Many people are noticing a Libertarian shift in the GOP, especially since CPAC this past weekend. I seem to remember a certain blogger predicting a Libertarian shift in the GOP as far back as July, 2009. Let me see, who was that again? Oh yeah…

IT WAS ME.

Mike Huckabee doesn’t like this shift and went so far as to criticize CPAC this year for being too Libertarian but as Allahpundit points out at Hot Air, this just makes the Huckster look a bit out of touch…

What political benefit is there, in this year of all years, to knock CPAC for being “more libertarian” and “less Republican”? Libertarianism has never had more cachet within the GOP than it has right now; it’s not perfectly synonymous with the tea-party movement (of which Huckabee is predictably complimentary) but it’s close enough, especially with Beck in the role of TPers’ patron saint.

My feeling is that Mike Huckabee is just angry about Ron Paul winning the CPAC straw poll this year. If you remember the Republican primaries leading up to the 2008 election, you’ll recall that there was no love between Huck and Paul as they both slugged it out to the end, even when it was apparent that McCain was the nominee.

But forget about the Ron Paul win in the straw poll. It’s very doubtful that Ron Paul would run in 2012 and even if he did, the chances of him getting the nomination are slim to none. The significance of Paul’s libertarian leanings are the only matter of relevance. His young supporters from the Campaign for Liberty were out in force at CPAC. Even Ann Coulter acknowledged the libertarian contingency in the room.

Even Ann Coulter, who drew a huge crowd herself, felt compelled to give a shout out to Paul-mania, saying she agreed with everything he stands for outside of foreign policy — a statement met with cheers.

The younger, Libertarian Republicans in the room were largely responsible for booing one speaker offstage when he singled out a gay Republican group which had co-sponsored the event. Whether the establishment GOP realizes it or not, this was a defining moment which wasn’t lost on the conservative gay blog, Gay Patriot…

Folks, I’m relegated to writing this from my iPhone. But it is big news and a huge topic tonight at CPAC.Earlier today, during a student activist session on the CPAC main stage, one brave young man thanked the group for including GOProud as a sponsor this year. A few minutes later, another student launched into an anti-gay tirade from the same podium. The CPAC attendees turned on him and booed him off-stage.

You see, when libertarians and conservatives can focus on fiscal conservatism, smaller government and increased personal liberty, amazing things can happen. It also scares the living hell out of rank and file Democrat voters. Even the liberal gay blog Americablog sat up and took notice…

When conservatives are standing up for gays, and Democrats treat us like we are an embarrassment, there’s a problem. And when the Republicans increasingly say the right things, like repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell now, and even supporting marriage, and all the Democrats show is political homophobia, gays get the message. To the White House, the DNC, and our leadership in Congress: You are messing with people’s lives, and we know it. And the day that an anti-gay bigot gets booed at CPAC, you all better start being very afraid.

If libertarians feel as welcome in the Republican Party as social conservatives, and they should, America’s independent voters will follow in even greater numbers.

If that alliance can hold together in 2010 and 2012, it will be an unstoppable force.

Young Libertarian style Republicans care about fiscal conservatism, defense, liberty, love of country, and many more of the same things that motivate conservatives. What they don’t care about is if their friends and neighbors are gay or straight, what people choose to eat drink and smoke, and which religion a person does or does not practice.

If the GOP really wants to attract more young voters, they will embrace this young Libertarian Republican faction. With their enthusiasm and activism the sky would be the limit.

Just remember, I said “if.”

Robert Stacy McCain, with whom I enjoy a blogger friendship, is on his way to Orlando, Florida to cover the arrival of the Tea Party Express on Thursday. I caught up with him on his cell phone tonight as he was driving through the lower Appalachian Mountains.

No major scoops but I asked Stacy if he minded me putting up a blog post about our conversation. He didn’t mind at all so I’m happy to share the yadda-yadda-yadda with you.

A portion of our chit chat was about the relationship between Libertarians and Republicans. I think we pretty much agreed that the GOP would be wise to welcome Libertarian minded Republicans to the tent. As a result, Eric Dondero came up in conversation and Stacy encouraged me to send Dondero a big shout out. Mr. Dondero, consider yourself shouted.

The focus of all this Libertarian Republican talk was really an offshoot of a bigger issue – the building of a coalition to oppose Pelosi & Obama’s agenda and this has entirely to do with the conservative grassroots. The point? No more infighting. The grassroots tent has to include social conservatives, libertarians, Republicans, Tea Partiers, and other Americans of all backgrounds.

As Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said in April 2009, “If you believe in freedom, liberty, self-determination, free enterprise, I don’t care if you’re a Muslim, Jewish, Agnostic, Christian, gay, straight, Latino, black, white, Irish, whatever. Join us.”

If together, we can stop ObamaCare, Cap & Trade and Card Check, American politics will be “a whole new ball game” to use Stacy’s words. I concur.

The libertarians need to stop bashing the neocons, the neocons need to stop trashing the Paulistas, the beltway pros need to stop trashing the grassroots and on and on…

Michael Steele, the head of the Republican National Committee, says he wants to build a big tent. Let’s give it to him.

We can start by working together. Let’s settle the small stuff after the 2010 elections.

Politico published an incredibly stupid piece today in which writers Meredith Shiner and Glenn Thrush ponder the GOP’s “women problem.”

The article suggests that Conservatives rejected NY-23 candidate Dede Scozzafava based on her gender.

“Conservatives say they pushed Dede Scozzafava out of the House race in New York’s 23rd District a week ago because of her left-of-Republican social views — and not because she is a woman.”

Robert Stacy McCain, in top form as usual, called out Politico’s laughable hypocrisy:

“Why is it that only pro-choice liberals count as “women”? It’s as if Phyllis Schlafly, Bay Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham and Michelle Malkin were un-persons.”

Let me add to that list, Conservative women such as S.E. Cupp, Andrea Tantaros, Monique Stewart, Amanda Carpenter and Mary Katherine Hamm.

I would also like to point you to a Politico article from June of 2009 where writer Jonathan Martin said of Governor Sarah Palin:

“Going forward, does she offer a conservative and charismatic face for a demoralized and star-less party? Or is she a loose cannon who should be consigned to the tabloids where she can reside in perpetuity with other flash-in-the-pan sensations?”

It’s interesting to note  that at the time of this writing, a quick scan of Politico’s “About Us” page shows that male staff members outnumber females by 69 to 40.

Conservatives know all too well, the horrors of misogyny and none of us will ever forget the way the left treated Sarah Palin or for that matter Hillary Clinton who was vilified by many in her own party until she no longer presented a threat to The One.

To this day, Sarah Palin and her family are regularly attacked by noted gynocolegist/obstetrician blogger Andrew Sullivan who is grossly obsessed with Governor Palin’s infant son, Trig.

Sullivan announced today that he is releasing a coffee table book called “The View From Your Window.”

The only photo that didn’t make it into the book is the view from Andrew Sullivan’s window. In an American Glob exclusive, we have obtained that photo and can share it with you now:

Finally, here’s further proof that Allahpundit likes me.

Lest there be any question… I like Robert Stacy McCain.

I ask this question based on a legitimate concern.

Republican leaders continue to back the ACORN/Daily KOS endorsed Dede Scozzafava while fretting over Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman in the New York 23 congressional race.

Establishment Republicans, including Newt Gingrich, are puzzled by the excitement over Doug Hoffman and the endorsement of his campaign by figures like Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty.

Politico reports:

“A senior GOP strategist, granted anonymity in order to speak candidly, lamented that in endorsing Hoffman, the contenders had delivered to the White House an early victory in their efforts to brand the Republican Party as dominated by its conservative wing.”

Conservative wing? Conservative wing???

Hello???

Gallup reported today that Conservatives are the dominant ideological group in America.

Since when is the majority a “wing?”

“Changes among political independents appear to be the main reason the percentage of conservatives has increased nationally over the past year: the 35% of independents describing their views as conservative in 2009 is up from 29% in 2008.”

Did the GOP miss the last six months? Did the party leaders not see the Tea Parties, the town hall meetings or the national outrage over ACORN? Have you been sitting in a dark room with your ears plugged?

Here’s a newsflash for the GOP from a libertarian who wants to vote Republican.

1. You don’t need to re-brand the party.

2. If you run a candidate with ANY connection to ACORN, SEIU, or any corrupt affiliate thereof, he or she will LOSE.

3. Run genuine Conservative candidates and you’ll win.

In the mean time I have just one final suggestion.

Buy a computer and check out “the internet.”

This is not very surprising. Many of the independents who voted for Obama did so because they were led to believe he was a centrist. They’re beginning to notice that he is not the bill of goods they were sold.

“Since Barack Obama took office as president in January, the Democratic advantage in leaned party identification has shrunk each quarter, from 13 points in the first quarter (52% to 39%) to 9 points in the second quarter (49% to 40%) and 6 points in the most recent quarter (48% to 42%).”

Bonus poll: Rasmussen says 63% of voters think the country is headed in the wrong direction.

“Most voters (63%) continue to believe the nation is heading down the wrong track, up one point over the past week. That matches the result found the week Obama was inaugurated, but it is down nine points from the week of the presidential election.”

More at Memeorandum.

Update: Welcome Instapundit readers!

As the Tea Party movement continues and many Americans grow more concerned by government expansion, the interest and support for Libertarian style Republicanism is knocking loudly at the front door of conservatism. The GOP would be wise to answer.

Consider this report from The New Ledger:

“Part of what is harming the Republican party these days is the disillusionment of the Republican base, and many of the members of the base are small-government activists who feel as if the party has abandoned their pet issue. Getting those people back would help tremendously in the revival of the Republican party, and a more libertarian turn to Republican politics would serve to re-energize the small-government base.”

I know what you’re thinking. That’s just an isolated incident, right? What about the poll from Right Wing News today that says a majority of conservatives would vote for an atheist president?

6) Would you vote for an atheist for President?

Yes: 67.2% (41 votes)
No: 32.8% (20 votes

That doesn’t mean there isn’t room under the tent for conservative Christians, it means the opposite actually. Atheists, Agnostics and religious conservatives can co-exist under the same tent because they’re united by conservatism, not their religious views.

Eric Dondero, the editor of Libertarian Republican, has reported booming traffic at his website and was recently mentioned by Jonah Goldberg at National Review.

There are other signs too. Ron Paul (ever the Libertarian) still has many supporters who are happy that Dr. Paul’s “Audit The Federal Reserve” bill is gaining steam.

“Paul, as of Tuesday, has won 245 co-sponsors to a bill that would require a full-fledged audit of the Federal Reserve by the end of 2010.”

“Paul attracted just 18 co-sponsors when he authored a similar bill, which died, in 1983. While the impact Fed policies have on inflation is once again a concern, fears about loose monetary policy and excessive federal spending appear even more widespread in 2009.”

Finally if there’s any doubt left in your mind, Greg Gutfeld host of the FOX News program Red Eye, was recently interviewed by the ultimate authority on Libertarianism, Reason Magazine.

The money quote? 2:51

“I became a Conservative by being around Liberals and I became a Libertarian by being around Conservatives.”

Click the image below to watch the video:

Nate Silver seems to think so. Writing at Five Thirty Eight, he states:

“Last week’s Tea Party protests had their origins in the libertarian movement. Although many conservative groups were eager to co-opt their purpose, the core of the message — anti-tax, anti-big government — was about as libertarian as it gets. Participation in the rallies was also proportionately quite high in areas like New Hampshire and the Interior West, which are traditionally more sympathetic toward libertarian concerns.”

He goes on to cite as evidence the Republican alternative budget which would have required a massive reduction in the size of government and the relaxed attitude he perceives from the right after Iowa’s court decision on gay marriage.

He also presents this interesting chart from Gallup which shows that currently, 80% of Republicans view big government as the greatest threat to the country.

Of course, others are more skeptical about American Elephants dropping their party affiliation and going completely Galt. Matt Welch at Reason Magazine comments:

“I don’t know if I see a pattern, but I do know that A) I’d be happy if it were true, B) there does seem to be some public-opinion tectonics underfoot on bailouts, marijuana, and gay marriage; and C) my expectation of national Republicans going libertarian even one hour past election day is roughly zero. Other thoughts?”

Our thoughts, Matt? You’re probably right. But it’s still fun to think about.

At a time when too many Republican officials are worried about reaching out to liberals or re-branding the GOP, both exercises in futility, one Republican leader is standing up and showing some real backbone; John Boehner the US Representative for Ohio’s 8th District and Minority House Leader.

Anyone who’s been paying attention saw Boehner lead the fight to resist the massive pork bill in recent weeks. Now Boehner is taking on the new administration’s proposed budget. Via the Weekly Standard Blog:

“There’s no point in ‘triangulation’ when it comes to this budget. It’s the President’s budget. His name is on it. It’s a bad budget, and we have a responsibility to tell the country that. We can do it respectfully – but we can do it, and we must.”

It’s a shame the GOP doesn’t have more conviction like that to go around. Go get ‘em Mr. Boehner, we’re right behind you!

Rush Limbaugh delivers the keynote address at the Conservative Political Action Conference this past Saturday. A speech for the ages.

Politico is reporting that Can’t-Move-On-dot-org is stoking the flame war between Obama and Rush Limbaugh.

After denouncing what they called “the politics of fear” for eight years, they’re now saying to America, “Are you with us or against us?”

Well, at least they’re transparent. This is a see through attempt to demonize conservatives as anti-American.

The KOS Kids have been pushing the GOP-is-anti-American meme all week.

But here’s the thing. This stimulus bill is supposed to be about creating jobs.

1. What jobs are created by buying new cars for the government?

2. Not all Americans want to work for ACORN.

3. Only a few people are qualified to work in Honey Bee Insurance.

Those are just three examples of the Pork Feast the Dems are trying to force Americans to swallow.

The Wall Street Journal calls the stimulus bill a 40 Year Wish List for the Democrats.

This has NOTHING to do with jobs for Americans.

This has ENTIRELY to do with liberal Democrats having their way with Lady Liberty.

Remember: If it smells like bullshit, it probably is bullshit.

Side with America.

Side with Rush.