1||Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) kicked off this year’s CPAC, riling up the crowd. ||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
2||Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) was up next and he spoke out against raising the debt limit.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
3||Freshman Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) smiled as she made her first CPAC appearance.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
4||David Keene, CPAC organizer, said he expected 11K attendees this year.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
5||Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) made CPAC’s first birther joke of the year.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
6||William Temple got in the spirit for this year’s CPAC dressed, as is his wont, in full Revolutionary War regalia.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
7||Crowd attentively listened as this CPAC 2011 rolled on.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
8||Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) praised the crowd, saying “You helped pry that big gavel out of Nancy Pelosi’s hands!”.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
9|| Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) called for more American exceptionalism at this year’s CPAC.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
10||Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) continued her speech to the 2011 CPAC crowd.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
11||Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) came on stage to a standing ovation from the crowd.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
12||Newt Gingrich took the stage to the tune of “Eye Of The Tiger”.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
13|| Rep. Steve King (R-IA) declared that conservatives must “know thine enemy.”||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
14||Former Sen.Rick Santorum (R-PA) was up next at this year’s CPAC, and he spoke out against unemployment benefits.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
15||Donald Trump received a mixture of cheers and boos when he said Ron Paul could not get elected.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
16||Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) did his best Al Gore impression to woo the crowd.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
17||A surprise visit from Former Vice President Dick Cheney prompted heckling from the crowd.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
18||Actress Victoria Jackson displayed her T-shirt: “There’s A Communist Living in the White House!!” (former SNL player).||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
19||Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, posed for the camera before he headed inside the GOProud party.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
20||Ann Romney received huge applause when she said she would like to see her husband Mitt as President of the United States.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
21||Mitt Romney will be known at this year’s CPAC for this poignant statement: “Unemployment Is A ‘Moral Tragedy”||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
22||Infamous Sarah Palin Impersonator Patti Lyons gave the thumbs up to the camera at this year’s CPAC.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
23||Sen. John Barasso (R-WY) spoke next to the CPAC crowd.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
24||Tea Partier Andrew Ian Dodge announced he will be running against Olympia Snowe.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
25||Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) continued to push his conservative agenda.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
26||Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) drew a few boos from the audience with his speech to the CPAC crowd.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
27||Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) made it clear that he is on the side of the tea party.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
28||Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) drew the loudest reaction of any speaker at this year’s CPAC.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
29||A Ron Paul supporter stood up and cheered as Paul criticized the Patriot Act .||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
30||Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) was up next and spoke about freedom.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
31||Pawlenty announced to the crowd: “We should not — we should not — raise the debt ceiling,”||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
32||Pawlenty had plenty of fans in the tea party.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
33||Former Alabama agriculture commissioner candidate Dale Peterson was at CPAC to court straw poll voters.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
34||Various vendors sold anti-Obama souvenirs.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
35||Conservative blogging superstar S.E. Cupp was on hand to sign her book for fans.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
36||Ron Paul fans campaigned hard for their preferred candidate.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
37||Former Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle was also in attendance.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
38||The NRA offered attendees an opportunity to test their marksmanship.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
39||Former Sen. George Allen (R-VA), whose political fortunes are looking up with the retirement of current Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), made the rounds as well.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
40||Despite former Alaska governor Sarah Palin’s (R) absence, her presence remained a palpable one.||Jeff Malet/ www.maletphoto.com&&
