ACU Announces Sarah Palin as CPAC 2012 Special Keynote Speaker

ACU says Gov. Palin will be its closing keynote speaker at CPAC 2012. From the press release:

The American Conservative Union (ACU) today announced former Vice Presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will deliver a special keynote address at CPAC 2012 – the 39th annual Conservative Political Action Conference. America’s largest gathering of conservative leaders and activists will be held Thursday, February 9 – Saturday, February 11, 2012, in Washington, DC. The FOX News contributor and New York Times bestselling author will conclude the three-day event, a slot occupied by Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and U.S. Congressman Allen West in the past three years.

“Few national conservative leaders in America today energize and inspire our grassroots activists like Governor Sarah Palin. Her strong record of leadership, championing of our shared principles and magnetic personality have made Sarah Palin a hero to millions of conservatives across the country,” said ACU Chairman Al Cardenas. “As we ready for the critical 2012 election, I’m honored to welcome Governor Palin to the Conservative Political Action Conference for the first-time ever.”

The full press release is here. So far, no confirmation of the appearance from Gov. Palin's camp.

- JP

Jeff Dunetz: What the media didn't tell you about CPAC

The Ronulan hatefest was under-reported
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In his CPAC Wrap-up at The Lid, Jeff Dunetz explains that much of what the media reported about the conservative confab just wasn't so:

Sarah Palin Did Not “Pull Out” Of Giving The Final Speech At CPAC... This year CPAC once again tried to arrange for a conservative mega-star to give the final address. The press reported that Sarah Palin had agreed to give the speech but pulled out when it was announced that GOProud a group of gay conservatives were participating in the event. That was a total fabrication.

First and most important was the fact that Sarah Palin never accepted the invite to appear at CPAC. Secondly, Ms. Palin supported the group’s participation in the conference.

[...]

Ron Paul Supporters' Hate Was Under-Reported, Their Presence Was Over Reported. Every year at CPAC Ron Paul’s political action committee buses supporters to the convention (more on that later). While this group does not represent more than 15-20% of the attendees, they are very passionate, very unruly and very bigoted.

[...]

The mainstream press correctly reported some Paulocks were calling Cheney and Rumsfeld war criminals, but left out that they were also screaming "shekels" a reference to the bogus anti-Semitic Ron Paul claim that Israel control's our foreign policy and got the US into Iraq war.

The mainstream press protects Ron Paul, his crazy positions create a wealth of story ideas, and his continued participation provides the opportunity to label the entire conservative, Republican and/or libertarian movements as right-wing extremist nut jobs.

Ron Paul Purchased the Straw-Poll Victory

[...]

The meaning of Ron Paul’s victory was simple; his PAC The Campaign For Liberty was willing to pay for the victory.

It is part of the Texas Congressman’s strategy. He doesn’t have enough supporters to win real primaries or caucuses; usually they get about 2% of the vote, Paul tries to win the unofficial votes to give the appearance of being a front-runner.

[...]

As they do every CPAC, this year Paul's Campaign for Liberty reserved blocks of tickets for CPAC and urged supporters to come out and support their guru. Many of these unruly supporters were college students who volunteered (and some say paid) to make sure that Paul winds up with the straw poll win. They even bused in 700 kids for the effort. During the conference, the young Paulocks were all over the place, on the conference floor and even in the bloggers lounge, handing out “Campaign for Liberty” lapel stickers, pitching them as “giving away free liberty," all with the purpose of winning a meaningless straw poll.

Only 3,742 of the 11,000 conference attendees voted in the Straw Poll. Ron Paul got 30% or approximately 1,123 votes which represents about 10% of the attendees.

[More]

For the moment at least, forget GOProud, Islamofascist influences, FedExGate and other CPAC controversies. The once respectable annual winter gathering of conservatives started going downhill when the Ronulans started trying to dominate it a couple of years ago. Now it's not really all that conservative anymore, and it's just another club for the left to beat us with. The CPAC acronym has become shorthand for Crazy Paulnut Annual Comedy.

Related: More from RedState.com here and here.

- JP

Tammy Bruce: Sarah Palin did NOT say she supports GOProud

She said that all voices should be welcome
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h/t: Timothy Donovan

Related: GOProud is not a conservative organization

- JP

The Fix: Gov. Palin explains why she won't attend CPAC

Not that she even needs CPAC anyway
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With speculation in the lamestram media alread rising to a fever pitch over Sarah Palin's decision not to attend C-SPAN, the governor emailed The Washington Post blog the Fix Thursday with an official explanation:

"February is our busiest winter month and with all the prior obligations and outside travel already scheduled for the month I had to forgo some of the opportunities in the Lower 48."

It was indeed a scheduling issue, not a personal one or any other reason, as CPAC's David Keene had said:

"We're disappointed that she couldn't make it year. It's due to a scheduling issue. We look forward to having her next year, and she expressed interest in wanting to be there this year."

Not that she even needs CPAC anyway, as even The Fix's Rachel Weiner has to admit:

"...unlike some other potential nominees, Palin doesn't need to raise her profile. She can draw press wherever she goes."

[...]

"Even in her absence, however, Palin will have a significant influence. She is, as we have written, the prime mover in the presidential race and until she makes clear whether or not she will run in 2012, she will be a presence at any gathering of would-be presidential aspirants -- whether she is actually in attendance or not."

Blogs 4 Palin blogger Jerry Wilson had already pointed this out in his post January 30 at Goldfish and Clowns:

"...it must stick firmly in the throat of Washington insiders and wannabes that Sarah Palin can bypass them without missing a beat. She can pick her spots, selecting such prizes as being the keynote speaker at a high profile sanctioned event marking Ronald Reagan’s one hundredth birthday. She speaks to more people in a second with one Facebook page than all the speakers at CPAC combined will reach in a year. Simply put, Palin doesn’t need CPAC. And she doesn’t seem all that inclined to make an appearance there because it’s been elevated to mandatory status by those seeking to enhance their own status."

- JP

Andy Barr: Why Sarah snubbed CPAC

"Special interests over core beliefs"
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Politico's Andy Barr opines :

A Palin source bashed CPAC and its leader David Keene in an interview last year with POLITICO announcing that the former governor wouldn’t be attending – even though CPAC had listed her as an invited guest for the second year in a row. The source called the annual gathering an example "special interests over core beliefs" and "pocketbook over policy."

"That's not what CPAC should be about and people are tiring," the source said. "Palin is taking a stance against this just as she did in Alaska."

The criticism of CPAC was fueled by a report that David Keene, president of the American Conservative Union, had asked FedEx for between $2 million and $3 million to get the group's support in a bitter battle on Capitol Hill with rival UPS. This was not the first reported allegation of Keene selling his influence with the conservative base, and is a large part of the reason why the ACU and its annual conference have waned in influence over the years.

The previous year, Palin’s camp and CPAC feuded over them listing her as a speaker at the conference despite the fact that she had not confirmed.

Keene didn't help mend the rift between CPAC and the Palin camp two years ago when he told Newsmax that Palin was “whining” about how the media was viciously and constantly attacking her. Even though Gov. Palin's team was in negotiations with CPAC, Barr believes that her appearance at the conference "was never in the cards." The lamestream media always knows better than those who were actually involved in the process they speculate about.

- JP

ABC News: Palin Turns Down Coveted CPAC Keynote Speaking Slot

Along with DeMint, Heritage, and FRC, she'll be conspicuous by her absence
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For the fourth year in a row Gov. Palin has turned down a request to speak at CPAC. ABC News reports that the first woman to be the vice presidential candidate of the Republican Party has once again declined an invitation from CPAC officials to address the conference:

CPAC organizers invited Palin to deliver the closing-night keynote speech on Saturday Feb. 12, immediately following the announcement of the results of CPAC’s annual presidential straw poll, but after several days of negotiations, she declined.

“We’re disappointed that she wasn’t able to make it this year,” American Conservative Union Chairman David Keene said through a spokesman on Thursday. He noted that Palin "expressed interest in wanting to come this year," but said that it came down to "a scheduling issue."

The former Alaska governor has a rocky history with the group. In 2010, she stayed away from the event citing the business dealings of the American Conservative Union and Keene, who is a lead organizer of the event.

In 2009, while still serving as governor of Alaska, she initially accepted an invitation to speak on the conference’s opening day, but later dropped out saying that she had to attend to the “duties of governing,” according to a CPAC spokesman. She sent a taped message to the conference instead.

In 2008, CPAC organizer Lisa De Pasquale said that Palin had to drop out of CPAC “at the last minute.” At that point she had not yet been named Sen. John McCain's vice presidential nominee, but was regarded as an up-and-comer in the Republican Party.

This will be her fourth year skipping the event. While Palin will not be there in person, her political action committee, SarahPAC, is sponsoring a Diamond Reception on the CPAC’s opening night -- Thursday, Feb. 10.

[More]

Though a number of her potential rivals for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination will be speaking at CAPC 2011, Gov. Palin joins U.S.Senators Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida, the Family Research Council and the Heritage Foundation as prominent conservatives and organizations not attending this year's conference. She's in some pretty good company, in other words.

- JP

Will Sarah Palin speak at CPAC?

What is "the right thing" to do about CPAC this time?
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As February approaches, the annual speculation about whether Gov. Palin will speak at CPAC has started up again. At Politico, which depends heavily on speculation, Ben Smith notes that even though the governor is not scheduled to speak at any of this year's CPAC events, he interprets SarahPAC's co-sponsorship of a CPAC 2011 reception to mean that Gov. Palin and David Keene have "patched things up."

Although a couple of choice speaking slots still have "TBA" status on the CPAC agenda, Jerry Wilson is convinced that Sarah Palin will not attend:

"...it must stick firmly in the throat of Washington insiders and wannabes that Sarah Palin can bypass them without missing a beat. She can pick her spots, selecting such prizes as being the keynote speaker at a high profile sanctioned event marking Ronald Reagan’s one hundredth birthday. She speaks to more people in a second with one Facebook page than all the speakers at CPAC combined will reach in a year. Simply put, Palin doesn’t need CPAC. And she doesn’t seem all that inclined to make an appearance there because it’s been elevated to mandatory status by those seeking to enhance their own status."

We honestly don't know whether she will show up at CPAC or not, nor does anyone else but Gov. Palin and perhaps a few of her closest aides.

- JP

Quote of the Day (February 21, 2010)

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Chris Cillizza:

"Be careful not to read too much -- or much at all -- into [the 2010 CPAC Straw Poll] results. Paul's supporters are loyal and loud but not, ultimately, that large a group as proven by the fact that he did not win a single primary or caucus in 2008."

- JP

Ron Devito: Why Gov Palin Chose SRLC over CPAC

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Good post from our friend and colleague Ron Devito at US for Palin on why Sarah Palin chose to attend SLRC but not CPAC:

The John Birch Society has indeed co-sponsored CPAC 2010 (Hahn, 2009, ¶1). Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post cited this factor as one reason why Governor Palin declined CPAC (Cillizza, 2010, ¶1). Indeed, the fringe elements of the right appeared to have taken over CPAC under Mitt Romney’s nose...

[...]

Shenanigans such as the Federal Express conflict of interest and catering to the lunatic fringe diminish the value of this once prestigious gathering of conservatives. Keene rather than taking splinters out of Governor Palin’s eyes might do well to take the planks out of his own. Those Sarah Palin posters were snatched up so fast, because those who wanted her image yearn for a leader to carry Ronald Reagan’s torch.

Good post. Read it all here.

Sarah Palin's political instincts appear to have served her well yet again with her decision to pass on CPAC. She was in good company, as Mark Levin also decided not to attend:

"I was invited to be the opening speaker at Saturday’s CPAC session. I had accepted but then, to my amazement, I learned that the John Birch Society would be one of many co-sponsors. This takes the big-tent idea many steps too far for me. So, I withdrew. Apparently, others were not so moved. That’s fine. But it wasn’t for me. Bill Buckley and Barry Goldwater, among others, chased the Birchers from the movement decades ago. And they’re not a part of the movement. So, to give them a booth at CPAC was boneheaded."

Another of our blogging colleagues, M. Joseph Sheppard at Recovering Liberal addresses the media myth pushed by the lamestream media regarding CPAC, SRLC and Gov. Palin:

When Palin declined to speak at CPAC the media critics attacked her on two levels. Firstly her "avarice" for only (supposedly) speaking at events where she gets $100,000 and secondly for her supposed poor political judgement in passing up an opportunity to speak to the opinion makers and movers and shakers of the Republican party.

The avarice slur is of course well exploded, as one example amongst many, Palin will not be paid to speak at the forthcoming Southern Republican Leadership Conference . In respect of which it is an absolute delight to see a Palin critic having to publicly apologize for her poorly researched article stating Palin was being paid-these people are so caught up in their bias they rush into print and make fools of themselves.

As for Sarah Palin's chance to address the movers and the shakers of the GOP, that comes, as Ron said in a few weeks in New Orleans at SRLC. There will of course be plenty of other opportunities for her as well. 

Related: Gov. Palin wasn't the only potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate who skipped CPAC this year. Mike Huckabee also declined to attend, for his own reasons.

Update: CPAC critics have coined a phrase -- "Brokeback Convention" -- to describe the 2010 event. Why? Because so many establishment conservatives seem to be saying to David Keene, "I just can't quit you." And Jerry Wilson has the final word (a thousand words, actually, if a picture is still worth that many) on why Sarah Palin was wise to skip CPAC, at Goldfish and Clowns.

- JP

Sarah Palin inspired growth in roles of conservative women in movement

* 
The Conservative Political Action Conference last week has shown that women's roles in the conservative movement have only grown, and the first woman to be the vice presidential candidate of the Republican Party has inspired some of that growth, says FOX News' Kelley Vlahos:

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter delivered a rousing speech Saturday, and Sarah Palin, though not in attendance, has been a constant reference point at this week's annual conference in Washington, D.C.

One panel discussion, "Going Rogue: Women Changing the Face of Conservatism," took its name from Palin's recent book about her experience on the campaign trail as the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. Panel participants said conservative women still promote "family values," are pro-life and clearly still disdain the feminist movement that told girls they have to work and put off raising a family.

[...]

Women acknowledge that while a united front might not always be possible, they can all enjoy the fact that they have made great strides as women. For all the criticism and controversy swirling around Palin, she has helped fire up conservative women, said Zoelle Mallenbaum, a student at Wellesley University.

Conservative women are "still discredited" by liberals on campus, Mallenbaum said, adding that Palin sends an inspiring message -- that conservative women are "out there and unafraid."

Coulter quipped that Gov. Palin has actually created more jobs than President Obama:

"She's created at least 11 jobs fact-checking at the AP just for the Palin autobiography," she said.

- JP

Sarah Palin really liked Glenn Beck's CPAC speech

*
Sarah Palin tweeted her approval of Glenn Beck's CPAC speech Saturday night:

@GlennBeck hit the nail on the head in his #CPAC speech: USA is the abiding beacon of freedom & we need "less Marx, more Madison"!

Earlier on her Twitter page, the governor sent a tweet which said that the Palin family was getting ready for the Iron Dog race, in which her husband Todd will compete again this year. While the racers were in the garage putting the final tweaks to their machines, Gov. Palin was watching Beck's speech.

- JP

Quote of the Day (January 26, 2010)

The Aged P:

"Why not now just wait and see what happens at this Convention and how Palin is received? If the whole thing is a mess and she ends up with egg on her face then those three can have a really good laugh with the CPAC crowd… but somehow they know in their bones that she is more likely to be the star and the story on this whereas CPAC might well be treated as a hobbyists get-together."

- JP

Sarah Palin and the Smoke-Blowing Pundits

- by Lisa Graas
*
Anne Marie Helmenstine, PhD, writes about chemistry at About.com and offers some words of advice in her article on creating fake smoke:

I will warn you that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing! If used incorrectly, the equipment and chemicals used to generate simulated smoke can be dangerous (toxic, burn hazard, asphyxiation hazard, fire hazard, etc.)

Be advised, the same toxic effect occurs for those "blowing smoke" while blogging, particularly when the person you're blowing smoke around is Sarah Palin who has an army, no wait..........armies of supporters. I would list them but who can list them all?

These troops, of whom I am one, are all still scratching their heads over the criticisms regarding Sarah Palin's keynoting the National Tea Party Convention. Some of those criticizing Governor Palin are questioning the fact that the event is for-profit (while acknowledging that having a for-profit event is not really a big deal since conservatives do support a free market system) and that the money being generated might not be handled properly (while admitting that no proof has been offered that it is).

On a side note, Erick Erickson, who heads up Red State, is one of those critical of Palin. Red State is for-profit while maintaining the "grassroots" claim. A head-scratcher? I think so.

Unfortunately, when Palin supporters understandably fail to raise eyebrows over these things and take issue with the fact that Palin is, in most cases, being singled out for criticism, we are summarily dismissed as "Kool-Aid" drinkers.

We don't "get it" but, truth be told, we've long ago become accustomed to the smoke and would probably be very confused if there weren't at least a little of it blowing around Governor Palin at any given moment. Conservative "smoke" has a particularly nauseating aroma to us, though.

Not everyone has taken to smoke-blowing or Kool-Aid drinking. HillBuzz, while critical of the event itself, has enough good sense to know that criticism of Palin specifically is off-base:

But, we just don’t trust the people running this. We also are scared these people are really being propped up by Soros, in some way, as a plot to distract voters in 2012 and take votes away from the Republican and create a spoiler that will hand the second term to Dr. Utopia. That’s just so incredibly dangerous.

Sarah Palin, as usual, is incredibly smart and forward-thinking about all of this. It is a brilliant move on her part to speak at this Tea Party Convention. Why? Because Tea Party enthusiasts will see her as one of them, so if she indeed, as we believe, seeks and wins the Republican 2012 nomination, it sure will be hard for mischief makers to run a third party candidate against her, because she’s already been embraced by those most inclined to jump onto a third party. It is, yet again, another brilliant tactical move on her part. She proves to us again she will indeed be our next president, as she’s thinking three steps ahead of everyone else, on a daily basis. THANK GOD IN HEAVEN FOR THAT.

American Liberty Alliance, in announcing that they are pulling sponsorship due to questions surrounding the financing, noted that it will not be discouraging participation and specifically remarked on Palin's leadership:

There is no doubt that those who paid for the event will get a great event in return. Sarah Palin and some of the other speakers are fantastic examples of good leadership and solid conservatism. For those who could afford to attend the event, there will certainly be value in return for the money spent.

I cannot help but think that most of the criticism of Palin would never have happened if not for her decision to bow out of CPAC, an event which we pro-Palin bloggers refer to more familiarly as "MittPAC" since he has won the straw poll there three years in a row.

Read Palin's explanation for not going to CPAC and ask yourself, isn't it a bit odd for someone to rail against "potential" misuse of money at the Tea Party Convention and, in virtually the same breath, criticize Sarah Palin for making a serious issue of Keene's misuse of money? That is a sure sign that there is smoke-blowing going on.

In all honesty, I don't know anyone at the National Tea Party Convention or at CPAC. I am just a mommy blogger. I can't afford to go to either event and a disability prevents me from attending crowded events anyway. Much is being made of the price tag for the Tea Party Convention as if it is "unfair" because it makes the event impossible for some to attend. Does someone think I should file a complaint with either of these event organizers for not accomodating me? Are these organizations not being "fair" to me for not providing me with accomodations that would make it possible for me to attend? *urp* Give me a break, people.

Perhaps I am missing something, but to an outsider looking in, it seems a good deal like a lot of smoke is blowing around where there is actually no fire at all. If that is the case, then those blowing the smoke should remember the risks to your reputations. It could prove toxic.

- Lisa

Lisa Graas is editor of the Palin Twibe Blog and several other websites. She is a regular contributor to Texas for Sarah Palin.

Quote of the Day (January 17, 2010)

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Eric Dondero:

"Ron Paul often identified by the liberal media as an 'outsider'... confirmed his appearance at the ultimate insider conservative convention to be held in DC late February - the Conservative Political Action Conference. Meanwhile, Sarah Palin, often chided for having shared a ticket with 'moderate' John McCain... confirmed her appearance as the keynoter at the very anti-establishment Tea Party Convention to be held in Nashville, Tennessee in early Feb."

- JP

Jay Tea: Sarah's Sense Of Smell (Updated)

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Here are a few excerpts from Jay Tea's Wizbang post on Sarah Palin's decision not to attend CPAC:

This is the one that's gotten so much attention for its open-door policy towards sponsors: they're allowing in the John Birch Society and GOProud (not "OutRight," which I said before and would be an awesome alternative name gay conservatives), which has quite a few people in a tizzy. And she's not carrying a grudge over last year's dustup, where she was announced as attending before she said no, saying she'd never confirmed it.

No, Palin has a simple explanation for skipping: she's displeased with the conduct of CPAC's leaders. More specifically, CPAC head David Keene's coupling an offer to support FedEx in a legislative battle with UPS with a request for a couple of million dollars in donations.

[...]

With CPAC, she sees the situation very simply: Keene made an offer to support FedEx while simultaneously asking for their support. Perhaps in the eyes of the law he didn't quite solicit a bribe or propose a quid pro quo arrangement with the shipping titan (their money in exchange for CPAC's political clout), but the simple perception is that he did -- and that's exactly the kind of bullshit Palin fought -- and beat -- in Alaska.

[...]

So, instead of CPAC, Palin will be attending the first national convention of the Tea Party folks. A gathering of people who, quite frankly, have no use whatsoever for the national leadership of the GOP (or the Democrats, for that matter) and are looking for others who aren't so enamored of the Inner Circles that they have forgotten simple principles and common decency and common sense.

The full blog post is here.

Update: Doug Brady's commentary is here.

- JP

The Hound of the Bloggervilles

*
We tried doing this the nice way. We really did. We removed inflammatory comments and posted a call for a show of respect. Sadly, it was to no avail. It's hard to get a dog to listen when he's too busy barking, it seems.

So here are two excellent comentaries on the hysterical, Palin-biting, CPAC-defending, mindlessly-barking David Keene Terriers (A David Keene Terrier -- also known as "CPAC Water Dog" -- is a hound about the size of a Jack Russell Terrier, but with none of the latter breed's virtues).

From our Blogs 4 Palin colleague Jerry Wilson at Goldfish And Clowns:

"There’s another aspect to the 'Palin’s personally insulting me by not going to CPAC' meme that’s more than a tad disturbing. In recent days a rather nasty fuss has been raised by those complaining about Palin’s perceived snub, centered on whining about Palin supporters being this lot of mindless drones who worship the ground she walks on, believe she gives infallibility lessons to the Pope and must be immediately defended to the death and beyond against any and all critiques. In fact, the kvetchers are the ones behaving like those who Jesus referenced with the illustration of children in the marketplace whining about people not following their song’s lead. Certainly there is an element, as is present with every public figure, within the Palin posse of those who believe she can do no wrong. However, dismissing her supporters en masse due to the excesses of a few is condescending and just plain rude."

And from the esteemed David L. Riddick, posting from across the pond on Conservatives 4 Palin:

"Poor Allah... he bleeds for other bloggers who, in merely trying to be helpful to Palin by questioning her motives, her judgement and her political common sense over the CPAC and the Tea Party Convention affair, have been shocked and wounded by respondents who have questioned the bloggers’ own motives and judgement. It is classic Allah, a cri de coeur, glistening with heartfelt sincerity, pleading the unfairness of bombing the bomb throwers."

Meanwhile, those fiendish capitalists from Tea Party Nation are sending out e-mails urging people to donate to and volunteer for Scott Brown's campaign. Yes, but what's their real motive in doing this? It simply must be nefarious, because someone with a dull axe blade told some bloggers that those evil TPN people cannot be trusted. Their eyes are too close together or something... 

- JP

Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin Show Respect Where Others Fail

- By Lisa Graas and Josh Painter
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In an interview aired yesterday, Fox News commentator Glenn Beck and former Governor Sarah Palin showed remarkable poise and thoughtfulness that is quite refreshing in light of some perplexing criticisms we've been hearing as of late regarding Sarah Palin's decision not to appear at CPAC. Beck will be speaking at CPAC this year while Palin has bowed out citing differences in principle.

At first, some conservative bloggers criticized Gov. Palin on the basis alone of not making an appearance at CPAC. Since Gov. Palin has her reasons for choosing to bypass CPAC, the arguments have expanded to also criticize the organizers of the National Tea Party Convention (NTPC), where she and Rep. Michele Bachmann, among others, will be speaking. Part of the argument depends on equating CPAC and NPTC, two quite different events which are aimed at different participants. The organizers of NTPC, Tea Party Nation, have issued the following release to state their position on the controversy.

While pundits on both sides of the aisle continue to paint both Beck and the governor as proverbial "loose cannons", during this landmark interview there was no challenge whatsoever on the question of CPAC. While Beck mentioned that he would be speaking, he left it at that. Gov. Palin did not take the opportunity to say anything critical of CPAC or anyone connected to it.

We believe this is instructive as an example of mutual respect and civility which stands in stark contrast to those who have recently taken it upon themselves to disparage Governor Palin over her decision. The respect that Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin demonstrated toward each other is a level of respect that each has earned from the other. We interpret it to be a shining example to follow for all who stand against what the radical Left is doing to our beloved country.

- Lisa and JP

CPAC: An Acronym for "Consciously Providing Ammo to Critics"

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Sarah Palin's decision not to attend CPAC this year, wrote Chris Cillizza on the Washington Post blog The Fix,  is "a decision, according to those familiar with her thinking, due at least in part to the fact that the John Birch Society is one of the sponsors." Ryan Mauro, director of intelligence at the Asymmetrical Warfare and Intelligence Center, in a Pajamas Media op-ed last month, about the JBS and its association with CPAC:

The jokes will practically write themselves as the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) takes place — co-sponsored by the John Birch Society. Every liberal commentator needs to send a thank-you note to CPAC’s organizers for that monumentally stupid decision.

By having the John Birch Society sponsor it, CPAC can guarantee that 90% of the coverage regarding the conference will relate to JBS’ oh-my-god-look-a-conspiracy attitude rather than the heavy-hitters and rising stars of conservatism and libertarianism that speak there. Instead of focusing on politics, reporters will ask attendees for their response to the JBS controversy and will ask organizers whether they are in such financial distress that they had to embrace a fringe group for support.

Mauro says some conspiracy theories the organization promotes today are not unlike those  advanced by JBS founder Robert Welch in the 1950s, only some of the names and guilty parties have changed. Instead of Dwight D. Eisenhower being "a dedicated agent of the communist conspiracy," now it's Dick Cheney who is a master manipulator for the "globalist" conspiracy, as evidenced by the former vice president's membership in the Council on Foreign Relations.

The author concludes by trying to understand what could have possibly caused CPAC to take on the Birch Society as a sponsor:

The most concerning element of this development is the question of how much influence JBS will have over CPAC, an event whose importance in the conservative movement can’t be understated. Is this simply a reflection of the dissatisfaction of conservatives, willing to find just somebody to uphold small government? Is this a reflection of libertarians just looking for somebody to oppose overseas wars and the war on drugs, and push more radical policies than most conservatives are willing to consider?

CPAC has made a major PR mistake in forming this alliance with JBS. It won’t be long until the media puts all those taking part on the defensive, forcing the organizers to spend precious time explaining this move. From now on, when I hear the acronym “CPAC,” I won’t think “Conservative Political Action Conference.” I’ll think “Consciously Providing Ammo to Critics.”

As for Sarah Palin, the last thing in the world she wants to do right now is feed her critics more ammunition. Why can't some in the conservative commentariat wrap their minds around that fact.

- JP

Quote of the Day (January 8, 2010)

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Don Surber:

"A message was sent to conservatives in Washington: Clean up your act. CPAC needs Palin more than she needs CPAC."

- JP

Who is this guy, and what has he done with Dan Riehl?

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We have appreciated Dan Riehl's reporting on Sarah Palin in times past. It has been fair, and for the most part, accurate. And so this blog and its companion website The Book of Sarah have been generous with our links to his blog. But Dan has taken a strange turn over Sarah Palin's decision not to attend CPAC.

We see several valid reasons for the former governor to pass on CPAC's invitation:

1. Keene took the first "C" out of CPAC: Keene endorsed Arlen Specter in 2003 and Mitt Romney in 2007. How "conservative" is that? Specter was a liberal Republican until he changed parties, and Romney is a statist whose health care program in Massachusetts is so close to the plan the Democrats are trying to enact nationally right now that it's creepy. Accepting the CPAC invitation would tarnish Sarah Palin's conservative credentials. Let's face it, CPAC isn't what it used to be. It's gotten watered down.

2. Keene publicly dissed Sarah Palin: He called her a whiner and said that she wasn't ready to run for president, all because she couldn't attend CPAC last year because her political enemies in Alaska would have nailed her to a cross over it. This didn't stop CPAC from using her name to promote their event without her confirmation to attend. Keene also criticized her for resigning as Alaska's governor, even though in doing so, she has brought her poll numbers up and increased her political power. After the way ACU's chairman has treated her, why should the governor lend her star power to Keene's event? Only a fool tries to scratch the ears of the dog that bit her, and Sarah Palin is no fool.  

3. The FedEx fiasco: We don't think this was a major factor in Governor Palin's decision making. The ACU didn't come out of it smelling like a rose, however, and it's just one more reason, at the least, to have nothing to do with them.

4. The John Birch Society's CPAC sponsorship: WaPo political blogger Chris Cillizza says that "according to those familiar with her thinking" the JBS association with CPAC 2010 is one of the reasons the governor decided not to attend. JBS may not be the same organization which earned itself such a bad name -- not to mention the scorn of conservatives such as William F. Buckley -- in years past, but the last thing Sarah Palin needs right now is to be tainted with the JBS reputation for extremism.

Any of these four factors is, by itself, reason enough for Gov. Palin to avoid CPAC like the plague, in our opinion. That's why Dan's post and some of the language he uses in it seems to us to be so out of character for him. Saying that Sarah Palin's decision "is doing considerable disservice to the Conservative (sic) movement" is just plain ridiculous. It is CPAC that is doing disservice to the conservative movement by not being conservative. She never asked Keene to "bow down and worship her," Dan, but she also didn't deserve Keene's unwarranted and, in light of subsequent events, wrong-headed attack on her, either.

Also, Dan, what does the fact that Sarah Palin is being paid for her Tea Party Convention speech have to do with CPAC? Nothing, that's what. It is the SRLC event in New Orleans which she chose over CPAC, and she is not being paid for her appearance in the Crescent City. You imply that she's a money-grubber because she is being paid for the Tea Party speech, yet CPAC sold a sponsorship to a group which casts a shadow over its entire conference, and you sailed right over that money trail. And really, Dan, calling the governor "the queen" doesn't help your case a bit. It does show you a little too eager to engage in name-calling, that last resort of someone desperately in need of a good argument. Finally, accusing her of "whining" only shows that you're copying Keene's language, yet you call John Ziegler the sycophant here? Doctor, heal thyself.

We miss you already, Dan. Please get Riehl again. Once you get over yourself, please tell Quin Hillyer that he needs to do the same. It shouldn't be too hard to find him. He may be there in the dark with you inside David Keene's lock box. Shine a light... 

- JP