CPAC Wrap-Up: One Way Ticket to Hell...and Back
| By Conventioneer - Feb 13th, 2006 at 4:05 pm EST |
| Also listed in: Campus Progress Blog | Undercover at CPAC 2006 |
It's finally over. If there was a way in internet jargon to signify a deep sigh of relief, I'd type it in--but since there really isn't, let me just say: I don't think I would have made it another day. Eventually my mental stability would have cracked and I would have gone off to live in a cave somewhere in Montana. But I made it, and I'm happy to say that I came out of it all the wiser. I really learned a lot this weekend, and I was glad that I got such an unadulterated look into the collective conservative psyche. What did I learn, you ask? Well:
One: Conservatives seem to want the government to stay out of their affairs when it comes to economic issues, but when it's a social issue that they feel threatened by, such as a woman's right to choose or homosexual marriage, more government seems to be the way to go.
Two: Conservatives employ a right-leaning tie knot as a subtle method of mass indoctrination--no, I have no proof, and Conventionette seemed to think I was a little crazy, but it was totally the case.
Three: despite the fact that I myself am not Conservative, there are definitely conservatives that I feel I could have a good discussion with. I was thoroughly impressed by Newt Gingrich, and felt as if he was more focused on the public good than the red tape of politics.
Four: Free stuff kicks serious ass.
Five: somehow Hillary Clinton, the mainstream media, college professors, feminists, and Democrats are all collectively the devil.
Six: There are actually people willing to waste their time in an attempt to get Condoleezza Rice nominated to the presidential ballot in '08--which is fine with me, because I came out of it with an "I Like Rice" button. Now, I'm able to proudly proclaim my love for rice when before all I could do was eat it with a smile on my face and hope that people got the idea.
Seven: Finally, and perhaps most importantly, conservatives are on the rocks right now. They've been shaken up and somewhat demoralized by a preponderance of scandals affecting the Republican party, and the time is good for a large progressive movement. With the upcoming midterm elections, this is going to be a big point. Progressives need to get out and get active if we want to gain some sort of ideological and political upper hand within our government. But we need to learn from where we have failed, and where the conservatives have failed, and use that information to move forward.
All in all, it wasn't a totally horrible experience--except for the Coulter speech. And maybe, because I'm a nice guy, I'll give this little piece of advice to the young conservatives out there: Want to garner interest and support in your movement? Don't support a racist warmonger--which Ms. Coulter clearly is.
Disturbing and offensive speeches aside, I saw a level of resolve and fervor this weekend that made me all the more committed to the progressive movement. I hate to sound like I'm mudslinging here, but the conservative ideology seems to be, to me, one of selfishness.
I don't think it's such a bad thing that those with should have a duty to help those without. You want to discuss morals with me, conservatives? Let's talk about sending less-fortunate children to school or subsidizing housing to those who are having trouble getting on their feet. Don't argue that there are people that take advantage of the system, because you'll have that anywhere. There are those who will take advantage of a free-market economy, an unmitigated interpretation of the second amendment, or the slippery slope path of legislating morality--and to think otherwise is naïve.
Finally, I hope you've all enjoyed the reports that Conventionette and I have brought to you, at least as much as we've enjoyed bringing them. It was certainly an experience I'll never forget, and I'm honored that I was able to share it with you all. I hope we can all take what we got out of this and move forward in a positive and productive direction.
-Adam DeDent
Ohio State University
Annika "Conventionette" Carlson and Adam "Conventioneer" DeDent pose with the swag as Adam receives the healing touch of President Bush, and Ann Coulter contemplates feasting on Annika's soul.
Our intrepid bloggers buried in swag, including several dozen magazines & pamphlets, dozens of stickers, and more buttons than an entire TGI Friday's staff.
The Spanish version of a "I'm a Condista!" sticker handed out by one of the many... many Condi '08 backers. "Soy Condista" sounds like a food additive.
Alrighty then.
This isn't even the total accumulation. It's just what fit on the desk. Anyone want a button? We've got three dozen.
One: Conservatives seem to want the government to stay out of their affairs when it comes to economic issues, but when it's a social issue that they feel threatened by, such as a woman's right to choose or homosexual marriage, more government seems to be the way to go.
Two: Conservatives employ a right-leaning tie knot as a subtle method of mass indoctrination--no, I have no proof, and Conventionette seemed to think I was a little crazy, but it was totally the case.
Three: despite the fact that I myself am not Conservative, there are definitely conservatives that I feel I could have a good discussion with. I was thoroughly impressed by Newt Gingrich, and felt as if he was more focused on the public good than the red tape of politics.
Four: Free stuff kicks serious ass.
Five: somehow Hillary Clinton, the mainstream media, college professors, feminists, and Democrats are all collectively the devil.
Six: There are actually people willing to waste their time in an attempt to get Condoleezza Rice nominated to the presidential ballot in '08--which is fine with me, because I came out of it with an "I Like Rice" button. Now, I'm able to proudly proclaim my love for rice when before all I could do was eat it with a smile on my face and hope that people got the idea.
Seven: Finally, and perhaps most importantly, conservatives are on the rocks right now. They've been shaken up and somewhat demoralized by a preponderance of scandals affecting the Republican party, and the time is good for a large progressive movement. With the upcoming midterm elections, this is going to be a big point. Progressives need to get out and get active if we want to gain some sort of ideological and political upper hand within our government. But we need to learn from where we have failed, and where the conservatives have failed, and use that information to move forward.
All in all, it wasn't a totally horrible experience--except for the Coulter speech. And maybe, because I'm a nice guy, I'll give this little piece of advice to the young conservatives out there: Want to garner interest and support in your movement? Don't support a racist warmonger--which Ms. Coulter clearly is.
Disturbing and offensive speeches aside, I saw a level of resolve and fervor this weekend that made me all the more committed to the progressive movement. I hate to sound like I'm mudslinging here, but the conservative ideology seems to be, to me, one of selfishness.
I don't think it's such a bad thing that those with should have a duty to help those without. You want to discuss morals with me, conservatives? Let's talk about sending less-fortunate children to school or subsidizing housing to those who are having trouble getting on their feet. Don't argue that there are people that take advantage of the system, because you'll have that anywhere. There are those who will take advantage of a free-market economy, an unmitigated interpretation of the second amendment, or the slippery slope path of legislating morality--and to think otherwise is naïve.
Finally, I hope you've all enjoyed the reports that Conventionette and I have brought to you, at least as much as we've enjoyed bringing them. It was certainly an experience I'll never forget, and I'm honored that I was able to share it with you all. I hope we can all take what we got out of this and move forward in a positive and productive direction.
-Adam DeDent
Ohio State University
Annika "Conventionette" Carlson and Adam "Conventioneer" DeDent pose with the swag as Adam receives the healing touch of President Bush, and Ann Coulter contemplates feasting on Annika's soul.
Our intrepid bloggers buried in swag, including several dozen magazines & pamphlets, dozens of stickers, and more buttons than an entire TGI Friday's staff.
The Spanish version of a "I'm a Condista!" sticker handed out by one of the many... many Condi '08 backers. "Soy Condista" sounds like a food additive.
Alrighty then.
This isn't even the total accumulation. It's just what fit on the desk. Anyone want a button? We've got three dozen.
!
Comments are closed for this post.
I still have a large drawer full of wacky right-wing paraphanelia-- including my favorite bumper stickers, "Thurmond/Helms 2000-- Over 200 Years of experience!" or "Save the Trees, Eat a Beaver."
Frankly, the politics exhibited at CPAC don't make any sense-- pro-gun, anti-government, pro-death penalty, "pro-family," but they favor heavy government regulation of anything they don't like-- gays, abortion, immigrants, Muslims, non-right-wing Jews.
As far as they're concerned America would be a great place to live if they could just exterminate all the liberals. The scary part is that I think for many of them if they could, they would.