“A dictator in all but name who destroyed the Founders’ vision of our Republic.”

Now we've read it. The truth comes out again:

“Republicans have an ideal (limited government, individual freedom, individual responsibility) that genuinely resonates with the public,” said Jon Henke, a Republican consultant and founder of the Next Right, which has been critical of the party on these grounds. “But Republicans don't have viable, sustainable ideas that can actually solve the underlying problems. So, instead of making transformative changes and real progress on the size and scope of government, Republicans turn to tactical small-ball.”

Out of context? Probably; we're sure Henke's "underlying problems" are the usual reactionary bug-a-boos of excessive regulation & too many handouts to lazy layabouts instead of defense contractors, but there's little doubt that there are problems, structural & otherwise, that a drowned-baby gov't. will only exacerbate.

Indeed, the ideas in circulation on the floor of the crowded conference were not exactly fresh.

Making his way to his well-received address Wednesday, the event’s biggest star, Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio, 38, brushed past one young man handing out fliers for a speech refighting not the last war, but a conflict several wars and 145 years back, titled “Lincoln on Liberty: Friend or Foe?” (The speaker’s conclusion about Abe: “A dictator in all but name who destroyed the Founders’ vision of our Republic.”)

This was Smith's introductory scene:

The quietest moment of this week’s Conservative Political Action Convention in Washington came Friday afternoon, when Jim Martin voiced his tribute to Pat Boone.

Boone, the “legendary entertainer” and “son of a gun” is spokesman for Martin’s conservative 60-Plus Association, and Martin’s first invocation of the singer and conservative activist drew applause from about a dozen of the thousands assembled in ballroom at the Marriott Wardman Park. At his second attempt to raise a cheer for “the original American idol,” one person clapped.

The silence wasn’t reverent, or scornful – just uncomprehending.

Was the Civil War revisionist aware of Pat Boone? Why do they never ask what the people want to know?