

4. Finally, President Obama needs to rethink his concept of bipartisanship.

Unlike many left-of-center gatherings, CPAC is a strong indicator of where the big conservative ship is heading.

And it’s not heading toward a compromise with Mr. Obama.

Any deals struck by Republicans with this president — on healthcare or almost anything else — will be viewed as treasonous within the conservative movement.

Your thoughts? Comment below.

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