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Kolling &
George, Below: Rand Paul, Gaylord on the Potomac and Hemp Ale
CPAC: Someone
to lead us from the abyss
By Jana Kolling
I’ve never been to DC or a large political event, so March 6-8 was full
of first-time experiences. I stumbled upon CPAC two years ago on
C-Span, and decided I wanted to be there. The Conservative Political
Action Conference was held at the Gaylord, an unbelievable resort on
the Potomac, while its host the American Conservative Union was
celebrating its 50th anniversary.
This was the 41st conference, with Governor Reagan having spoken to
about 1000 people at the first one in 1974. 2014 attendance was
over 10,000, and the days started at 9am with speakers scheduled about
every 12 minutes. The hub below housed hundreds of
exhibitors, book signings went on all day, and the conference managed
to stay on schedule almost to the minute.
Outside the ballroom were radio broadcasters doing live shows, and you
couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting a media member. I believe it
was a PBS gal who stuck a recorder in my face and tried to bait me with
a provocative question about Christie, to which I happily obliged.
Ted Cruz kicked off the event Thursday morning to thousands of fans,
and Palin wrapped it up Saturday evening with a barn burning 30 minute
keynote address. Rand Paul appeared to be the rock-star, with
people lined up along the walls standing to listen. Other great
speeches I recall came from Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Tim Scott, Rubio
and Jindal.
I knew before going that this was a gathering of true conservatives,
and recall watching last year’s speeches contain some pretty pointed
language for the republican establishment following a rough 2012
election. But this year seemed different, with an overall
optimism in speakers and audience, and a good feeling about the
upcoming mid-terms.
Probably most striking was the huge number of young people. In
fact, I felt like a chaperone during Rand Paul’s book signing, with the
girl behind me explaining what a hashtag was. These kids,
probably 3 to 2 boys, were amazingly well behaved and
enthusiastic. And I’ll admit, having stereotyped them as lazy and
indifferent, I may be wrong. Thinking back, I was rather irritated by
two boys beside me chatting during Rand’s speech only to realize that
per capita the adults were worse. But more impressive, they were
able to get some evening partying in and still be well-dressed in the
ballroom at 9 am the next morning.
But as is always the case, you learn more at the hotel bar than
anywhere else. Over $8.00 beers I met a right-wing guy from
Virginia, two older women from AZ, and a young Canadian who wants
nothing more than to be an American someday.
Now I knew before going that I’m a moderate, and then to listen to
speeches attacking the very “don’t do anything provocative over the
next 8 months” approach I embrace was unnerving. My opinion of
the Tea Party going in was respectful but troubling. I know from
blogging how these people are viewed, and just how hard-lined can
Boehner be without the Senate? You can imagine that lively debate
after the third beer, right?
But deep down these people make more sense than me, and I know
it. When you consider $17 trillion in debt that will never be
paid back, expanding government handouts with $500 billion
deficits/year and the fewest people paying taxes since 1979, what’s to
negotiate? Like Rush said, compromise means you’re willing to eat just
a little poison.
But my argument with the VA guy was not whether he was right, but why
he’s willing to lose elections over principle. Of course things
are bad, real bad right now. And I agree with them that we have
to get better people elected. But isn’t it a utopian idea that
you send the perfect candidates to Washington to get everything you
want? And being so close to taking back the senate, why would you
do anything to screw that up?
But most speeches contained a message of doing just the opposite.
Now is the time to present ideas boldly and be the party with positive
answers. Again I felt thin-skinned around people who know exactly
what they want without hesitation, especially hearing it from respected
senators. That same struggle I have with independents. Are they
advanced because they don’t pick sides and carefully weigh their
options? Or are they too uninformed and indecisive to know where
they stand?
I’ll admit, I’ll take anyone who can win. They may not do
everything I like, but you can bet it’d be a hell of a lot better than
the last 5 years. I’ve told people Christie reminds me of a
football coach, to which the VA guy said yes those types will do
anything to win. Yeah, I hate when my team loses so again he was
right. Comically, I saw him organizing a walk-out on Christie’s
speech the next day. It never happened. And conveniently,
Christie ended his talk with “You can’t govern if you can’t win”.
But ironically the Tea Party, strongly hated by liberals, was actually
created by liberals. It was 2009 when a CNBC editor ranted in
Chicago about a government bailout of mortgages. The movement
began that year, and followed by the federalization of healthcare you
had the perfect storm. Five years later, NSA spying, admitted IRS
targeting, and having been labeled as extremists by the DOD, I feel
confident in saying the Tea Party ain’t going anywhere.
I’m still a moderate, but I will say I dig the Tea Party. They stand on
the front lines, know exactly what they want, and nobody takes more
cover fire than Palin. Another critical role they play is to pull
the conversation back to the center, from which it has drifted
dramatically left. I don’t agree with the “all or nothing”
approach, but they serve a purpose and do it well.
They said Reagan was able to unite a diverse party under one umbrella,
and it will probably take that again. We have young, diverse
talent and I came away more confident than ever that we can trust the
next generation. They don’t seem the type to put up with crap,
and after all they aren’t the ones who created the mess we’re in.
Three full generations came together for three days, and I think we
learned from each other. We shared common concerns, and are
desperately looking for someone to lead us from the abyss.
Leaving the bar I walked out with the older AZ woman. I told her
I love the unwavering focus and deliberation, but I ain’t there
yet. She smiled and said, “Well I’m too damn old and fed up not
to be”.
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