Most would generally agree that for the most part, CPAC just wasn't what it as last year, or the year before. Granted I don't know about anything before that since this was just my 3rd year of attending, but it was the worst as far as the number of quality speakers. I had a list of guys I wanted to hear, and successfully accomplished that goal. I started off Friday morning with Senators John Cornyn and Jim DeMint, follwed by Minority Leader John Boehner, and then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. I returned in time to listen to the great Newt Gingrich at 12, then was back in the ballroom for Ron Paul and Mitt Romney. I loved Romney's speech. On Saturday I went to the exhibit hall and got to talk to Chris Horner for several minutes, then I got stuck listening to Ann Coulter. At least Tom DeLay made the introduction. Finally, of course, the speech of all speeches of the weekend, Rush Limbaugh's national address. It was a phenomenal speech that was a great close to the event.
As you can tell, I wasn't even interested in the conference Thursday. Partly because I had Pentagon and Capitol tours lined up, but Thursday was especially weak. Under no circumstances would I sit in that place to listen to Mike Huckabee tell some lies. I remember 2 years ago when Sean Hannity and Rudy Giuliani spoke and there was a fantastic discussion panel in which Bob Barr and John Yoo got very, very heated. I went to a lunch last year and got to meet Michelle Malkin. I'll definitely be back next year, but I hope the lineup will be stronger.
There wasn't as much in the exhibit hall to talk about either, except for the nifty yellow NRA bags. The Omni is the worst hotel to nickel-and-dime someone too. $10 for internet a day? Really?
All in all it was a good trip to Washington and it was special walking around the city Saturday night in the snow. Looking forward to the next trip.
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