Seth McLaughlin’s front-page column in The Washington Times of Monday, March 10 chronicles some of the high points of the CPAC Conference held last weekend at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in suburban Maryland. He believes that the one-two finish of Rand Paul and Ted Cruz in the Washington Times/CPAC straw poll cemented their rock star status among grass-roots activists – and signaled that the two tea party favorites are destined for a showdown over which senator will carry the conservative flag in the contest for the 2016 GP presidential nomination.”

Mr. Cruz also won praise from CPAC’s keynote speaker former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP’s 2008 vice-presidential nominee. (Mr. McLaughlin hailed Palin as a crowd pleaser; she parodied a Dr. Seuss book as she mocked Obama). Neurosurgeon Ben Carson held third place with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie coming in fourth.

According to The Washington Times columnist David Sherfinski in his article of March 10, Carson has been on the rise since the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast “..where he ripped into President Obama’s health care overhaul right in front of him.” Carson’s draft committee is chaired by John Philip Sousa IV and he reports that it has raised almost $3 million. Vernon Robinson, national director of the National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee says that Carson is the only Republican who could beat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

So, fasten your seat belts, Republicans. Both the 2014 and 2016 elections will probably be very exciting.

-Candidate for MD State Senate Steve Waugh will hold a Happy Hour event at Cheeseburger in Paradise on Wednesday, March 19 at 5 p.m. as part of his Work With Waugh campaign. Tickets ae $25 and will include appetizers and beverages; a cash bar will be available. You may RSVP to (301) 481-1422 or to: finance@waugh2014.com . Look for Steve as well at the following events around town:

…March 12 at the Republican Women of Calvert County meeting at Noon; at the TPP/ANA Panel and Reception at 5 p.m. at the Patuxent Air Museum in St. Mary’s County

…March 13 at the Calvert County Republican Central Committee Fish Fry at 6:30 p.m. at the Elks Club in Prince Frederick;

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