RUSH: A little surprise just happened at CPAC. Here’s Liz Cheney.
LIZ: For my whole life he has taught me to stand up for what I believe in and to fight for what’s right. And often before big speeches like this one, I ask his opinion, I seek his advice. Well, today, instead, I brought him with me. (cheers and applause.)
RUSH: The place went nuts. CPAC convention in Washington, the place went nuts. And here’s what Cheney said, in part.
CHENEY: A welcome like that is almost enough to want to make me run for office again. (cheers and applause) But I’m not-a-gonna do it. (laughter) I think the developments that we’ve seen over the last several months are enormously encouraging. I think when we can achieve the kind of results that we’ve achieved in places like Virginia and New Jersey and Massachusetts — (cheers and applause) — the sky’s the limit here. I think 2010 is going to be a phenomenal year for the conservative cause. And I think Barack Obama is a one-term president. (cheers and applause).
RUSH: Place erupted. We cut the applause short in the essence of brevity, but the place just went nuts. Now, earlier this morning Marco Rubio, the Florida Senate candidate, spoke. How many bites do we have here? One, two, three, four. He pretty much brought the house down, too.
RUBIO: There’s never been a nation like the United States, ever. It begins with the principles of our founding documents, principles that recognize that our rights come from God, not from our government. (cheers and applause) Principles that recognize that because all of us are equal in the eyes of our Creator, all life is sacred, at every stage of life. (applause) These principles embody a commitment to individual liberty which has made us the freest people in history. There’s nothing like America in all the world. And even today with the problems that we face, who would you rather be, which country would you trade places with? Just remember and ask yourself, when was the last time that you heard news accounts about a boatload of American refugees arriving on the shores of another country?
RUSH: Marco Rubio, Florida Senate candidate then described how the political class of this country doesn’t get what’s going on here.
RUBIO: Leaders at the highest levels of our government are undertaking a deliberate and systematic effort to redefine our government, our economy, and our country. Now, people, as I said, all across America figured this out over a year ago. They didn’t wait for their senator or for their congressman to do something about it. They did it themselves. They have taken matters into their own hands, from tea parties, to the election in Massachusetts, we are witnessing the single greatest political push-back in American history. (cheers and applause) Never has the political class or the mainstream media that covers them been more out of touch with the American people than they are today. 2010 is not just a choice between Republicans and Democrats, it’s not just a choice between liberals and conservatives. 2010 is a referendum on the very identity of our nation.
RUSH: Now, we edited again the applause. The applause here was profound for Marco Rubio, Florida Senate candidate. He says here we don’t need two Democrat parties.
RUBIO: People want our leaders that will come here to Washington, DC, and stand up to this big government agenda, not be co-opted by it. (applause). After all, the US Senate already has one Arlen Specter too many. (laughter and applause) And after all, America already has a Democrat Party. It doesn’t need two Democrat parties.
RUSH: Right. Right on, right on, right on. I like this guy using the word ‘Democrat’ instead of ‘Democratic.’ That really ticks ’em off out there, folks, it just ticks ’em off like you can’t believe. Last sound bite here.
RUBIO: Let’s reform the tax code and reduce tax rates across the board. (applause) Let’s eliminate double taxation by abolishing the taxes on capital gains, on dividends, on interest, and while we’re at it, let’s eliminate the one on death, too. (applause) Let’s significantly lower the corporate tax rate so it once again is competitive with the rest of the world. (applause) Let’s stop big government energy mandates like cap and trade and instead trust the American innovator to make us energy independent. Let’s make a series of simple changes that puts the consumer in charge of health care spending in America. (applause) And while we’re at it let’s pass some lawsuit abuse reform as well.
RUSH: That’s this morning at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. And that is Marco Rubio, the Florida Senate candidate.