The first Monday in March Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

Cross-posted

Welcome to the Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean. If you would like your links added, please email me, faustaw2 "at" gmail "dot" com.

Don't miss this afternoon's podcast at 2PM. My guest will be Michael Moynihan.

LATIN AMERICA
The Stanford affair: An $8 billion scandal goes a long way
The allegation of an $8 billion fraud against Sir Allen Stanford is causing financial worries across the region, not least in Antigua, home to his main bank

Del "Informe Mattarollo" a la increible corrupcion en YPFB

Piracy of movies, songs thriving in Latin America

ARGENTINA
Argentine Creditors Said to Swap 3.5 Billion Pesos of Loans

BELIZE
New scholarship holders from Belize to study in Cuba

BRAZIL
The Brazilian Amazon: Preventing pillage in the rainforest
A scheme to regularise land holdings in the Amazon forest faces many obstacles

COLOMBIA
En fotos: estas son las cavernas donde se escondía el ‘mono Jojoy’

Via IBD blog, Colombian VP: Add ecological devastation to cocaine's toll

Spies in trouble: The domestic-intelligence agency is caught misbehaving again

Video: Colombia discovers Farc hideouts

CUBA
Castro's New Republican Friends

Arturo Magín Colomar Puig, Cuban Political Prisoner of the Week, 3/1/09

Ill Castro 'takes walk in Havana'

Jeff Spicoli speaks…

Sanctions, Keeping Things in Perspective

The new Che, same as old

Raúl welcomes special French envoy

ECUADOR
Ecuador's Borja Says Dollarisation is 'Faltering.´ I Wonder What He Means -- Do These Ecuadorean Officials Want a Weaker Currency Than the Dollar?

Ecuador Profits from Dirty Financial & Drug Crimes

Meltdown response: Ecuador erects trade barriers, WTO fears spread of protectionism; Ecuador's response to crisis appears to be world's toughest

MARTINIQUE
French PM says order to be maintained in Martinique

MEXICO
Mexico needs Obama's eye

Mexico’s Foreign Embassies: A Terror Threat to America?
Travelers from Muslim countries are bribing Mexican foreign service workers for travel documents that will get them access to the U.S.

A Stimulus Plan for Mexican Gangsters
Obama's promise not to crack down on medical-marijuana use raises the stakes for traffickers.

PUERTO RICO
In Puerto Rico, Less Is So Much More

UBS in Puerto Rico Pension Gets Fee Bonanza Seen as Conflicted

VENEZUELA
Journalists in Venezuela

Bananas

Leftist Hero Hugo Chavez Takes Control of Rice Plants

Food supply is tied to Brazil, Argentina and Colombia
From 2005 to 2008, the value of food imports heightened 299 percent

Command economy fails in Venezuela

Chavez sends army to rice plants
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered the army to take control of all rice processing plants in the country.

Arria versus Weisbrot: Debate at American University

What to Do about Hugo Chávez: Venezuela’s Challenge to Security in the Americas

Chavez Orders Takeover of Venezuelan Rice Mills

Chávez, Ahmadinejad y la nueva "crisis de los misiles”

Iraq's Parliament Passes Major Reconciliation Law, and other rainy afternoon items

Iraq's Parliament Passes Major Reconciliation Law

The provincial elections and powers law was bundled together with the $48 billion 2008 budget measure and another that grants limited amnesty to prisoners being held in Iraqi custody.

Kurds, who operate from a semiautonomous region in the north of the country, insisted on the unusual legislative maneuver because they feared getting double-crossed on a deal that maintained their 17% share of the national budget.

The provincial law calls for new elections in all Iraq's provinces, except those in the Kurdish region, on Oct. 1. The newly elected councils will then elect an executive committee and appoint a governor, the top provincial official. The law calls for the provinces to work with the United Nations on how the elections will operate and whether candidates will be selected by parties and voted on as a list or be listed on the ballot individually.

Most importantly, the measure would allow provinces to band together into regional governments that would begin making many decisions that now lie with the authorities in Baghdad.

In today's Iraq Update, the US Embassy in Iraq stated

the Provincial Powers Law represents an important step toward framing the balance the Iraqi people seek between central government authority and the strengthening of local governments. In passing this landmark law, Iraqi legislators have reached an historic compromise.

--------------------------------------------------------------------Via Maggie's Farm, what gun licensing leads to:

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The Archbishop's Tale, told in Middle English:
Heere Bigynneth the Tale of the Asse-Hatte

"Unfortunately, some are excited about the Archibishop's proposal:

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For peaceful purposes,
Last week the Mullahs inagurated their space program by launching a rocket.

This week Iran Puts Uranium Gas in Centrifuges.

For peaceful purposes.
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Cold?

Very.
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Marty Beckerman says that when he was at CPAC only black man I see over the course of the day cleans the restroom.

Obviously he missed the exhibit hall, since the first booth you found as you walked in was for Black Republicans Group. And then there was the presentation by Rev. Le Roy Thomas, Why Blacks Think Conservative, But Vote Liberal, and Angela McGlowan's book signing, and the folks from the Congress for Racial Equality, and a number of other things that I missed.

Next thing you know, Marty's going to say that there were no Puerto Ricans at CPAC...
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A little over two years ago Wolcott called me a rightwing blogger bouncing off the padded wall. Siggy, on the other hand, got called a hacky quack.

I'm jealous. What does a woman have to do to get a catchy handle in this town?



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Sunday night Mark Steyn

If you haven't yet, you should listen to Mark Steyn at CPAC:
(I removed the video because it was starting with sound. Go to the above link)


(clip via Ed Driscoll)

And he looks great in person, too.



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That final CPAC straw poll, and Sunday items

Romney beat McCain in the CPAC straw poll. 25% of the straw poll votes were cast before Romney quit; clearly the conservatives are sending McCain a signal that they will insist that he abide by conservative principles.

This should come as no surprise to anyone.

What I find more interesting is that

Thirty-one percent said that if John McCain were the GOP presidential nominee, they would either vote for someone else, or not vote at all.

If you have been watching the number of registered voters participating in the primaries and caucus (caucuses, caucii?), Democrats have had much bigger participation than Republicans.

Will the Republicans who are not conservative activists (as is most of the CPAC crowd), and the middle-of-the-road swing voters not show up in November?

That is McCain's real challenge.

Ed's final thoughts also highlight the importance of the broadest possible conservative agenda in the upcoming campaign.
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This week's WSJ's 5 best books on the hope and turmoil of the post-Civil War period, chosen by Stephen Budiansky:




In other book matters, Amazon has launched the Kindle. If any of my readers have used/purchased one, I'd like to hear what you have to say, so please leave a comment.

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This week's shoes: Frye's Kat, It comes in brown, black, or yellow.

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Pat's Carnival of the Insanities is up.

More CPAC photos: Meanwhile, at Blogger's Row...

Two of the Iraq Veterans for Congress; Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters; Rob Neppell of The Truth Laid Bear


Eric Odom of the Sam Adams Alliance; Erick Erickson of RedState and Rob Bluey of The Heritage Foundation; Brian Faughnan of the Weekly Standard.


Kevin Holtsberry of StopHerNow.com and RedState; John Hawkins of Right Wing News; Dan Riehl of Riehl World View.


Eric Pfeiffer of CQ Politics; Ericka Andersen of Human Events; Brian Faughnan of the Weekly Standard and Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs.


Erik Svane of No Pasaran, Bettina Inclan, Matt Sanchez; Matt Sanchez, Bettina Inclan, Erik Svane of No Pasaran; Matt Sheffield of NewsBusters, Wendy of Girl on the Right, and John Hawkins of Right Wing News.


Ken Shepherd and Matt Sheffield of NewsBusters; Brian Faughnan of the Weekly Standard; Sean Hackbarth of The American Mind and Matt Keller.


Ken Shepherd and Matt Sheffield of NewsBusters; James Joyner of Outside the Beltway, Kevin Holtsberry of StopHerNow.com and RedState; Rich Davis.


Ed and Rob sitting, and behind them unidentified guy, Wendy and another guy whose name I don't recall; Rich Davis, Fausta; James Joyner of Outside the Beltway, Kevin Holtsberry of StopHerNow.com and RedState;


Fausta, Erik Svane.

This is what I look like while having a great time after getting up at 5AM and spending the whole day networking and blogging.

Blogger of the Year Ace of Spades gave an excellent speech. You can watch it here.

UPDATE
Don't miss Little Miss Atilla with the very handsome Mark Steyn
Erik's got more.

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Fred endorses McCain, and a few CPAC observations

Before I start the post, I must thank John Hawkins for last night's banquet invitation, and Rob Neppell of NZ Bear for his tech support with my new laptop.  Special thanks to Siggy for hosting yesterday's podcast and chat, and for alarming me about Mexican tomatoes.

Yesterday I also had the pleasure of sitting next to Ed Morrissey, and I am inspired by Ed's talent and dedication.  His posts and his podcasts are the best in the blogosphere, and seeing him work was an honor.  I dropped by Bloggers' Row this morning before taking the train and Ed already was podcasting.

Here's the CPAC blog feed listing all posts related to the event.

Fred Thompson didn't go to CPAC (and if he did, he sure didn't go public about it) but he (finally!) endorsed McCain.  James Joyner has the photo:John of Right Wing News went to the Coulter speech so I wouldn't have to.  Not that I would.

After Romney's resignation CPAC was very subdued but the McCain campaign signed up over 200 volunteers.  At last night's banquet George Will made an excellent case for McCain, which was very intersting to listen to, particularly since as Will himself reminded us, he's been McCain's most vocal conservative critic.

There is still a significant amount of discontent over McCain's ascendance.  As I went to Bloggers' Row for the last time, I found that every seat had fliers from Open GOP Convention, yelling out "CONTAIN McCAIN".  Frankly, I find it ridiculous and silly, but Ed says it best,

John McCain isn't a perfect candidate; far from it. He's the one who has attracted the most votes from the Republican coalition, though, and the various coalition factions have failed to produce anyone better. Being a bitter ender will take the party to a bitter end. It's time to start working within the McCain team to increase our influence, rather than engage in fantasies about magic candidates and marginalizing the movement.

Larry Kudlow explains why McCain's greatest asset may be why the conservatives don't like him:

If you recall, it was the cross-over Democrats and independents who helped elect Ronald Reagan twice and put Papa Bush in office for what was expected to be a Reagan third-term. When Papa Bush waffled, they went to Perot. But they came back to support the Gingrich Congress and later stayed with George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. In 2006 they walked away again, penalizing a GOP Congress that embraced heavy spending and corrupt earmarks. But now they'll come back. McCain is tailor-made for this group.

Think about it folks:  do you want to stand by your guns knowing you are right and lose the election, or do you want your party to win?

The election is yours to lose.

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Ace at CPAC, and pictures

Ace of Spades won the Blogger of the Year Award.
NZ Bear was last year's winner.

Ed Morrissey and NZ Bear pose with funny hats
Brian Faughnan and Atlas Shrugs
Erik Svane, Bettina Inclan, and Matt Sanchez.

More later, I'm going to a party!

Today's podcast: Live from CPAC!

Updated
You can listent ot the podcast here
We talked about CPAC, conservatism, Republicans, immigration, and how Jazz got a word in.
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Earlier:
Today at 11AM, Siggy will be hosting, Michael van der Galien will be calling in, I'll be calling in from CPAC, and we'll be talking about conservative politics, Romney's resignation, and what lies ahead in the 2008 presidential campaign.

Chat will be open at 10:45, and the call-in number is (646) 652-2639. Join us!

Liveblogging Pres. Bush's speech at CPAC

This is the first time Pres. Bush has addressed CPAC. His speech was scheduled for 10AM but was rescheduled because he will be visiting the areas affected by the Midwest tornadoes.
By 6AM the line extended all the way out the hotel door. Most of the people waiting in line were young, possibly college students.

Brian Faughnan and Ed Morrissey are also liveblogging.

8:06AM: Pres. Bush concludes his speech, "I appreciate your support for giving me a chance and for supporting our country. My energy is up, my spirit is high and I’ll finish strong...Prosperity and peace are in the balance, let's keep the White House"

8:02AM: George Washington, "the original George W", still being judged on his record. In the year ahead pundits will offer more big government solutions but let's remember this is a group that is seldom correct but never in doubt." Invokes Reagan, the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.

7:59AM: Family values: School choice, right to life.
Supreme Court: Constitutionalists like Sam Alito.
America's greatness: Courage of ordinary citizens, military families who have lost loved ones.

7:59AM: "I am absolutely confident with your help we will elect a President that shares our philosophy."

7:54AM: National security: In order to protect America we need to know what our enemies are doing. "The Protect America Act is working but is scheduled to expire one week from tomorrow but ...Congress must pass this law and they must pass it now."

7:45AM: The war:
Afghanistan: Taliban, al-Qaeda and their allies on the run, schools and hospitals are being built, girls are going to school. "We're going to make sure Afghanistan will never be a safe heaven for those who want to do us harm."
Iraq: "My decision to remove Saddam Hussein was the right decision at the time and it is the right decision today." Round of applause. "25 million Iraqis are free."
The Surge: The Surge is succeeding; "Even the enemy recognizes the progress we are making, and they will be defeated."
"We believe in the transformative power of freedom"

7:33AM: Tax cuts should be made permanent. Defense, intelligence, homeland security, "and providing for our troops to make sure they have the best to do their job". Big round of applause. Threatens veto if Congress sends budget that exceeds the limits he's set.
Executive order will extend beyond his presidency: the President would have to explain publically any wasteful and unaccountable spending.
Social Security: proposed way to make solvent without raising taxes
Medicare & Medicaid: sent budget this week that saves money
Human life is precious and deserves to be protected.
Embryonic stem cell research: authorized spending on existing lines. Will increase funds on self stem research.
Drug use among young people: "Since I took office the overall use of drugs by young people has dropped off by 24%"

7:27AM: "We believe in diversity of faith, a respect for values and a guidance of a higher power; individual responsibility; respect of freedom... America has the right to defend itself... America is a force for good." He also hits at governing by results of surveys and relying on MoveOn.org and Code Pink. He's now defending tax cuts and tax relief which contributed to a record 52-weeks of job creation: "here's the bottom line: tax relief works"

7:22AM: "I used to think the toughest job was President, I might have found another one: father of the bride. Laura says there may be another one: son-in-law to the President"

7:15AM : Sen Mitch McConnell introduces Pres. Bush. The crowd's chanting "Four more years" - not four more years, please, let's abide by the Constitution. McConnell's introduction is enthusiastically received.

McCain's speech

McCain’s speech at CPAC was the most eagerly anticipated speech of the day. Of course we didn’t know ahead of time (except for a few minutes before Romney came on stage, when rumors were flying) that Romney was going to announce his resignation.
Last year McCain didn’t appear at CPAC, much to the disappointment and dismay of many of the attendees, so the question was how would he be received.
He was received eagerly.

Over 200 people waiting in line had to be turned away at the door. They had been waiting for over two hours and the room had filled to capacity as soon as it opened. The Romney supporters, however, outnumbered the McCain supporters, including the people who had to be turned away at the door.

Sen. McCain’s proposals were greeted with cheers by the audience. The main theme of his message was how he has stood for conservative values during his career: opposition to agriculture subsidies; how he was against big government mandated health care and for a free market solution instead; making the Bush tax cuts permanent, to reduce the corporate tax rate and abolish the AMT; protecting Second Amendment rights, and of course, increasing troop levels in Iraq.

But the big question is the immigration issue: Having sponsored what conservatives regard as an amnesty bill, what is his current position, and how would it be received? McCain started by saying “On the issue of illegal immigration, a position which provoked the outspoken opposition of many conservatives”, and indeed several in the audience booed at that point. The McCain supporters did cheer him on, and he continued,

“I stood my ground aware that my position would imperil my campaign. I respect your opposition for I know that the vast majority of critics to the bill based their opposition in a principled defense of the rule of law. And while I and other Republican supporters of the bill were genuine in our intention to restore control of our borders, we failed, for various and understandable reasons, to convince Americans that we were. I accept that, and have pledged that it would be among my highest priorities to secure our borders first, and only after we achieved widespread consensus that our borders are secure, would we address other aspects of the problem in a way that defends the rule of law and does not encourage another wave of illegal immigration.”

Securing the borders is also a national security issue, and McCain proposed

“ Iintend to defeat that threat by staying on offense and by marshaling every relevant agency of our government, and our allies, in the urgent necessity of defending the values, virtues and security of free people against those who despise all that is good about us’

During the second half of his speech he contrasted his position on the issues against Obama’s and Hillary’s.

McCain intends to position himself for the rest of his campaign as a man of principle and conviction. Whether that will gain him the support of conservatives in the Republican party, and of the American voters at large is what will decide the upcoming Presidential election.

Romney's speech is covering all the items: ROMNEY OUT

ROMNEY OUT

From entitlement reform to freedom of speech, and now he's addressing Islamic jihad.

Fortunately the rumors were just that. ROMNEY OUT.

From Romney spokesman Kevinm Madden: Romney's speech:

If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.

This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters... many of you right here in this room... have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming President. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country.

I will continue to stand for conservative principles; I will fight alongside you for all the things we believe in. And one of those things is that we cannot allow the next President of the United States to retreat in the face evil extremism!!

1st CPAC post:

Laura Ingraham is introducing Romney right now.
The place is abuzz with rumors that Romney's going to quit. The audience reaction to his first words is certainly not that of a group of people waiting for a resignation speech.

Twenty-four hours, forty-five miles,

... and a new laptop later, I'm heading to Washington to CPAC. It looks like all the trouble I've been having posting and blogging was due to Window's malfunctioning in my old laptop.

So after many tries and a lot of other things that I needed to do yesterday, I was driving up and down Route 1 in search of a new laptop at 8PM last night. I bought a 3GB (yeah, baby!) HP which looks hot...and hopefully works.

It's going to be interesting to blog CPAC and learn to use a new computer at the same time. All I've done so far is
a. take the laptop out of the box
b. set up the dialup card
c. pack it, go to bed
and this morning, write this post in the train on the way to Washington.

Who knows, I might get a chance to download skype and check my email before the train arrives in DC!

PS, in addition to everything else, my hairdresser got carried away and cut my hair too short and made it so dark I now look like Dorothy Rabinowitz.

Tomorrow: CPAC!

Robert Stacey McCain catches CPAC fever, and has the full roster of official CPAC bloggers. I'm happy to be among the thirty:

*CPAC 2008 BLOGGERS ROW*

Ace O'Spades
Alarming News
Atlas Shrugs
Bluey Blog
Captain's Quarters
Conservatives with an Attitude!
Fausta's Blog
FreedomWorks
Gay Patriot
Girl on the Right
HotAir.com
Hugh Hewitt
Human Events
Little Miss Attila
Mary Katherine Ham
Matt Sanchez
Musclehead Revolution
My Man Mitt
Newsbusters
Outside the Beltway
Politico
Reasoned Audacity
Red State
Riehl World View
Right Wing News
Sam Adams Alliance
Save the GOP
The American Mind
The Autonomist
Truth Laid Bear



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Coulter at CPAC

Crooks and Liars is half-right: Coulter is not one of the official speakers at CPAC.

However, she will be the guest of the Young Americans Foundation on Friday, February 8, 2008 at 3:30PM at the Omni Shoreham Hotel where CPAC is being held this year.

But then, I already mentioned this three days ago.

I bet you $5 that the media is going to focus entirely on what ridiculous statement(s) Coulter makes at CPAC and ignored whatever else takes place. They did exactly that last year, and Moe Lane, James Joyner and I knew it the moment she called Edwards a faggot.

I'll let you know how it goes - I'll be there!
(I've reconsidered my hairdo and hair color since last year.)

In other news, Hillary's crying again.




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Corporal Matt Sanchez

The obnoxious Max Blumenthal has his shorts tied in a bunch because the conservatives honored an Hispanic Marine hero Republican at CPAC.

And, aside from the conservatives honoring an Hispanic - because, as I have been told by a Liberal or two, "Hispanics have to be liberal" - why would that get Max upset? Because Corporal Matt Sanchez did gay p_rn and worked as a male escort sometime in his past, and conservatives, at least in Max's homophobic mind, have "psycho-sexual issues".

Here are three conservatives that don't:

Jane, who I met in DC: Liberals Relish "GOTCHA!" Moment at the Expense of Corporal Matt Sanchez.

Gay Patriot West: Using Matt Sanchez's Past to Dismiss Conservative Ideas

That said, Matt Sanchez is a part of all that he has met. His past figures into the man he has become. But, people do have a right to their own private lives, to deal with their past mistakes - or merely just past experiences which no longer represent their present actions - in their own way. Once again, it seems that all too many are all too interested in the apparent hypocrisy of conservatives, more interested in defining us so that they may more readily dismiss our ideas. Without even considering what we have to say.

Don Surber:

Liberals think they can attack people based solely on their skin color, their gender or the religion if the victim is a conservatives. It is as if the 14th amendment has a clause that says, "except for conservatives — you can beat them like a rug if they are conservatives."

That is plain wrong. I wish someone on the left had the guts to call Blumenthal the homophobe he is.

Keep waiting, Don.

While I believe that Sanchez's past actions were wrong, the matter is that for all that has been said, a. he was an adult, engaged in activities with other consenting adults, and more importantly, b. he has given up those actions (emphasis added):

I don't like p_rn, it reduces the mind, flattens the soul. That's not hypocrisy talking, that's experience. If I started off with liberal leanings, being on a gay p*rn set should have been heaven. In p_rn, everything taboo is trivialized and everything trivial is projected. How does a conservative trace his roots to such distasteful beginnings? Like all followers of a cult, it's tough to figure out when you stopped believing in the party-line, but I can tell you that by the time I finished my summer tour of the major studios, I was pretty disgusted with myself. It was an emotional low, and the people who surrounded me were like drug dealers only interested in being with the anesthetized in order not to shake off the stupor of being high. Why did I become a conservative? Just look at what I left, and look at who is attacking me to today? Let's face it people, you're all cynical enough to know that if I had espoused liberal causes, spoken out against the military, got a liberal award for courage and then outed with a p_rn-past, you'd be clamoring for my memoir, and nominating me for a diversity ticket with Barack Obama.

And with Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd and Barney Frank.

Here is Matt Sanchez's blog.

Update: Behold, a new creation

To understand American conservatives, even those who aren't themselves Christian, you need to understand Christianity--not as it appears in vicious stereotypes and smears on left-wing blogs, but as it is really preached and practiced and understood. As I am fond of pointing out, a lively Christian faith is actually a great defense for American liberty, and a firewall against ideological zeal and extremism. And as seen in the response to the revelations about Cpl. Sanchez, it keeps us human.

As for those who outed him and had this blow up in their face, I pray they look at Chuck Colson's example and take it to heart. There's more to being human than just scoring political points.

Read the rest.
Correction: This quote came from JunkYardBlog, via Cat House Chat.
(Note I spelled it p_rn because of filters.)

An Open Letter to CPAC Sponsors and Organizers Regarding Ann Coulter

Conservatism treats humans as they are, as moral creatures possessing rational minds and capable of discerning right from wrong. There comes a time when we must speak out in the defense of the conservative movement, and make a stand for political civility. This is one of those times.

Ann Coulter used to serve the movement well. She was telegenic, intelligent, and witty. She was also fearless: saying provocative things to inspire deeper thought and cutting through the haze of competing information has its uses. But Coulter's fearlessness has become an addiction to shock value. She draws attention to herself, rather than placing the spotlight on conservative ideas.

At the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2006, Coulter referred to Iranians as "ragheads." She is one of the most prominent women in the conservative movement; for her to employ such reckless language reinforces the stereotype that conservatives are racists.

At CPAC 2007 Coulter decided to turn up the volume by referring to John Edwards, a former U.S. Senator and current Presidential candidate, as a "faggot." Such offensive language - and the cavalier attitude that lies behind it - is intolerable to us. It may be tolerated on liberal websites but not at the nation's premier conservative gathering.

The legendary conservative thinker Richard Weaver wrote a book entitled Ideas Have Consequences. Rush Limbaugh has said again and again that "words mean things." Both phrases apply to Coulter's awful remarks.

Coulter's vicious word choice tells the world she care little about the feelings of a large group that often feels marginalized and despised. Her word choice forces conservatives to waste time defending themselves against charges of homophobia rather than advancing conservative ideas.

Within a day of Coulter's remark John Edwards sent out a fundraising email that used Coulter’s words to raise money for his faltering campaign. She is helping those she claims to oppose. How does that advance any of the causes we hold dear?

Denouncing Coulter is not enough. After her "raghead" remark in 2006 she took some heat. Yet she did not grow and learn. We should have been more forceful. This year she used a gay slur. What is next? If Senator Barack Obama is the de facto Democratic Presidential nominee next year will Coulter feel free to use a racial slur? How does that help conservatism?

One of the points of CPAC is the opportunity it gives college students to meet other young conservatives and learn from our leaders. Unlike on their campuses - where they often feel alone - at CPAC they know they are part of a vibrant political movement. What example is set when one highlight of the conference is finding out what shocking phrase will emerge from Ann Coulter's mouth? How can we teach young conservatives to fight for their principles with civility and respect when Ann Coulter is allowed to address the conference? Coulter's invective is a sign of weak thinking and unprincipled politicking.

CPAC sponsors, the Age of Ann has passed. We, the undersigned, request that CPAC speaking invitations no longer be extended to Ann Coulter. Her words and attitude simply do too much damage.

Credentialed CPAC 2007 Bloggers
Sean Hackbarth, The American Mind
James Joyner, Outside the Beltway
Scott Schmidt, Boi From Troy
Joy McCann, Little Miss Attila
Kevin McCullough, Musclehead Revolution
Patrick Hynes, Ankle Biting Pundits
Ed Morrissey, Captain's Quarters
Jane Stewart SeeJaneMom
Alexander Brunk, Save the GOP
Fausta Werz, Fausta's blog

Other Right-of-Center Bloggers
Owen Robinson, Boots and Sabres
N.Z. Bear, The Truth Laid Bear
Michael Demmons, Gay Orbit
Mark Coffey, Decision '08
Russell Newquist, The Philosopher's Stone
Marshall Manson, On Tap
Rob Port, Say Anything
Matthew Johnston, Going to the Mat
Timmer, The Daily Brief
Rick Moran, Right Wing Nuthouse
Obi's Sister
Dustin Gawrylow, Free Republicans
Dan, North Dallas Thirty
Brennan Monaco, The American Pundit
Nate Nelson, Reality Mugged Me
Christopher Fotos, PostWatch
Joe Carter, Evangelical Outpost
Amy Ridenour, National Center Blog
Soren Dayton, EyeOn08
Greg, Rhymes with Right
Jimmie, The Sundries Shack
John Tabin, JohnTabin.com

Kevin McCullough has a video:

A few post-CPAC observations

I really liked Giuliani's speech but my favorite speaker was John Bolton. I even managed to say hello to him on my way out. Great guy.
(No, I didn't ask, "Got milk?")
Update, Sunday 4 March Pamela has the speech.

In case I didn't make myself clear enough yesterday, I loathe Ann Coulter. This kind of stuff is why. Since the exhibit hall where the bloggers were located was filled with people and noise I first thought I had misheard, but James Joyner clarified that I had heard it correctly.

Joyner tried to get Romney to say something other than the usual boilerplate, and all he got was a rounding error.

Anyone who thinks self-tanners make you look tan should face reality and learn that orange is not tan.

Until I went to CPAC I didn't know that the NRA has a radio show on Sirius.

Romney has over-coiffed hair. A little less perfect would look a lot better. Overgroomed men are a turn-off.

Brownback and Romney's adherents were too much. Fighting a gauntlet on the way to the ladies' room does not, I repeat, does not endear people to your candidate, guys. Chanting "Brownback, BROWNBACK" in closed quarters is just plain obnoxious. Shouting matches are beyond the pale.

Friday in the early evening we went for happy hour at Mediterra courtesy of Patrick Hynes of Ankle Biting Pundits.

The turnout was great (sixty bloggers or so), and Rob was enjoying himself:

I'm not sure what happened here but I believe Joyner and Atilla were talking about how Hillary makes rude noises:

Later that evening Rob Bluey and others went on to a party at Richard Miniter's house. Richard's a great guy but by 7:30PM all I wanted to do was take a hot shower, order a burger from room service, and watch The Departed on TV in a little peace and quiet.

Which is exactly what I did.

Speaking of The Departed, what ever happened to the 1 1/2hour movie? The Departed was 151 very gruesome minutes.

This was the first time I've attended a convention as a blogger. Next time I'll have a much better idea of how to approach the demands on time and the logistics.

The wire connections at the blogger's table were iffy at best. The tech guy ended up connecting my laptop to the wire with duct tape.

I dragged home 60 lbs of luggage this morning. If I knew on Thursday what I know now, I would have not brought any daytime dress shoes, which I put aside in favor of these, which I only packed at the last moment.

I wasn't the only one ditching the dress shoes.

The amoung of stuff one gets at CPAC is enormous. On the way to the ladies' room a Romney volunteer asked me if I wanted a foam mitt, which I politely declined, TWICE, since he woudln't take no for an answer ("it goes with your dress", he said, yet I didn't throttle him).

I threw away easily a hundred pages of paper, a tote bag and a dozen magazines, and still managed to keep:
4 books
6 magazines
1 chapstick
a plush puppy from PETA Kills Animals
3 CDs
3 copies of Humberto Fontova's article on Che Guevara, which I'm sending to people
1 tote bag (the only way to carry the stuff home)
2 Townhall.com baseball caps for the guys at home
2 mouse pads (not sure how I managed to keep both)
several pens
100 or so business cards
a Victory Caucus pin N.Z.Bear insisted I wear
and a Sam Adams bobble head toy, since the Sam Adams Alliance didn't serve beer.

Yes, you can take it with you.

Giuliani was sensational

I pushed my way into managed to get in the Paladian ballroom just in time to listen to Giuliani. This is when my double media/attendee credentials paid off.

The crowd waiting outside was at least as large as the crowd inside. Everybody wanted to listen to him live. Unlike Romney and Brownback, Giuliani doesn't have a gauntlet of volunteers handling out stickers and posters. Actually, aside from the speech I haven't seen anyone handing out RG stuff and I've been here two days.

George Will introduced Giuliani, and the crowd entusiastically rose to their feet in applause


Giuliani speaks in a very matter-of-fact conversational tone which I greatly welcome after hearing a lot of haranguing. His record as mayor of NYC, his message that America is a country of ideas, and his vision for a strong America went over very very well with the crowd.

He was sensational.

Will the social conservatives go with Romney? Probably. The question is, can he win a national election?

Update, Saturday March 3: The NYT is lying, Ace.
I've never seen anything like it, even last year

CPAC, day 2

My new friends from Red State are actually blogging about CPAC. I've been listening to the panelists and having a great time.

Senator Jim Inhofe addressed the crowd,

Newt Grinwitch saying hi to the bloggers...

...and Michelle interviewed him

Ginny Simone of NRA News:

Duncan Hunter just dropped by right now:

Moe of Red State took a nice picture of me and captioned it with a fitting description.
Meanwhile, the guys of the Entertainment Software Association have the video games:

More snapshots
Nina Verute and Norman Ellis of NCC

George Will looked a little orange before he introduced Giuliani,

Mary Katherine Ham, Little Miss Attila and I at lunch

Sen. Brownback dropped by the Blogger's Corner while Mitt Romney was speaking. The Sen. told Red State he will not quit the Senate while running for president.