Are You Ready for CPAC?

Posted on | March 5, 2014 | 72 Comments

NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland
The 40th Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) begins Thursday, and I’m here early, with nothing to report so far but this:

That’s the room key that CPAC guests at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort Hotel receive, and the National Draft Ben Carson for Committee reportedly paid $100,000 for this publicity. These folks are serious, and Dr. Carson’s speech on Saturday is expected to be a highlight of this year’s event. My 11-year-old daughter Reagan sent me a Facebook message yesterday telling me to get her an autograph from Dr. Carson. So that’s my top priority assignment.

Category: CPAC

Comments

72 Responses to “Are You Ready for CPAC?”

DaTechGuy on DaRadio
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:48 am

Well you can report that Dutch Kitchen Cannoli the OFFICIAL Cannoli of DaTechGuy on DaRadio are less than 3 1/2 hours away
richard mcenroe
March 5th, 2014 @ 12:26 pm

Ben Carson has said he will not run and people who would spend $100,000 trying to persuade other people to try to persuade him are idiots who should not be trusted with that kind of money.
RS
March 5th, 2014 @ 12:28 pm

In the way back, when I used to frequent these sorts of things for both parties, I made it a rule to avoid the speeches and just flit between hospitality rooms. It’s where the real fun is, plus the “generically ethnic” Republicans have the best chow.

Just sayin’.
M. Thompson
March 5th, 2014 @ 12:42 pm

I’d go, but, I have another year to live off my savings to go.
Anon Y. Mous
March 5th, 2014 @ 1:37 pm

Carson has never ran for anything. No matter how impressive his story has been, there is no way that the American people are going to put a political novice in the White House. Yes, Eisenhower was able to do it, but I would say that being the general that won WWII was an achievement that was more impressive in the political sphere than a career as a surgeon would be.
RS
March 5th, 2014 @ 1:46 pm

No matter how impressive his story has been, there is no way that the American people are going to put a political novice in the White House.

Um, point of order. What do we have there now?
Rosalie
March 5th, 2014 @ 1:52 pm

Ben Carson has proven many times over that he’s a gifted brain surgeon. If he wants to get into politics, he’s got to prove himself first by starting somewhere other than the presidency.
Southern Air Pirate
March 5th, 2014 @ 2:30 pm

Why? We have elected others with no experience in either politics or public office as their primary job to the highest office.
Rosalie
March 5th, 2014 @ 2:59 pm

I saw the movie they made about him and was really impressed with him; and I still am. However, I don’t jump on a bandwagon that easily. I just don’t know that much about him or his views, except for the one about guns, which didn’t go over well with gun owners.
Dianna Deeley
March 5th, 2014 @ 3:17 pm

Quite!
Dianna Deeley
March 5th, 2014 @ 3:18 pm

He’s not the one behind this – I believe he’s done the full Sherman.
richard mcenroe
March 5th, 2014 @ 3:20 pm

an object lesson?
Dianna Deeley
March 5th, 2014 @ 3:22 pm

I got a solicitation from John Phillip Souza Jr. (and who is he?!), trying to get me to give money to “Draft Ben Carson”. I was more than a bit taken aback, as I understand that Dr. Carson will not be drafted. He is prepared to help fight Obamacare, but not to run for president, a job he neither wants nor feels qualified for.

But do, please, get his autograph for your daughter! What a souvenir that will be!
Southern Air Pirate
March 5th, 2014 @ 3:34 pm

Hey I am no big fan of him. I just get tired of that imaginary qualification check that one has to have held political office at some lower location to be a great Federal Office holder. The overwhelming evidence points to a negative as that being the case either from overreach of power or just being in over their heads even as dog catcher and then starting to dig down further.
Finrod Felagund
March 5th, 2014 @ 4:09 pm

Hm. Where did you hear that he has said he won’t run?
Rosalie
March 5th, 2014 @ 4:11 pm

“He is prepared to help fight Obamacare”

I’d love to see him in that capacity in the next administration.
Quartermaster
March 5th, 2014 @ 4:28 pm

You have received your orders. Failure is not an option!
Adjoran
March 5th, 2014 @ 4:51 pm

I think Dogbert may have had Obama in mind when he quipped, “It’s quite possible your purpose in life is to be a warning to others.”
Anon Y. Mous
March 5th, 2014 @ 4:54 pm

Something worse than a novice. Depending on what Obama’s true motivations are, we either have a mere incompetent or even worse, a master politician dedicated to the destruction of the American way of life (a true leftist).

Obama ran for and won as State Senator 3 times. He ran and lost trying for the US House of Representatives. He then ran and won for the US Senate. All those elections, both the wins and losses, prepared him to run for election to President. And, whatever else may be true about Obama, I think he has proved himself very skilled at running for elected office.

If we want to get a good man (or woman) into the White House, we must first find someone who is a good politician. Part of that skill set is standing for election. Look what happened with Cain. Once the scrutiny started, the skeletons came tumbling out.

Carson may well have it in him to be a good politician, but if so, he should demonstrate it first at a lower level, like a state office or the House of Representatives.
IRS Targeting: Arrogance and Ineptitude | Regular Right Guy
March 5th, 2014 @ 5:13 pm

[…] Are You Ready for CPAC? […]
Dianna Deeley
March 5th, 2014 @ 5:21 pm

He joined some organization (as the chair – whether that’s honorary or not, I haven’t checked) dedicated to repealing Obamacare. The Weekly Standard emailed about it.

I didn’t have time to really look at it, but anything against Obamacare is pretty much a positive, to me.
Liberals are Bolsheviks
March 5th, 2014 @ 6:35 pm

Let’s be honest – this is a pathetic attempt to prove that conservatives aren’t racists. The liberal media is going whine racism regardless and, if anything, this might give them even more of an opportunity to do so.

Something like a Scott Walker/Susanna Martinez ticket seems to be a far wiser option because it’s legitimate and doesn’t include the rather obvious, pathetic racial element.
Bob Belvedere
March 5th, 2014 @ 6:49 pm

This is where he can be the most useful: doing as you suggest, Dianna, and advising someone like Sarah Palin or Ted Cruz if they run.
Bob Belvedere
March 5th, 2014 @ 6:50 pm

This from the person who thinks we should make common cause with Putin.
Liberals are Bolsheviks
March 5th, 2014 @ 6:57 pm

The hard truth is this:

If you’re not willing to be honest, you don’t deserve to be free. And you won’t be.
Daniel O'Brien
March 5th, 2014 @ 9:21 pm

I like the Doc, but he’s a bit squishy.

https://twitter.com/RealBenCarson/status/437950079639760896
Daniel O'Brien
March 5th, 2014 @ 9:22 pm

I replied:

https://twitter.com/DanielObrien42/status/437960158954545152
Larry Obermesik
March 5th, 2014 @ 9:29 pm

That’s not true, I just heard him say he’d consider it. America is being systematically destroyed by ‘experienced’ politicians. After watching this slow-motion Progressive train wreck unfold — how could any thinking person not conclude it’s time to try something new?
richard mcenroe
March 5th, 2014 @ 9:43 pm

He defended Hillary?! He not only does not understand how the game is played, he does not understand who this country’s enemies are. Definitely off my list.
Marilyn Grisham Lott
March 5th, 2014 @ 9:48 pm

@richardmcenroe:disqus: Dr.Carson has never ruled out running for president. He has repeatedly said that although it was not his intention to get into politics, that he will seriously consider it if people keep clamoring for him to run and if he believes that’s what God is calling him to do. The point of the organization is to show that many, many people are “clamoring.” We need his common sense solutions and ethical leadership!
Marilyn Grisham Lott
March 5th, 2014 @ 9:52 pm

What’s wrong with that? It’s the truth. There are enough reasons not to support her without using the Monica thing.
Mike Sierra
March 5th, 2014 @ 10:09 pm

Because we are doing so well with political “experts”, right?
Mike Sierra
March 5th, 2014 @ 10:12 pm

Some people commenting here seem to prefer political “experts” like Obama rather than a person who worked hard all his life, literally saved thousands of lifes, and did something for mankind
Mike Sierra
March 5th, 2014 @ 10:17 pm

This is not about race. The guy has an impressive resume, great heart and the right ideas. True conservatives (unlike liberals) do not care about the colors
Maurice Atkinson
March 5th, 2014 @ 10:40 pm

The political elites have plunged this nation in massive debt and economic chaos. Run Ben Run!
richard mcenroe
March 5th, 2014 @ 10:52 pm

First rule, dirt never flung never does any good. Hillary villified those women Clinton victimized to advance her own career.
richard mcenroe
March 5th, 2014 @ 10:53 pm

Before I’d accept the Dr. Carson does indeed have the temperament to be a leader, I’d want to hear from some of the nurses who’ve worked with him. That’s how you learn about a doctor.
ginny
March 5th, 2014 @ 10:54 pm

Carson has NOT said he won’t run — he said if that’s where his faith — and the American people — demonstrate their passion for him to run, he wouldn’t let them down. Furthermore, when asked by Dennis Prager on his radio show, “What would it take to get you to run?” Carson replied, “A draft.” Like Ike was drafted (with no political experience), like Lincoln became president (with only one short legislative win to his credit.) These “idiots”, as geniuses like you call us, have raised more money for Dr. Carson than Hillary’s super pac. Sorry, Richard, but we’ll put our guy against yours (whose political experience consisted of getting crooked judges and admitted terrorists to hand him elections and voting “present” more than any other legislator in history) any day.
ginny
March 5th, 2014 @ 10:57 pm

We don’t need an “experienced politician.” We need a man of honor, humility, principle and character who’s not beholden to special interests and truly loves this country and all the people in it…not just his big campaign donors and sycophants. Americans are sick to death of politicians, and I believe that Carson is such a breath of fresh air that he will win overwhelmingly. Don’t believe it? Stick around.
Marilyn Grisham Lott
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:00 pm

He simply stated a common sense truth. She can’t be blamed for what her husband did behind closed doors. Dr. Carson does “understand how the game is played,” but he is not interested in playing childish games and resorting to partisan rhetoric. He even says, “someone needs to be the adult in the room.” And he most definitely “understands who this country’s enemies are.” He is smart enough not to get caught up in silly arguments that can’t be won. What if he said Hillary IS to blame for the Lewinsky thing, and was asked to explain how exactly that is her fault? Then he would find himself wasting time discussing trivial matters when that time could have been spent discussing how to solve some of the monumental problems of this nation.
ginny
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:01 pm

His deficits are hardly because he lacks experience. It’s because he lacks honesty, character, credibility, love of country, compassion (for the poor, the young, unemployed, blacks and Hispanics who have suffered the most under his reign), backbone, transparency, wisdom, I could go on and on but my fingers are getting tired.
LN_Smithee
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:04 pm

I like Ben Carson. A lot. But in 2016? Absolutely not.

As I said in 2000 when certain people were floating names like Ralph Nader, Howard Phillips, Harry Browne, and Pat Buchanan around as an alternative to the underwhelming George W. Bush, President of the United States Is Not An Entry-Level Position.
ginny
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:05 pm

Why? He’s proven over and over that he can assess problems, research their solutions and make informed and intelligent judgments. Did you have a big problem with Lincoln? Do you think Obama’s ridiculous political experience (other than running and cheating to win elections) prepared him for the presidency? Snoopy would’ve been a more competent president.
ginny
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:09 pm

So why don’t you do a little research beyond watching a movie. No one’s asking you to “jump on a bandwagon.” We’re asking you to be open-minded and thoughtful, and truly weigh the vast experience of the alternatives with Dr. Carson’s stunning accomplishments, his wisdom, judgment, character and humility (which would motivate him to choose the very best people to staff his cabinet…not crass political donors and cronies.)
ginny
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:10 pm

Just curious — why are you “no big fan of him…?”
ginny
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:16 pm

When Dennis Prager asked him directly on his radio show, “So what will it take to get you to run?”, Carson replied, “A draft.” And that’s exactly what we are doing. He is helping to fight Obamacare in the meantime, because he is eminently qualified to do so and Republicans desperately need his guidance and unifying abilities. He has plenty of time before he has to throw his hat in the ring…and we’ll have raised many millions of dollars and gotten perhaps a million signatures on petitions. You don’t have to be one of them. Who do you like? BTW, John Philips Souza IV is the great grandson of the man who wrote probably our best known and beloved march, “Stars & Stripes Forever.” He is an unabashed patriot who can’t bear to see this country and everything it has always stood for being destroyed.
cmdr358
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:16 pm

Dr. Carson is a fine man and it’s not out of the question that I might vote for him given the opportunity to do so. But…
Right now instead of viewing with interest other’s opinions about this blog, I’m leaving because…TROLL.
Jan Jones
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:17 pm

I’d suggest to everyone to just track this event and LISTEN. Our country is at a crossroads. Even liberals are getting very squeamish about the fact that our Constitution is being chewed up and spat out. What people don’t seem to get is that socialist states are historically corrupt, and big government exists to perpetuate itself, not to be responsive to the people. Our Founders understood that and built a document that they hoped would create safety and prosperity for the following generations. Folks, this isn’t a red or blue issue: it’s about government accountability, and the bigger government gets the less accountable. Also, a country in as much trouble as ours economically cannot intentionally raise it’s debt without disastrous consequences. By the way, Saul Alinsky said that the first two things to do to wrest control of a country are to spike the national debt high as possible and to create a national healthcare system…
cmdr358
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:20 pm

Apparently not tired enough.
ginny
March 5th, 2014 @ 11:21 pm

And what, exactly, is pathetic about it? Republicans not only fought Democrats to end slavery, Jim Crow, school segregations (which we’re still fighting to give blacks and Hispanics the same rights to great schools that rich people have, which DeBlasio, the teachers unions, Obama, Pelosi & Reid are fighting tooth and nail), we’ve also supported and elected hundreds of black candidates. Herman Cain was polling 40% of the black vote — against Obama! — and we feel Carson will do a helluva lot better than that. So who exactly are the pathetic ones?

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