7 takeaways from CPAC 2013

Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska, holds up a large soda as she speaks about New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed large soda ban, at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) March 16, 2013 in National Harbor, Maryland. The American Conservative Union held its annual conference in the suburb of Washington, DC to rally conservatives and generate ideas. / Pete Marovich/Getty Images

The annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) descended on Maryland's National Harbor this weekend. From Sarah Palin's prime speaking slot to Rand Paul's straw poll win, here are seven takeaways from the 2013 who's-who event in conservative politics:

1. To some conservatives, anyway, Sarah Palin still matters

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Voices of CPAC: Sarah Palin still has a place among conservatives

Since cutting the cord from her years-long flirtation with seeking the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, Sarah Palin has maintained in the conservative movement an on-again-off-again presence that seemed to be altogether waning with Fox News' announcement in January that the former Alaska governor would not be returning as a contributor. Then came the 2013 CPAC lineup.

The conference this year was themed, "America's Future: The Next Generation of Conservatives" - on the face of it an odd venue for the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee whose sensationalistic, polarizing style has been blamed in part for driving a wedge into the Republican Party. But attendees who spoke with CBS News almost universally agreed that Palin belonged.

• Palin still has a place among conservatives - but it's not the White House
• Sarah Palin to Washington: "Get over yourself"

"Her brand is not as popular anymore," conceded Tufts University student Jacqueline Quander, who calls herself an independent. "But people love her." Penn State student Marty Heckman agreed that thanks to Palin's penchant for controversial statements, like insinuating President Obama "pals around" with domestic terrorists, "public-wise, she's not really appealing to people." But, he added, there remains a place for her at CPAC as well as in the movement: "She has a voice, and she does have good things to say," he said.

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Palin mocks Bloomberg, drinks Big Gulp

Palin's speech on Saturday, during which she went after everyone from President Obama to Michael Bloomberg to Karl Rove - who's taken issue with Palin's involvement in elections past and has recently launched a "super PAC" with the intention of curbing influence from far-right organizations - was met with hearty reception. Her message to Washington - "get over yourself" - offered a humorous reprieve for convention-goers weary from Capitol Hill's unprecedented gridlock.

Arguably the most memorable moment of Palin's speech, though, and a calling card to her signature, in-your-face approach: At one point, she casually pulled out from behind the podium a 7-Eleven Big Gulp, and began slurping away - an homage to the sugary drinks that New York City Mayor Bloomberg tried to ban. Palin assured the wildly applauding crowd: "Bloomberg's not around - we're cool."

2. The Romney grudge isn't eternal

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"I utterly reject pessimism" on future of conservatism, says Romney

Mitt Romney - the same presidential nominee who Rick Santorum once called "the worst Republican in the country" to face off against President Obama on the issue of health care, and who at least one tea party group deemed the day after his Nov. 6 election loss "a weak moderate candidate, hand-picked by the Beltway elites and country-club establishment wing of the Republican Party" - on Friday addressed CPAC, arguably the most who's-who conservative event of the year.

Romney's speech conceded "mistakes" made in his unsuccessful bid for the White House, and was met with courteous applause. And despite Texas Gov. Rick Perry's assessment at the conference Thursday that Romney lost last fall because he wasn't a true conservative, convention-goers, speakers and VIPs largely offered the former Massachusetts governor a pass, subscribing to the "big tent" ideology of the Republican Party.

• Despite loss, conservatives say Romney belongs at CPAC
• Romney: "I utterly reject pessimism" about future of GOP

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Voices from CPAC: Did Mitt Romney belong on this year's invitation list?

"I hope to God he's not the future" of the conservative movement, Andy Brown, from White Bear Lake, Minn., said of Romney. Brown said the nominee "didn't have as much of a spine as I'd like," but added that he deserved his invitation to CPAC: "He's still one of us," he said. "He may not have and share the same values as the majority of us, but he was working towards the same goal as us."

Even Santorum, who in the GOP primary offered social conservatives an alternative to the historically moderate Romney, and was the last real threat standing between him and the nomination, told CBS News that Romney "should have been invited here - I'm glad he was." Santorum, who spoke at the conference ahead of Romney, reasoned, "there are different elements to the conservative movement, and it's important to hear from him, and welcome all those to compete in the arena of ideas."

Rebecca McLaughlin, wearing a Jeb '16 sticker, cries after meeting former Florida governor Jeb Bush and his signing the book 'Immigation Wars' which he co-authored with Clint Bolick at a book signing during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 15, 2013.

/ NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

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[Empoweringeducation]

The only one that makes sense of what he says is Ben Carson. No politics, just facts. Problems of society that Americans are taking for granted. Or is not it obvious we live in a very uneducated society with very little or no interest to get educated in those aspects that affect our nation, our economy, our society? Most of our politics are just entertainers talking about Barack Obama or whoever in power, but, in reality, Barack Obama is not the problem! It is not anyone but the people in the United States that has no interest in becoming knowledgeable to have the power of choosing right who our next president will be. We live in a society blinded by entertainments of all kind, designed by the wealthy to keep the population away from becoming smart enough to make the right decisions about this country! Because politicians do not care about the poor nor the majority of us. They do not care about us, we the ones that can only sit aside and wait to see what happens. Well said is to say that KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! In other words, the only way to stop politics like Barack Obama or anyone else from destroying the country our founders built for the grateful, not for those who easily forget the value of our freedom and power, mentally enslaves for the sake of random entertainers! "We are Americans" means more than that. Understand it is wisdom.

[carolo43]

For months now they have been discussing why they lost. Did they think they were somehow guaranteed a win or actually deserved a win? They had a lousy candidate that had a lousy campaign. People do not like being lied to over and over again. No big mystery here. But to stand there now and say they will be nicer to Hispanics and Blacks to get their votes is stupid. Hispanics and Blacks know Rednecks do not like them, don't want them in the country and would do what they could to take away even their voting Rights.

[FP1970]

That mean Sarah Palin had no right to make fun of Barack Obama and Michael Bloomberg. Their supporters in the lapdog media were driven to tears! Enough to fill a big gulp!

[Filmguy870]

Sarah: Pale In Comparison (to anybody!!!)

[Type_Z]

Dr. Ben Carlson, next POTUS. A man who understands America.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

I suggest you hateful heartless right wing republican heathens watch the documentary AMERICAN WINTER tonight at 9 ET on HBO. Maybe just maybe you will become more empathetic toward others

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Yep see what unyielding, unrelenting, sabotaging obstruction has done to America and our populace.

[dionysusBeer]

@deb1691

"Strong women who shoots from the hip and people don't like it"

Of course we don't. Sure, shooting from the hip looks cool, but it's one of the worst ways to shoot. You invariably end up missing your target and making a fool of yourself.

[stupa5]

I thought she shoots from Helicopters!

[stupa5]

This Carnival side show dame from hillbilly Alaska..is now the Circus Barker for the 3 ring GOP Circus.
And in the center ring we have Sarah riding a Moose.

Giving new meaning to the saying: "a sucker is born every minute"!

LMAO..

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Anybody who takes $arah Palin serious is not serious.

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-5]

An irresponsible hack who chase a big payday at the expense of her constituents.

Even Rupert Murdoch saw her value as a schlockmeister and nothing more.