CPAC 2014: your early 2016 candidate stump-speech scorecard – with video!
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Paul Ryan:
Highlight Pointing out, correctly, that "the center of gravity" of the GOP has moved to the right; "cutting taxes used to be controversial even within our own party". Today, it's blindly invoked as a one-size-fits all solution
Crowd reaction I know this guy from somewhere….
Key reference Henny Youngman, recycling "take my wife, please" to "take Obamacare, but not really
Zombie Reagan walks again Shambling through to re-assure audience that their legislative stonewalling is actually energetic advancement. "The GOP is where the action is, just like it was in the Jack kemp era during the Reagan revolution."
Smartest move Recasting the "GOP in disarray" narrative. "I'm Irish" – disagreement, discord – "that's my idea of a family reunion. I don't see a great divide, I see a vibrant debate."
What you wouldn't have expected Fundamental misunderstanding of Americans' priorities in the midst of this economy: "What they're offering people is a full stomach and an empty soul."
Potential campaign slogan "Let the other party be the party of personalities, we'll be the party of ideas" – though given the tepid response to his speech, this might not be much of an actual choice.
Likelihood of winning the CPAC straw poll Will lose to "none of the above
Likelihood of winning the nomination Him?
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http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/06/cpac-2014-speeches-video-candidate-scorecard