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    CPAC! A Fond Look Back on the Circuses That Were

    It's CPAC time!  I almost missed it!  (My invitation no doubt was lost in the mail.)  Since 2009, shortly after I first started writing this blog, I've been fascinated by the dizzy doings over at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference).  I admit that before I took to writing a political blog, I didn't know much about what turns out to be a venerable old conference designed to highlight the Conservative (and now Tea Party) leanings of the Republican Party.  It's the coming-out party for potential presidential candidates and has been on the scene for over 40 years.  (Honestly? Since 1973? And I thought I was paying attention.)

    The main speakers this year are about the same as the main speakers from several years past:  Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump, Sean Hannity, Carly Fiorina, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio,  Rick Santorum, --oh, and Jeb Bush. This year they've added Phil Robertson of "Duck Dynasty" fame, but once again it looks like a snub for Rush Limbaugh. (Heh)

    Here is the complete schedule of festivitiesA warning:  Some of the session titles are chilling.  Hitch up your britches and grab a stiff drink before proceeding.  But I like this one:  Good Guys Reception, sponsored by the National Rifle Association and Freedom Alliance.  By invitation only.

    (There are numerous spots where you can pick up a live feed, so as not to miss anything crucial.  C-Span is as good a place as any.) 

    So since this is a big weekend for the Republicans, I thought I would take a look back on the blogging I've done about CPAC since 2009. 

    2009: Crazy With Fear: CPAC 2009. My first trip down the rabbit hole.  What an adventure!

    2010Square Deal, New Deal, Fair Deal, Raw Deal . Alas, but a mere mention.  I don't know what was going on that year but CPAC obviously wasn't a priority.

    2011: Friday Follies:  Mother Jones, Feral Pigs, Palin, Bachmann, Simpson and Da Yoopers. An even tinier mention, having to do with Michelle Bachmann, but the rest of the blog is pretty good.

    2012Thank You, Cal Thomas. Mighty Big of You.  I wrote back then that Cal Thomas could probably kick himself for getting involved with that bunch.  Silly me.  He's on the roster again this year.

    2013CPAC 2013. Wingers Just Want to Have Fun.  But not too much fun.  The dress code--an entire poster full of dress code--says no-no to the nightclub look and to Walmart wear.  Conference-goers are required to look like they mean business, even if there's funny business going on.
    But they did allow zombie costumes at "The Walking Dead, Obama Zombies on Parade" bash.  So that's cool.
     
    2014 Hail, CPAC! Silly Season is Upon us. Can Spring be Far Behind? Wherein Ted Cruz puts on his McCarthy face and Christine (I am not a witch) O'Donnell does a book signing along with Callista Gingrich, one of Newt's wives.  Good times.

    So that's it, then.  I'll probably be following along on Twitter and Facebook when I think of it, looking for the fun stuff.  I just hope there is some fun stuff.  I don't know.  The Republicans have been letting me down in the fun department lately.  Ever since they took over the entire federal government, except for that one place where that foreign squatter with the funny name lives.

    I hate it when they do things that don't make me laugh.

    (Cross-posted at Ramona's Voices)

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    Hey, Mods, could somebody please fix the block thingy or whatever you call it in that first paragraph?  I guess it didn't like playing with me.  Thanks.


    I watched some of the coverage back in the mid 90's when I got c-span.  It has always been a freak show and revival. A recap of it followed a 10:00 pm Newt Gingrich rant in the well of the empty House. That was the first time I had heard of it. 


    I guess I must have seen clips from it over the years without realizing what a comedy sensation it was.  I've been seeing snippets all day and they're having a great time over there.  John Fugelsang is there "reporting" on it.  I would love to see him take over the Daily Show.


    I have no idea what this has to do with anything.

    But then, what have political contributions have to do with anything except the citizens' right to choose?

    Ah, a little Dead?

    Why not?

     


    Walker claimed he could take on ISIS because of his experience at facing down 100,000 protesters in Wisconsin at C-pac today.  I don't remember any body in Wisconsin losing their heads or getting buried alive in the snow at the State House?  I don't see the connection of International affairs and a domestic protest. 

    The convention of magical thinking and fantasy. 


    Every year a few of them have to explain what they meant when they said. . .

    They must forget it's not a closed session.  There are reporters and cameras and everything.


    CPAC - The next Republican wingnut to declare candidacy for the highest office in the world and beyond the known 6000 year old universe, mostly beyond, Superhero Union Fighter and Self Anointed World Terrorism Destroyer Scott Walker of Wisconsin is Ready to 'Take On' the world (enriching GOP war profiteers, paying for it all off budget, and adding to the tens of thousands of deaths and casualties racked up in the fiasco created by GWBush):

    "I want a commander in chief who will do everything in their power to ensure that the threat from radical Islamic terrorists does not wash up on American soil," Walker said, adding, "If I can take on 100,000 protesters, I can do the same across the world."

    A response

    "If Scott Walker thinks that it's appropriate to compare working people speaking up for their rights to brutal terrorists, then he is even less qualified to be president than I thought," Mo Elleithee, communications director for the Democratic National Committee told Wisconsin State Journal. "Maybe he should go back to punting."

    Bloomberg News


    That's gonna hurt him.  There is no way he can walk that back.  And if those 100,000 Wisconsin workers have any brains they're work day and night to keep it alive.


    He is an opposition researcher's delight.  They really don't have to dig too deep in his poop for gems. You can bet that the Bush machine has some of the best researchers working for them.  


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