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The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is underway in Orlando, Florida, opening with a 2020 election conspiracy supercut, a video heralding cancel culture “victim” Gina Carano and a gold statue of ousted president Donald Trump raising eyebrows in the Hyatt Regency lobby ahead of his headline speech on Sunday.
Mr Trump is widely expected to announce a 2024 presidential run during his address to the four-day gathering – described as “Woodstock for election liars” by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper – a prospect dismissed by his White House successor Joe Biden, who has said he will not be paying attention.
Friday’s session has already been hit by controversy after members of the crowd booed when asked to wear their Covid face masks by organisers. Florida’s govenor Ron DeSantis kicked off proceedings by declaring his state was “open for business”.
Texas senator Ted Cruz mocked Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in his remarks that have been widely derided online and described as “embarrassing”. Not to be outdone, Rep Matt Gaetz declared himself a “Florida man” and made a stream of sexist and transphobic jokes, calling on people to join him in the “America First” movement.
Don Jr snipes at multiple targets
He opened referring to CPAC as TPAC.
Referencing her father’s duck-hunting accident, of Liz Cheney he said: “Her family has a long history of friendly fire.”
After saying the Biden administration has been a disaster: “But hey — at least they have a diverse cabinet.”
As with other speakers, he’s referenced Potato Head and then takes a very cheap shot at CNN’s Brian Stelter referring to him as a gender-neutral Mr Potato Head.
He also continued to push the “Big Lie” about election fraud before ramping up the crowd ahead of his father’s speech this Sunday.
Oliver O’Connell26 February 2021 21:11
Oliver O’Connell26 February 2021 20:57
Guilfoyle: ‘Send the pink slip’ to the ‘weak-kneed’ in DC
While Senator Rick Scott dismissed the notion of a Republican civil war, Kimberly Guilfoyle and the Trumps have different plans.
Oliver O’Connell26 February 2021 20:56
Kimberly Guilfoyle is introducing Don Jr
“We’re not going anywhere. This movement is not going anywhere. And I can promise you this, President Trump is here to stay!”
She then claims that Donald Trump will do more for America from his desk at Mar-a-Lago than Biden and Harris will do in the White House.
Ms Guilfoyle makes it clear that the Republican Party is now Trump’s party.
It’s another battle cry for “America First”.
Oliver O’Connell26 February 2021 20:52
Hawley: ‘I objected’
A crowd at the nation’s largest right-wing summit cheered for US Senator Josh Hawley as he announced that he objected to results from the 2020 presidential election after an insurrection at the Capitol among Donald Trump’s supporters fuelled by his lie that the election was stolen from them.
Oliver O’Connell26 February 2021 20:48
Warm welcome for Missouri Senator Hawley
Senator Josh Hawley begins his speech on the conference theme of complaining about being cancelled by liberals because he supported overthrowing the election result.
He got a standing ovation when brought up his vote on 6 January.
Oliver O’Connell26 February 2021 20:37
Rick Scott: ‘We need to start acting like we really believe our principles’
Oliver O’Connell26 February 2021 20:31
CPAC, the ‘ongoing public health emergency’
CNN Congressional correspondent Manu Raju notes that several Republicans in the House have skipped Friday’s votes and enlisted their colleagues to vote on their behalf.
They signed letters saying they couldn’t attend “due to the ongoing public health emergency”.
Those members are scheduled to be at CPAC.
Andrew Solender of Forbes has the receipts.
Oliver O’Connell26 February 2021 20:25
Remember conferences?
It’s a long time since most of us have seen a sight like this.
Oliver O’Connell26 February 2021 20:20
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