Us & Them

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) wrapped up in Washington, D.C., this week. While the conservative movement may have not yet found a clear leader, the overwhelming consensus seems to be that Republicans need to rediscover their conservative ideals. NPR's Guy Raz talks to Erick Erickson from the conservative blog Redstate.com. Then National Review Online editor Kathryn Lopez, explains why she and other attendees, signed a declaration of ideals called "The Mount Vernon Statement."

Audio: NPR's All Things Considered, 2/20/10.

Establishment Republicans are desperate to co-opt two right-wing groups that want to retain at least some claim to autonomy: the TEA Party, recent speaking venue of Sarah Palin & CPAC, whose collective voice is sounding more like that of the teabaggers based on messages from, and response to, their featured speakers.



Has CPAC itself been pulled away from the rational conservatism of small government, fiscal responsibility and economic libertarianism by a bunch of whack jobs throwing out red meat to angry red states?

How much maniacal hate and paranoid xenophobia directed toward other American citizens can Republicans spout, absorb or passively tolerate and still be considered a mainstream political party?



From Peter Gabriel's 3rd self-titled album, aka "Melt" (1979).