CPAC Fills Keynote Position With Congressman Allen West

    This weekend’s annual Conservative Political Action Conference was originally suppose to have former Alaska Governor and G.O.P. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin  give it’s closing keynote address.  Unfortunately with only a few days notice, Palin informed CPAC that a “scheduling conflict” would make it impossible for her to deliver the address.

Palin is sponsoring a Friday evening event at the conference, so her inability to deliver on her speech, is most likely due to circumstances beyond her control and not some kind of intended sleight.

Nevertheless, CPAC was left with the task of trying to find someone who was both willing to give the closing speech and

Rep. Allen West

 able to make it a powerfully memorable speech that would end the CPAC convention on a high, inspiring note.

Well they have done it.  In fact, with no offense to Sarah Palin, they have probably wound up with a speaker more powerful and articulate than Palin……..newly elected Florida Congressman Allen West.

Now I must reiterate that I really do not mean any offense to Sarah.   In 2007, I was an early activist in the draft Sarah Palin for Vice President effort.  And after the presidential, I even named my new cat Sarah-cuda, or Sarah for short.  So I appreciate Governor Palin and know her abilities.  But when it comes to Allen West, I can’t help but admit that he is probably one of only  a handful of new generation republican leaders who offer the G.O.P. the type of leadership that can keep the Party and more importantly, the nation, strong.

Sarah-cuda

In  previous POLITICS 24/7 posts, I blogged about the virtues of Allen West.  The most recent one highlighted him as one of the ten most promising freshmen in the 112th Congress.

One of the most exciting things about West is his ability to not just articulate the conservative cause, but to excite and inspire you with it.  West is a true believer.  He is a true believer in independence, personal responsibility, including the responsibility to be personally charitable and he is a believer in American exceptionalism.  Allen West believes in peace through strength and limited government.  He believes in free markets that are not held back by undue government regulation and he has true faith in state rights, not to mention God and country.  And when Allen West is given the chance to address those beliefs within the context of the conservative cause, few have more of an ability than him to make you believe that the blood that courses through his veins is red, white and blue, not just red.

That said, I urge all of you to make it a point of catching Congressman West’s CPAC ketnote address, this Saturday, February, 12th, 2011.  He is sure to make you proud to be a Republican and even prouder to be an American.

In addition to Rep. West, CPAC will be featuring dozens of scintillating speakers.  Many of them are potential and likely candidates for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.  The schedule is as follows;

• THURSDAY, February 10:
  10:00 AM: Michele Bachmann
  1:00 PM: Newt Gingrich book signing.
  2:00 PM: Rick Santorum
  4:30 PM: Paul Ryan
  6:15 PM: A reception co-sponsored by SarahPAC.
• FRIDAY, February 11:
  10:30 AM: Mitt Romney
  1:30 PM: John Thune
  3:00 PM: Tim Pawlenty
  3:30 PM: Ron Paul
  4:00 PM: Rick Perry
  4:30 PM: Herman Cain
  7:30 PM: Mitch Daniels
• SATURDAY, February 12
  9:30 AM: Haley Barbour

Allen West should bve delivering his speech at around 5:30 PM EST on Saturday. 

In  the meantime, POLITICS 24/7 invites you to join with our sister site, White House 2012, and participate in its newest poll.  Each year CPAC holds one of the most most highly anticipated and watched presidential straw polls of the year.  POLITICS 24/7 and White House 2012 would like to know who you think the winner of their poll will be.