CPAC 2013 Begins--Unity Is The Theme-Allen West Shines

The annual conference of Conservatives (CPAC) was called to order this morning.  This year the Conference has moved to the Gaylord National Harbor, a better, larger and more blogger friendly location (Did I say blogger friendly?).

There were many blogger complaints this year going into CPAC, but all of those complaints have been fixed.  We have our own area (set up by Ali Akbar and the National Bloggers Club), the internet connection is much better than the past, and we are much closer to the stage than ever before.

American Conservative Union Chairman Al Cardenas began the festivities and seemed to set the theme of the event as unity:

"CPAC 2013 was President Reagan's favorite conference. He saw it as family.” Continuing, he quoted Reagan saying “those who can't subscribe to principles…let them go.”  Urging unity, he spoke directly to libertarians, members of the Tea Party, and conservatives saying "We cannot succeed without coming together as one

The first speaker Virginia AG and candidate for Governor Ken Cuccinelli gave a stump speech which sent the crowd for more coffee.

Allen West should have been the first speaker. Rather than giving a Campaign speech rallied the crowd.  He urged conservatives to rebound from their losses in the 2012 elections and not to compromise principles:

"We're defined by how quickly we pull ourselves off the mat and our perseverance," West said.

He called the idea that conservatives should have to change their principles to win elections "malarkey." A "bended knee," he said, is not a conservative tradition.

He talked about being Black and a conservative:

“I’m speaking from experience when I tell you that there is nothing on this green earth that a liberal progressive fears more than a black American who wants a better life and a smaller government,” West said.

And reminded attendees why they were there:

 This conference, these values, guard our principles from liberals.

And why he was there:

“I’m a conservative because I understand that real peace comes from the Marine Corps, not the Peace Corps,” said the former Congressman

West Drew applause with lines such as:

When Barack Obama packs his bags in a hasty retreat back to Chicago, we will triumph!

In the real world, I see conservatives giving more to charity than liberals, even though their paychecks are smaller

 Washington, D.C. is 60 miles surrounded by reality 

The Constitution was written to regulate the government, not the people

It's no secret that Allen West (Congressman Mensch) is a favorite of this writer he didn't  disappoint.  His words to the attendees could be summarized as ---Get off your asses and stop moping, there is a reason why you are conservative namely our founding documents---and this is what you have to do to save this republic.

More to come...