The annual conservative summit known as CPAC has wrapped up in Washington DC. <\/p>\n
I’ve been watching video clips and reading dispatches from the conference and here are my big take-ways.<\/p>\n
1. Though the media simplifies the conservative “movement” in a lot of ways, this is a big, complicated mix of right-of-center groups.<\/p>\n
That’s a good thing. <\/p>\n
It was fascinating to hear former Republican Congressman Bob Barr (now a Libertarian) mixing it up courageously with CPAC attendees over waterboarding.<\/p>\n
(He was booed for saying point-blank that it’s torture.)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Paul is an anti-war, America-first contrarian. He, too, was booed by the crowd.<\/p>\n
In the media — including the right-wing media — conservatives are sometimes portrayed as mindless ditto-heads, eager to fall into line. <\/p>\n
Not so.<\/p>\n
2. Conservatives are really angry at Republicans.<\/p>\n
Yes, they hate President Barack Obama more. A lot more. And that’s giving them a veneer of unity.<\/p>\n
But much of the vitriol at CPAC was aimed at GOP leaders in Congress. ‘<\/p>\n
Glenn Beck, who gave the keynote address, slammed Republicans for being big-tent, big spending fakers. <\/p>\n
3. Conservatives love media hucksters.<\/p>\n
There was a time when people on the right were openly derisive of the left’s infatuation with media and movie stars. <\/p>\n
From Jane Fonda to Michael Moore to Sean Penn and Al Franken: infatuation with Hollywood elites was something conservatives mocked.<\/p>\n
Not anymore. Beck is a former rock-and-roll DJ turned television “rodeo clown,” to use his own description.<\/p>\n
He and Rush Limbaugh (another music DJ turned provocateur) polled among the top figures among CPAC participants. <\/p>\n
Both men describe themselves (accurately, I think) as great entertainers. Both men have Hollywood-style personal histories, checkered with drug abuse and kooky behavior.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
4. Finally, President Obama needs to rethink his concept of bipartisanship.<\/p>\n
Unlike many left-of-center gatherings, CPAC is a strong indicator of where the big conservative ship is heading.<\/p>\n
And it’s not heading toward a compromise with Mr. Obama. <\/p>\n
Any deals struck by Republicans with this president — on healthcare or almost anything else — will be viewed as treasonous within the conservative movement. <\/p>\n
Your thoughts? Comment below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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