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Head Of HSR Coalition Al Cardenas Named New Chairman of ACU

By: tomtflorida (Diary)  |  February 10th, 2011 at 03:23 PM  | 

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By Tom Tillison
Florida Political Press

As Kevin Darby reports on Sunshine State News, Al Cardenas, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, was named on Wednesday to head up the American Conservative Union (ACU), succeeding conservative icon David Keene who led the group for more than 25 years.

Cardenas, who had served as the ACU’s treasurer was elected as chairman without opposition despite grumblings from some social conservatives who maintained he did not share their commitment to traditional values.

“The American Conservative Union has a long and proud tradition of espousing and promoting the conservative goals of limited government and fiscal responsibility, and it’s my honor to do all I can to help further these worthy objectives,” said Cardenas.

High speed rail opponents here in Florida may recognize Cardenas’ name, he was chosen by one of Florida’s biggest lobby firms, Associated Industries of Florida to head up a recently formed High Speed Rail Coalition.

Which begs the question, can the chairman of ACU, an organization that promotes ‘limited government and fiscal responsibility‘, also head an effort to promote high speed rail using federal dollars at the same time? Is there a conflict of interest going on here?

Amid the grumblings that Cardenas is not ‘committed to conservative values’, is his willingness to spend money that this nation does not have, which only adds to the national debt further solidify those concerns?

Congresswoman Sandy Adams (FL-D24) referred to the rail initiative as “a misguided attempt to expand the reach of the federal government and spend limited taxpayer dollars on projects that our nation cannot afford.”

Cardenas takes over just in time for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) which begins today in Washington, D.C. No word yet if there will be a high speed rail promotion in the lobby.

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  • http://www.redstate.com/etcartman Kenny Solomon

    I’d better stop there.

  • Scope

    the new head of ACU. Who named him to the position? I was hoping that Keene would step down, especially in light of the Norquist dealings, and the latest debacle that has become CPAC, I didn’t have someone just as bad, or maybe worse in mind. This news just keeps getting worse and worse. I think with each passing day the need for massive support for the Values Voters Summit becomes more and more apparent.

  • Scope

    Ducky.

  • fpete13527

    At this point, although there are some good people involved with CPAC, I would say CPAC is probably no longer the home for Conservatives.

    It seems now 100% owned by Liberal Progressive RINO’s and Paul bots…… worthless. Cardenas is bad news.

    Cardenas is rallying all the squish liberal Republicans in Florida (and there are MANY) to put pressure on Scott to go through with Socialist Rail. All this when Scott is trying to do the right thing and nix rail given the wasteful and idiotic thing that it is.

    Even Bongo the Wonder Chimp knows that HSR is pathetically stupid. http://bit.ly/bcZkz8

    Cardenas and his AIF buddies are worried about the land that they bought along a proposed rail line….a rail line that was NEVER approved!!!.

    They dont care if rail is completely wasteful and stupid and will be subsidized by Billions for years and years…..with NO return. They just figured they might make a few bucks and screw the State.

    This is the core group that converted to pure liberal RINO after Charlie Crist was empowered by the Norquist RINO types. Instead of standing by principle…they turned pure liberal progressive RINO.

    Cardenas, a McCain and Romney supporter, and Social Liberal, seems the worst possible mix in all areas…..and the GOP CPAC Norquist insiders have promoted him to more influence?

    It will be interesting to hear his take on things during his moderator role during the “How To Win Independents” panel.
    No doubt he will be a stand for abandoning Conservatism in order to get Independents (like they did with his candidate McCain) instead of enrolling them in the qulaities of Conservatism – which independents are flocking toward in droves.

    Cardenas will no doubt support John McCain / Charlie Crist way of the world as he did before, and push to abandon and diminish all that the American people have screamed out that they want in this past election….IE, the opposite of him.

    CPAC and CARDENAS…….are both now officially bad news IMO.

    I could write two more pages on this but need I say more show you this? http://bit.ly/eH5Ayq

  • http://www.orlandopoliticalpress.com/ tomtflorida

    Did not go back far enough to see that Cardenas endorsed Crist. I say we petition ACU to change it’s name to the American Moderate Union!