Matthew Dowd is not the only one justifiably criticizing some of the CPAC choices. Bringing in a flim-flammer such as Donald Trump diminishes the impact and credibility of the the whole conference.

Dowd assailed CPAC for, in his mind, lessening its credibility by inviting conservatives like Palin and not liberal Republicans

Does Dowd know what the initials CPAC stand for?

CPAC is not the Repub party. It is a private organization that is CONSERVATIVE. It does not need to kiss up the Pubs.

Dowd seems to desire "BAU" (business as usual) to keep status quo in the Washington establishment. Sorry, Dowd, as McCain and Graham should have learned,the days of the good ol´ boys are coming to an end.

Come on Stormy. It´s Palin you are really afraid of.

Palin will be the biggest rock star speaker at this convention and there´s little that the traitor Dowd can do about it. Christie´s situation is of his own making,you have to realize sucking up to Obama is a death knell among conservatives. Obama doesn´t deserve the benefit of the doubt on anything,he´s a cut through,incompetent commie.

Oh no! Our credibility is diminished with the left! Whatever will we do?

#1 we both should buy Power Ball tickets today because I completely agree with you 100%. Donald Trump is nothing but a clown with a ridiculous comb-over dressed in a business suit. That being said, I think of John McCain the same though, but with less charisma.

#8: [high five]

Although I´m not a complete Palin devotee, I have to respect the fact that after all this time she continues to hit raw nerves, even in her recent quietude... Both Dowd and James Carville felt the need to take gratuitous shots at her on that ´´ABC´s This Week´´ last Sunday. And the ostensibly astute Dowd is somehow oblivious to the treachery of Christie´s self-serving Sandy hug of The Won as well as the truly bizarre nature of his Romney-less keynote at the RNC last summer.

Anybody see a connection between these Pubbie "advisors" fanning out trashing conservatives and "softening up" conservative institutions, with the "T**d Blossom" Karl Rove trying to do the same thing with Crossroads?

A more appropriate headline for Mr. Lee´s article:

"Former Bush Adviser, A Political Contributor For ABC´s ´Good Morning America´ Since 2007, Continues Crusade Against Palin, Conservatives"

FTA: At CPAC 2012, journalists and observers noted that no speaker galvanized the conservative base--with conservative words and ideas--like Palin.

DITTOS!

These people don´t have credibility with anyone to start with. Did anyone see the seriously angry look from McCain when Rand was filibustering? He was with his buddy Obama at the time, I´m sure. How dare anyone go against the ruling elites in the GOP.

Here´s my prediction for the day - the GOP has learned nothing. Hillary will win next election. This country as we knew it is dead. And all their panties are in a wad over Palin? Disgusting.

Glad to read that the powerball posters are showing us again that their brand of Republicanism is the same as it was with Dole/McCain/Romney and who next: Bush, Christie? Not sure but what in the hearts of Brand Republicans is a huge desire for Hilary to change parties and carry their flag. There is a fear among the GOP about change even if it gave them and their children more freedom and a reform to our institutions. Strange is the moderate. What exactly do they have against Palin, Cruz, Rand Paul? Fear leads to hate as we see when Palin´s name is in the title of an article. The faith moderates have in Rove´s brand, Dowd´s opinions, and any of the other professional ´experts´ and advisors...is very very strange and shows a blind spot that may never be reasoned with. I don´t even know what Powerballs believe in that is so threatened by reform to our bloated government and changes in the power structure so cherished by Dems and Repubs alike. Corruption is in DC. Personally, I am tired of listening to the same lies over and over by the moderates. Sounds too much like the main stream media lies. If Dowd is the hero of the Repubs then tell us why.

Attention: People With Short Memories! Chris Christie’s speech at the Republican National Convention was promised to be the stem-winding, barn-burning oratory of the Century. Instead, he delivered a lackluster, disappointing yawner. His highly hyped performance didn’t even come close to delivering the goods. So, let’s stick with reality instead of some make-believe journey into the world of wishful thinking. Christie’s your basic, garden variety loose cannon.

Sarah Palin bespeaks Conservatism. She lives it. What I love and respect most about her is that she is everything Barack Hussein Obama isn’t, and then some. How’s THAT for a résumé!

conservatives and Tea Party types need to be clear that they will not vote for any more Doles, Bushes, McCains and Romneys. This is the leverage that they have that is undeniable.

If the repugs continue to ignore the base then a new party is needed. we will know when the budget deal is done this summer.

#5-

+1!

I wonder if President George W realizes how much damage to his legacy is being done by these former operatives--Rove and Dowd are only two? Or are they just trying to clear the decks for Jeb?

Why doesn´t Karl Rove´s organization, which is dedicated to electing liberal Republicans, hold its OWN CONFERENCE to showcase liberal Republicans, Chris Christie, for example, instead of blaming the CONSERVATIVE CPAC for not including liberal Republicans in its annual national forum?

Maybe because liberal Republicans like John McCain, Lindsay Graham, etc., have nothing to say except to either endorse Democratic policies or attack Conservative Republicans who DO have something to say, like Rand Paul.

In fact, every Sunday the team of McCain & Graham does its usual routine of Democratic endorsements and anti-Republican attacks on TV talkshows. Would any rational individual want to attend an entire convention to listen to four days of McCains and Grahams?

For good or for naught...Sarah Palin´s time has passed. I liked her because she was fearless in the face of the Establishment Republicans.

Establishment Republicans, who, by the way, were handed a big diss by the President this week probably during their oh-so-fancy dinner on Sunday. Did anyone else notice the Military Commissions/Tribunals have been disbanded. In your face, McCain and Miss Lindsey!

mr dowd since you are a never was i guess calling sara palin a has been is quite a complament from a bush toadie like you

The first battle for liberty is NOT against Obama and the Left. The first battle is against the unprincipled Republican leaders.

#5-

+2

Maybe McCain and Graham can hold their own convention. They could could invite Dowd, Christie and Rove.

The theme can be: Shut up and get along with Democrats to they will feed us some crumbs.

I was absolutely shocked to hear that dweeb had been a Bush adviser, after hearing his liberal garbage on ABC´s morning show for sometime. Who´d a thought?

He is an insecure fairy: he´ll spew some liberal/lefty talking point and then get this look on his face that he hopes the next speaker commenting on his statement approves, as if he´s about get witch-slapped(as he should). What a liberal pansy! Nooo credibility. If he ever got elbowed out of the way, he´d run off crying.

One of the best kept secrets of the last 60 years is slowly becoming widespread knowledge: the Republican party is NOT a party of conservatives. In addition to that, the "big tent" turned out to have no room for conservatives. Too many "Republicans" crowding the trough.

Time to move on and start a 3rd party.

Isn´t this guy the conservative brother that Maureen Dowd has talked about in the past? As to #8 and #9, CPAC is not for moderates or liberals. Time to recognize your heros for what they are and admit you don´t like Palin because she is actually a Christian conservative who stands behind her beliefs. Chris Christie revealed his beliefs by submarining Romney´s chances less than a week before the election.

Anyway, every convention needs a floor show, and this year it is Trump´s turn.

Dowd continues the progressive crusade against Sarah Palin and is "justified" as he assails CPAC even though they are a conservative organization NOT under the auspices of the Republican Party. Just wondering, for future references, does this behavior fall into the "circular firing squad" definition? Or, as I believe it to be, "Do as I say, not as I do." Well, get ready for more of this, as it is becoming clear that the lines have already been drawn. Conservatives will become verbally bolder as more of these people show their colors, and that will be a good thing in the long run. This country needs to hear an unadulterated conservative message.

This is silly. There were posters complaining the other day that CPAC is an organization for promoting liberal Republicans because Romney and Jeb Bush are speaking. There are plenty of conservative speakers attending. Ted Cruz was given the top speaking spot. Allen West, Mike Lee, Ken Cuccinelli, Rand Paul, Sarah Palin, Ben Carson, Tim Scott, and John Barrasso are featured speakers.

Why Donald Trump was included, other than for comic relief, I don´t know.

Rejected by the Republican Party, Federalist conservatives, a.k.a. Reaganites, worked, and I mean WORKED, their way into leadership of the Republican Party, making posssible the Reagan Revolution. If today´s Federalist conservatives don´t have the will to WORK their way into the same kind of leadership of the Republican Party, then they need to form a Conservative Party and take the ideological fight to the battlefield now shared by Democrats and Republicans.

You can always count on the Moderates to come out behind Lindsey´s dress when there is an article bashing Conservatives. The Moderates "big tent", which includes gay marriage and amnesty for illegals, does not have room for Conservatives. They love to shove their views in our face, thus the quaint "hi-5".

You´re defending Donald Trump as a conservative requiring protection from unidentified "moderates" on this thread, #33? Maybe a pair of glasses would help, because the high 5 was in agreement with #8´s view of the Trumpster. #16 misread the OP/8 and 9´s comments, too, all directed at Donald Trump. A pair of glasses is needed in that corner, also.

Republicans (establishment old horses) have indeed learned nothing. They are tearing the party apart and are so out-of-touch with the people of this country and the US Constitution. They have done nothing and are useless. They are a reflection of obambie and following in his pathetic footsteps. There is no real opposition to obambie and the establishment GOP actually has distain for their own constituency...look at the spectical McCain. He is an absolute disgrace as a conservative. Maybe he can go cry on obambie´s shoulders at their next dinner party.

#1, 8, 22, 31, 34...

Donald Trump understands Culture, China and it´s threat to America and business... as well as Sarah Palin´s dynamic impact on Constitutional Conservatives in 2008 and 2010... Your comments against him would bring shame to Andrew Breitbart...

Didn´t Andrew teach us anything...

ignorance is bliss

those of you who trash Palin should talk to Cruz, Rand, Rubio about their opinion of her.

the republican party is not worth the time and effort of trying to reform it. McCain and Graham proved that this week.

Mr Dowd turned on Pres Bush an the GOP then left the Bush Admin. Dowd was a Dem until 1999. One might not put to much stock in what he has to say on any subject.

Only donate to individual candidates. Donate zero to the RNC. It´s a war of attrition.

Dowd´s "sell by date" has passed. He needs to go to the garbage - Oh, he already has!

#5: [high five]

@#22: For better or worse, Nixon`s time had passed in 1962. Need I say more....

#22-For good or for naught...Sarah Palin´s time has passed. I liked her because she was fearless in the face of the Establishment Republicans.

You may be right about Sarah Palin`s time being gone, but this I will state this today- The GOP is gone also!! I will never vote for the establishment/elite/republican again! this last election was my last!! They are not different than those on the left, if fact I`m starting to ´think´ THAT is where they come from.. the demarcate party. Power ball and Hi-5`s I`m surprised it wasn`t "fist bumps"

...i must find my glasses, i see a few errors in my post above...Oh, well.

Well, I´m impressed! Just about 25% of the posters on this thread are apparently avid Donald Trump fans. I come to that conclusion because that number believe he is somehow being dissed by a comment about Powerball and a high five. One poster even assumes some L-Dotters are supporters of gay marriage and illegal immigration because of their lack of love for The Donald.
Sarah Palin suffered not a single sling nor arrow, but the defenders rose up anyway. Well done, Sarah Palin.
Entertaining group today. I salute you.

Posting history did not begin this morning. There are agendas, and denials.

No apologies for second post... but #22...

As Senator Paul said this morning, and Sarah Palin´s entire life attests to, "We have only just begun..."

Now go rent "The Undefeated" and get back to me...

Sarah is absolutely not finished with America, nor are we with her.
McCain and Graham are missing the boat, and will be left at the dock. They are too close to the actors in Washington, and business as usual. They see only variations of past bipartisan BS, not the real existential threat by the commienazis to RUIN the country for spite, and their elitist masters.
I don´t know about you, but it seems the mist is lifting, and the battle positions are becoming clear. Obama is readying for a civil war against all resistance.

Does this Dowd creature have a twin sister named Maureen? Can someone tell this little man to go away?

Memo to Matt: Burrrp!