Revolutionary Road
The Conservative Poliitical Action Conference is brimming with colorful characters looking to ban gay marriage, legalize online poker, help Israel keep every inch of the west bank, and generally stir things up. These are a few of the people I spoke with yesterday at the CPAC meeting in Washington.
First, one of the many groups dedicated to putting the kibosh on gay marriage:
You wouldn't think of poker as a conservative issue, but one of the stars of professional poker, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, is on the board of the Poker Players Alliance which seeks to legalize poker and its attendant gambling online and in parlors everywhere:
There were no shortage of defense-of-Israel groups, mostly with a conservative Christian bent. In fact, one of the more popular lapel pins at the convention is an Israeli and an American flag together. Here's what concerned one activist had to say:
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Legalize online poker, absolutely, and then tax mother-loving crap out of it!
See, we can find common ground with these wingnuts.
February 27, 2009 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Regarding the "Safe Israel" spokesman, I must say that is a refreshing change to see a wingnut confuse Barack Obama with Ehud Barak for a change, instead of confusing his name with Osama bin Ladin.
February 27, 2009 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg Raymer isn't necessarily a right winger. Honestly, I don't know which way he swings politically. I do know that he is committed to getting the obstacles that American's face playing online poker lifted. That is why he is there. He'll try to get conservatives, liberals and anyone in between to listen. Nothing wrong with that, just plain old lobbying.
February 27, 2009 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agree. I know that Doyle Brunson endorsed Obama during the GE so I don't necessarily think it's a right-wing vs. left-wing sort of issue.
February 27, 2009 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Raymer is fine, it's the rest of the CPAC'ers I don't like.
February 27, 2009 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Second.
I'm not a poker player but I do gamble at the pool table. These aren't lefty-righty issues, they're clearthinky-headupyourassy issues...
February 27, 2009 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ohhhh, so THAT's what they look like with their hoods off!
February 27, 2009 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope they get the word out to the fundies about the desire to legalize poker!
That should make for some fun! ;)
February 27, 2009 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
These CPAC religious freaks should move to Israel. I've had enough of their divided patriotic loyalty and their desire to send my kids to fight for Israel.
At least start taxing them and the rest of the religion industry.
February 27, 2009 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why should TPM waste time and effort playing up CPAC? Focus your attention on what matters, not on a bunch of has-beens enjoying themselves. They are so, so like...yesterday. The American public has given them the heave-ho, but you people (at TPM) are still treating them like they are a serious part of the body politic. Stop giving them an importance they no longer deserve.
February 27, 2009 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, don't try to take away our fun!
February 27, 2009 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
I respectfully disagree. This story shows that the conservative movement still doesn't understand what has happened to them and that they are driving themselves into permanent minority. This is important for people to know. I used to think all the comparisons to the Whig party were overblown, but now I'm not so sure that the Republican party won't just disappear altogether (to be replaced by the Blue Dogs who break off from the Democratic party or something like that).
Just because TPM is covering CPAC doesn't mean Matt (and we) take any of it seriously. It's just shining a light on what many consider to be the future of the conservative movement. And what we see isn't pretty. Good news for the country!
February 27, 2009 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is covered in the first couple chapters of Sun Tzu's treatise on the Art of War.
And, given they are (for many of us here) fellow countrymen (admittedly, I view many of them as stupidly incredulous and provincially narrow-minded, but fellow countrymen nonetheless), why shouldn't we maintain some interest in their ideas and the goings-on of their gatherings?
If for no other reason than that they might actually come up with a good idea. (Blind squirrel, nut, some assembly required.)
February 27, 2009 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know its really childish Matt but bring a can of fart spray with you into some of those meetings and turn on the camera's.
I need a good laugh this afternoon.
February 27, 2009 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
TPM, do me a favor at CPAC, and ask the attendees two things:
1. Do you want Joe the Plumber to run for Congress?
2. What are the five most important moments in American history?
As for the first, I overheard some hill staffers talking about Mr. the Plumber and saying that he could be making a run at the House. Personally, I would love to see that since it would conclusively demonstrate their desire to lose all power.
And the second, I just want to know what they would say. For me the five most important moments are the writing of the Constitution, Lincoln restoring the Union, the Reconstruction Amendments ending slavery et al, the New Deal, and the Civil Rights Movement. What's striking about these are that none of them are conservative moments or can be counted as such. But we all share the same history, I just wonder what they think is most important.
February 27, 2009 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
What about when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
February 27, 2009 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
You've got to admit that it's about time someone made a pointless and futile gesture on someone else's behalf.
February 27, 2009 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
In fact, one of the more popular lapel pins at the convention is an Israeli and an American flag together.
That doesn't surprise me at all. As an anti-Zionist Jew, I was unhappily surprised to see Obama wearing one of those dual-loyalty pins at an AIPAC meeting last year, just weeks after he explained lapel pins were unnecessary for patriotism.
February 27, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
What state bans poker being played in a private home? I really can't believe it. Any info??
March 1, 2009 2:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
That CPAC slideshow looked like a horror movie advertisement.
It should be called the CHAC (H for HATRED).
I'm going to go next year with my own handouts. I think all those Christians need a refresher course on the fundamentals of what their religion OPPOSES. You know, all of the "thou shalt nots".
March 1, 2009 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink