Atlas Shrugs

CPAC: AFTER ACTION REPORT LTC ALLEN WEST

I grabbed this quick video with LTC (R)  Allen West -- a candidate for Congress in 2010 and hopefully, a run for the White House in 2012.

Read his after action report -- post CPAC. Another great American hero who should have spoken at CPAC but didn't. We have got to get our act together. We have the talent, we have the best of America, now we have to usurp the media which has become indistinguishable from both the Democrat party and the terror force.

CPAC AAR

Fri, 6 March 2009

LTC(R) Allen B West

Last week I attended the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) annual meeting in Washington DC. It was my second opportunity to attend this great event. This year the attendance hit an all time high of nearly 9000, and again seeing so many young people generates an astounding energy.

Being a former active duty Army officer of some 22 years service we are taught a very important lesson, self-assessment. After the completion of any operation, especially in combat, you conduct an after action review (AAR) in order to objectively develop lessons learned for improvement.

With that being said, I would like to offer my assessment from CPAC.

A week after the completion of CPAC who are we speaking of as conservative leaders? So far I have seen two persons making several appearances and dominating the news; 13 year old Jonathan Krohn and Rush Limbaugh.

I will admit, the young man from my hometown of Atlanta is a conservative phenomenon and certainly a future voice. As well, there is no doubt that Rush Limbaugh is an ideological giant of conservatism in America at this time. However, neither of these fine Gents shall be seeking political office and developing legislation to fight against the liberal socialist agenda.

What was needed coming out of CPAC is a definitive conservative political leader who will, much as Speaker Gingrich, begin to pull together our philosophy and be the voice in opposition to Pelosi, Reid, and yes, President Obama. We must have a Leonidas who will stand in the gap for our Republic as its foundational fabric is under attack.

In the same light, everyone attending CPAC, sponsored by the American Conservative Union, should have departed with an action plan; we call it a CONPLAN (concept plan) in the military. This simple document would serve as a means to bring conservatives on a common azimuth to understand our principles and how they relate to prominent current issues; the economy, fight against radical Islamic ideology, energy independence, illegal immigration, and our Constitutional rights.

The left came together based upon Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals”, a book we should all read, and we must therefore also unify our thoughts.

Conservatives must focus, never forget the maxim of “divide and conquer”, which is being used against us to dilute and divert our efforts, and attention. There is so much dangerous legislation being enacted, as well as executive orders, which are taking us down the path of tyrannical socialism. See the matador, and not chase the pretty red cape, and with a leader, concept plan, and focused followers we can achieve that end..

There is a reason why the left is attacking Rush.

We must stop using the tactic of frontal assault and employ other means of political maneuver; infiltration, penetration, or even turning movements. We have to learn to attack the liberal left not on their terms but by exploiting weaknesses and focusing efforts against that opening. No one wins on defense, I say attack them, and CPAC gave us a fantastic opportunity to develop that attack plan and disseminate it.

Very well, enough of pointing out my assessments, what are the solutions?

We must look to the mid-term elections of 2010 and that is the immediate objective. We cannot afford to lose any more seats, but that is playing defense. We need to go on the offense and target 40-45 seats in the House Congressional races. Congress is where the dogfight is, and defeating Speaker Pelosi is vital.

This is where our new Chairman Michael Steele, the State GOP Chairmen, and NRCC are vital. Send up their recommendations for review and approval, conduct an objective assessment board, conduct candidate interviews, and select those who will present the best image and deliver the conservative message.

And I did say, conservative message, no more talk about moderate, middle of the road Republicans. Only thing in the middle of the road is road kill, which is what happened in 2006 and 2008.

Lastly, out of that 40-45 candidates, we then need to train a “Dirty Dozen” who will be the best of the best and will lead the fight. We should take someone like Congressman Mike Pence who will, such as Lee Marvin, be responsible to groom this group and present them all over the Country as the future conservative legislators of the Republican Party.

Next years CPAC should feature this vanguard 12 men and women who will our conservative standard bearers and we must promote them in the media.

If in 4 years the left wing liberals could take an empty suit charlatan from giving a speech to the White House…we as conservatives can do better, much better.

First, we shall focus on Victory in 2010’s mid-term elections and begin to recommit to our principles and values, restore our Republic, and reclaim American pride!

Steadfast and Loyal

LTC(R) AB West

JOHN BOLTON AT CPAC

Visions of 2012 dancing in my head ..uh huh uh huh

Part II to follow................ complete video to follow.

CPAC: WILDERS ON FIRE: "It felt like a revival meeting"

The ballroom was electrified.

We turned a corner Friday night. Something really big happened. Something historic. In the face of a complacent, lethargic Conservative leadership, we seized the moment. The individual took up the mantle for the freedoms we hold so dear. It was the first blog event of this kind and its astounding success tells us a good deal about our mobilizing forces in the future.

The evening with Geert Wilders exceeded even our wildest expectations. Having not done anything like this before did not stop me from seeing that the over 8,000 attendees (according to my cabbie) were clueless about what the critical, most damaging issues of the day are -- freedom of speech, Islamic supremacism, the war -- none of which were being addressed at CPAC.

I was unaware when I was planning the Wilders event that there would be such a dearth of real issues discussed at CPAC -- so the evening with Geert Wilders was kismet. Wilders would be at, not of, CPAC. And was he ever! Much thanks to Robert Spencer, David Horowitz and Dr. Andrew Bostom for helping me finance the event.

The event called for 6:00. At 5: 30 they started lining up. And up and up. I ran upstairs to grab some poster board I snagged from a sad, corporate event (I figured I could write on the back, make signs pointing to where we were -- the room was very hard to find), and I when I emerged from the elevator the joint was jumpin'! The line was stretched as far as the eye could see. We were out the promenade, through the lobby, out the door.

I had no idea if I would have 50 or 200 patriots -- this was just a blog event. Just a blog event indeed. I hardly expected the line (six feet deep) to grow and grow and snake out through the promenade -- down  and through the main lobby. If you are familiar with the Omni Shoreham, you know what I am talking about.

I understand well over two hundred or more were turned away at the door. I did not know. They stopped letting folks in after 500 +, which was the max the room could take. If I had known, we would have opened up another room.

I was working inside the ballroom setting up the space, making my makeshift posters on the posterboard from an expired event, when, like a the roar of a train coming closer, the crowd start cheering outside the doors. I knew what was happening -- Wilders had gotten off the elevator and the crowd was cheering and applauding. Overwhelming.

The place was packed with shiny happy people. My menu was ........ Atlas. Chocolate, strawberries, fresh fruit, sushi, a chocolate fountain (don't ask) and open bar. Wilders talked with everyone in the crowd. He signed autographs, took their pics with him --

 

There was hardly enough seating from the crowd so everyone was everywhere -- nooks and crannies sitting on cocktail tables, the floor -- wherever they could plant themselves.

They wanted the program to begin so they began to clap -- like a Springsteen concert without the leftardation.

Pamela speaketh!

(Photo hat tip Michelina)

I kicked off the presentation with a few short remarks:

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs [crowd roars - un-friggin-believable]

I want to thank you for joining me and my esteemed colleagues Dr. Andrew Bostom, Robert Spencer and David Horowitz in support of Geert Wilders.

I want to thank you for coming to this historic event. Historic, Atlas? Aren't I overstating it a bit?

No, no, I'm not. This is an historic event because

-TRUTH IS THE NEW HATE SPEECH

-It's historic because showing FITNA and discussing infringement on our free speech is a violation of Muslims' rights according to a complaint filed today by CAIR [boos] with Attorney General Holder. Should be interesting to see how that one plays out with the Obama adminsitration.

-It's historic because free speech,  the very cornerstone of our great constitutional republic, is in danger.

Now, being as Amerocentric as we are, why should we care about a politician in Europe? We hate Europe! [crowd cheers]

We must care about this politician because this war is not a nation state war -- this is global, the global jihad. And who will fight it and defend the west? Free men and free women who know how much blood, toil, and hard work it took to get to this point in advanced civilization.

This is not about Geert Wilders. Geert Wilders our surrogate in the trial for the West. He is our proxy. If he loses, you're next.

And why CPAC? Why was I so insistent upon CPAC? This is the largest gathering of conservatives (over 8,000) in the history of CPAC. The biggest! Why? It's not an election year. So why? Because we are in trouble and they know it. We have 8,000 activists out there, 8,000 opportunities squandered. There is not one panel, speaker, or forum on Islamic supremacism, the war, freedom on speech -- just one panel on foreign policy with Frank Gaffney. That's it! Folks don't know their freedom is in peril.

The crowd milling, eating ....lovin life!

geert press and atlas 113

 

geert press and atlas 113

geert press and atlas 112

geert press and atlas 112

Allen West and Wilders in background.

 

Marine Jack, David Horowitz

 

Pamela, Evan Sayet, Robert Spencer

 

Chocolate fountain and strawberries

Before Spencer introduced Wilders -- We jumped on stage and shouted, "It's Robert's birthday!" -- which it was. And the crowd broke into song, "Happy birthday to youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu". Fist pounding the electrified air.

Robert Spencer held up a paper that the Muslims for America group was passing out to people who entered the room. It claimed that Wilders's film Fitna quoted the Qur'an out of context. Robert held up a mainstream Muslim commentary on the Qur'an, the Tafsir al-Jalalayn, and said all right, we will get the context from this book written by Muslims for Muslims -- we will see what they say it means. He went to the commentary on one verse quoted in Fitna, Qur'an 8:60, which directs Muslims to "Arm yourselves against them with all the firepower you can muster..." Robert said that no doubt in context this verse meant to give unbelievers a hug, but then he read from the commentary, which refers to "shooting." Likewise with Qur'an 47:4, which tells Muslims to "strike at the necks" of unbelievers. Robert read from the commentary that this means "kill them," and noted that the commentary went on to tell us that "striking people's necks generally results in their death."

Robert concluded by saying that all this was not hate speech, but was the venerable wisdom of the Religion of Peace -- it only became hate speech when someone like Geert Wilders quoted it. Today, Robert said, all you need to do to be a hero is tell the truth, and yet there are still very few heroes in the world. And he said that one of the foremost of our true heroes, the foremost defender of free speech in our age, was Geert Wilders.

When Robert introduced Wilders - the place exploded - pandemonium! The urbane, erudite soft spoken Wilders was overwhelmed by the response.

- Here's Geert Wilders's speech -- or click on the link below

Pamela, Robert, Andrew, thank you very much for inviting me. And - to the immigration authorities - thank you for letting me into this great country.

It is always a pleasure to cross a border without being sent back on the first plane.

I feel very honored to have the privilege to speak and to show my short documentary Fitna here in this heart of your democracy, here in the US Senate.

Today, the dearest of our many freedoms is under attack all throughout Europe. Free speech is no longer a given. What we once considered a natural element of our existence, our birth right, is now something we once again have to battle for.

As you might know, I will be prosecuted in my own country, because of my film Fitna, my remarks regarding Islam, and my view concerning what some call a ‘religion of peace.’ A few years from now, I might be a criminal. And on top op that The Kingdom of Jordan also threatens to prosecute me for insulting Islam and ask for my extradition.

Whether or not I end up in jail is not the most pressing issue; I gave up my freedom four and a half years ago. I am under full-time police protection ever since because of death threats from Muslims and terrorist groups linked to Al Qaeda.

In the last few years I lived in different safe houses, army-barracks and yes: even prison cells in order to be safe. But it's not about me. The real question is: will free speech be put behind bars? And the larger question for the West is: will we leave Europe’s children the values of Rome, Athens and Jerusalem, or the values of Mecca, Teheran and Gaza?

This is what video blogger Pat Condell said in one of his latest you tube appearances. He says: “If I talked about Muslims the way their holy book talks about me, I’d be arrested for hate speech.” Now, Mr. Condell is a stand-up comedian, but in the video he is dead serious and the joke is on us. Hate speech will always be used against the people defending the West - in order to please and appease Muslims. They can say whatever they want: throw gays from apartment buildings, kill the Jews, slaughter the infidel, destroy Israel, jihad against the West. Whatever their book tells them.

Ladies and gentlemen, make no mistake, my prosecution is a full-fledged attack by the left on freedom of speech in order to please Muslims. In fact it was started by a member of the Dutch Labour party.

If you read what the court of Amsterdam has written about me, you read the same texts that cultural relativists produce. In fact, cultural relativism is the worst disease in Europe today. Most of our politicians believe that all cultures are equal. Well let me tell you they are not.

Our Western culture based on Christianity, Judaism and humanism is in every aspect better than the Islamic culture. Like the brave apostate Wafa Sultan said: it's a comparison between a culture of reason and a culture of barbarism.

Back to my country. How low can we go in the Netherlands? About my prosecution, The Wall Street Journal noted: “this is no small victory for Islamic regimes seeking to export their censorship laws to wherever Muslims reside.” The Journal concluded that by The Netherlands accepting the free speech standards of, “Saudi-Arabia,” I stand correct in my observation that - I quote - “Muslim immigration is eroding traditional Dutch liberties.”

Now, if the Wall Street Journal has the moral clarity to see that my prosecution is the logical outcome of our disastrous, self-hating, cultural relativists immigration policies, then why can’t the European liberal establishment see the same thing? Why aren’t they getting at least a little bit scared by the latest news out of, for example, the UK. News that tells that the Muslim population in Britain is growing ten times as fast as the rest of society. Why don’t they care? The answer is: they don’t care because they are blinded by their cultural relativism. Their disdain of the West is so much greater than the appreciation of our many liberties. And therefore, they are willing to sacrifice everything.

The left once stood for women rights, gay rights, equality, democracy. Now, they favor immigration policies that will end all this. Many even lost their decency. Elite politicians in Europe have no problem to participate in or finance demonstrations where Muslims shout “Death to the Jews.” Seventy years after Auschwitz they know of no shame.

Two weeks ago, I tried to get into Britain, a fellow EU country. I was invited to give a speech in Parliament. However, upon arrival at London airport, I was refused entry into the UK, detained for three hours and sent back on the first plane to The Netherlands. The reason: I would threaten community harmony and therefore public security. And all this because of my film, Fitna. An absolute disgrace.

The British Home Secretary even publicly admitted on BBC TV that she never watched my film Fitna but decided to ban from the UK anyway. If I would have been admitted to the UK would have loved to have reminded the audience of a great man who once spoke in the House of Commons. In 1982 President Reagan gave a speech there very few people liked. Reagan called upon the West to reject communism and defend freedom. He introduced a phrase: ‘evil empire.’ Reagan’s speech stands out as a clarion call to preserve our liberties. I quote: If history teaches anything, it teaches self-delusion in the face of unpleasant facts is folly. What Reagan meant is that you cannot run away from history, you cannot escape the dangers of ideologies that are out to destroy you. Denial is no option.

Ladies and gentlemen, I suggest to defend freedom in general and freedom of speech in particular.

I propose the withdrawal of all hate speech legislation in Europe. I propose a European First Amendment.

In Europe we should defend freedom of speech like you Americans do. In Europe freedom of speech should be extended, instead of restricted. Of course, calling for violence or unjustly yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre have to be punished, but the right to criticize ideologies or religions are necessary conditions for a vital democracy. As George Orwell once said: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.

Let us defend freedom of speech and let us gain strength and work hard to become even stronger. Millions think just like you and me. Millions think liberty is precious. That democracy is better than Shariah. And after all, why should we be afraid? Our many freedoms and our prosperity are the result of centuries of endeavor. Centuries of hard work and sacrifice. We do not stand alone.

Ladies and gentlemen, our enemies should know: we will never apologize for being free men, we will never give in. We will never surrender. There is no stronger power than the force of free men fighting for the great cause of liberty. Because freedom is the birthright of all man. Freedom must prevail, and freedom will prevail. Thank you very much.

We screened FITNA, and afterwards I asked folks to please consider donating to the Geert Wilders legal defense fund. Many asked the price of admission and I declined to charge -- but if you had something extra in these harsh financial times, please give something.

The response was moving. Lots of folks gave something. One woman took the watch off her arm and said take it, it was my mother's.

I overhead another say, "it felt like a revival meeting".

This event was unprecedented. I have lived ... a lot, and this is one of the most memorable evenings of my life -- a sentiment shared privately to me in many emails with readers who attended and expressed the same thing.

The individual can make a difference. The blogs are the future.

On a silly note -- no one from Pajamas Media covered it. Funny, no? Think of it. A blogger event that created more buzz, more excitement, more joie, more attendance, and the blogmeister co-op didn't even cover it. I give them two years max. Roger Simon can't get past his ego to do the job right -- unless I am assuming too much and he is incapable of doing the job right.

Atlas and Tancredo - the genius behind the anti-sharia legislation

Observations from Atlas readers who attended

Observations from Dutch media

Some of the above photos were furnished by Pamela Hall
Video - Pamela Hall

She blogs it here.

UPDATE: Tito the builder tells of his "debate" with a Muslim outside the event handing out propaganda.

UPDATE: Pam Meister over at Family Security Matters covered the event here,

UPDATE: A Salute to the Champions of Liberty Amil Imani

Andrea Shea King was there. Check out her report here.

UPDATE: Occidental caught the birthday surprise moment for Spencer!

WILDERS: #1 WITH BULLET

Wilders took America by storm. I will have the video, pictures and speeches up by tonight of our event Friday. You must watch the event and send it to everyone. Wilders brought down da hous.

Also, the latest polls show that Wilders' party is the biggest party in the Netherlands.
Check out the notoriously hostile Dutch press. I guess the writer was moved a bit by the love.

WILDERS IN WASHINGTON: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

 

Geert Wilders en Pamela Geller op het CPAC symposium

Geert Wilders sprak in Washington, D.C. op een symposium voor 400 enthousiaste Amerikanen. Het bezoek leverde veel aandacht maar waarschijnlijk weinig geld op. Zijn 'welkom thuis' geschenk zal die pijn verzachten.

Zodra Pamela Geller hoorde dat Wilders naar Amerika kwam nodigde ze hem voor de bijeenkomst van de Conservative Political Action Committee. Op dit jaarlijkse symposium komen conservatieve Amerikanen samen om te luisteren naar speeches over de bedreiging van het vrije wapenbezit, de verloedering van familiewaarden en het gevaar van socialisme. Wilders' verhaal over de inperking van de vrijheid van meningsuiting mocht niet ontbreken, aldus Geller die via haar blog Atlas Shrugs tegen het oprukkend Islamitische gevaar waarschuwt. "Het gaat de verkeerde kant op en als niemand iets doet worden we op een dag allemaal wakker in een strafkamp." En Wilders - "de dappere verdediger van Westerse waarden" - geeft volgens haar het goede voorbeeld. 

Translation thanks to KGS of the terrific Tundra Tabloids for this google translation:

Geert Wilders and Pamela Geller at the CPAC conference

 Geert Wilders spoke in Washington, DC at a symposium for 400 enthusiastic Americans. The visit provided a lot of attention but little money. His' welcome home 'gift will alleviate pain.

Huh?

Once Pamela Geller heard Wilders came to America they called him for the meeting of the Conservative Political Action Committee. At this annual symposium are conservative Americans together to listen to speeches about the threat to the free possession of weapons, the degradation of family values and the danger of socialism. Wilders' story about the curtailment of freedom of expression should not be missed, says Geller through her blog Atlas Shrug against advancing Islamic threat warns. "This is the wrong way and if anyone does something we all wake up one day in gulag.  And Wilders - "the brave defender of Western values" - indicates, in its good example.

I didn't say that but what the hell -- I will translate my remarks.

The meeting, which Geller organized together with the David Horowitz Freedom Center and the Web site Jihad Watch, was Wilders' third gig in Washington, DC Previously he spoke in the National Press Club and on Capitol Hill, where he was invited by the Republican senator Jon Kyl film showed. Coincidence or not, that action came on the same day as Senator John Kerry's meeting on improving the relationship between America and the Muslim World.

Wilders moved by the loud cheering and cries "Wilders for President" and "we love freedom" on the stage.  He began his story by thanking the U.S. immigration service - a reference to the English refusing him entry to.The room responded with cries books.  When he talks about a speech by President Reagan in 1982 gave the English House is a wave of enhousiame by the public. For most visitors to the conservative CPAC conference, the 40th president is still the best.  Wilders also as the Wall Street Journal quoted people recognizing the sound - that is a newspaper that at least they seem confident to say. "The freedom of expression in the Netherlands, according to the Journal as large as Saudi Arabia," Wilders says, "and my lawsuit called the newspaper" no small victory for Islamic regimes that wish to export their censorship. "

After the final standing ovation organizer Geller called on those present to donate money for Wilders' lawsuit. "Alle bedragen zijn welkom want het is 'bloody expensive. "All amounts are welcome because it is bloody expensive." "How much money they had obtained it did not say, but it was probably not much. "But it was not for me. I have the rent for the room and all facilities paid. And all we get beautiful." On its Web site, which attracts thousands of visitors daily, is now a link to Wilders' fund.

This translation is funny. I will post the real reportage tonight.

 Personally, the PVV leader is not on the cost or proceeds of the evening.  But even without major check is the visit to America, which Wilders says is home to feel successful. It earned him the necessary attention in the media as expected, opinions were split. In the FOX talk of Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly, it was largely with him. The Washington Post compared Fitna in Congress with the screening of the pro-Ku Klux Klan film "Birth of a Nation 'in the White House in 1915. The New York Times described Wilders as a fierce critic of Islam with clean container rover positions as the plan to pay Muslims to leave the country.

Big media serving their Islamic overlords.

Despite the heartwarming reception "and" the American love of freedom of expression "said Wilders in the country never want to live. The day he came home from a survey revealed by Maurice de Hond PVV that the largest party in the Netherlands. "Mission accomplished." "Mission accomplished.

UPDATE: Atlas reader LN does a better job than google:

Geert Wilders and Pamela Geller at the CPAC conference

At a symposium in Washington, DC, Geert Wilders spoke to 400 enthusiastic Americans. The visit provided a lot of attention but probably little money. His 'welcome home' gift may compensate for that (referring to his party now being the largest acc. to one pollster, ed.)

As soon as Pamela Geller heard Wilders would came to America she invited him for the meeting of the Conservative Political Action Committee. At this annual symposium conservative Americans meet to listen to speeches about the threat to the free possession of weapons, the degradation of family values and the danger of socialism. Wilders' story about the curtailment of freedom of expression could not be absent there, says Geller who - through her blog Atlas Shrugs - warns against the advancing Islamic threat. "Things are heading the wrong way and if nobody does anything we'll all wake up one day in a gulag." And according to her, Wilders - "the brave defender of Western values" - sets a good example.

The meeting, which Geller organized together with the David Horowitz Freedom Center and the website Jihad Watch, was Wilders' third appearance in Washington, DC. Previously he spoke for the National Press Club and at Capitol Hill, where he was invited by Republican senator Jon Kyl to show film. Coincidence or not, that happened to be on the very day of senator John Kerry's meeting on improving the relationship between America and the muslim world.

Wilders entered the stage accompanied by loud cheers and cries "Wilders for President" and "we love freedom". He first thanked the U.S. immigration services - a reference to his being refused entry to their country by the British. The audience responded with booing/hooting. When he recalled a 1982 speech by President Reagan in the British House of Commons, the audience reacts with a wave of enthusiasm. For most people attending the conservative CPAC conference, the 40th president is still the best. Also when Wilders quotes the Wall Street Journal people react in approval - apparently considering it to be a newspaper that at least they can rely on. "According to the Wall Street Journal, in the Netherlands, freedom of expression is as large as in Saudi Arabia", Wilders says, "and this newspaper regards my lawsuit 'no small victory for Islamic regimes that wish to export their censorship'."

After the last standing ovation organizer Geller called on those present to donate money for Wilders' lawsuit. "Any amount is welcome because it is bloody expensive." How much money had been collected she could not say, but it was probably not that much. "But that wasn't the main goal. I paid the rent for the hall and all facilities myself. Whatever we collect helps." Her website, which attracts thousands of visitors daily, has a link to Wilders' fund.

Nor did the PVV leader himself comment about the cost or proceeds of the evening. However, also without major cheque, the visit to America, where Wilders says he feels at home, is successful. It earned him the necessary attention in the media where, as was to be expected, opinions were diverse. In the FOX talkshows of Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly most agreed with him. The Washington Post compared Fitna in Congress with the screening of the pro-Ku Klux Klan film "Birth of a Nation" in the White House in 1915. The New York Times described Wilders as a fierce critic of Islam with controversial viewpoints like the plan to pay Muslims for leaving the country.

Despite the 'heartwarming reception' and "the American love of freedom of expression" Wilders said he'd never want to live in the country. And why would he? Upon his return, a poll by Maurice de Hond revealed the PVV has become the largest party in the Netherlands. "Mission accomplished."

Squandering CPAC

Patrick Poole embellishes upon the drum I have been beating all week, that despite the urgent need for bold leadership CPAC is bereft of vision, integrity, leadership. At what I am hearing is the largest gathering of CPAC attendees ever (my cabbie said 9,000), there was nothing concerning the most critical issues of our day. The people who attended desperately need educating on a vast range of issues that threaten American sovereignty and basic human freedoms. There was nary a mention of the greatest threat to the West -  the OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference).

Shameful. The only moment that was inspiring and dead on balls was John Bolton's speech.

Patrick Poole adds his .02 cents to what I said here:

On the positive side of the ledger, this was a rare opportunity to meet many top conservative bloggers and put faces with the names. Without an exception, these are all wonderful, truly dedicated people. If there is hope for conservatives in the future — an issue in doubt if CPAC really is representative of the movement — the spirit that animates the conservative blogger community will be critical to helping emerge from the political wilderness.

That said, however, those of us inhabiting the official bloggers row, sponsored this year by Pajamas Media, are clearly considered the red-headed stepchildren by CPAC’s organizers. The best evidence for this was that bloggers row was situated at the back corner of the exhibit hall (which doubles as the first floor of the hotel’s parking garage). The organizers could not have positioned us any farther from the events here at CPAC without setting us up outside the building. In contrast to political left, where bloggers and new media have propelled Democrats to stunning victory and are courted by their politicians at the annual Daily Kos convention, the conservative establishment still has no idea what to do with new media.

This year’s CPAC was the largest on record. It was encouraging to see the large herds of students moving throughout the hotel. Unfortunately, the constant theme those students heard during this year’s CPAC was that the proper role of the conservative movement is as cheerleader for the GOP.

I must strongly dissent. Ever since George H.W. Bush violated his no new taxes pledge and announced the appointment of David Souter to the Supreme Court, the conservative movement has been the victim of nearly two decades of serial gang rape by the Republican Party and its leadership (George H.W. Bush, Trent Lott, Bob Dole, John McCain, Newt Gingrich, Denny Hastert, George W. Bush, et al.).

Tying our fortunes to the Republican Party is the worst mistake that conservatives have made during the past half-century. Our salvation does not reside with the GOP, but by distancing ourselves from it. Many of this year’s CPAC speakers are the very architects of our political exile. Rather than coming to us in sackcloth and ashes for their total failure of leadership, they came with red meat one-liners intended to distract the crowd.

The fact of the matter is that before the 2006 elections, just a little over two years ago, Republicans controlled the White House and both houses of Congress. It isn’t entirely clear that the GOP leadership is even aware that the situation has changed, let alone that they are personally responsible for it.

It is interesting that Ronald Reagan’s name was constantly being invoked by CPAC speakers. I’m old enough to remember the 1976 and 1980 elections, and Ronald Reagan was the conservative outsider, not a GOP insider. His strength came from the power of his ideas, which frequently were at odds with the dominant Gerald R. Ford/Nelson Rockefeller wing of the GOP.

That the conservative movement has slid into complete irrelevancy was demonstrated by the absence of any ideas — nay, any discussion whatsoever — of several of the most pressing political issues of our day. As fellow blogger Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugged observed, there was not a single panel on the War on Terror, the growing threats to free speech, or the cultural jihad underway in the West.

What should have been one of the most important events of this year’s CPAC, the appearance by Dutch parliamentarian and anti-jihad activist Geert Wilders, was relegated to the opposite side of the hotel, divorced from all of the other conference proceedings. There were no official announcements that this event would even be taking place (none that I heard at least), and when trying to locate the room in which it would be held, not a single CPAC staffer could tell me where. And this event only happened because David Horowitz, Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer, and Andy Bostom personally shelled out the money to make it happen.

Now CPAC organizers would no doubt respond that they could not fit Wilders into the schedule on such short notice. But I have no doubt that if Bristol Palin had suddenly come available to address CPAC on the virtues of teen pregnancy, David Keene and the American Conservative Union would no doubt have moved heaven and earth to make room in the schedule for her. But they could not accommodate a man who lives under constant death threats by a long list of Islamic terrorist organizations.

Honestly, I don’t know much about Geert Wilders’ politics. I only met the man briefly, and I heard his stump speech twice on Friday. But anyone who has a stack of fatwas calling for his death because of his willingness to speak out against the global jihad is going to receive my support, regardless of any politically incorrect view he may or may not hold.

From my limited perspective, all Geert Wilders has done is hold a mirror up to reflect back the ugly racism and advocacy of violence that are the staple of the most prominent and authoritative officials in Islam. For that he has earned nothing but enmity from the avowed enemies of the West. But it wasn’t enough to earn him a speaking spot on this year’s CPAC schedule.

Meanwhile, GOP operative and Karl Rove confidante Grover Norquist, who is single-handedly responsible for opening the doors of political power for convicted al-Qaeda fundraiser Abdurahman Alamoudi and Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Sami Al-Arian, was given the honor of introducing House Minority Leader John Boehner on Friday morning. The contrast between the cold reception of Wilders and the warm embrace of Norquist by CPAC could not be any starker.

If this year’s CPAC is an accurate indicator, conservatives have many lonely years ahead in political exile. Bereft of ideas and locked in an abusive relationship with a political party that has shown nothing but contempt for conservatives, CPAC represents what is wrong with the conservative movement. In terms of representing the way forward for conservatives, CPAC is an epic fail.

But I am of the opinion that the real situation is not quite as dire. There is a growing discontent among the grassroots as seen in the recent Tea Party events popping up around the country. And as President Obama, Senate Leader Harry Reid, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi impose their massive New Squeal program, that grassroots discontent might lead to the overthrow of the “official” leadership of the conservative movement, including CPAC. In my humble opinion, that change couldn’t come quickly enough.

WILDERS EVENT: OBSERVATIONS FROM ATLAS READERS

Atlas readers rule!

The $25 Banana---priceless! If given the chance to fly back in time to hear Patrick Henry deliver his "liberty or death" speech, I probably would. No, I'm sure I would. In a very real sense, that's why I left Danville and drove almost six hours (and almost another six on the way back immediately after) to hear a man from the Netherlands named Geert Wilders.

Friday morning, after almost five hours of class time with my Humanities students, I left for Washington, D.C. to see Wilders, a modern day Henry. Of course, there was a problem I couldn't ignore. I knew that Wilders' speech to the crowd attending what had been billed as AN EVENING WITH GEERT WILDERS: FITNA, FREEDOM, FOOD .............. FIERCE! at D.C.'s Omni Shoreham Hotel would be as short as it would be inspirational. In other words, I knew that I had to be at the site within minutes of the time the event was to begin at 6:00 p.m.

Armed only with mapquest directions, I sped up US 29 North to I-66 East where I eventually exited into the maze of Washington. Thanks to directions from a man who was walking across the Francis Scott Key Bridge, I found 1900 Calvert Street and turned into an area where Omni valets parked visitors' cars.

Immediately I was told that their lot was full, that I would have to try the Marriott lot a few blocks away. There was no time to complain; it was after six. I hurried into traffic, and drove past the Marriott sign that said "TEMPORARILY FULL" then headed up Calvert. For a block and a half, there was nothing. As I neared a stop light, I looked into my rearview mirror and noticed that someone was leaving a curbside spot just behind me. Carefully, but quickly, I reversed, then took that spot.

I speedily walked to the Omni entrance, found the concierge, then headed down the corridor to the left that led to a right turn down a few stairs. There I saw the "Evening With Geert Wilders" sign. But the doors were closed, and a tall and very serious security guard told me that no one else could enter due to the excessive crowd and fire code restrictions.

"But I've driven six hours," I pleaded, too weary to be more defiant.

"Sorry," he said, "those are the rules."

I didn't move since I was next in line if someone left. But why would they? It was almost 6:30 and Wilders was sure to speak any moment. What made me so intent on coming caused me to stay put. If Wilders was brave enough to produce FITNA, a very short and controversial film that discussed the brutal tenets of Islam, and courageous enough to demand Islamic accountability for its violence and its supremacist ideology, I could at least be close.

Behind me there were others who had apparently made the same commitment. They weren't leaving either. None of us became unruly or upset. We looked at each other as if to say we were happy to have gotten this close. I shrugged just as the door opened to within a foot of where I stood. A man with wire rim glasses and a short sandy colored beard asked who I was.

"I've driven here from southern Virginia," I said, "and Robert Spencer and I..."

He stopped me. "Come on in." He waved to the others also.

Inside was standing room only. On a small platform at the other end of the room in front of the microphone was Pamela Geller, dressed in black, the bright and attractive outspoken American Jewess who produces the prize winning blog, Atlas Shrugs. Touting the work that Wilders had done regarding the defense of free speech, she commented on the size of the audience who had come to express their support. Just behind her were Dr. Andrew Bostom, author of The Legacy of Islamic Antisemitism, and Robert Spencer, author of the best selling book, The Truth About Muhammad and many others. Geller thanked both of them, who, along with the David Horowitz Freedom Center and Atlas Shrugs, sponsored the event.

After rousing the crowd to repeated cheers, Geller introduced Dr. Bostom, a brilliant researcher, who briefly spoke about his reasons for being committed to defending democratic freedoms before introducing Robert Spencer.

Spencer held a thick reference book, an impeccable Islamic source regarding the true intent of sura 8, verse 60 and sura 47, verse 4 of the Koran. Both dealt with Muhammad's dictate to murder infidels, unbelievers in Islam. Both were discussed in FITNA. Spencer explained that a rational discussion of such suras, even using or relying on Islamic texts, was regarded as hate speech. When Spencer referred to handouts given the crowd by Muslims in opposition to the event, he read Muslim claims that references to the Koran in the movie FITNA were taken out of context. That's when Spencer opened the reference book and read from it.

Then he introduced Wilders who took the stage during our thunderous applause. Geller, more than a foot shorter than Wilders, was beaming as both stood at the podium. Then Geller walked away.

"Free speech is no longer a given," he said, reflecting on charges filed against him in the Netherlands, where he and his family live. "I will be prosecuted because of my film FITNA."

He described his full time protection from Muslims, how he moves from one safe house to another, how he occasionally sleeps in prison cells. He asked why free speech was being put behind bars.

"Cultural relativism is the biggest disease of Europe today." He claimed that the European left was attacking cultural values rooted in Christianity and Judaism in a vain attempt to please Muslims. Gravely, Wilders said "Their population is growing ten times faster than our local populations."

He mentioned the need for the Europeans to adopt a freedom of speech law that would allow criticism of any and all ideologies. Quoting George Orwell, Wilders said that freedom was the ability to tell people what they didn't want to hear.

When the applause that followed ebbed, he looked around the room and said, stoically, "Freedom must prevail! Freedom will prevail!"

Cheers accompanied him off the stage as FITNA began.

I saw Geller and Spencer head for the exit. Earlier I had introduced myself to them both when I ignored the security guard behind me who was warning me not to. Both recognized my name from the many messages I had sent to each of them. Geller gave me a hug. Now that they were leaving, I stopped Geller to hand her a $25 check I had written for the Wilders Legal Defense Fund.

"It's just a small donation," I said.

"No, it's a big one," she replied, as she gave me an even bigger hug, one I will never forget.

All eyes were turned to the hanging screen that was as wide as the small stage. FITNA had begun. I worked my way to the rear door. I had seen FITNA before because I had shown it many times to my classes, and would show it many more. As I reached the exit, I turned in time to see the opening image of a plane sailing into the World Trade Center.

"Bastards!" I heard a woman seethe who an arm's length away. "Yeah," I thought, acknowledging the reason that I had come. Like Wilders I knew that our freedoms were worth fighting for.

Once out the door, I patted the pocket inside my sport coat. I had taken a banana from one of the food tables for my ride home. Amused by the thought that some would say I had paid twenty five bucks for the banana, I told myself that I wished I could have given more.

B. Koplen 2/28/09

Falcon Eye writes:

experience. I felt the energy in the room, I felt the presence of enlightenment, it physically lifted me off my feet. I can smell change in the air, that smell is Mr. Wilder's determination.

George wrote and sent along these pictures:

There is a growing group of like-minded people out here working to spread the word among family and friends.  We are writing letters,  making phone calls and attending demonstrations and events like the one tonight.  I believe that eventually the pressure will grow from the bottom up so that political leaders cannot anymore ignore what is happening.  I’ll send you the pictures I took sometime this weekend after I find the cable to upload the pix to my computer (sometimes I think I would misplace my head if it wasn’t firmly attached).  Take care and keep up the good work.

UPDATE: The wonderful Ann and Judy of Refugee Resettlement Watch were there too.

Thank you George for your donations to the Wilders legal defense fund. If anyone else wants to contribute to the fight for the West and Wilders's freedom - go here.

UPDATE: From Isabella

I was one of the people who was standing outside near 6:30 last night and lucked out to get in when the man with the glasses opened the door. A great freedom fighter I know did not get in and had to go back home without having seen Geert or any of the list of amazing people that were in that room.

It was indeed a magical evening in many ways. One of the things I noticed was that there was a tangible feeling of good will and hope that permeated the atmosphere. I've been fortunate enough to attend many pro-freedom/anti (stupidity) jihad events and I always have the feeling that I am very welcome, I am valued and that the guys in the room would be willing to kill for me. I like that, and I'm not willing to give it up, no matter how scary these powder puffs think they are. Think about it, just because a Muslim man can't control himself and has never been taught to suppress his base passions and behave like a gentlemen ALL THE TIME, not just when he's on the prowl for an American chick and thinking he's oh so hip, anyone of us here could become a killing machine if we allowed ourselves to get ticked off enough and practiced totally disregarding other people's value. Sorry Muslim men; that ain't no big thang. But I digress.

The really interesting thing about last night was how all the luminous pro-freedom stars in our solar system aligned and created an amazing bond in that room, something Muslims will never understand in their destructive brotherhood, no matter how organized, until they come over to the light. It is a weapon they can never use against us because there is no way for them to attain it. In order to grab hold of it they would have to use both hands and then they would let go of Islam.

I got to meet so many cool people last night. I finally got to meet Miss Pamela and like Monsieur Koplen, I too got the warmest, tightest hug from that Atlas girl. She and I e-mail and so we were looking forward to meeting in person. She's a teeny little thing with a very big heart.

I also got to talk with Stephen Coughlin, Diana West, Tom Trento, and Andrew Bostom. The Laffertys were there from the Family Values Coalition and also Frank Gaffney and Christine Brim from the Center for Security Policy. But the best part of the whole evening was when I got to sit down and talk to Robert for ten minutes when he was taking a rest. These guys were running on all cylinders all day long and it was a long day. Thank you Robert, for putting up with my chatter.

You guys, whatever pro-freedom/anti-jihad event happens in your areas, go. You will be amazed at how grateful these wonderful people are that you are part of the group. We think it's they who are amazing. They think it's us. Post reply » 8 hours ago

CPAC UPDATE

I have much stuff to load, report and opine on. Last night's evening with Wilders was electrifying. Stunning. The packed house was wild for him. SRO and we had to turn folks away.
I will be introducing David Horowitz at CPAC at 3 pm Eastern Standard time so I should be on the live feeds if you want to watch.
Posting will be erratic as I will be traveling as well.
I don't have time to write it up today but not to worry, I will catch you up on all ..............

Frank Gaffney and I at the National Press Club event

Last night ...whoop

Bostom, Wilders, Spencer, Geller

UPDATE: Spencer has coverage of this event here.

MUSLIMS ANGRY AT INFORMANTS AT MOSQUES

This is almost comic. Three in four mosques preach hate and anti-Western extremism, and un-indicted co-conspirator CAIR is calling out the FBI on basic security measures?

And notice how MSNBC doesn't identify CAIR with its call letters. Neither do they point out CAIR's terror ties, or that CAIR was named an un-indicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land trial, and that CAIR was banned by the FBI. Further, they practically run CAIR's press release word for word. Who the hell are they working for, anyway?

Southern California Muslims Angry at Informants at Mosques

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A Muslim advocacy organization said Friday that American Muslims are feeling "anger, disillusionment and mistrust" toward the FBI in the aftermath of reports that it used an informant to infiltrate Southland mosques.

"The American Muslim community has never wavered from its commitment to keeping America safe, nor has it hesitated from cooperating with various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, in ensuring the security of all U.S. citizens," the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement.

But, it said, reports that informants have been paid "to monitor and provoke law-abiding Muslims in houses of worship" and the recruitment by the FBI of Muslims "to become informants" have left American Muslims with "deeply troubling concerns."

One of them is that "these coercive and intimidating methods highlight the fact that the FBI continues to view the entire American Muslim community as suspect and treat it as such," the statement said.

"Infiltrating mainstream mosques the way FBI informants infiltrate white supremacist groups illustrates the FBI's perception of American Muslims as a community that must be constantly monitored, instead of being treated as an equal partner in fighting crime and terrorism," according to the statement.

An Irvine man who claims he worked as an FBI informant to infiltrate mosques and gather information about a man now accused of lying about ties to al-Qaida said this week that he spent four to five hours a day with the suspect, and he now fears his life may be in danger from extremist groups.

Craig Monteilh, 46, says he recorded Ahmadullah Sais Niazi discussing jihad, weapons and plans to blow up abandoned buildings.

Monteilh filed court documents Wednesday saying he served as a confidential informant for the FBI from July 2006 to October 2007 to identify and thwart terrorist operations in the Orange County Islamic community.

The CAIR statement said Monteilh's story coupled with an FBI agent's court testimony this week in Niazi's trial regarding the use of an informant "to infiltrate" Southland mosques "have re-ignited feelings of anger, disillusionment and mistrust among American Muslims toward the FBI."

"...The FBI's counter-productive actions damage the trust between Muslims and law enforcement and trample our constitutionally mandated civil liberties," it said.

CPAC 2009: JEROME CORSI, ROBERT SPENCER AND ATLAS!

Rockin' da house .... tonight at 6 pm, The Blue Room at the OMNI!

CPAC 2009 BOLTON: "If we get our act together, he is a one-termer"

The unmatched highlight of CPAC was John Bolton's speech. Seems to me Bolton ought to assume the mantle of leadership of the Conservative movement. And before a gathering of conservatives Bolton snarked on Obama's remark that Iran was a tiny threat - he said that President Barack Obama might learn a needed lesson if tiny city like Chicago were destroyed by a nuclear bomb. Spectator has this:

John Bolton just spoke here at CPAC, offering a blistering critique of President Obama's foreign policies, insisting that, "If we get our act together, he is a one-termer."

Bolton said that conservatives should not be comforted by the fact that Obama has backed off some of his campaign rhetoric on issues such as Gitmo, NAFTA, and CIA black sites. "Being inconsistent and deceptive is not the same as being moderate," he said.

Bolton, echoing Joe Biden, said that Obama would be challenged internationally by foreign powers who seek to test the young administration. He said that Obama's weak reaction to Georgia during the campaign coupled with his skepticism regarding missile defense has emboldened a resurgent Russia. Hillary Clinton's decision to essentially take human rights off the table in her trip to China was a mistake. He explained that China is expanding its naval fleet, and will be in a position to challenge America in the western Pacific. An important test will come next month when it's the 50th anniversary of the Dali Lama's flight to Tibet -- Bolton said to watch for whether Obama has the backbone to meet with him in the White House. He also noted the North Korea's nuclear program would never be abandoned unless the U.S. puts more pressure on China. On Iran, he said that Obama is naive to believe that the issue can be resolved through negotiation. It has already mastered the nuclear fuel cycle, he said, and the only question is whether or not Israel will launch a military strike. That could present Obama with a major foreign policy crisis in the next 6 to 9 months.

UPDATE: Pam Meister has an excellent piece at Family Security Matters on Botlon's speech here:

Bolton warned convention attendees of something he believes “goes to the heart of the Obama administration” and that will affect not only us but our children and grandchildren. No, not the stimulus bill (although that’s a good guess) – it’s what he termed “the coming war on American sovereignty.”

 

 

 

< is another challenge that America faces. Obama’s dithering during the campaign when Russia invaded Georgia was seen by that nation as weakness, and so it was no surprise that the day after our presidential election, President Medvedev threatened to place ballistic missiles in the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad if the U.S. continued its course of placing a defensive missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. Bolton said, “I think we can already see the Russians beginning to calculate that the administration’s skepticism in that missile defense going in is exactly the way to get leverage over us to stop the deployment of these missile defense assets…it explains one of the reasons for the cut in the missile defense budget at the Pentagon.” As Russia continues to flex its military and energy muscles against its immediate neighbors and the rest of Europe, can we expect to see a test of President Obama and the United States the way President Kennedy was tested?

 

 

 

 

 

Bolton and Wilders

This is our future. Not what the leftist islamists and the spineless conservatives are serving up cold.

The most important tête à tête at CPAC. We discussed freedom of speech, the deteriorating situation in Sarajevo and Kosovo (bad and getting worse), the worsening situation in Europe, and Wilders' legal case in The Netherlands.

Two of the most important leaders of the free world - thank G-d we got 'em. Atlas is on it!

Mr. B and Atlas

CPAC 2009: THE LARGEST EVER

Here we are at the largest attended CPAC ever - close to 8,000 people and there is not one panel or speaker  on Islamic supremacism, freedom of speech, or foreign affairs save one panel:

Mark Krikorian over at NRO noticed:

This year's Conservative Politcal Action Conference starts Thursday in Washington. I'll be on a panel on "Legal Immigration: Defending the Constitution and Assimilation" on Saturday. (Nadler will be moderating a panel on "Building the Conservative Hispanic Coalition" on Thursday.) One thing that struck me is how little there will be on foreign policy. No doubt some keynote speakers will focus on it (John Bolton, for instance), but there seems to be just one panel on the topic, featuring two critics of an activist foreign policy (Doug Bandow and John Hostettler) and one advocate (Frank Gaffney). I'll guess that the moderator is also not a fan of our efforts in the Middle East: Suhail Khan of Grover Norquist's Islamic Free Market Institute (and board member of the American Conservative Union, whom Gaffney wrote about here). But the personalities aren't really the point — I don't know Bandow but both Gaffney and Hostettler are great guys and it sounds like it'll be a good discussion. But how can a three-day conference on conservativism have only one session devoted to the entirety of foreign affairs?

What a squandered opportunity. Think of it. There is such a groundswell - people want to take back their country. There are "tea parties" popping up all over the nation. It would be inconceivable for CPAC to break records on an off election year but they have. And why? Because this country is under siege.

Something will have to be done. As David Keene, President of the American Conservative Union, fades to black, it will be critical who replaces him.

Who  will lead the conservative movement?

WILDERS IS COMING TO AMERICA AN EVENING WITH GEERT WILDERS

Geert Wilders is coming to America this week. How delicious is that? We should get gaggles of giggly freedom lovers to greet him at the airport like they used to do with Beatles and Elvis. I mean it, really.

He is landing in New York. Not to worry - Atlas will report all. He has a full schedule.  Glenn Beck, O'Reilly, Ingraham, CNN  ...   New York, Boston, and DC. He is scheduled to  speak at the National Press Club in Washington DC. The visual of Wilders against a backdrop of the iconic Lincoln Memorial, Washington monument, etc. is fitting. That blast of hair fits right in with Jefferson's, Washington's, Burr's ........ the powered wig thing.

Atlas is hosting an "Evening with Geert Wilders" along with the David Horowitz Freedom Center, Jihad Watch and Dr. Andrew Bostom at CPAC, OMNI Hotel. Food, Fitna, Freedom ..... fierce.

Here's the press release. If you would like to "thank me" for putting this event together, please donate to Geert Wilders' legal defense fund here - or bring a check with you to the evening.

AN EVENING WITH GEERT WILDERS

Geert Wilders, chairman of the Freedom Party in The Netherlands (PVV), maker of the film Fitna, and brave fighter for Western values, will speak in Washington, DC, this week.

Wilders, the foremost defender of free speech in the modern age, will deliver an address at a reception at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, site of the Conservative Political Action Conference, on Friday, February 27, at 6:00PM.

The reception will feature a screening of Wilders’s courageous and hard-hitting film Fitna, which demonstrates how Islamic jihadists use the Qur’an and Islamic teachings to justify acts of violence and terrorism, and which has become the focus of efforts by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to restrict and criminalize free speech about the global jihad threat. A question-and-answer period will follow.

The reception is sponsored by the

David Horowitz Freedom Center, Atlas Shrugs, Jihad Watch, and Dr. Andrew Bostom

It is open to the public. In light of the multiple threats on Geert Wilders’s life, security will be very tight: no bags or coats will be allowed, all materials brought in to the room will be searched, and the event organizers reserve the right to deny entry to or eject anyone at any time.

For more information, contact Pamela Geller of AtlasShrugs.com, wildersevening@aol.com

ATLAS GOES TO CPAC :)

Yes, I am an official blogger at CPAC - I will be there reporting all the dirt. I have been asked to introduce David Horowitz on Saturday (whoop) and I will be hosting an event you won't want to miss - more on that later.