Well, what an adventure! CPAC 2011 ended today, and was my first experience at the conference for conservatives. There’s lots to report and I will have both “Palin Report” and “Weekend Update” podcasts for you Sunday evening.

I do want to say what a thrill it was to finally meet so many peeps I had only had the pleasure of knowing in cyberspace. That, I have to say, was probably the highlight of the conference for me. Oh, except for seeing Rep. Allen West for the first time since his victory in November 2010. He came up to Bloggers Row at CPAC and was instantly mobbed. Here we are together. Is my smile big enough? 😉

And then the most fabulous: The Hug.

Here’s video of Rep. Allen West’s speech. You can also follow Rep. West on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AllenWest.

My other absolute favorite from the conference was Amb. John Bolton. Here’s video of his presentation.

As many of you know my I Wish He Was My Little Brother Johnny Phillips was also at CPAC. I had lots of fun being on his show Friday night. TAM RuBegonia was kind enough to capture the interview, which you can listen to here.

So thank you all for your patience and understanding while I’ve been away. It has been a good trip. I’ll see you all on the podcasts tomorrow 🙂

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20 Comments | Leave a comment
  1. ConservativePup says:

    LOVE the pics! LOVED the tweets! Can’t wait for the podcasts!

  2. ShArKy666 says:

    tammy!!! thanks goodness ur doing ok…we all missed u very much and can’t wait to hear what happened!!…and the pics u posted were amazing!!…i got tears in my eyes when i saw the pic of u hugging allen west..the body language of that hug is incredible…his open hand on your back…just the thought of you and he together trying to save our country brought tears to my eyes thinking that you were both together…i was moved beyond words…even now as i’m typing this my eyes are welling up with tears ..i love u tammy…please get home safely my sweetness!

  3. MaccabeeMaven says:

    Fabulous pictures, fabulous updates. Glad your first CPAC experience was a positive one, and I hope this will be the first of many for you.

  4. mrb1723 says:

    Nice pics. Tammy .

  5. MaryVal says:

    Drinking my morning coffee and watching Congressman West on youtube. Amazing. Colonel West restores my hope.

  6. MainelyRight says:

    Wonderful pictures, Tammy. You’re right to put so much faith in Col. West. We’re all a little better off with him in D.C.

  7. LJZumpano says:

    Safe trip home. Because of the wonder that is the internet was able to watch Bachmann’s opening speech while at work. Saw Coulter and of course, couldn’t miss Bolton and West this weekend. For the rest, relied mostly on Twitter for recaps. Enjoyed your interview with Johnny Phillips. Hoping everyone had a good time and had a chance to party hardy. A lot of the potential POTUS wanna bes had the chance to make opening statements, without having the oxygen sucked out of the room by Sarah Palin’s presence. I think we have a pretty good idea where Sarah stands. Unfortunately, nothing on the twitter has convinced me to review the speeches made by the guys. You and Johnny talked about red meat and substance. Heard that Cain had the first, and Daniels the other. Well, I want both, and IMO Palin can deliver that. One speech I intend to study was given by Michael Barone. Life interferred and I didn’t get to hear all he said, but when it comes to the numbers, he is a master and I hope those who are serious about the 2012 campaign understand what he is talking about. We had fun picking dream tickets for POTUS this weekend, and Ann Coulter was very shrewd. Knowing she will be asked, over and over, who her choice would be, she left the option open by picking the one popular guy who has already said he wasn’t running. Can he change his mind? Sure, but for now Coulter can go her merry way, having chosen “her man”, yet not cutting off the option of picking a favorite at a later date. I didn’t miss her message that if Romney was on the top of the ticket, the GOP would lose. Kudos to Ann, she lived up to her reputation for sending sparks into the air.
    It is great that CPAC will get some air time on the Sunday morning shows today, but the real work continues. The newbies in Congress have an extra burden, because THIS TIME, we are watching their every movement. And we are not in the mood to suffer disappointments.

  8. JuanitaDugas says:

    Great seeing you quite by chance Tammy at my first ever CPAC as well. You looked fabulous but would have missed you if not for the woman sitting next to me asking if you were Tammy Bruce as you left the Marriott Ballroom after Bolton’s speech. ; ) Thanks for hugging Allen West for all of us…the picture is beautiful and his speech so inspirational. Love your interview @Johnnydon’tlike and can’t wait to hear the Palin Report and Weekend Report. Safe trip home to Syd and Snoopy.

  9. Cutter Bench says:

    Tammy: Seeing you hug Rep. Allen West made me wax nostalgic for the one time we hugged nearly six years ago… Hard to believe it’s been that long! It was during the meet and greet after you spoke at the UMASS Amherst campus. You’ve got a lotta heart and you’re true blue — one can tell an awful lot from the warmth of an embrace. Let me hasten to add, lest folks reading this get the wrong impression, I mean that in a purely platonic sense. As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers. -Tom

  10. geezer says:

    I also caught the Allen West interview with the bloggers on youtube. “Hey Tammy”, “Hello Dear”. There was an intimacy in that casual exchange dropped into in the middle of answering questions from others that mirrors what everyone says about the hugs above. Highest respect conveyed toward each other in just a word spoken in the middle of a crowded interview. Like two warriors who meet in a peaceful setting after a long battle. It was the only personal mention in the entire interview. Near as I can tell the audience of bloggers interviewing Rep. West consisted of Tammy and everyone else.

  11. srrchl says:

    Wow!! Fascinating CPAC… My favorites — David Horowitz, Frank Gaffney (interview), Andrew Breitbart, John Bolton, Ann Coulter, Allen West….

    This is a hot pick especially for Tammy — check out the doumentary — Someone Told Me About Carla Bruni — now that’s a First Lady !!!!

  12. USApride says:

    Tammy, talk about pictures telling a story!!!!! What can I say , I watched the speech 4 times so far. This man has quite a presence. I see him as strong, patriotic and quite gentle, wow what a combination. He kept saying thank you as those in the audience clapped, he is a humble man as well. He did not stand at that podium with an air of arrogance but instead with honor. He is definitely one of our shining stars. 🙂

  13. Cutter Bench says:

    Very well put Geezer, “Highest respect conveyed toward each other…” Comraderie, kinship, espirit de corps — a sense that we’re all in this together — brothers and sisters in arms.

  14. Kimj7157 says:

    Now THAT’s a hug!! No wimpy A-frame action there. Loved seeing that. Joyful, genuine, heartfelt moment. Glad you had such a great experience at your first CPAC. Looking forward to hearing all the stories. Maybe you’re home already. If not, have a safe trip. If you are, welcome back to California!

  15. dennisl59 says:

    Tammy, what a thrill it must have been to be in the presence of West. What got to me, was his telling of his biography during his speech. A home grown, down to earth, born and bred American Son of the South. There is no confusion where his heart and soul is, and if he leads, I’ll follow.

  16. Tinker says:

    I saw Allen West’s speech last night and he blew me away! and I couldn’t help but compare him to Mittenz the day before. Textbook difference between one person who really believes and one who is just there to be there.

  17. […] Tammy Bruce and  Allen West […]

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