Amidst speeches from potential 2016 contenders at CPAC, conservative activists pose next to cardboard cut-outs of their favorite lawmakers, dress in patriotic garb, and mull the $500 pricetag on a leather tote bag lined with the words of the U.S. Constitution.
Here are some of the highlights.
Red State’s Erick Erickson seems bored already.
I have decided that next year I’ll be watching wall paper dry during CPAC and therefore unavailable.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) February 26, 2015
But others arrived ready to go in statement-making and patriotic outfits.
‘Merica pic.twitter.com/17JbrM9GD6
— Daniel Strauss (@DanielStrauss4) February 26, 2015
CPAC fashion pic.twitter.com/1urIztobZ2
— Katie Zezima (@katiezez) February 26, 2015
The regulars are here pic.twitter.com/XV5BI1jKqe
— Daniel Strauss (@DanielStrauss4) February 26, 2015
The Ben Carson supporters are out in force today pic.twitter.com/1G8ivus7VE
— Daniel Strauss (@DanielStrauss4) February 26, 2015
“My job should be public safety, not personal safety. Not you, not Charlie Sheen.” Howard ‘Cowboy’ Woolridge pic.twitter.com/snazaGk7Oe
— Katie Zezima (@katiezez) February 26, 2015
#CPAC is getting patriotic… pic.twitter.com/vS4UEwDsKT
— Lincoln David Boyd (@LDBoydII) February 26, 2015
Subtlety is the name of the game here at #CPAC2015 pic.twitter.com/uL88kcA5yZ
— Chris Moody (@moody) February 26, 2015
And were already arguing about the Constitution.
Two guys at a urinal arguing whether Ted Cruz knows the constitution #CPAC2015
— Herb Jackson (@record_dc) February 26, 2015
Although many lawmakers remained on Capitol Hill while the Department of Homeland Security faces a potential shutdown, many were present in cut-out form.
The Conservative Cut-Out presence is strong at #CPAC pic.twitter.com/FHhqZiihr5
— Lincoln David Boyd (@LDBoydII) February 26, 2015
.@RealBenCarson takes a #CPACSelfie with William F. Buckley Jr. #CPAC2015 pic.twitter.com/bnuociurv6
— National Review (@NRO) February 25, 2015
There were some empty seats for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) jokes about how much he hates the New York Times.
Here’s the turnout for Chris Christie’s CPAC speech pic.twitter.com/x3AseVolQL
— Daniel Strauss (@DanielStrauss4) February 26, 2015
Chris Christie began by saying he doesn’t subscribe to the NYTimes. Concludes with a joke about how he gave up the NYTimes for Lent.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 26, 2015
But the crowd was out in force for 2016 contender Carly Fiorina.
Carly Fiorina gets first standing ovation slamming Iran deal, then praises Jordan’s King Abdullah for executing ISIS prisoners
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) February 26, 2015
sounds like a hawk-ish crowd– lots of applause for Bibi and for Fiorina’s opposition to Iran deal
— Katie Glueck (@katie_glueck) February 26, 2015
Carly gives shout out to Jordan for bombing after pilot killed.. these are hawks here
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) February 26, 2015
#CPAC2015 applause meter: Ted Cruz > Carly Fiorina > Chris Christie … but Fiorina pretty darned close to Cruz #TXpoli
— Dave Levinthal (@davelevinthal) February 26, 2015
Conservative groups and vendors seriously brought their swag game.
Luxury Constitution purses on sale at CPAC. $100 to $500 and the inside is lined with text of the Constitution pic.twitter.com/btBeabCGsx
— Daniel Strauss (@DanielStrauss4) February 26, 2015
Ted Cruz’s leadership PAC is giving out tailgate cups, red Solo style pic.twitter.com/05fyewXfxa
— Katie Zezima (@katiezez) February 26, 2015
Though the conference was apparently lacking in Jeb Bush gear.
Overheard at #CPAC2015 Son: “Dad, I don’t see any Jeb Bush t-shirts.” Dad: “Nope, son, you sure don’t.”
— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) February 26, 2015
So why do Ted Cruz fans need all those sponges?
This made me laugh:
If you think about it…wearing the American Flag as a pair of pants is hardly patriotic. It’s disrespectful. Patriotism takes a bit more than that. As for calling these folks “hawks”…come on. Just how hawkish is it to sit safely at home and call for a war somewhere else that someone else will have to fight? Hawk comes from the bird…which is a tough son of a gun and does all its own hawking.
I get the impression that, in some corner of their cold, shrunken hearts, these freaks feel that they missed out on all the fun of the free loving, dope smoking, flag burning, bra burning, hitch hiking, soldier spitting, mind blowing, space trucking, carefree sixties, and they feel this is their chance to, just once, be naughty.
Kinda funny to see this considering how Buckley fundamentally split with the very magazine he founded.