I don't know if Conventioneer is on the same page as I am, but today's panels on conservative college students and "The State of the Campus" were LAME. It was like grassroots organizing 101--but not even that good, because all the college students who were on the panel basically sat up there and listed all the stuff they'd organized on their campuses. And I have to hand it to some of these kids--they accomplished some big things for their causes, and I know that takes hard work and dedication. But once you've become a successful organizer for your cause, the point of going on panels is to teach other people how to do it too, not just sit up there and pat yourself on the back.

Luke Sheahan, who founded an independent conservative newspaper at Oregon State University, was a particularly egregious self-promoter. His smug analysis of his campus' student body, faculty and administration makes me wonder why he went to Oregon at all. If he's so pissed off about the opening of a women's center and a cultural center and other examples of what he so intelligently dubbed "the diverse whatever," why doesn't he try to make change within his school instead refusing to have anything to do with the administration? He also mentioned that in colleges in America, "you don't learn a whole lot in class." Funny, I've been pretty satisfied that my education is worth my time and money. Maybe since I pay attention and think critically, I'm able to benefit from classes even when I don't agree with the prof. Poor Luke, to be unable to cognate independently while being assaulted by liberal profs in Oregon.

The point is that for the most part these panels consisted of bitching and self-congratulating, which I thought was pretty weak for a conference that seemed very much aimed at harnessing the grassroots power of students.

Rounding out the day was Newt Gingrich, the shiny cap topping off the conference with his uber-conservative rhetoric. It might have been because I was so bored by the previous panels, but I was impressed by Gingrich's speaking ability--he's an excellent orator, and despite the shockingly high level of Reagan quoting, the speech was well-written and well-executed. The content itself, of course, wasn't up my alley--but you'll have to check in to Conventioneer's blog for full coverage since he has the tape recorder.

And then I went home! How glorious! Make sure you check back later for ridiculous pictures from the conference, the results of the CPAC straw poll, and final thoughts from Conventioneer and myself. Cheers! I'm off to be as un-conservative as I can for the rest of the weekend. I have a lot of catching up to do.