CPAC Thursday
As reported here earlier via Lumen, it was an eventful Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference. The carefully prepared program would have offered an eventful day as planned, but the days unexpected events transformed it from eventful to historic. The Vice President, scheduled for 11:00 was brought on early to accommodate his schedule and gave a positive report on the incumbent presidency.
As the expected arrival time for Governor Romney approached, the already full room overflowed with Romney supporters, many young, and all enthusiastic. (More on the scene at CPAC today below the fold.)
The panoply of signs, mitts, and thunder sticks were passed across rows to eagerly awaiting hands. The Governor came on stage and began his address with much of the familiar stump speech rhetoric. The slight hesitation as the summation was expected was noticed by only those paying close attention. The past tense of "If I remained in the race until the convention" was heard but not immediately understood for its import. But it did begin to be understood, and the mood which had been ebullient, was suddenly subdued. Those who seconds earlier were participants in a determined if uphill campaign with a future were suddenly witness to a campaign that had ended.
After the Governor departed, many of his supporters sought the exits as well, and the conference continued with some attempt to return to the schedule. Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas provided a passioned plea for more not less conservatives in the Congress. Marine Colonel Oliver North presented Courage Under Fire awards to Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina.
Then former Governor George Allen of Virginia was on stage somewhat unexpectantly. Allen was a major Fred Thompson supporter, but it became clear his presence was related to the next expected speaker, John McCain. And indeed Allen was present to prepare for that. He prepared the ground for a still stunned audience to give Senator McCain a polite welcome. Tom Coburn followed with the official introduction, and a plea for graciousness not entirely warmly received. And there was John McCain on stage.
He spoke without notes, and with conviction and humility. He reminded the audience that where he had taken positions which conservatives did not support, they were brief departures from a substantially conservative record. McCain welcomed Romney supporters to join his ranks. He expressed his intention to run his general campaign on conservative principles, clearly contrasting those conservative positions with those of his democrat opponent. He acknowledged that his responsibility was now to unite the Republican Party and that this end could not be achieved without the conservatives in that room. He pledged to veto any bill from a democrat congress which raised taxes, to not sign any bill with earmarks and to prosecute the war in Iraq to victory.
The conference continued following Senator McCains address with an address by Congressman Ron Paul, and an after dinner address by Robert Novak introduced by Sam Donaldson.
It was a long, electrifying and eventful day. One this reporter will long remember. The conference continues tomorrow. President George Bush is first on the early morning agenda. Stay tuned here to The Virginian Federalist. Read More. . . .
As the expected arrival time for Governor Romney approached, the already full room overflowed with Romney supporters, many young, and all enthusiastic. (More on the scene at CPAC today below the fold.)
The panoply of signs, mitts, and thunder sticks were passed across rows to eagerly awaiting hands. The Governor came on stage and began his address with much of the familiar stump speech rhetoric. The slight hesitation as the summation was expected was noticed by only those paying close attention. The past tense of "If I remained in the race until the convention" was heard but not immediately understood for its import. But it did begin to be understood, and the mood which had been ebullient, was suddenly subdued. Those who seconds earlier were participants in a determined if uphill campaign with a future were suddenly witness to a campaign that had ended.
After the Governor departed, many of his supporters sought the exits as well, and the conference continued with some attempt to return to the schedule. Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas provided a passioned plea for more not less conservatives in the Congress. Marine Colonel Oliver North presented Courage Under Fire awards to Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina.
Then former Governor George Allen of Virginia was on stage somewhat unexpectantly. Allen was a major Fred Thompson supporter, but it became clear his presence was related to the next expected speaker, John McCain. And indeed Allen was present to prepare for that. He prepared the ground for a still stunned audience to give Senator McCain a polite welcome. Tom Coburn followed with the official introduction, and a plea for graciousness not entirely warmly received. And there was John McCain on stage.
He spoke without notes, and with conviction and humility. He reminded the audience that where he had taken positions which conservatives did not support, they were brief departures from a substantially conservative record. McCain welcomed Romney supporters to join his ranks. He expressed his intention to run his general campaign on conservative principles, clearly contrasting those conservative positions with those of his democrat opponent. He acknowledged that his responsibility was now to unite the Republican Party and that this end could not be achieved without the conservatives in that room. He pledged to veto any bill from a democrat congress which raised taxes, to not sign any bill with earmarks and to prosecute the war in Iraq to victory.
The conference continued following Senator McCains address with an address by Congressman Ron Paul, and an after dinner address by Robert Novak introduced by Sam Donaldson.
It was a long, electrifying and eventful day. One this reporter will long remember. The conference continues tomorrow. President George Bush is first on the early morning agenda. Stay tuned here to The Virginian Federalist. Read More. . . .
