2016 Presidential Campaign Blog

Rand Paul Wins CPAC 2015 Straw Poll of 2016 Presidential Candidates

Conservatives Pick Senator Rand Paul For Third Consecutive Straw Poll Win

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Rand Paul today released the following statement in reaction to the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll results:   
 
"I am humbled by the enthusiastic support and encouragement I received this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Our party is filled with constitutional conservatives who have chosen to stand with me for a third consecutive straw poll victory. Since President Ronald Reagan, the Conservative Political Action Conference has been the gold standard on where conservatives stand. The Constitutional Conservatives of our party have spoken in a loud and clear voice today. I plan on doing my part and I hope you will join me as I continue to make the GOP a bigger, better and bolder party."

 

What They’re Saying About Jeb Bush at CPAC and Club for Growth Summit

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT JEB BUSH AT CPAC AND CLUB FOR GROWTH SUMMIT

“A Politician Of Conviction Who Had Total Command Of Who He Was And What He Believed”

The Washington Post Headline: “Jeb Bush Was Very, Very Good At CPAC Today” (The Washington Post, 2/27/15)

The Daily Caller’s Matt Lewis: “Utterly Confident And Relaxed. Best I Had Seen Him.” “Not sure how Jeb will do at CPAC today, but last night at the Club for Growth, he was utterly confident and relaxed. Best I had seen him.” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

Politico’s Ben White: “Gotta Call That A Win…Didn’t Back Off Policies; Seemed Responsive, Willing To Mix It Up.” “Gotta call that a win for @JebBush at #CPAC2015. Didn't back off policies; seemed responsive, willing to mix it up.” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “A Politician Of Conviction Who Had Total Command Of Who He Was And What He Believed.” “In its place was a politician of conviction who had total command of who he was and what he believed.” (The Washington Post, 2/27/15)

National Review’s Rich Lowry: “Jeb Gets Questioned On All The Tough Topics By Sean, And Emerges Unscathed.” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

The Hill’s Jessica Taylor: “Jeb Turned In A Really Strong Performance.” “That had the potential to be disastrous, but Jeb turned in a really strong performance. #CPAC2015” (Twitter.com, Accessed, 2/27/15)

The Weekly Standard’s John McCormack: “Strong Performance By Jeb.” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

Associated Press: “Bush Recounted Eight Years Of Pushing Tax Cuts, Job Growth And Smaller Government As Governor…” “In what could be a warm-up to his CPAC appearance, Bush recounted eight years of pushing tax cuts, job growth and smaller government as governor when he spokeThursday to the anti-tax group Club for Growth.” (Associated Press, 2/27/15)

The Hill’s Jonathan Easley: “Jeb Bush Stood His Ground…Giving A Strong Defense Of His Conservative Record…” “Jeb Bush stood his ground in front of an occasionally hostile crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, giving a strong defense of his conservative record that seemed to slowly disarm his opponents in the crowd.” (The Hill, 2/27/15)

Politico’s James Hohmann: “Bush Bragged About Ending Affirmative Action…Praised Supply-Side Economics And Declared [He’d Like] To Phase Out The Export-Import Bank.” “Speaking to 200 of the right’s top donors at the Club for Growth’s annual meeting here, Bush bragged about ending affirmative action for in-state colleges, praised supply-side economics and declared that he would like to phase out the Export-Import Bank.”(Politico, 2/26/15)

USA Today’s Catalina Camia And David Jackson: “The Former Florida Governor…Reminded The Standing-Room Only Crowd That He Has Experience And Tangible Achievements.” “The former Florida governor told the Conservative Political Action Conference that he is a ‘practicing, reform-minded conservative’ and reminded the standing-room only crowd that he has experience and tangible achievements in boosting the economy and changing the way a government operates.” (USA Today, 2/27/15)

TIME Magazine’s Alex Altman And Zeke Miller: “After Bush’s Remarks, Hundreds Of Supporters Waited In Line For A Closed-Press Reception With The Former Governor.” (TIME Magazine, 2/27/15)

Wall Street Journal’s Janet Hook And Rebecca Ballhaus: “Attendees Also Said Mr. Bush Appeared Comfortable And Personable Answering Questions On Stage, Which Made Him More Appealing To Them.” (Wall Street Journal, 2/27/15)

Sen. Rand Paul Remarks as Prepared for Delivery at (CPAC) Conservative Political Action Conference 2015

Sen. Rand Paul Speaks at Conservative Political Action Conference 2015

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD – Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) today addressed a crowd of over 2,500 at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Remarks as prepared for delivery can be found below.

CPAC 2015 Remarks:

There comes a time, in the history of nations when fear and forgetfulness cause a nation to hesitate, to waiver, and perhaps even to succumb.

When that time comes, those who love liberty must rise to the occasion.

Will you? Will you, lovers of liberty, rise to the occasion?

When politicians accept censorship,

When politicians accept imprisonment without trial,

When politicians accept torture, even of the innocent, as necessary,

Then lovers of liberty must rise.

We must rise and stand with our forefathers who stared down the King.

We must rise as free men and women and reclaim our birthright.

We must protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies– Foreign and Domestic!

Our freedom is at risk from a Supreme Court that fails to protect our liberty.

In the mistake of the century, Justice Roberts affirmed the power of government to force you to buy insurance.

Justice Roberts argued that we must presume Obamacare constitutional.

I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t we presume Liberty!

Just as we are presumed innocent, so too we should be presumed free!

President Obama’s fundamental promise that if you like your doctor you can keep them-was a lie.

Obamacare at its core takes away a patient’s right to choose.

I promise you this — as a doctor, I will make it my mission to heal this nation, reverse the course of Obamacare, and to repeal every last bit of Obamacare!

We must remember that our rights are unlimited, un-enumerated, and given to us by God.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

The Ninth Amendment says that those rights not listed are not to be disparaged.

You do have a right to privacy.

Your rights are who you are. Your rights are what you are. Your rights are in your DNA and the government can– quite frankly– get lost!

To defend our country, we need to gather intelligence on the enemy.

But when the Intelligence Director lies to Congress, how are we to trust them?

Are we to trust them to collect and hold every American’s phone records?

I say, that your phone records are yours. I say the phone records of law-abiding citizens are none of their damn business!

From within, our freedom is threatened by debt and by a government that regulates everything that moves.

We borrow a million dollars a minute.

The President says he doesn’t know where to cut.

How about we start with the $2.4 million dollars we’ve spent on origami condoms!

Don’t tell me there’s no place to save money.

Our freedom is also threatened from outside our borders. We must protect ourselves from jihadists without losing who we are as a people in the process.

We must think before we act. We should promote stability-not create chaos.

In the Middle East, one form of tyranny often replaces another.

When secular despots are overthrown, chaos ensues and Radical Islam grows stronger.

Hillary’s War in Libya is a perfect example. Hillary’s War made us less safe. Libya is less stable and radical jihadists run amok. They now swim in our embassy swimming pool. Hillary’s war in Libya allowed thousands of surface-to-air missiles to get into the hands of radical Islamists.

As Hillary was declaring victory in Libya, Ambassador Stevens was pleading for more security.

When I asked Secretary Clinton if she read Ambassador Stevens cables pleading for help, she answered curtly, “No.” As if she had more important things to do.

I believe Hillary Clinton’s abdication of responsibility, her refusal to provide an adequate defense for Benghazi, her dereliction of duty should forever preclude her from higher office!

It’s time for Hillary Clinton to permanently retire!

In the Middle East, a dangerous and barbaric cult has arisen. ISIS has become a threat to our embassy in Baghdad and our consulate in Erbil. ISIS grew in a safe-haven created by arming Islamic rebels in the Syrian civil war.

When I voted against arming the Islamic rebels in Syria, I warned that these arms might end up in the hands of jihadists and that one day we might be forced to go back and fight against our own weapons. And within a year, that prediction came true.

Without question, we must now defend ourselves and American interests from this barbarous aberration of Islam. But it troubles me that we must now fight against our own weapons.

We need a National Defense robust enough to defend against all attacks, modern enough to deter all enemies, and nimble enough to defend our vital interests. But we also need a foreign policy that encourages stability, not chaos.

At home, conservatives understand that government is the problem, not the solution.

Conservatives should not succumb to the notion that a government inept at home will somehow succeed abroad… that a government that can’t even deliver the mail will somehow be able to create nations abroad.

Without question, we must be strong. Without question we must defend ourselves. I envision an America with a National Defense unparalleled, undefeatable, and unencumbered by nation building. I envision a National Defense that promotes, as Reagan put it, “Peace through Strength.”

We must realize, though, that we do not project strength by borrowing money from China to send it to Pakistan. It angers me to see mobs burning our flag and chanting ‘death to America’ in countries that receive our foreign aid.

I say it must end. I say not one penny more to these haters of America!

At home, our nation still needs new ideas and new answers to old problems.

Martin Luther King spoke of two Americas. He described them as “two starkly different American experiences that exist side by side.”

In one America people experienced “the opportunity of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

In the other America people experienced a “daily ugliness” that dashes hope and leaves only “the fatigue of despair.”

Although I was born into the America that experiences and believes in opportunity, my trips to Ferguson, Detroit, Atlanta, and Chicago have revealed what I call an ‘undercurrent of unease.’

Liberal policies have failed our inner cities!
 Liberal policies have failed our poor communities. Our schools are not equal and the poverty gap continues to widen.

It is time for a new way, a way predicated on opportunity and freedom.

Those of us who have enjoyed the American Dream must break down the wall that separates us from “the other America.”

The President’s answer is raise taxes again. I believe we should do the opposite. I propose we cut everyone’s taxes from the richest to poorest!

In the coming weeks, I will propose the largest tax cut in American history, a tax cut that will leave more money in the paychecks of every worker in America.

My tax plan will get the IRS out of your life, and out of the way of every job creator in America.

My plan will also cut spending and balance the budget in just five years.

To fix Washington, we can’t have business as usual.

Often bills are plopped on our desk with only a few hours to review. No one, and I mean no one, is able to read what is in the bill.

I propose something truly outrageous — Congress should read every bill!

Congress should also live under the laws they pass.

I have a Constitutional amendment that says: Congress shall pass no law that exempts themselves!
 Finally, if they wont listen to us, we should limit all their terms… and send the career politicians packing!

And while we are at it, maybe we should term limit out-of-control Federal judges!

We need to return to our founding principles and stand up for the entire Bill of Rights.

Our future can include a road back to prosperity…back to respect at home and abroad.

It should include a balanced budget, and a simple, fair tax system.

It should include a government that protects your rights and your security.

It should include a stronger, better, and more agile military

It’s time for a new way. A new set of ideas.

A new leader– one you can trust.. One who works for you.

And above all,
 it’s time for a new President!

I believe that America has much greatness left, but we must believe in ourselves, believe in our founding documents, believe in the economic system that creates more stuff for more people than at any time in recorded history.

American innovations have changed the world for the better.

America is an idea factory…. and there are ideas yet to be born.

You and your friends will create those ideas. You are America’s greatest hope, America’s dream.

Our best days are ahead of us.

It is not the desire for wealth that drives us — what drives us is the desire for freedom. The history of man is a history of men and women striving to restrain the power of government and expand the realm of freedom.

Will you stand with me?

Will you fight for freedom?

Will you vote for freedom?

Let us rise as one and shout from the top of our lungs for freedom now, for our God-given liberty. Let us stand together to make America, once again, the leading light for freedom . . . and prosperity for all.

Thank you –God Bless You and God bless America.

Scott Walker Our American Revival Free O.A.R. Decal Promoted Tweet Twitter Ad

What They’re Saying About Rick Perry's CPAC Speech on February 27, 2015, Part 2

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT GOV. PERRY’S “ELECTRIC” CPAC SPEECH

“Electric, Energizing” … “Swagger” … “Pulled No Punches” … “Fired-Up” … “An Impressive Showing” … “Bold Words … “Reaganesque” … “Greeted With Applause And Cheers Of Approval”

American Spectator’s Emily Zanotti: “Perry Was Electric, Energizing The Tired Audience With His Trademark Texas-Sized Personality…” “This morning’s round of Presidential contenders featured the Texas governor and Sen. Marco Rubio, but where Rubio was steadfast and eminently relatiable, Rick Perry was electric, energizing the tired audience with his trademark Texas-sized personality and his brand new hipster glasses.” (American Spectator, 2/27/15)

•    Zanotti: “Rick Perry Is Far Better At Mornings Than I Am. Rick Perry Might Be Better At Mornings Than Almost Anyone.” (American Spectator, 2/27/15)

The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin: “Perry Made An Impressive Showing… A Shot Across The Bow Of Other Candidates…” “Perry made an impressive showing, demonstrating that he knows his stuff on foreign policy and can talk authoritatively about his economic and regulatory accomplishments. It was a shot across the bow of other candidates: This is not the Perry of 2012.” (The Washington Post’s “Right Turn” Blog, 2/27/15)

•    Rubin: “And To Great Applause, He Vowed That ‘We Even Survived Jimmy Carter. We Can Survive The Obama Years, Too.’” (The Washington Post’s “Right Turn” Blog, 2/27/15)

•    Rubin: “In The Q And A [Perry] Did Extremely Well…” “In the Q and A he did extremely well, delineating his success in lowering pollutants with incentive-based regulations and reiterating that he secured the border when Obama would not.” (The Washington Post’s “Right Turn” Blog, 2/27/15)

Politico’s Daniel Lippman: “Perry Struck An Energetic And Strident Tone…” “Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry struck an energetic and strident tone against terrorism, illegal immigration and President Barack Obama as he spoke to conservative and libertarian activists on Friday morning here at the Conservative Political Action Conference.” (Politico, 2/27/15)

The Hill’s Jonathan Easley: “The Big Talking Texan Can Still Work A Crowd… His Texas Swagger Was Well-Received Among Conservatives At The Conference…” “The big talking Texan can still work a crowd. He walked on stage to AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black,’ and his Texas swagger was well-received among conservatives at the conference.” (The Hill, 2/27/15)

The Blaze’s Zach Noble: Perry “Pulled No Punches…” “Addressing the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference Friday morning, the former governor pulled no punches as he attacked the Obama administration and touted himself as the kind of leader America needs.” (The Blaze, 2/27/15)

•    Noble: “He Took The Stage To AC/DC’s ‘Back In Black’ And Bragged About Texas. That’s Rick Perry For You.” (The Blaze, 2/27/15)

•    The Blaze Headline: “Rick Perry’s Texas-Sized Speech Fires Up Conservative Activists” (The Blaze, 2/27/15)


The Washington Times’ David Sherfinski: “A Fired-Up Rick Perry…” “A fired-up Rick Perry warned the crowd Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in suburban Washington that ‘at no time in the last 25 years has the future been more uncertain and the world more dangerous than it is today.’” (The Washington Times, 2/27/15)

Texas Tribune’s Abby Livingston: “Perry Held The Crowd With Withering Criticisms Of President Obama’s Foreign Policy.” (Texas Tribune, 2/27/15)

The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman: “Many Lines In His Speech Were Greeted With Applause And Cheers Of Approval…” “Still, Mr. Perry has a conservative record as a former Texas governor, and many lines in his speech were greeted with applause and cheers of approval.” (The New York Times, 2/27/15)

Fox News’ “Insider” Blog: “An Animated Address… Drew A Big Ovation…” “In an animated address (watch below), Perry lambasted the president for his refusal to acknowledge that ISIS is a ‘religious movement.’ … And he drew a big ovation with this line.  ‘We had a Civil War, two World Wars, we survived a depression. We even survived Jimmy Carter. We will survive the Obama years too!’ said Perry.” (Fox News’ “Insider” Blog, 2/27/15)

Townhall’s Cortney O’Brien: Perry “Had Some Bold Words For The Obama Administration And A Congress That Has Done Little To Secure Not Only Our Foreign Security, But Our Own Borders.” “‘At no time has the world been more dangerous,’ former Texas Governor Rick Perry said not long after he took the stage at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Perry, who is rumored to run for president next year, had some bold words for the Obama administration and a Congress that has done little to secure not only our foreign security, but our own borders.” (Townhall, 2/27/15)

Breitbart’s Bob Price: “Perry Received A Strong Positive Reaction From The Audience…” “Former Texas Governor Rick Perry received a strong positive reaction from the audience at CPAC when he said America must secure its border before we can talk about immigration reform.” (Breitbart, 2/27/15)

•    Price: “In A Reaganesque Moment, Perry Made His Third And Final Point, Stating, ‘I Have Never Been More Certain Than I Am Today That America’s Best Days Are In Front Of Her.’” (Breitbart, 2/27/15)

National Review’s Andrew Johnson: “The Room Was Close To Full When Perry Took The Stage, With Attendees Crowding In…” “The room was close to full when Perry took the stage, with attendees crowding in to find out how he would recast himself as he reportedly considers another presidential bid.” (National Review, 2/27/15)

Dallas Morning News’ Todd J. Gillam: “Perry Blasted The President For Maltreating Israel…” “Perry blasted the president for maltreating Israel even as it refuses to quash Iran’s nuclear ambitions.” (Dallas Morning News, 2/27/15)

CNN: Perry “Slugged Obama… For His Handling Of Foreign Threats Like ISIS.” “Perry also slugged Obama – who was the sole focus of his speech and remarks in a subsequent question-and-answer session, unlike other Republicans who have hit Hillary Clinton or other party members – for his handling of foreign threats like ISIS.” (CNN, 2/27/15)

The Associated Press: “Perry Slammed President Barack Obama’s Approach To Dealing With World Leaders…” “Perry slammed President Barack Obama’s approach to dealing with world leaders, arguing that the world would be safer if the White House took a harder line approach.” (The Associated Press, 2/27/15)

Excerpts Of RNC Chairman Reince Priebus’ Remarks At The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on February 27, 2015

Excerpts Of RNC Chairman Reince Priebus’ Remarks At The Conservative Political Action Conference
 
February 27, 2015
Conservative Political Action Conference

As Prepared for Delivery
 
ON PREPARING FOR 2016
 
”2014 was a great year for Republicans.
 
“We took back the Senate and we fired Harry Reid as Majority Leader.
 
“We won the largest majority in the House of Representatives since the election of 1928.
 
“And we now have 31 Republican governors in America, including the President’s home state of Illinois, Elizabeth Warren’s home state of Massachusetts, and right here in Maryland.
 
“It was a great year for Republicans, and it was a great year for America.
 
“But we can’t get comfortable. Winning in 2016 is going to be hard work.
 
“But if we do that hard work, we will win the White House…we will have a Republican president…and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will never be home to the Clintons again.”
 
ON PRIMARIES AND DEBATES
 
“Republican voters are going to have a real choice. That means real debates about new ideas. And speaking of debates, I’m proud to tell you the days of the media calling the shots in the primary debates are over.
 
“In the past, the mainstream media got to decide when and where and how many debates there were. Not any more.
 
“At the RNC, we’ve created a new system for a reasonable number of debates….
 
“Conservative media will have a voice in the process. For example, we just announced Salem Radio will be a partner for debates televised on CNN.
 
“So no more field day for the liberal media.
 
“At the RNC, we’ve also reformed the primary process so that more Republicans have a chance to cast their ballots and have a say in the selection of our nominee.
 
“And let me very clear: it is the voters, the delegates, who choose our nominee. Unlike the Democrats, there will be no coronation in the Republican Party. If you want to win the nomination, you will have to earn the nomination.
 
“But when we have a nominee, we’ll have to come together stronger and more united than ever to defeat Hillary Clinton.”
 
ON HILLARY IN HIDING
 
“Of course, the funny thing about Hillary Clinton is that the more people hear from her, the less they like her. In fact, in the last six years, her approval rating was the highest when she was out of the country and off the campaign trail.
 
“That’s probably why Hillary barely comes out in public these days. If there’s not a private luxury jet and a quarter million dollar speaking fee waiting for her, you can forget about it.
 
“The truth is, she doesn’t have much to say. If you ask her press people anything, they just say, “No comment.”  I’m sure Obama wishes Biden would follow that example.
 
“Really. This is what you get when you ask the Clinton people a question:
 
“Do you support Keystone? ‘No comment.’
 
“Do you have a plan for ISIS? ‘No comment.’
 
“How are you different from Obama? ‘No comment.’
 
“Where were you on the night of the Benghazi attacks? ‘What difference at this point does it make?’
 
“It makes a whole lot of difference. If you want to lead the America people, it’s time to face the American people.”
 
ON HILLARY AND DEMOCRATS BEING OUT-OF-TOUCH
 
“Oh, and by the way, if I were Hillary Clinton, this speech would have already cost you about $20,000 so far.
 
“But, Hillary would never speak here. You’ve seen her speaking contracts—and her Hollywood-style backstage demands. Well, I checked backstage. There was insufficient crudités. The water temperature was off by a few degrees. And I don’t think the lemon wedges were sliced at the angle she demands.
 
“Did I mention that Hillary Clinton has lost touch with America? Even I had to Google crudités to figure out how to spell it. And that’s coming from a guy named Reince Priebus.
 
“Of course, if you asked Biden about crudités, he’d probably say,…’Oh yeah, I have a great relationship with that community. There’s an awful lot of them driving cabs in Delaware. For real, man, they’re friends of mine.’
 
“And then he’d rub your neck without permission.
 
“But seriously, when Hillary’s making $300,000 for a speech and $8 million on a book and owns two homes, she’s not “dead broke.” She’s dead wrong, and out-of-touch with reality.
 
“The problem for America is that it’s not just Hillary who’s out-of-touch. It’s her whole party.
 
“They tell us they’re for the middle class. But they veto the Keystone Pipeline and good middle class jobs.
 
“They tell us they’re for Main Street, not Wall Street. But they passed Dodd-Frank, making the big banks bigger and the small banks disappear.
 
“They tell us they’re for good healthcare. But they raised our premiums, canceled our plans, and denied access to our doctors.
 
“They tell us they’re for education. But they cave to the teachers’ unions and block school choice and force kids to be stuck in failing schools. That’s unacceptable.
 
“A good school shouldn’t be a privilege reserved for the rich and well-connected. It should be an option for all parents.”
 
ON THE CLINTON FOUNDATION’S FOREIGN DONATIONS
 
“After all that foreign travel as Secretary of State, she didn’t raise much goodwill for our country. But now, we see she did manage to raise a lot of foreign money for the Clinton Foundation….
 
“Taking money from countries like Algeria and Oman while she was Secretary of State. Which makes you wonder: How will those donations affect her answer to that 3am phone call?
 
“I can hear it now: ‘Don’t worry, sultan, just send 10 million to the Foundation, and it’ll all work out.’”
 
ON HILLARY’S REASON FOR RUNNING
 
“Reports say Hillary now has over 200 advisors figuring out her reason for running. Maybe they’ll figure it out, but I can’t.
 
“I do know the reason we need a Republican president. To borrow the words of Joe Biden, quote, ‘The last six years have been really, really hard for this country.’
 
“We know what we stand for. Maybe Hillary’s focus groups will tell us what she stands for soon.”

What They’re Saying About Rick Perry's CPAC Speech on February 27, 2015

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT GOV. PERRY’S CPAC SPEECH

“Getting CPAC Crowd Fired Up” … “Standing Ovation” … “Fiery” … “Animated, Energetic” … “Big Standing Ovation” … “Glasses On And Fists Flying”

USA Today’s David Jackson: “Perry Is Getting CPAC Crowd Fired Up…” Jackson Tweet: “Rick Perry is getting CPAC crowd fired up over immigration, taxes, health care, and government regulations.” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

McClatchy DC’s David Lightman: “Standing Ovation For [Gov. Perry] At #CPAC2015” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

Canadian Press’ Alexander Panetta: “A Fiery Answer…” Panetta Tweet: “Moderator: How do you deal with illegal immigrants? Rick Perry: A fiery answer on first securing border, then let’s have that conversation” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

Townhall’s John Harkins: “Perry Has A Much More Animated, Energetic Speaking Style…” Harkins: “Rick Perry has a much more animated, energetic speaking style in this run, now that his back isn’t injured any more. #CPAC2015” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

Austin American Statesman’s Jonathan Tilove: “Highly Animated…” Tilove Tweet: “[Gov. Perry] delivery is highly animated with lots of gesticulating, arms and hands in constant motion.” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

USA Today’s Catalina Camia: “Perry Made His Case To Be The Next Commander In Chief…” “Rick Perry made his case to be the next commander in chief as he knocked the Obama administration’s ‘incompetence’ on crises such as the threat from the Islamic State and tensions in the Middle East.” (USA Today, 2/27/15)

• USA Today Headline: “Rick Perry Blasts Obama’s ‘Misguided’ Foreign   Policy At CPAC” (USA Today, 2/27/15)

Mediaite’s Andrew Kirell: “Perry Gave A Rather Energetic Set Of Remarks… Garnering Quite A Bit Of Applause…” “Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry gave a rather energetic set of remarks Friday morning at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference, garnering quite a bit of applause for several of his big one-liners.” (Mediaite, 2/27/15)

New York Daily News’ Adam Edelman: “Perry SHOWED Off Some Newly Found Foreign Policy Chops…” “Former TEXAS GOV. Rick Perry showed off some newly found foreign policy chops in a plainspoken speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference Friday, emphasizing pressing national security issues like ISIS, Iran's nuclear program and the nation's relationship with Israel.” (New York Daily News, 2/27/15)

National Journal’s Josh Kraushaar: “Perry Going All In On Attacking Obama’s ‘Dangerous’ Foreign Policy.” Kraushaar Tweet: “Perry going all in on attacking Obama’s ‘dangerous’ foreign policy. The latest to continue the anti-Rand approach” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

Breitbart’s Charlie Spiering: “Calls For A Tough Foreign Policy Have Dominated Perry’s Speech So Far.” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

NBC News Headline: “Perry Slams Obama’s Views On ISIS As ‘Simply Not True,’ ‘Misguided’” (NBC News, 2/27/15)

KTRK’s Tom Abrahams: “Big Standing Ovation For [Gov. Perry] As He Takes Stage...” Abrahams Tweet: “Big standing ovation for [Gov. Perry] as he takes stage to AC/DC ‘Back In Black’” (Twitter.com, 2/27/15)

Talking Points Memo: “Glasses On And Fists Flying, Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry ® On Friday Belted Out An Address At The Conservative Political Action Conference…” “Glasses on and fists flying, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry ® on Friday belted out an address at the Conservative Political Action Conference that wandered throughout but landed a few big applause lines.” (Talking Points Memo, 2/27/15)

Jim Gilmore Becomes 12th Potential Presidential Candidate to Commit to Iowa Agriculture Summit

Jim Gilmore of Virginia Becomes 12th Potential Presidential Candidate to Commit to Iowa Agriculture Summit

West Des Moines, IA – Former Gov. Jim Gilmore of Virginia has committed to appearing at the first-ever Iowa Agriculture Summit, raising the number of potential 2016 presidential candidates speaking at the March 7 event to 12, according to organizers.

Gilmore, a former U.S. Army officer and Attorney General of Virginia, served as governor from 1998 to 2002. Virginia governors are limited to one term by the commonwealth's constitution. Gilmore is the president and chief executive officer of the Free Congress Foundation, a conservative think tank focused on tax, economic, urban, transportation and foreign policy.

Other potential presidential candidates who will speak at the summit are: Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, former Gov. George Pataki of New York, former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, New York businessman Donald Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. The summit, which will be held at the Elwell Family Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, will also feature U.S. Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa, Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Lt. Gov. Patty Judge and others.
 
Prospective candidates will each on stage alone with Bruce Rastetter, the Iowa entrepreneur and philanthropist hosting the event, for 20 minutes to answer questions about the broad range of issues facing American farmers and agribusinesses, including modern  agriculture practices, renewable fuels, biosciences, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), grain and livestock markets, land conservation, federal subsidies and other related topics.

Chris Christie Leadership Matters for America Budget Address Blog Ads in 300x250, 728x90, 468x60, and 160x600 Sizes

 

Right to Rise PAC Honorary Chairman Jeb Bush to Attend CPAC on Friday, February 27, 2015

JEB BUSH TO ATTEND CPAC
 
Tallahassee, FL – On Friday, former Governor and Right to Rise PAC Honorary Chairman Jeb Bush will attend American Conservative Union's 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference and participate in a question and answer session with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

Friday, February 27, 2015
 
Event: Governor Bush to attend CPAC
 
Location:      

Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
201 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, MD 20745
 
Start Time: 1:30 PM EST