Top story: If anyone on the left ever whines, “Why don’t we have our own CPAC?”, present this list of links. They’ll stop.
- Why is Romney addressing CPAC? Even conservatives don’t know: “What can he offer them? Based on his interview I saw last weekend, not much. When he ran, he didn’t seem to understand much of this country.” (First Read)
- “Romney today speaks at CPAC – coming after at least 2 GOPers (Perry, DeMint) criticized him and his campaign” (Mark Murray)
- “Another CPAC contradiction: Rubio drew applause for stating opposition to gay marriage, while fellow VP short-lister Portman now backs it.” (Mark Murray)
- “Donald Trump at CPAC? So this is what Shakespeare was warning us about the Ides of March.” (Jon Ralston)
- “Talked to a Republican operative last night who said Trump’s booking was a sign of how much CPAC had jumped the shark.” (McKay Coppins)
- One Republican panelist at CPAC suggested we end federal oversight of campaigns: “I don’t think anyone here is going to shed a tear if the FEC goes away,” (The Center for Public Integrity)
- The backdrop to the giant stage at CPAC includes pictures of conservative luminaries past. And among the pictures of men like Ronald Reagan and William F. Buckley is one of former Sen. Jesse Helms, R-North Carolina, whom The Washington Post’s David Broder labeled “the last prominent unabashed white racist politician in this country” upon the 2001 announcement of Helm’s retirement. (The Washington Examiner)
- “Blessing at CPAC dinner starts with pastor praying for Sen. Jim DeMint as he begins his new chapter outside of the Senate.” (Ali Weinberg)
- “Dana Milbank made me chuckle today. As he walked around CPAC, he wore a ‘don’t believe the liberal media’ pin on his lapel.” (Robert Costa)
- Breitbart’s Ben Shapiro: “It’s really that simple. The media has to be destroyed where it stands.” (Chris Geidner)
John Flowers