CPAC 2013: Hearing from some of the possible next GOP standard bearers
We’re approaching the midpoint of CPAC 2013, and we’ve heard from about half of the people expected to be contenders in 2016 (at least, those who are on the agenda — and no, Donald Trump isn’t one of the people I have in mind). We can begin to see the ground these potential candidates are beginning to stake out.
The first of these possible candidates was Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Rubio covered the waterfront of long-held conservative beliefs, on both fiscal and social issues. “Our challenge,” he said, “is to create an agenda applying our principles.” The broad outlines of such an agenda from him mostly included conventionally conservative stuff. If there is one theme he wants to own, I’d say it is American exceptionalism.
He cited a different book: “The China Dream,” recently written by a Chinese army colonel. The gist, Rubio said, is that “China’s goals should be to surpass the United States as the world’s preeminent military and economic power,” and that the 21st century should pit China and America in “a race to see who should become the champion country to lead world progress.”
It was in that context that Rubio responded to criticism that the GOP was not promoting any new ideas (as opposed to those new-thinking Democrats who are still pursuing long-time goals such as universal publicly funded health care and gun control) by citing the hope America offers to the rest of the world, such as his parents who immigrated from Cuba.
“We don’t need a new idea,” he said. “There is an idea. It’s called America, and it still works. You want proof that it still works, look around the world today. Who are they copying? Not the former Soviet Union. Not Russia. They’re not even copying China. They’re copying us. They may claim to hate us, but they sure would like to be us.”
***
Immediately following Rubio was Sen. Rand Paul, the Kentuckian and son of former congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul. He took the stage to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” and wearing a sports coat, tie and blue jeans. He was dressed like some college professors I had, and he launched into a constitutional semi-lecture that began with a discussion of his now-famous, 13-hour filibuster on the Senate floor about the Obama administration’s drone policies.
“We need to jealously guard all our liberties,” he said, before turning his message to one of those voter groups Republicans know they have to be more successful with.
“The Facebook generation can detect falseness and hypocrisy a mile away. I know, I have kids,” he said. “They are the core, though, of the leave-me-alone coalition. They doubt Social Security will be there for them. They worry about jobs and rent and student loans. They want leaders who won’t feed them a lot of crap or sell them short.
“Ask the Facebook generation whether we should put a kid in jail for the nonviolent crime of drug use, and you’ll hear a resounding ‘no.’ Ask the Facebook generation if they want to bail out too-big-to-fail banks with their tax dollars, and you’ll hear a ‘hell no.’ There is nothing constitutional about bailing out Wall Street. Likewise, there is nothing ‘progressive’ about loans to billionaires to build solar panels.”
As you might have expected, Paul is going to try to pull the GOP in a more libertarian direction. “The GOP of old has grown stale and moss-covered,” he summed it up. His speech didn’t receive as much consistent applause as Rubio’s did, but he had the audience in his hand by the end. Could the same thing happen in the 2016 primary?
***
Friday brought Rep. Paul Ryan to the conference, and the 2012 vice presidential candidate received a very warm welcome. As you might expect, the House Budget Committee chairman focused a lot on budget matters, but he wanted to talk not just about the numbers but the reasons balancing the budget is important.
“A debt crisis would be more than an economic event,” Ryan argued. “It would be a moral failure. By cheapening our currency, government would cheat us of our just rewards.”Even now we are hurting American working families. By living beyond our means, the government is sending us a message. It is saying, if you plan ahead, if you make sacrifices for your kids, if you saved, you’re a sucker. It is brazenly stealing from our children and from young adults, and it has to stop.”
He argued for restoring government to a more appropriate size, one that allows it to do certain things well while leaving other things to the people.
“We need to make room for community, for that vast middle ground between the government and the people,” he said. “They don’t find common ground through grim isolation or government fiat,” but through the connections they make themselves.
***
Later Friday and Saturday, we’ll hear from Rick Santorum (hey, he finished second last year, which was yet another year the GOP nomination went to the “next guy in line”), Bobby Jindal, Jeb Bush and Scott Walker. I’ll post thoughts about their speeches afterward.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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357 comments Add your comment
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
8:48 am
Why don’t you do something about it.
————
I did. I voted American.
American lost.
Skip
March 16th, 2013
8:50 am
Why is LBB so proud of his Obama phone?
indigo
March 16th, 2013
8:57 am
Aesop – 8:33 pm
Thousands of women suffer spontaneous abortions(miscarriages) every week.
And yet, your “God of love” supposedly knows even when a sparrow falls to the ground.
So, this God must know of, and approve of, all these natural abortions.
So, are you comparing God to Hitler?
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
8:58 am
Because it reminds you constantly of how stupid the welfare state has become, and how greedy its clientele is for other people’s money.
indigo
March 16th, 2013
8:59 am
Jefferson
Aesop is a rich kid living with his mommie and daddy.
He thinks he’ll never have to worry about our economy like the rest of us.
indigo
March 16th, 2013
9:01 am
Barry – 8:58
Since I’m a liberal by your thinking, I too must be greedy for other people’s money.
Please explain how I can get my hands on this money since Obama forgot to tell me how to do it.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
9:03 am
Isn’t it funny how the religiophobes fail to understand that humans have free will, and use that ignorance to conflate human evil with divine intervention?
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
9:04 am
Since I’m a liberal by your thinking, I too must be greedy for other people’s money.
———
You should read my post again (or for the first time, as the case may be).
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
March 16th, 2013
9:18 am
Thousands of women suffer spontaneous abortions(miscarriages) every week.
And to think that you survived these horrific odds, indie, while all those little babies perished, from lack of obozocare I’m sure. Isn’t that so unfair, to the babies? This world really is messed up.
Don’t you just wish mommy would have aborted you so that you could say you were down with the struggle against corporate evil?
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
10:08 am
Aesop, it’s really mean to remind people that an abortion means someone dies.
TRUTH
March 16th, 2013
10:16 am
CONTENDERS??!! Looks like a repeat of the circular firing squad from the 2012 race, Kyle, as much as you hate it, all you have is the same ol’ gang with a new propped up “darling” in Rubio. Clearly the GOP has targeted Latinos with the sudden surge of “LUV” for their new hopeful. Unfortunately, they are and have been trying to emulate President Obama’s and the Democrat’s ground game so why not put a Latino there to coax that segment of the populace to support GOP ideals….one lil’ problem……the GOP still remains stunningly WHITE. As much as the GOP claims “inclusiveness” they defeat their own argument by saying they need to be more inclusive. WTF? Look at the “list” of speakers, predominantly White, Male, most still associated with the Ol’ Guard of the party. Frankly, Newt should have become a memory long ago, but yet he still has relevance? Romney is now a trivia question (kinda like the Buffalo Bills and the Super Bowl losses), Bachmann, Palin, Paul, Santorum, (no need for comedy there), and a bunch of others who believe that America wants them in the Oval office with a finger on the button…. Makes many of us wonder just where any GOP’er was during the, you know, the ELECTION??!! It’s a shame that the only “contender” who has a snowball’s chance is Bush…(you know the one you guys aren’t afraid to reference). And he even chastised his own Party for its behavior. But lets not dwell on that… We gotta stay in front of China (fear), we have to cut support for working Americans, but we’re doing it so corporate profits remain substantial, while the very workers (if they haven’t been laid off struggle to survive), and the prospects for that group, those leeches (aka “the 47%), continue to want hand outs from the government. Yeah, vote that Ryan Budget in…..
Hate to say it, but a little prediction is needed here…. I see a GOP loss…forever….
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
10:22 am
Krigman admits that unemployment is “disastrously high”.
Wow–four years of the best the progs have to offer, four years into the recovery, and it’s still a disaster.
Obozo: Failure.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
10:24 am
That would be former Enron adviser Krugman.
bluecoat
March 16th, 2013
10:24 am
Well we had Jed,and Jethro. Suppose Jeb could be next.Could bring Palin in for Elly may.The Texas tea oil patch along with the Teaquesters.
breckenridge
March 16th, 2013
10:25 am
Aesop do you consider yourself a Christian? Because it looks like the message of Jesus Christ is completely lost on you.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
10:32 am
breck, please keep your religion off the blog.
bluecoat
March 16th, 2013
10:38 am
I think he’s from the blood line of Enoch and Lamech.
td
March 16th, 2013
10:54 am
indigo
March 16th, 2013
8:57 am
Aesop – 8:33 pm
Thousands of women suffer spontaneous abortions(miscarriages) every week.
And yet, your “God of love” supposedly knows even when a sparrow falls to the ground.
So, this God must know of, and approve of, all these natural abortions.
So, are you comparing God to Hitler?
And what in the hell does this have to do with woman made abortions? God is God and God is the only one allowed to take life at anytime. Woman is a human being and is not God. Why do you progressive women think you are equal to God.
breckenridge
March 16th, 2013
11:06 am
“breck, please keep your religion off the blog.”
Right Barry. This from a guy that calls sex education “progressive.”
History time boys – The very first Christian sect were the Ebionites, from Jerusalem. They formed in about the year 80 AD, or about 45 years after Jesus died. They probably had parents or grandparents that were followers of Jesus when he was alive.
The Ebionites believed Jesus was the Messiah. They did not, however, believe in the virgin birth, the resurrection or that Jesus was divine. Within 20 years their beliefs were mainstream Christianity.
So what happened? Well about 100 years later the authors of the New Testament showed up, and apparently they’d just completed a creative writing class. All of a sudden Jesus was endowed with super-hero powers. And that’s why religious scholars such as the Jesus Seminar spend thousands and thousands of hours combing through the New Testament to determine which parts are factual and which are fictional.
So the idea that the New Testament is word-for-word true is complete nonsense. And if that idea is part of your particular faith it’s time to find a new one. Let me suggest Unitarianism.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
March 16th, 2013
11:10 am
WTF? Look at the “list” of speakers, predominantly White, Male
Kinda like a white house cabinet meeting, ain’t it?
Aesop do you consider yourself a Christian?
Hate the sin, love the sinner? No?
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
March 16th, 2013
11:15 am
So the idea that the New Testament is word-for-word true is complete nonsense.
This dude^^ doesn’t even understand Christianity.
larry
March 16th, 2013
11:18 am
Rush Limbaugh like Rubio, Ryan and the rest follow !
GOP stop parading these rhino’s for 2016 !
Get real leaders as candidates people can vote for OR you loose 2016 !!!
People can see through this group of opportunity seekers at the expense of American JOBS !!
JamVet
March 16th, 2013
11:20 am
Good morning, malevolent Christians, assorted bigots and segregationist ,White Power types.
I wonder what the odds are of that stunning talent at CPUKE righting the floundering USS Neocon.
When the Flov-o-flav of the month actually says , “We don’t need a new idea,”.
500 to 1?
1000 to 1?
More than likely Kyle will be all optimistic and tell you faithful that all is well in the GOP when he gets back. Personally, I could not agree with Flav more. You guys don’t need any new ideas.
Stay the course and good luck in 2024…
breckenridge
March 16th, 2013
11:31 am
No, not true, I do understand Christianity. I also understand the New Testament is allegorical. And that it is those that are naive, misinformed or just plain stupid that think otherwise.
Two thumbs up for Rand Paul yesterday, saying the GOP needs new ideas. The same old stale stuff isn’t working. Actually what the party needs in new-old ideas, or rather those put forth by Barry Goldwater. It’s time for fiscal conservatives to take over once again and flush the religious garbage right straight down the toilet.
However CPAC itself gets a cold slap across the face with a dead and diseased fish for not inviting Chris Christie.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
11:32 am
Why do you hate America, JamVet?
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
March 16th, 2013
11:34 am
sodomy isn’t a new idea, y’all.
JamVet
March 16th, 2013
12:08 pm
Why do you hate me, Lil?
Hillbilly D
March 16th, 2013
12:24 pm
Good morning, malevolent Christians, assorted bigots and segregationist ,White Power types.
The “new you” didn’t last very long did it?
Something to think about on the transplant front………
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/health/rabies-killed-maryland-kidney-transplant-patient.html?_r=0
td
March 16th, 2013
12:29 pm
Sarah is killing it right now at CPAC.
breckenridge
March 16th, 2013
12:34 pm
“We could easily find a cure for Alzheimer’s if we’d only put our mind to it. But we’re not even trying to because there’s too much government regulation and taxation. It’s time we cared.” Michele Bachmann, CPAC speech, 3-15-2013.
Pharmaceutical companies have spent literally billions trying to cure, or at least stop the progress of, Alzheimer’s. It is a very tough nut to crack and remedies have proven quite elusive. Michele Bachmann is an ignorant fool, exactly the kind of bad republican that needs to be drummed out of the party.
indigo
March 16th, 2013
12:43 pm
Aesop – 9:18
That childish response in no way answers my questions.
That is exactly what I expected from a kid like you.
indigo
March 16th, 2013
12:45 pm
td – 10:54
So God just sits up there and lets thousands of babies die each week.
And you’re ok with that?
I can only wonder how distorted the rest of your thinking must be.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
March 16th, 2013
12:49 pm
Real nice, breck, we’re spending trillions to mindlessly shake our fist at the sun and you don’t think we could squeeze out a couple billion to cure something that really does affect us?
td
March 16th, 2013
12:53 pm
indigo
March 16th, 2013
12:45 pm
td – 10:54
So God just sits up there and lets thousands of babies die each week.
And you’re ok with that?
I can only wonder how distorted the rest of your thinking must be.
And God allows millions of people to die every month in the world from all types of reasons. We are not to question God and the reason for his decisions.
My problem is that you believe women should be elevated to the same level as God and we should not question their decisions over life and death.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
March 16th, 2013
1:03 pm
I was wondering why all the libs were foaming up and spilling over and then I saw that Palin was speaking.
They really do hate women, make no mistake about that. Mommy must have beat them pretty good.
MarkV
March 16th, 2013
1:07 pm
“My problem is that you believe women should be elevated to the same level as God and we should not question their decisions over life and death.”
Who’s life and death?
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
1:44 pm
Pharmaceutical companies have spent literally billions trying to cure…Alzheimer’s…Michele Bachmann is an ignorant fool.
——————————
Not any more ignorant or foolish than the liberal fascists who think those companies shouldn’t be able to sell their products in a free market, should those billions result in an effective drug.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
1:46 pm
They only hate free-thinking women, Aesop. The ones who are happy on the plantation they’ve got no problem with.
breckenridge
March 16th, 2013
1:54 pm
“Real nice, breck, we’re spending trillions to mindlessly shake our fist at the sun and you don’t think we could squeeze out a couple billion to cure something that really does affect us?”
Aesop the private sector has a much better track record than big government programs in making technological breakthroughs. Why create another big government program anyway? That’s anti-Goldwater, I could never support such an idea. Best left to the private sector.
As for Bachmann she has a terrible track record in Congress, has repeatedly violated the Establishment Clause that prohibits members of Congress making law of a religious nature. She’s an evangelical Christian that wants to jam her perverted beliefs down the throat of every Americans. In other words she is scum.
getalife
March 16th, 2013
1:55 pm
You will not see this great news at cpac:
“Piece by piece, evidence has begun to accumulate that after four years of lackluster performance, the U.S. economy is on track for stronger growth than many people had expected.” LA Times.
Thank you President Obama.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
March 16th, 2013
1:57 pm
[Bill] Maher said, “You know what? Rich people – I’m sure you’d agree with this – actually do pay the freight in this country.”
“I just saw these statistics,” he continued, “I mean, something like 70 percent. And here in California, I just want to say liberals – you could actually lose me. It’s outrageous what we’re paying – over 50 percent. I’m willing to pay my share, but yeah, it’s ridiculous.”
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2013/03/16/bill-maher-california-income-taxes-liberals-you-could-actually-lose-m#ixzz2Nj75K99p
———————–
Does Maher want to pay his fair share or not?
I guess he finally listened to something Real Americans have been trying to tell everyone for years.
breckenridge
March 16th, 2013
1:58 pm
“I was wondering why all the libs were foaming up and spilling over and then I saw that Palin was speaking.They really do hate women, make no mistake about that. Mommy must have beat them pretty good.”
But Aesop which party are those groups that spend all their time trying to take away women’s rights affiliated with? You know the filthy garbage I’m talking about……..Family Research Council…….Focus on Family…….Georgia Right to Life……blah blah blah……nothing but a big pile of festering maggots. They need to get out of the GOP and start their own party, call it…….oh I don’t know, how ’bout the Stupid And Worthless Party……
getalife
March 16th, 2013
2:01 pm
palin bombed like trump.
The right are out of leaders and the only one that would be competitive is out because he dared work with President Obama to rebuilt his State.
They will stay the course and lose again in 14.
Bet on it.
Cherokee
March 16th, 2013
2:06 pm
“Sarah is killing it right now at CPAC”
Bwahahahahaha
But you keep thinking that atd. Maybe you can get her to run against Hillary or Joe in 2016.
Please oh please oh please….
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
March 16th, 2013
2:15 pm
breck says -
Aesop the private sector has a much better track record than big government programs in making technological breakthroughs. Why create another big government program anyway?
Damn, our boy had a moment of clarity! Congratulations, breck!
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
March 16th, 2013
2:23 pm
Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon who drew conservative attention following his controversial National Prayer Breakfast speech, said on Saturday that he’s retiring from medicine and suggested he could enter politics.
Bring it on.
No future in medicine with obozcare but the dummycrats keep angering the American people so Con politics is the new growth industry.
getalife
March 16th, 2013
2:26 pm
Economy is looking good, occupations are ending, pivot from the ME to cyber security and North Korea, no scandals, no collapses, no attacks on the homeland, etc…..
Life is great and so is our President.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
March 16th, 2013
2:27 pm
The key to success in this kind of enterprise is the host’s ability to articulate his positions in a logical and cogent manner. This is because most people will not listen for very long to an analysis-driven program if the analysis itself does not make rational sense.
And this is precisely where the crux of liberals’ problem lies. They are simply not able to explain and defend their views in rational fashion. This is not at all surprising, for how does one justify high taxes, gay marriage, abortion, multiculturalism and such? They are all based on false premises and they all produce disastrous outcomes. Anything more than a superficial examination must reveals them for the frauds and failures that they in truth are. This is why liberalism cannot withstand the analytical vigor of talk radio and why it has failed so abysmally in it.
Who wants to hear angry people grunt into their microphones?
getalife
March 16th, 2013
2:36 pm
“Who wants to hear angry people grunt into their microphones?”
Why do you hate cpac?
Georgia
March 16th, 2013
2:38 pm
Wait, I have something important to add…….if only people knew what was inside of me and I could tell them what I feel….I’ve got so much to say………