Very interesting happenings there. I didn’t have internet, since I left behind the laptop, so no real time blogging, as I saw at least one other person here did.

I had access to some big shots and could have done the whole networking thing, but I really wanted to go for the following reasons:

1. To see how the other side lives (actually, to see how high-falutin’ republicans are in person)

2. To see if any teaparty types like myself would show up.

3. To take the pulse of conservatism of the candidates and heavy hitters.

I was not disappointed. The only downside was the Paulites booing Congressman Pence for expressing support for Israel; I left when Paul came to speak, and i heard that some of his supporters got taken out by security.

The high-falutin’ republicans I got to talk with were largely very nice and very friendly. They surprised me because of how conservative they were acting.

I was pleasantly surprised that this was the biggest SRLC ever, in terms of attendance. And many, many of the folks I met were tea party from all over; I even met a gentleman from Michigan!

I went to Newt’s American Solutions presentation and then heard him speak at the SRLC. I was very impressed with his ideas, which I will post later. I even got to ask him a question.

The one thing I was really pleased to hear was that everybody who spoke (and they were many and well-known) said in front of the cameras that repeal was the no. 1 priority when the GOP wins.

The other thing that gave me peace was that many cynical conservatives that I know, with whom I spoke personally, noticed something that I had been thinking: all the GOP heavy hitters are sounding much much more conservative these days. I know we’ve got to deal with RINOS and jelly fish (i made many phone calls in the last two weeks to Republican senators’ offices over the usual RINO and too-cowardly-to-commit-to-repeal issues), but to see big names assert conservatism in front of the cameras and the supporters was heartening. Some people I have very close contact with, who went to the behind-the-scenes stuff said that the conservative talk didn’t stop behind closed doors.  The point is, many conservatives seem to be coming out of the closet and the base gets fired up when they do. I really believe that if they keep this up, and if we tea party and grassroots folks keep our end of the bargain, we’re gonna win big in 2010 and then in 2012 and then we’re gonna get our country back.

Thanks.