Official Swag count:

1 audio cd
1 ruler
1 mousepad
1 pennant
1 flag
2 calendars
2 foam pigs
2 frisbees
2 cups
2 canvas bags
3 little red Students for Academic Freedom books
8 pens
9 magnets
25 buttons
43 bumper stickers

There's some other miscellaneous stuff too--some keychains, a whole lot of internship applications and some very informative books and booklets. My favorite piece of swag so far (besides the pennant that I had to sing for): an Americans for Limited Government chip clip--it seems ironic or counterintuitive or something to me.

And I should admit, I broke down and bought some swag. I spent the $2 I brought for coat check on an Ann Coulter poster (it looks like a pinup or something--it's hilarious) because it came with a free George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan poster. OBVIOUSLY I wanted the Reagan poster, but much to my chagrin they were sold out of Reagan posters by like 11am yesterday when I stopped by the booth. So I had to settle for a W poster. I know, it's lame compared to the Gipper.

So here's some good news which makes me feel so much better about yesterday's extremely depressing events: none of my conservative friends know anything about Ann Coulter. These are people I consider very politically savvy, intelligent, and solidly conservative--but when we were talking last night about my awful day, they were like "who? I've heard of her but I don't know about any of her stuff." So even though the crazies in the CPAC audience eat that shit up, young people who care about policy and have pretty cool (though conservative) internships in the city aren't necessarily in that same loop. Thank goodness.

I have about 2.5 hours until I head back to CPAC--this afternoon is all about college kids and campuses, so I'm sure it'll be entertaining to say the least. Check back later to learn how conservative college kids are going to take over your school.