Tea Party Express at CPAC 2012

Over the past few days, I have been in our nation’s capital attending the Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC. The first CPAC conference was started in 1973 and has become an annual tradition in conservative politics. This year, CPAC celebrates the 39th year! Each year, more and more people come from across the country to attend the conference. CPAC has come to be known as the largest gathering of conservatives in the country.

While I have been busy meeting people and networking with people, I have not been alone. Alexandra, Kylie and Taylor of the Tea Party Express staff have joined me here in Washington. They have worked the Tea Party Express booth and represented the organization well over the past couple of days. It has been inspiring to see so many young people at CPAC that believe in the conservative cause too.

This afternoon, I am honored to be a speaker on the panel entitled “Taking Back Wall Street: The Tea Party vs. Occupy Wall Street.” I will be joining Tim Phillips of Americans for Prosperity, Kevin Jackson of BlackSphere.net, Dana Loesch of Big Journalism, and Ryan Hecker of FreedomWorks. Dustin Stockton will be the moderator and we will be discussing the similarities and differences of the tea party and the occupy movement. I expect our panel to be interesting, considering that Occupy Wall Street has been protesting outside the CPAC hotel over the weekend.

For three days, there have been some great speeches, panels, receptions, awards presented, conservative movies shown, and more. The conference wraps up this evening, but not before the address of Governor Palin to the 2012 CPAC conference. There is much anticipation about what Governor Palin will have to say this afternoon, but I am sure that it will come from the heart and be inspiring to many of us.

Interestingly enough, today is Governor Palin’s birthday! I think it is warming to know that she is sharing her special day with so many of us. We are the ones being gifted today because she is delivering her very first CPAC speech ever. Happy Birthday Governor Palin!  I cannot wait to see and hear you today.

This weekend has been a wonderful opportunity to gather with like-minded conservatives to network, develop ideas, and meet with other leaders that are all actively trying to turn our country around. I am looking forward to my panel this afternoon and closing out the conference listening to one of my conservative heroes, and the Birthday Girl, Governor Sarah Palin!

I will be leaving Washington this weekend, feeling more energized and encouraged about taking our country back from the failed policies of the current administration and the left. We have a lot of work to do over the next nine months, but I know there is an entire conservative army working for freedom and liberty.

See you next year CPAC, where I hope we will be celebrating our victories of the 2012 election cycle!